Food 3.5/5 Service 4/5 Ambiance 4.5/5 I was visiting New Orleans for the weekend, and being tired from a flight in, I wanted something close to the hotel. My friends picked a spot, and we went - and we had no regrets. There was one man running the whole kitchen the night we came in, and he was doing great, although he was very busy. Food came out great, my friends had the "Badass Burger" which they all praised, especially the fresh fries. I personally had the Hot 8 Sampler and a simple Bacon Quesadilla - and those were no slouch either. If I had anything to complain about, it's that the price is a little high for the food you get. Though, that's to be expected so close to the convention center in a dive like this. Overall, my friends and I had a great experience - and we'd all be happy to come back. read more

The Howlin' Wolf - "Hot 8" Sampler - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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We were in town visiting from California and wanted to see some comedy down here in New Orleans and we had a really fun time here. We saw this guy LaTrez and his openers were really funny too. The drinks here were super cheap, only like $6 and damn near everybody in the audience was black, which I prefer because there's so many Caucasian Americans in the bay area these days and sometimes the comedy there can reflect that but the comedy here felt relatable. My top recommendation would be to come a little bit earlier if you wanna get a good seat, but honestly, even the seats in the back weren't bad because it's not a large venue. I would definitely return for a comedy show while I'm in town and would hit up Ernst Cafe for their Creole nachos after. read more

The Howlin' Wolf - We were lookin so cute at the comedy show waiting for it to start - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This is one of those kind of bucket list in Orleans for live music. It's a great bar and a great little tiny place to see Music. The food is great. The service is awesome. Just tip your servers and your cook and you'll have a great time. get there early so you get a good seat. read more

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Nice little dive bar in the warehouse district. Stopped by twice during trip to the NO for PCA 2026. Got the delicious Cuban sandwich. Hot, fresh ingredients that hit the spot with seasoned fries. Perfect little spot to eat and enjoy some drinks while out. Friendly service that was willing to help. read more

The Howlin' Wolf - Cuban Sandwich - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Saw a comedy show here a few weeks ago, and the stage was so cool! I've never seen the front of a New Orleans home used as a stage. It's extremely clever and literally sets the stage for an authentic Nola vibe. I saw Wu Tang here years ago as well, Howling Wolf is definitely a legendary New Orleans venue, with great food, cool bar scene mixed in with awesome music and comedy events! read more

We were staying in a hotel across the street and were looking for some late night food. We grabbed a beer and ordered the food to go. This is a great divey spot. It had a good beer variety with local options at decent prices. The food was good and the portions were huge. Service was good and the place had good vibes. We would definitely stop here again. We did not get a chance to see a show, but it looked like a great spot for it. read more

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I got the app sampler, with 2 gator balls, 2 boudin balls, 2 meat pies, and 2 crawfish pies. They were each small-bite portions but altogether it was filling. I had it as a dinner portion but could also be split between two folks for lighter bites. The boudin ball was the best of the bunch, even though as a Louisianan I quibble with the shape of this particular snack (it's more cylindrical than ball). But that's not as important as the filling, which was meaty and seasoned well. The crust was crunchy and perfectly proportioned. I wanted to like the gator balls more than I did. They're something like a hush puppy, and with the gator texture it was fairly rubbery. It was a little sweet and better when dipped in one of the side sauces. The (mini) meat pies were passable. Savory ground beef and crunchy pastry crust. I note this is mini because traditional ones are a bit larger. But the serving size is 4-5 small bites. And small bites are safest with escaping steam! The (mini) crawfish pies were spicy and tender. Be prepared for hot juicy tomato chunks and dripping sauce. They came with two side sauces, savory and sweet. The sauces definitely improved the flavor and texture of some of the bites. read more

The Howlin' Wolf - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Its a dive bar with stages for various shows. Expect basic drinks, affordable entertainment and an occasional roach or two.

My friend and I went here for a Korean rock concert (Rolling Quartz). Service was nice. The stage set up was like a typical small indie show set up, but no complaints on that part. Ambiance was like your average hole in a wall setting. They also serve food and drinks here, but I didn't order anything when I was there. My only complaints would be that I wish they would have had actual seating for us in the back instead of only bleachers, but most people were standing anyways since it's such small venue. Also, parking was definitely a hassle to find, especially since it was during French Quarter Festival weekend (this also resulted in my friend getting hit by a car while finding parking, but thankfully she wasn't injured). Aside from that, pretty decent place for a small rock band concert. I would've critiqued more if I tried the food and drinks there, but maybe next time. read more

