I visited this location recently and had an extremely disappointing experience from start to finish. Upon arriving, I was greeted by the front staff and walked inside, only to wait over 20 minutes without being served. It wasn't until a woman from the front came to the back and asked if we had been helped -- to which we said no -- that anyone acknowledged us. What made matters worse was witnessing the food preparation process firsthand. The cook handling our food was wearing the same gloves throughout -- touching the ground, doors, and handles -- and continued using those same gloves to prep food without changing them. This is a serious food safety and sanitation concern. When I approached the front to address this issue, a Caucasian male staff member claimed he had never seen me come in, refused to provide the owner's contact information, and instead questioned who I was rather than attempting to resolve the problem. He walked away and returned asking if my questions had been answered -- without actually answering any of them. This level of service, hygiene, and accountability is completely unacceptable. I strongly​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ongly urge management to review their food handling protocols and customer service practices immediately. They probably only operate that way because no one has called the health inspector being that they aren't open in the day time . read more

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Maybe someone else who lives in New Orleans can get to the bottom of this, but I think -- and I can stand corrected -- the old Dragon's Den is probably dead and there's a new operation under a different name at 435 Esplanade Ave. The Dragon's Den I remember from 17 years ago while playing a gig with others there was another one of those great upstairs-downstairs venues I really appreciated and loved back then. I remember the bar being to the right of the stage, but the patrons were actually into the music everyone played, not just focused on imbibing cocktails, wine and beer, etc. The acoustics were really good, as I recall -- pure sound, no issues whatsoever. I think the new name is Stellar, and it seems like a totally different operation, which is a shame. I never went to this location back in the days when Cafe Siam was located at 435 Esplanade, but I still cherish my Dragon's Den memories from years ago. You had to be there. read more

We went for the comedy show on a Friday night. It was a good experience nothing crazy drinks were good and comics were good. A looot of different comics which was fun. read more

Located right at the end of Frenchman Street, this place is poppin! Saturday night review: When you enter, the first room is playing popular rap/hip-hop, the bathrooms are in the back outside where the hookah is and the upstairs area plays real hard rap/hip-hop. Drinks were good, but on the smaller side. Tip was included on my bill, but service was good so I didn't mind. All in all, definitely recommend to fulfill a ratchet night out! read more

This spot was super dope. They had 3 different sections with 3 different djs. I went up to the top floor it was lit.. they played hip hop and Bounce music. Everyone basically smoke's up there so if you have an issue with smoke that's not your section. read more

This is in second or third time I've been here, don't recall which? but with my most recent Nola trip we were came here to dance & enjoy some music. Decent spot overall , initially it was not crowded when we got here later on it did end up being a bit jammed packed. The place is not very big so of course too many people makes it cramped & these days it's still not the best idea to be in crowded places let's face it COVID is still a factor out here. Drinks, Vokda & seltzer, beers , some whiskey were a few of our choices, shots of Tequila end of night it was a fun evening. crowd wise it's a hit or miss on the mixed crowds but for the most part everyone seems to be just hanging & having a good time, over all it's a fun place to stop by for music & dancing. read more

Dragon's Den - a sign for a restaurant - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Was meaning to leave a review but I forgot the name of this place. Visited New Orleans Thanksgiving 2021 and ended up here after looking on Yelp for a bar with good music. Came in and the music was a good mix of hip hop from different eras. Forgot the bartenders name but she was super attentive and when we told her we were visiting from Los Angeles she gave us a shot on the house as a welcome to New Orleans kinda thing. We went to the back patio to hit the vape and as soon as we walked out literally everyone back there was blowing it down. That's not a complaint, I can't stand cigarette smoke and If much rather be surrounded by 420 smoke if I had a choice. Great spot with good vibes and everyone was chilling, no drama at all. Definitely a spot to hit if you're in the city and just want as good time. read more

Very friendly staff. They must see if you like things a little off the beaten path. Definitely one of a kind place read more

