Visited Stella Blues while visiting New Haven. They were having a retro gaming/music event with a $10 cover so we decided to check it out. We had a great time there. Drinks were well priced, beer was cold, and the vibes were great. Bartenders had a great attitude and suggestions. We'll definitely be back for another random even when we're in that area again. Thank you! read more

Stella Blues - Bar area. - Jazz & Blues Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Stopped in Stella Blues for the first time while waiting for a friend's train to get in. It's definitely divey. I loved the framed posters on the wall from previous local events and the mural near the stage. I could've seen 21 year old Lanasha living it up in her punk era at this place. Service was okay. I got a tequila club which was only $4 during happy hour, woo! There is a $20 card minimum which I wish I had seen before ordering. They offer infused shots as well, definitely fun! I saw cucumber vodka, pineapple rum, and jalapeño tequila. Good spot for a quick drink. I'd be interested to visit when they've got a band in. read more

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My dive bar radar led me to Stella Blues Bar around the corner from the New Haven Hotel and I lucked out the band playing (sorry didn't get their name) was SO good and I was able to score a seat at the end of the bar nearest the tiny stage. The barkeep was slammed but she kept my brews coming for which I was grateful and I meandered back to my hotel a happy camper read more

Stella Blues - Live music at Stella's Blues Bar around - Jazz & Blues Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Stella is the chillest spot in town. If u need an escape from the scene here check them out. The people here are friendly. Its old school. A stranger will be crying in your arms while you play pool . Youll meet a person ( no bears! ) to dance with. Youll make connections . They have exceptionally fresh sour beer. Depending on the night the music is going to dominate the entire block. On saturdays they usually crush house. Mid week the girl workin there is prolly from suffolk county and she will break your brain by only playing jesse lacey. Nope she snuck some buddy nielsen in there. Most fun laid back spot around read more

The bartenders are awesome, the deck out back is really cool, but the pest part was the live music. Definitely check this place out if you're looking for great live music with a great vibe. read more

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I came here for a Sunken Disco party, and I had a good time. There was definitely room to dance, and there is some epic people watching. The sound system is pretty decent for a dive bar. The biggest challenge is getting a drink at the bar. They seemed really overwhelmed by the group, even though it wasn't that full. And I really hate when people butt in front of me in line. Nonetheless, they are generous with the pours of spirits on the rocks. read more

Stella Blues - Sunken Disco party - Jazz & Blues Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Stella is awesome would come again me and my friend had a beautiful time drinking beers with the boys.

My girlfriend and I went here for a fun night out. If you're looking for some talented local bands, this is the place to be. The drinks are affordable, and the bartenders are awesome. I haven't found a bar that had great music, drinks, atmosphere, and service in a very long time. This is a hidden gem. read more

Disgusting establishment. The live bands that are featured often make up for their lack of talent by just making a shit ton of noise. It's not worth going to even in normal times, but given the state of the pandemic it's unsafe and highly irresponsible to continue hosting live bands. The city should get involved to shut this place down. I wouldn't be surprised if it's responsible for half of the covid cases in New Haven. read more

A new haven staple and hippy haven. Stella's offers a unique dive bar experience by having some amazing jam bands come through. Unfortunately the space is not designed too well for music. If it was up to me I'd have the venue in the back pool room. But instead artists are jammed into the front window as to advertise to the sidewalk. This would be fine if shows were free, but I have had record high door prices of $15. When I laughed at the doorman's face he told me "fuck off yalie" how does not having enough money to get into your bar and have a drink make me a yalie? That makes me poor not rich? Bar owner will kill your song on the jukebox and cancel any pool game 30 mins before closing, something that really kills the mood at night. I do appreciate the cheap Busch cans, though I feel the bar silently judging me for drinking a fishing beer indoors. Equally pleasant dive experience over at 3 sheets and less crusty read more