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Was visiting for the first time and bought tickets to two back to back shows here. Great location with multiple units inside for various events and activities. I started by attending a burlesque show, that I very much enjoyed. It was a great crowd and the server brought me cheesy fries with a ginger beer :) Then I headed over to where the comedy show was. It was pretty funny with a great crowd. I managed to get away from being picked on by not sitting in the front row. I'm glad I got to hear how folks speak with the southern accent. It was very contagious and catchy. read more

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Friendly place with a funky vibe. Went right before Christmas so it was kinda dead early on a Saturday night. The pulled pork sandwich and the chicken sandwich were both really good. Nice beer list too! read more

We always have our krewe party here. It is an okay place but we weren't impressed with our food. The drinks were good but the water had a very bad taste. Small bathrooms so there is always a wait. read more

Great little hole in the wall. Decent beer selection at a decent price. Always has some local stuff which is nice. Great little grill menu in back. Nothing fancy. Sausage dogs, quesadilla, sandwiches and burgers. And a few fried items. Great service from the staff. Definitely worth stopping by for a drink and a bite. read more

Great vibe! Late night fun. Service was top tier. Food... speaks for itself! Great spot! read more

The Howlin' Wolf - Sign out front - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Totally nice bartender, with great taste in movies. Generous pour of the whiskey . Tasty snacks. Good beer.

We found this place right by our hotel. Looking for a quick bite and options for drinks. This gem was within walking distance and it did not disappoint. The better than bar food was cooked to order.....yum. The folks were super chill and the seats were comfy. Service was good since everyone was super chill. It's a no pressure- no frills type of place! Our trip to NOLA was definitely made better with a trip here! read more

Stella is amazing with a great sense of humor and attitude! Fun place great atmosphere! Great place to day drink! read more

Avoid Pre-Purchasing Tickets - Buy at the Door Instead! If you're thinking about buying tickets in advance for a show at Howlin' Wolf, don't. My husband and I traveled from Baltimore to New Orleans to see the Hot 8 Brass Band on February 23, 2025, meeting up with friends who flew in from Richmond. We purchased our tickets through TicketWeb back in December, excited for the performance. When we arrived at the venue for the 10:30 PM show, the ticket scanner informed us--only after scanning one of our tickets--that the Hot 8 Brass Band was not actually performing. Instead, we were told the musicians that night were "backup members" of Hot 8, but not the full band. No one mentioned this during ticket sales, and the wording was misleading at best. We immediately asked about a refund. The employee scanning tickets repeatedly brushed us off, saying we just needed to email TicketWeb for a refund. He never offered to get a manager, nor did he suggest waiting for one. After numerous back-and-forths with TicketWeb, they told us the venue itself sets the refund policies--meaning Howlin' Wolf was passing the buck instead of resolving the issue. This was a huge disappointment, especially since we were only in town for a short trip. The lack of clear communication, refusal to provide real assistance, and unwillingness to take responsibility for incorrect information left a terrible impression. If you really want to see a band here, I highly recommend buying tickets at the door so you know exactly what you're getting. read more

The bartender did a great job, but the food is mediocre at best. I had the jambalaya and it was 95% rice and only 5% little chunks of chicken and sausage, unfortunately not worth the price you pay. read more

The Howlin' Wolf - Bar area - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Boycott this restaurant. They treat their employees bad. If you give out a big tip to a waitress. They give you a small portion of your tip and pocket the rest. read more

Awesome music and live show venue. Solid selection of beer and awesomely friendly and helpful wait staff. The food was pretty good. The meat pies were awesome. The gator balls and beignets weren't my thing though. read more

When in NOLA why not? There are more frivolous ways to spend $24 for second row which means the first row to see Trixie Minx and her entourage do burlesque. The act includes an acrobat that also doe's burlesque. Trixie is funny, keeps the show light hearted and engages in some audience participation- mainly women. There was a total of 4 performers with 2 acts each that lasted about 1 hour. The venue feels a little seedy but the clientele was varied from couples to girls night out in all ages and demographics. Sorry no pics read more

Best bar in NOLA!! Best service, great food and drinks! Service is quick and great staff!