Dragon's Den - a narrow alley in a city - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Loved this divey spot. Came on a cold Thursday night in December. Upon entrance to the upper level I asked the person at the door if we're allowed to smoke up there and I was told "Smoke whatever you want. Ciggarettes, weed, crack. We don't care". That had me dying! When we went up it was nothing but great energy and cheap drinks as the DJ played bounce music all night long. Gets crowded as the night goes on. Perfect vibe. read more

Food was warm & delicious. Fresh suchi. Nice ambiance. Seated quickly. Reasonably priced.

stumbled in on a wednesday night and regretted it. it was a mess and sloppy, a lot of shady characters too. however, what made up for it was friday night's comedy show up stairs. i highly suggest coming by for this. tickets were about $10 bucks online, and had 6 comics and a host. probably about 30 seats, first come first serve. small, intimate, but easy to see/hear stage. plenty of standing room if no seats. the open up at 8 sharp and show started at about 835. drinks are cheap and strong. follow their IG to check out their line up and who comes into town. the line up i had in late december was absolutely impressive. read more

We came in last week as a group of friends who had just had our reunion. And the music downstairs was okay. So we went upstairs because raggae is our thing. It's been over decade that we hadn't been here. The drinks were good, the bar tenders were well tipped. The upstairs dj was on point with the gems. The newer dj not so much. one of my colleagues found out the the newer DJ had posted some pretty some inflammatory homophobic comments publicly. (She made it public on her Twitter account) and it's really important to see that the audience for the downstairs was mostly LGBTQ and of color. And That's NOT a good look to offend your paying patrons,and that's certainly not what we all expected. Won't be back read more

I liked it yo, even though it was a little bit hood, but like in a remember the time way. When you walk in there is a bar and a wall that is all. We opted to stand near the front entrance because though the place is down home, like I said it's hood. There is a back outside area with a small bar and some picnic tables. Upstairs is a dance floor with a live DJ. Really cool spot with the potential for more. read more

I have so many great memories in this space and though I am not granting four stars based on space alone (ie: the bartender is so sweet! The prices are so fair! They have decent bubbly! They even have a limited food menu with a veggie option!), the spirit of years past seems to live on so strong, even on an early sleepy Sunday evening. This seemed like just the place we were looking for at 6:30 pm: a quiet place where we could get a table in the courtyard to throw back some bubbly. For years, I'd get decent, not great Thai here at Siam Cafe. Then I swear for a hot second Z'otz Coffeehouse took up shop, all along with Dragon's Den upstairs and I saw one of the most lively, fabulous shows ever up there! One of those magical New Orleans moments when the music is right, the crowd's enthusiasm is infectious and you can't imagine yourself ever living anywhere else (at the time I was visiting... one year post Katrina). It makes me super cranky to read some of the lackluster reviews deeming this place forgettable because that's just not true. The courtyard is idyllic and the inside is equally atmospheric with dark red walls, dim lights and plenty of space to rub elbows at the bar. As we headed out, a jazz band was setting up and although I needed an early night, it took everything to not spend my night here. read more

In town for my 2nd Mardi Gras, I wanted to dance, but didn't want Bourbon Street. I went to this spot with my girl after a recommendation from a local. Music was on point. Crowd was NOT mixed if you know what I mean. THREE sections and a BALCONY just off the upstairs dance floor. All forms of smoking allowed. Go. read more

Decent drinks and a large outside patio area. Plenty of room inside so you're not overly crowded, at least when we were there. Drink prices were a bit on the high side considering the overall look of the place. You get a divey feel with tourist prices. read more