Well it had to happen some time. I'm back in New Haven to weather another year. It was nice of Stella Blues to move into the hood and make Crown Street marginally more tolerable. Located next to Hula Hanks and directly across from Sinergy (you can see the Sinergy TVs from inside, if you feel so inclined), Stella Blues is a chill little bar, with an atmosphere that one could describe as either low-key or bland. I'm going to go with low-key. There's nothing pubby or clubby about it, and it's a step above your standard dive with a crazy modern jukebox, an extensive list of house cocktails, and wasabi peas in giant bowls at the bar. The place doesn't get very crowded, and there's plenty of seating, with a nice alcove near the entrance for a larger party. Music streams from the jukebox, which is fancy, electronic, and loaded with old favorites like Tom Petty and REM. Drinks are moderately priced. Think $4 beers and $8 cocktails. The cocktail list is worth taking a look at. For mojito enthusiasts, the menu offers a few fruity varieties, including my favorite version with mango. May I suggest, though, that you start or end with a Grateful Dead? This wonderful potion is a Long Island with raspberry liqueur instead of Coke. That's right, it's a Long Island with more booze. It tastes a little bit like punishment, but it'll take you where you want to go. Which, on a leisurely liquid night, might just be back to this bar. Welcome to Crown Street, Stella Blues. Truly, welcome. read more

I came here on a Friday night to see a band that was recommended by a friend. I really enjoyed my time here and here's why: 1) The staff are great. Courtney, who worked the door, was fabulous and so wonderful! 2) They have the game on. They tune in to games that are broadcasted on TV. When I was there, they had both a baseball game and football on. Reportedly, they will tune in to NHL games when they're broadcasted (which pleases me greatly!). 3) There was adequate indoor and outdoor seating. 4) The band was very good. If the music that night was representative of a typical evening, it's excellent. Verdict: Great place to watch the game and enjoy live music. Stella Blues offers a quaint setting, fabulous staff, and casual ambiance. I hope to revisit this venue to enjoy some live music and watch a NHL game soon. read more

Small, divey bar located in the heart of downtown New Haven. I've been for happy hour on a weeknight as well as on a Saturday for live bands. Happy hour specials run from 3-8pm. It's a little small in the front bar area, especially when the bands are popular and the place gets packed. There's a nice back room which seems a little more updated as far as decor than the front...there's a pool table, darts and skee ball (aka bar ball) machine as well as a small bar for drinks. There's a garage door to the outside which is a small patio--seems appealing for the summer months. They also have infused vodkas at the front bar which is nice and not expected at your typical dive bar. The crowd can vary, especially when there are local bands playing. It is nice to have a low key option downtown, instead of all the clubs and other places that require more upscale attire. read more

I work fairly close to this bar so it's a great spot to stop by after work in your uniform or casual attire. Every time I could to this bar is has a different vibe to it. One night I walked in and it was open mic night where most of the talent played and sang acoustic guitar, it was chill and relaxing. Another time I walked in on hip hop night, and another it was a dj with people hanging by the bar up front and playing pool out back. The drinks are reasonably priced. read more

Stella Blues - Pool table - Jazz & Blues Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Had the pleasure of performing at Stella Blues!! Awesome venue!! The sound was fantastic!!! Great location downtown New Haven!! Staff was awesome as well! The room just sounds terrific for all types of music!! If you love great music and amazing sound check out Stella Blues any night of the week!! read more

DON'T BOOK YOUR SHOW HERE! The owner is completely unprofessional and out of line. Tried to play here and because THEY DIDN'T GET A THIRD BAND TO PLAY DUE TO THEIR LACK OF MANAGEMENT told us we had to make up for their time?!? And play over a two hour set?!? On a Thursday!?! And then proceeded to SCREAM at us in front of our fans that we had to GET THE F*** OUT OF THE BAR! Literally this place is a piece of crap and hasn't been a legit venue in a long time. I never ever write reviews but that experience last night compelled me to share. In general, bad bad vibes don't play here. Period. read more

Me and a couple friends just went to Stella Blues to watch some local artists preform their music. The Older Male Bartender (Usually Wearing A Yankees Jersey) was very unprofessional . I ordered a Vodka Red bull and as I'm looking for my debit card in my wallet he says " I could be helping any other person in the bar". Keeping in mind it's only been 15 seconds he seems visually upset. I replied by explaining what I was doing and his reply was that " you could go to any bar in new haven". I told him be professional and he says "I'm F**king professional". I'll be back to support my friends but I won't buy another drink from this establishment . read more

Enjoyed the live band, and TVs to watch the game. Not happy with them trying to charge me $70 for 4 beers and 2 shots. I asked to see the full bill and the bartender wouldn't give it to me. Check your bill, they keep the card and seem to just charge you whatever they feel like charging read more