I went for the comedy . It wasn't here . One comedic was ok The second one had no jokes He worked the audience and it was so bad I wish I could get my money back . But just don't go there if you want to be entertained .of course I never got a refund that's the update read more

We saw the most amazing standup comedy fest at this venerable bar/restaurant. Such atmosphere, such a great event. Could come here over and over again. Staff are super kind and helpful. Definitely recommend when visiting NOLA! read more

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Was a great time. Stella was helpful with our trip plans and super sweet. Will definitely be coming back

Look,you're going here to see a show, not absorb the "ambience" The divey-est dive bar atmosphere greets you as you enter and the passage into the cavernous entertainment area can be off-putting but if you're there to see a comedian or musical act, then you know what you came for. Bartenders/ barmaids can pop open a bottle or crack a can, and can mix a basic cocktail, but don't go asking for anything fancy (even an old- fashioned was beyond their reach). As for food- I've no idea, I would not have been tempted to eat anything served if I were desperate. See a good act, have a few drinks and have some fun with your friends, this place will fit those conditions. read more

The food is good, the improve needs more work. We were the only 2 customers for the show and now I know why. But if it makes them happy so be it, wasn't our cup of tea. The bar staff was very friendly. read more

Stella was great! So insightful on things to do around the city and amazing customer service! Food and drinks are phenomenal definitely stop by for a good time. read more

Short review! Very nice venue! I attended a comedy show there this past week and everything turned out fine. The bar is pretty open and the "den" is very spacious. The staff were friendly and welcoming. The seats were spaced out per COVID precautions. Only drawback was my Long Island iced tea. We didn't taste a lick of alcohol. Lol. Overall, nice place! Seems great for hosting events. read more

the food is an explosion of flavor in your mouth. the quesadilla is grilled to perfection and i don't know what's in the fries but holy cow. i'd order them again. the bar gives a vibe of a hole in the wall and the bartender is sweet and knowledgeable. read more

If your hungry like a wolf and craving some true NOLA Cajun food then this hole in the wall is where you should be! Seriously not what I expected food wise when stumbling by for a cocktail and so glad I did! This is a hidden secret in my opinion when visiting NOLA for work and staying near the convention center. After a long day of meetings my colleagues and I were thirsty and found the Howlin Wolf on our way back to our hotel. It's small, dimly lit, full bar, a few tables and a small kitchen where the cook prepares everything basically right in front of you. The bartenders are super friendly and happy to recommend a snack or a drink when stopping in. We tried the gator balls, the sampler - crawfish pies, meat pies, bacon beignets, and more gator balls with their secret sauces that were amazing. We also tried the jambalaya and the chicken sandwich which were both so yummy! We ended up stopping in a couple of times while in town and can't say enough good things about the place. Thanks for the hospitality and showing us what true NOLA food was all about. read more

Love. This. Place! The customer service was on point. The food was delicious! Especially the crawfish pie (I think that's what it's called). The bartender was amazing. She made a drink for us based off of what we described. It was so damn good. Will definitely return. read more

The Howlin' Wolf - "Hot 8" Sampler - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Perfect little hop in dive bar that my wife and I walked by. I got hot and needed a few cold ones before we kept cruising around. Bartender was awesome, lots of good beer on draft and the food looked like solid bar type food. Cool place seems like the locals go here so don't expect all the nonsense of bourbon. read more

This is a great option in CBD. It's away from the touristy crowds in French Quarter. Drinks and bar food are reasonably priced. It's destination spot for those that want to check out some of the best live brass bands in an intimate setting. Head over here and skip Bourbon Street. You'll come away with a truly New Orleans experience. read more

The Howlin' Wolf - Beer choices in draft - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We came here for lunch because it's such a quick walk (~3 min) from the conference center. The vibe indoors was a chill bar with ample seating and the bartender was super friendly and bubbly! Food came out quick and was pretty delicious for some relatively simple sandwiches. The Red Rooster sandwich was crispy and moist and the Cubano was a solid classic take. Clearly not super New Orleans-specific food, but there's a lot on the menu that is. I regret not trying the gator balls, which seem to have gotten great reviews. Maybe next time in New Orleans! read more

The Howlin' Wolf - Cuban sandwich and fries - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Great food! Great beer! Great beer selection including lots of local brews. Made a couple of San Diegans feel right at home and prepared to take on the rest of Mardi Gras 2022! The appetizer sampler is the best! I might have been hesitant about the cheddar cheese and bacon savory beignets and gator balls, but they were super tasty with the spicy House sauce! Thank you for the excellent service and tips on other fun places to explore on our first trip to New Orleans! read more

The Howlin' Wolf - Lots of beer taps for local and regional beers! The Cole Porter Jr. and Hopitoulas were fantastic! - Music Venues Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

How did it take me so long to find this place?? I brought a couple of out-of-town friends to see Hot 8 and was floored. Such a fun, intimate vibe. I loved how cheap the drinks were and the chicken quesadilla did not disappoint :) read more

Wahoo! Trixie minx and crew. What fun, what love. Cute and . ......................................................................

Great chicken and sausage jambalaya-we picked it up to go! We were staying a few blocks away.