Dragon's Den is right on the border of the French Quarter and Faubourg Marigny, on the Marigny side. It's been around quite a while, but I've only recently gone into it a few times. Product: Drinks, mostly, but I did notice there was a Big Cheezy popup window in the back that wasn't open whenever I went in, so I can't really judge the food. The drinks were ok, if a little over-priced. (3 stars) Service: Bartender and some live music. We saw a small set jazz band play (no cover! Whoop!) the last time we went in. I enjoyed them thoroughly. The bartender was nice enough. (4 stars, because of the free tunes that didn't suck) Facilities: An older divey place. It looks to have been spruced up of late. Nothing fancy, and typical of buildings in the area---front service area with large windows, back courtyard where the bathrooms are. There's a small stage for the musicians noted above. I've heard there's an upstairs as well, but I've never gone. Parking is on the street nearby, but this area is nearly always busy, so good luck finding a spot. Go park in the Marigny across Elysian Fields. (3 stars) Overall: A decent enough place, I suppose. I'm a little indifferent, to be honest. I would go again. (3 stars) read more

If I could give it 10 stars I would. Three distinct areas and vibes. DJ downstairs, courtyard with outdoor bar, and the bumpin dance floor up top. And that floor was bumpin. Such a fun crowd and such a good vibe. read more

New Orleans is Austin multiplied by a thousand! It is a place filled with both debauchery and beauty. On one stretch of street you will find trumpeters, salsa riders, out of towners and locals. And on another end hipster bike riders and goth metal~heads. It's a city that lives to party and the vampires of Anne Rice's lore surely haunt the streets, even in daylight. In the pockets of humid, thick- layered night hides clubs meant to be seen and some meant to be hidden. Beneath the street dwellers and people too tragically attractive to be walking the earth is a dive bar called, The Dragon's Den. The Dragon's Den is a small bar made even smaller amidst the crowd that clamors to get in it. It is a two story tall club quaint but a tad claustrophobic. Looking into the building, before it opened you can sense its historical relevance to the city. The patrons line up like minions seeking to score tickets for rare show, but in this case a good time. The bar opens when the staff feels like it is darn time! There is a small corridor that serves as an entrance. It opens up to reveal a courtyard with tables and a few chairs; a haven for smokers, the inebriated or those who are getting their second wind to become more inebriated alike. Inside the main room is a miniature bar with a musical stage to match its intensity. In this case the area was filled to full capacity by eleven. Abita, the famous beer from Louisiana, is the celebrated drink of choice here to our great Lonestar brand. But the bartenders here can make you just about anything. Which brings me to them and the door person. They were really nifty! The bartender was really quick and attentive, going from one end of the counter to the other. In addition, as I have stated in the past the secret to a club's success is in the door person, as he or she sets the tone for the night. For that matter the door staff is really good, herding sober and drunk people alike to their proper place. If all I have stated means this place should be a 5 star joint then why did I only give it three, well. This place reminded me of Headhunter's in Austin. Although divey like the fore mentioned similarly, its size prevents you from having a good time. For example as you are enjoying the music here middle-aged moshers fall into you and knock your drink(s) right out of your hand. And that takes away from the experience a little bit. It feels more like a filling station where you would gas up on booze and go to Check Point Charlies, a cooler spot a few clubs down. Another issue I had was the flow of the music. I didn't like the down time between bands. In my opinion I think the music should be going on at all times and snapping away. But then again my impression is that the bar situation here lends to an experience where you hop from spot to spot, purely on the basis of convenience to the next club. My biggest issue here is in terms of the security. When an establishment serves patrons alcohol of course there is going to be some level of drunkenness and misbehavior to be expected. The key is to keep its potential from escalating into something much bigger that's uncontrollable. It seems like the drama is part of the admission here whether you like it or not. Nothing speaks louder to Shakespearean theater when alcohol and testerone are mixed and some bloke is throwing bottles and screaming expletives. Really? In some ways a little danger and the unexpected makes for an interesting experience or sometimes... it can kill the mood! Again, I am not telling you to skip this place. New Orleans is one of the most colorful places on earth, with a set of characters to match. The Dragon's Den is one of the characters that seems to fit in this alternate universe of clubs, bars and dives. And of course in an area that welcomes Mardis Gras as its neighbor chaos is not only expected but encouraged. I suggest if you choose to go this route to go with a group of friends who will keep an open mind but more importantly will have your back. p.s. When you can purchase a bottle of Jack Daniels at an Exxon in New Orleans as easily as you can a bottle of Dasani of water, well that shows you how seriously they take their partying! read more