Oh Stella's. I never know what to do with you. You have wasabi peas on your bar. You sell Hot Pockets. You always have cheap Busch Tall Boys, which is kind of impressively gross. You have cute little It's Always Sunny in New Haven t-shirts for sale. And your bartenders are exactly the right amount of surly. You also host a pretty eclectic group of live music, and herein lies the rub: no matter what time of day I try to sneak in, you're always tryin' to charge me a cover. I get that it goes to the band, and I appreciate that you are predominantly a live music venue, but can't I just love you for your cheep beer and dive bar atmosphere when I show up at some bizarrely early time in the afternoon? Nonetheless, I do really enjoy this place and have always had a pretty good time here. If they dropped the cover I'd probably move in so maybe it's all for the best. And they supposedly have the best Bloody Mary's anywhere, though I prefer to keep my vegetables and boozing separate, so it's all speculation to me. Still, if you're looking for a few drinks in a completely unpretentious atmosphere and don't mind dropping a few bucks to help out the local music scene, you could do a whole lot worse than Stella Blues. If I could give you 3 and a half stars, I would. But here we are. Halfway between a Busch and a hard place. I'm sure you understand. read more

The first time I came here it was on a weeknight and there was no band. I was new to town and it seemed like nothing more than your average townie bar. Very pedestrian. I came back on the weekend and was blown away by the live bands and the great crowd. There's typically a $5 cover on the weekends, but it's worth it for the caliber of bands they usually feature. Easily one of my favorite places to hear live music in downtown New Haven. read more

If you're lookin for a place to hang with a cold beer that is the polar opposite of Hula Hanks or any of the other dreck that passes for nightlife in New Haven - Stella is your spot. Though it feels a little intentionally dive bar-ish, and I'm tired of people thinking it's fun to order a PBR and hot pocket at a bar - this is actually pretty fun place. There's a horseshoe of leather couches up front, and plenty of space to mill by the bar. The only downside is that if there's a band setting up (I have no idea how often that happens, but did one night I was there) you have to walk through the band to get to the bathroom. But c'est la vie. This isn't gonna be everyone's favorite flavor - but it's a really nice addition to the options in New Haven. read more

Quietly one of the coolest places in New Haven. The sincerity of a dive with a live mic cuts with the authenticity of the folk who make this place a home. A Haven for beatnicks of all types, the crass, the crude, the dark, and the good. You won't drown in IPAs, they focus on lagers and stouts, simple bar food. You come for the atmosphere. Pool, Skeeball, live people doing living things. Reminds me of Time in Philly, thick with culture. read more

I have a love/hate relationship with Stella Blues. It's a good bar. They have a good drink selection and are generally pretty friendly. I like the atmosphere, and there's a pool table if you're into that. There's almost always live music. That is a GREAT thing, especially since they tend to have a pretty fantastic taste in music and book a lot of bands that I love. I fully support and love the fact that they are constantly booking bands to play in this spot. That being said, it is simply not a great venue to see live music in. One of Stella Blues' biggest charms is unfortunately also one of its biggest downfalls. The stage is in the very front of the venue, and you can see the bands playing right in the front window as you walk by. While this is great from the outside, it makes things on the inside pretty uncomfortable. The stage is right next to the front door. Along one side wall are tables and stools, and along the other side wall is the bar. So unless you're in the small area between the bar and the stage (which is where musicians usually put their cases), you're spending the entire night having to get out of the way of people who are coming and going. For me, this makes seeing shows at Stella Blues pretty tedious, especially when it's really packed. The PA is pretty lacking as well, and the sound generally isn't very good in the room. Like I said, it's love/hate. Stella Blues has a lot of potential, I'm just not sure that potential could ever be fully realized with its current setup. Still, I am very thankful that a venue like this exists to help keep the struggling live music scene alive in CT, and will continue to give them my business whenever I can. read more

Stella Blues, I miss you so much! It's one of the main reasons I love traveling to New Haven! Amazing place with amazing live music! Great food and great drinks served by amazing bartenders (Hi Katie )...Check it out...You won't be disappointed! read more

Stella Blues - Jazz & Blues Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Pretty standard. I went there in 2011 and they had this super cool electro rock band there. I always wish I had gotten their name.

