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Cafe Nine

4.0 (68 reviews)
InexpensiveBars, Music Venues
Closed • 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

Cafe Nine Photos

CAFE NINE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Very loud
Divey
Live music
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Cafe Nine

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Would not recommend. The ambiance may appeal to some, but the owner's behavior was completely unacceptable. He openly used racist language toward Black customers and acted as if he could do no wrong. Very disappointing experience, and I hope the business is held accountable for it.

Sunday 1/22/2023
Elizabeth S.

The Cafe is always a good choice when I am in New Haven. The staff is outrageously friendly and they enjoy the company no matter how busy it gets. Always with a smile. The music is as mixed as you could imagine. Can't button hole Cafe Nine for that because they do blues, acoustic, rock and much more. The thing is - there will always be music and it will be original. Such a cozy corner in New Haven because I know that I am going to run into other music lovers and we will have a great time.

Fun mural. Adds to the aesthetic.
Kayla F.

10/10 vibes every time I visit. Artists that play here represent a wide range of genres. I wouldn't be surprised if you got to experience multiple bands in the same night. Bartenders are friendly and pricing is well done. Café 9 always hosts a fun night.

Beer tabs
Yealim K.

It's dive bar in downtown New Haven. We visited for Sunday night, not many bars were open at late hours but Cafe Nine was great to get a drink or two. It was pretty chilled mood, but the bartender was nice enough. I would visit again

Jan B.

I love going to Café nine. I have been here multiple times and even though it is a very small space that is sometimes very crowded it's always full of enjoyment and happy people. There is plenty of parking and are usually find a spot right nearby.

Eilen Jewell

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15 years ago

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13 years ago

Neat bar, fun atmosphere..... eccentric crowd too but great.

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11 years ago

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9 years ago

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15 years ago

Always a fun place to go see the Robin Banks show. People are nice and prices are reasonable.

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12 years ago

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12 years ago

Great place to see a rock show. Small, intimate space with a dive bar feel. Great acoustics. I will definitely see another show here.

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12 years ago

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15 years ago

best place for music in New Haven!!!!!!!!!!!! great people!

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14 years ago

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12 years ago

my second time here...great sound...reasonable drink prices...eclectic crowd...Sara the waitress is awesome!!!

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Review Highlights - Cafe Nine

“Now with the stage being right next to the front door, it's a bit awkward, but then again so is downtown New Haven.”

Mentioned in 3 reviews

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BAR - Small Sausage pizza

BAR

3.9(1.5k reviews)
0.4 mi
•$$

Between Frank Pepe's and BAR, my friend, a Yale student, prefers the latter, and as a mere tourist,…read moreI deferred the decision to her. Man, so glad I did. We arrived on a Monday around peak dinner time, but there was essentially no wait (apparently uncommon according to my friend -- just a delightful consequence of dining at a college town during the summer). We split a medium pizza (1/2 elote mexican street corn and 1/2 bbq brisket), proving to be more than enough for two plus a more than ample amount of leftovers. Recently, I've gravitated toward thinner pizzas, a far cry from the typical Detroit (foccacia-esque) style pizzas I used to prefer, and BAR's pizza is akin to a flatbread yet very thin, another fallen angel to the GLP's. The undercarriage boasts a brilliant crust, almost cracker-like. However, it should be noted that the pizza is indulgent all the same. The elote pizza is quite possibly the most memorable, unique pizza I've ever had; it arrives almost crimson-red with a generous layer of corn and takis atop. It's still incredibly well balanced despite the hodgepodge of varied toppings. It's hard to pick a favorite between this and the bbq brisket though; while one is incredibly unique the other is simply sumptuous, nothing pedestrian about either of the two. The service is also impeccable, almost rivaling that of southern hospitality. I always thought Californians were friendly but something is in the air every time I visit New Haven. Incredible!

Based on a recommendation, four friends and I visited for an earlier dinner on Cinco de Mayo (yes,…read morewrong type of cuisine, but we were in town and this restaurant was on our list.) BAR is an interesting restaurant: open air, picnic tables, open space, paper plates, no utensils unless you ask for them, etc. We were greeted right away by a less than friendly waiter who seemed peeved we didn't have a drink to order right away. Strike one. After a few minutes, everyone put their drink order in and I asked if the bartender could make me a mojito since it wasn't on the menu. The waiter said yes, so I waited. Then came the mojito. It was the worst "mojito" I've tasted in my life. I'm not one to send a drink back because of an "I don't taste any alcohol" excuse, but this was BAD. It tasted like margarita mix with lime and mint sprigs thrown in. It was absolutely terrible. When I double checked with the waiter if the drink was an original mojito he simply said yes, not "is something wrong with the drink?" or "would you like to send it back?" The drink was so bad I told him I couldn't drink it. He was peeved again. Strike two. I asked for a soft drink instead and the soda was flat (strike 3), but at this point I just needed something to drink... because who wants to have water with their pizza? Then came the time to make a dinner choice. My mission was to try the mashed potato pizza. It was hands down AMAZING!! Mashed potatoes and bacon on a pizza. Yes, please!! This was the only saving grace from my experience. I would return to BAR again if only for that pizza! Two of my friends had the clam pizza and the pepperoni/mushroom. Both enjoyed their own! Warming: New Haven pizza is thin crust. I got two meals out of a small, so if you visit with a group, consider ordering a few small pizzas so you can taste a few. I would've given BAR 4 or 5 stars, but the unpleasant waiter, the "mojito," and the flat sofa made for a trifecta, so I'm giving my visit 3 stars. If I find myself in New Haven again, I'll be back! Hopefully my next update will be 5 stars!

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BAR - Back bar

Back bar

BAR
BAR - 32 oz can (very silly looking)

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32 oz can (very silly looking)

State House - Steve Rodgers and Friends show

State House

3.6(7 reviews)
0.1 mi

Sat in the cozy upstairs space on a banquet. Had lovely, personal service. Ordered the bread -…read moreWOW!!! Don't miss it. Wish they sold it at a bakery counter. Their flatbread crackers that came with cheese plate too. We just had small plates because read that's their thing. They do have entrees. Everything was very good but the breads and dessert were outstanding! Worth the visit alone.

Opening night can have its challenges, but overall, the State House venue is very promising…read more More could have been done with the space aesthetically. And there are pockets of the space with super bright lights. And bathrooms by the entrance is weird. (Plus, there's a bigger bathroom in the basement.) That being said, the wood floors are good for dancing, and the sound system is pretty good for the size of the space. It has a subtle warehouse club feel, which is great for the New Haven scene. The event itself had some issues, like pure silence before the opening act. Felt a bit amateur; at least try to transition! Also, there was a big gap between the openers and the headliner. The guy doing tickets basically shrugged. The crowd on this given night was pretty diverse and excited to hear DJ Lag, whose unique genre of electronic music kept most of us intrigued and entertained. No liquor license yet, which was a drag. Looking forward to seeing who else comes to this venue.

Photos
State House - Brightly-lit bar

Brightly-lit bar

State House - Legendary Chris Washington setting up

Legendary Chris Washington setting up

State House

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Cafe Nine - bars - Updated October 2026

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