Last night I used the women's restroom at the Dragon's Den because the men's didn't have locks on the doors. I was by myself. I usually never go alone but my friends had just left, they were closing&no women were there so I went in. The bouncer grabbed me, said I had to leave &that he was going to "slap the fuck out of me" I just had to piss. I'm a trans person and in the state of Louisiana I am legally allowed to use that restroom. Which is all I was doing. Your bouncer caused a scene that outed me&put my safety at risk. I showed him my drivers license and said "legally I have done nothing wrong" He then said I was 86'd & if I stayed it would be considered trespassing and he'd call the cops. Not only did he threaten me with physical violence, he threatened me with police. ALL I DID WAS GO PISS IN AN EMPTY RESTROOM WITH LOCKS ON THE DOOR FOR MY OWN SAFETY. Isn't that the job of a bouncer? To keep people safe? This type of unprofessionalism is unacceptable. That type of trash behavior is what gets people like me killed. I could never feel safe here again and I'll make sure to let any queer friends of mine know they aren't protected here either. read more

We went to see the "talk to me Nerdy show" was really good the producer of the show is amazing there are more men performers than women we had a great time will definitely go again sailor moon and catwoman are some ladies read more

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The Dragon's Den is mythical. It's way too small for the amount of people and variety you would find there on any given night but it somehow all works together! Friday Nights are the best! There is a free and meticulously curated comedy show upstairs, that features a lot of touring comics along with the best locals. That show is followed by a very intense latin night. It's like a movie....Everyone is dancing!! Downstairs is a dance party in the courtyard with DJ Rqaway, who has a loyal following of the coolest young artsy and cultured locals. It's like a royal court of the cool kids (and a few celebrities too!). He is a amazing DJ and the vibe is always right but it's at the whim of the weather. The whole building is crowded! The bathrooms I try to avoid. You will wait for a drink. But if you can get past those issues you will have an amazing time at the Dragon's Den. read more

Where do I begin! We went here during our visit to NOLA. It was just a good time all the way around! We went for the Latin dance party. The had hip hop and R&B down stairs and Latin music upstairs. I could tell it was a spot the locals loved to visit as well. We saw a couple of familiar faces there. We had a great time. They had a eating area. The food was so good! read more

Beautiful energy for the Latin night I attended. The variety of dancers doing their thing was a wonderful visual treat. Great DJ and friendly bartenders on that particular night, which hasn't always been my experience at this venue. Even if you don't personally do the dance scene, you will appreciate how others have made dance a way of life. read more

Seedy, little bar on the outskirts of the French Quarter, but with prices that still reflect being in a tourist area. Great live music and an awesome burlesque show on Saturday nights. read more

It had been ages since I had set foot into Dragon's Den and it was pretty much just as I remember- except they serve food now and they seem to have working ac. I used to hang out here pretty regularly back in 2009 when Dragon's Den was one of the few places in the city where you could see a burlesque show. Back in those days, there was no ac upstairs and it was hot and stuffy and you just had to deal with it. A lot has changed since then- there is a really nice bar downstairs that leads into a patio area. Upstairs is still small and a little stuffy, but it's not nearly as hot and the bartenders are really fast in getting the drinks poured and served. The dance floor is small, so if you are the kind of person who isn't a fan of smaller spaces, you might just want to hang out downstairs. When I go back, my plan is probably going to be just spending time on the downstairs patio. read more

The reviews for this establishment seem to be telling me to not eat the food so I'm glad that I didn't. (Even though the menu was looking pretty good.) Dragon's Den is definitely gonna be on my list of places to party for my next visit to NOLA. There is no cover! The vibe was very welcoming and the music selection and variety was some of the best that I've heard. I was here on Wednesday night which seemed to be reggae night. Reggae and afro-beat upstairs and hip-hop/rap downstairs. I also loved that the downstairs had a hype man, which may have been necessary because it was definitely hard not to have people ready to float upstairs. This bar is also pretty spacious. Besides upstairs and downstairs there is ample backyard space and a fun balcony. I'm glad to have stopped by this gem on my last night in New Orleans. read more