BANDS BEWARE. This is a very unprofessionally run venue. Terrible communication between bands, talent buyer, and management. Our show was cancelled because the talent buyer failed to find a third band on the bill and the bar insisted that music MUST go on until 12:30 am. We were prepared to play our set from 10:15-11:15 as agreed upon with the talent buyer, arrived on time, set up, and were ready to soundcheck when the manager told us to "get the $%&# out" if we weren't willing to play from 10:15-12:30. This was only an issue because an unrelated band (booked entirely by the talent buyer) dropped and didn't show up. This "set time requirement" was not made clear until after we were already loaded in and set up. Sadly, the manager's ego and the talent buyer's incompetence completely stopped a show from occurring. To bands considering booking, I urge you to contact Manic or cafe nine regarding booking nights at similar venues in New Haven, as they behave professionally. I have performed live music for 10 years and have never in my life witnessed anything as bizarre and disturbing as this. read more

I ducked into this gem after being turned away from the bar down the street that wasn't open yet. I needed to warm my So cal bones and we needed to kill some time before i met some beer advocate members for a east coast/ west coast beer trade. My compadre is a big dead fan so i felt obligated to check it out. Fairly small and quaint bar, no frills here and no corporate feel. Clearly posted is the list of nevers: never a DJ and never a cover charge. Full bar accompanied with a few great craft beer selections, Sierra nevada Celebration ale, alagash curiex and white on tap. and for the budget minded PBR in a can! Bartender was down to earth and friendly. Giant martini glass on the bar full of Wasabi peas. Mmmm crunch crunch... Noticed large glass boxes at the end of the bar with what looked like infused liquor concoctions. Espresso bean tequila, jalapeno and orange tequila. Pineapple vodka and one rum one i cant recall what was in it. The make specialty drinks with them, but we opted for a the jalapeno and orange straight up. Needless to say my bones we officially warmed up! Met a fellow patron from Sandiego are, huh small bar world. Def a must go for an alternative to the corp bar or club crowd. If i lived closer i'd be a regular... read more

It's good shit lots of fun nice people dinky good place in new haven.

New Haven has a lot to offer when it comes to seeing music. Stella's is my top choice. Great music, cheap and well-crafted drinks, personable bartenders, pool and games in the back bar with a patio and one sarcastic owner. read more

GOOD MUSIC AND NEVER A COVER. new haven's heady bar? the grateful dead motif and the music memorabilia sure suggest it. plenty of live music throughout the week. dogfish head 60 minute (among others) on tap. that's a pretty good jumping off point. they've got a couple big screen HDs for the sports fan as well. it's not very big and it can be a little crowded/awkward if there's a popular band there, but that's not always a bad thing. i have seen djs there, but only on electronica night. street parking is usually available nearby...just gotta poke around read more

Great atmosphere and a really cool vibe. I have only been there on select nights because I've had friends performing there. If I lived closer I'm sure I would be there more often. The bartenders are always great. Can't say much about other nights of the week but it's a definite stop on for at least a drink. read more

The open mic night was chill, the only reason it's not getting the fifth star is because the sound kept popping. Bartender made great drinks, but didn't really talk an chat with us. read more

Cool little Dead Head bar!! Good live music and drinks!! Have never had a bad time here!!

Amazing band! Great drinks. You have to try the pineapple infused drink. It's so good! read more

Stella Blues is a great place to go for live music and they typically have bands playing almost every night. Some people seem to be unaware however that the bar is named after a grateful dead song which translates to a clientele consisting of lots of dreaded hippies who's odor is the typical mix of b.o and marijuana. So just be mindful if that's not your sort of thing. I personally don't mind as I've spent lots of time with hippie stoners in my youth though it wouldn't be the place I'd expect to meet a viable date. For me the sole reason to come here is the music, and I've seen some great local bands here and had some great times dancing to the tunes until closing time. There tap beer selection is also pretty good though the bartenders are sometimes downright mean and most times you will get accosted by the doorman on the way in to pay a cover. There's also a pool table in the back if you want a little change of scenery. read more

This is my favorite local bar in New Haven. Great music and reasonably priced drinks. Everyone is cool and not pretentious. They also have a deck out back! read more

Tuesday Night, kinda dead, but I'm not sure why! Maybe the weather ! Super cool place ! Band was hysterical great personality!! Shawarma Bums !! Definitely coming back! Also coolest bearded bartender too! read more

I took my eyes off the bartender to say hi to a friend, and got a well drink with no alcohol in return.