Didn't expect this place looking at the reviews. Went for a night out and this was the local hang out spot. Definitely caught me off guard. Stayed for close to an hour but I don't understand why you have no smoking signs but smoke everywhere. Left when we couldn't take it anymore! read more

Comedy Fuck yeah! Yup. That's the name of the comedy club upstairs. Amazing talent! Small but cozy venue! Can't lose on a Friday night. Did I say the talent is amazing! read more

Cool bar if you want to get away from the typical live bands of New Orleans and just hear a Dj playing new music. I always appreciate live music but sometimes you just want to grab a drink and sing/rap along to songs you know from the radio. read more

Best venue. Small but cosy. This has been the happening spot for a couple of decades and it's still underground. I love coming here on Wednesday for reggae nights. This is where us locals go to hang out. Without the dragons den Frenchman street would not be Frenchman street. read more

Ooh Dirty South, you make me feel so good. When family reunions with NO natives involve James Brown and Fela Kuti cover bands at bars called the Dragon's Den, one would be inclined to don their best sparkle-plated, bootielicious pants, complete a buns of steel workout and head on over ASAP, right? Or, is that just me? Considering the name, I pictured either a dark, cavelike atmosphere, or perhaps just a renaissance faire club gathering - neither appropriate for sparkly bootie pants to achieve their full shine, but that's okay because a) I forgot them at home, and b) tuns out the cover bands were nothing more than sets by a local DJ in the upstairs room. But hey, that's not the bar's fault, so perhaps the negative star simply goes to the messenger. Oh, and no, it wasn't a D&D fanclub, if that wasn't obvious before. The crowd was eclectic and immediately hit the miniature dance floor, and I have to admit, the funkified mix delved into the back, spider-webbed corners of the JB catalog: both good signs. The beer selection was fairly sub-par (think along the bud/bud light lines), but the bar was stocked otherwise and service was friendly. The balcony on the second floor was great for the crowd-claustraphobic (aka - me), that is until 40 more people joined and had me thanking god that major earthquakes didn't hit Louisiana. Should you be afraid of falling floors, I'd stick to the downstairs patio... Overall two thumbs up, but next time I'm bringing those pants no matter what anyone thinks! read more

If my husband wrote yelps, he'd say 5 stars, but since I'm writing this and I was indifferent to this bar, I'm giving it 3 stars. Wandered in on a Saturday night to find a lively jazz band, but sparse crowd. The bar tender was nice, and the girl sitting next to us ended up being a rep for a local brewery, and offered us two free beers on her tab if we ordered her brand. You don't have to twist my arm for free beer. Not that we needed a deal; the happy hour special at the Dragon's Den was great- $2 drafts! The decor and menu options are vaguely Asiany, but otherwise, it looks like the other bars on Frenchman: in need of a little TLC but still charming. Yes, I'd visit again, but I wouldn't say you need to run out and check this place out if you are limited on time during a visit. read more

So I was super excited to try Asian Kitchen, I get a late night hankering for Korean food often. I was OVERJOYED when I saw the option come up on Postmates, so I ordered my food (at 12:42 am) and waited with baited breath to try the Bulgogi Skewers with kimchi ($9) the chilled vegetarian summer roll ($6), the LA Crawfish Rangoons (4 for 7$) and to add some greens, the steamed broccoli with orange sauce (3$). OK. So. The food took 2 hours to arrive, and arrives finally at 2:25 Am.. So a big FU to postmates. But here's the frustrating thing, there was no way to contact the restaurant to find out what was up with the food. It's not my first rodeo with pop-ups, but dude, it's a business, there should be a contact number if people are paying for food. This is strictly a review of the food though. It's late night bar food, but it does not compare to the kitchen that used to be there, and here's why.... The Bulgogi was like shoe leather. It was SO CHEWY it was practically impossible to eat. I've had beef jerky that was less WERK . It was served with approximately 1 tablespoon of Kimchi. FER CRYING OUTLOUD. It's Kimchi. You don't need to skimp so hardcore. On the plus side the sesame rice that came with it was delicious, but everything else about this dish was lame. The craw rangoons were TINY. We're talking mini pizza bites tiny. Four for 7$. NOPE. The broccoli was supposed to up my vegetable for the day, steamed with sauce. What actually showed up (see the pictures) was 3.5 soggy af pieces of broccoli. That's $1 a piece folks. NOT IN NEW ORLEANS. Last but not lease we have the coveted Vegetarian Summer roll. $6 for a half dried out 3 inch fresh roll. So. Clearly I feel ripped off. Save your money for that amazing polish kitchen at Siberia (which is open until midnight, and has a phone that they answer) or Ruben down at that cuban pop-up in the back of Negril. This food is WEAK. read more

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Went during mardi Gras. It was pretty dead and everyone there was pretty ghetto and kind of rude. The main at the door checking IDs was nice

This is one of my FAVORITE venues in New Orleans. It's close to the action on Frenchman Street, but tucked away around the corner on the second floor above a coffee shop. It's in an intimate and non-descript upstairs space with red walls and broken mirrors on the walls. There's usually a cover but they always have excellent and more experimental programing. I've seen local bands play here from the Zydepunks (zydeco-punk music, duh) to Why are They Building Such a Big Ship and most recently The Soul Rebels Brass band. The place is intimate and almost always full of dancing New Orleanians in the know. This is NOT a tourist spot. or anywhere you'd want to take your mom, for that matter. Go here for a taste of the real new orleans. read more

I stopped in here later in the evening for drinks and dancing and it was pure magic. Nice bartender with a fair pour, really great layout, and fun decor. But the upstairs room with a big band and swing dancing was breathtaking. I felt like I'd been transported to another era that was part Dirty Dancing part Swing Kids but with much cooler people. My friends and I sat on the side, sipped our drinks, and felt like we were part of something truly amazing because of the music and dancers and infectious energy. Can't wait to go back after I've learned some dance steps myself! read more

Not being a stranger to the L.A. party scene, I had some friends in town and we were looking for a place that had some good jungle and D&B to party too. Came to my ole trusty Yelp and found this spot tucked away up a block from frenchman st. When we got there, we paid the $5.00 cover charge and went out back to the table patio area. The lighting is bad but for this type of crowd, you really don't want light up in your face. We sat around for about half an hour before I went to use the restroom. The restroom was old and small but the toilets were CLEAN and they had TOILET PAPER!!! They have two small dance floors one downstairs with a bar which has good seating and one upstairs which was somewhat cramped. The DJ are good and there is AC downstairs but upstairs you are cooled by industrial fans around the bar and stage. The stairwell is steep and dangerous, so watch your step. It is a great after hours party spot but come with your own friends because this is a very tight local group and everyone kinda sticks to their own. All in all it was a nice place to listen to some good Jungle tracks... read more

This place is wacky. The Dragon's Den is a freakin' BLAST if you go on a Sunday night and are under the influence. That's during "BassChurch," a dubstep show that bumps all night long. It's an unusual spot, with some artists selling their work in the downstairs, half-way outdoors bar area. Upstairs is where everything gets foggy - for everyone. Lights are flashing and there is dancing, sweating, and other general club-related madness that one would see in a movie about reckless individuals. It's fun. Weird. Wild. Then sobriety hits. The reality is, a great deal of young 18+ locals hang here. It's fun when you're wound up and ready to dance, but if you're just seeking a chill night with a friend, seek elsewhere. However, if you're ready to get strange, by all means, there's nowhere else to be. read more

Great little oasis just outside of the Quarter and Frenchmen St. Absolutely the cheapest drinks in the neighborhood. Everything happens here from live bands, DJ dance parties, burlesque, and comedy every Thursday and Friday. But it's also a chill place to come grab a drink from and relax in between events. read more