Wheelchair-accessible car park
No
Cafe Wha in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
No
Amenities
Bar on site
Yes
Restaurant
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Phone: +1 212-254-3706
Site: http://cafewha.com/
Site: http://cafewha.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:Closed
- Wednesday:8–11PM
- Thursday:8PM–2AM
- Friday:8PM–2AM
- Saturday:8PM–2AM
- Sunday:8PM–1:30AM
Comments (199)
A great place to hear live music, entertaining and engaging. Staff is always friendly and attentive. Much props to Forte, the host at the door upon entering, curtious, polite and friendly.
WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER!! The manager was being so rude about two of my friends being only 5 minutes late!! He didn’t let them in while they were waiting outside in the cold for over 30 minutes. To spite, he sat two random people at our table instead of my friends who were outside!! The reason i’m giving two stars is because the vibe of the place was amazing but the manager really brought our mood down. I would not recommend.
The band is incredible, but the guy running the place day to day is absolutely terrible. We had a party of 17 people, and they kicked two of our friends despite the fact that the booth could fit more than 8 people easily. Within minutes, people were dancing on tables but my two friends who paid the entry fees got kicked out of the place for absolutely no legitimate reason. Everyone we tried were answering and scared of the boss and couldnt take a decision. Their refund wasnt issued to them. We spent close to $2000 dollars and were threatened to get kicked out.Such a shame one person is destroying a great place. The guy wears glasses and always has a beany on.
WORST WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! me and my friends had a reservation they got there on time. My husband and I got there late, my friend told them we are 10 minutes away they said you’re lying to us your friends aren’t coming. We got there and they told us to stand outside there was a huge line we waited outside for 30 minutes after 30 minutes of waiting out in the cold they told everyone there’s no room, even all the people online with reservations. And the manager himself told my friends watch your friends won’t be sitting next to you. On purpose he brought a couple to sit at my friends table so me and my husband don’t have a place to sit. Worst customer service especially from the manager of the café wouldn’t recommend
Interesting place. Def not my vibe but it was fun. All ages. The band was amazing. Great musicians. A very layback place.
If I can put negative 5 starts I’ll do it. The worst customer service in NYC, and that’s a new record compared to other places that are rude to their customers. The manager think he’s god, and the staff obey him like he’s god himself.I was waiting (outside) for my money back, for half an hour! I’m telling you, if you look for the worst evening in your life go there, you’ll definitely get it there.
Incredible venue. Staff was great and super friendly. The place is rich with history. Cant wait to go back!
Baked Shrimp band was amazing we loved them. Dont like that Cafe wha takes your credit card when you sit and hold until you close out id give 5 stars otherwise
Cramped and tight but worth the rediculosness because the energy and crowd makes it so much fun. Great live music venue. Service is solid. And gets it done.
Amazing vibe, enjoyed my time here. Highly recommended.
The place is so fun! We had a great time. The drinks and music are amazing!!
Amish Outlaws what a great band music from Van Halen to Wu-Tang Clan and everything in between.
Saw the band Infinity live, awesome experience. They do require that you order at least 2 things from the menu, fyi.
Always a great time at Cafe Wha?This was my 5th time here, and first time to stay for the second show. The entire night was amazing. This band has always rocked, and after 11 years of visiting, I can say it still rocks. If you’re in NY and have a free night on the weekend, go to Cafe Wha? and enjoy the House band. Lots of fun.The food here is pretty good for bar food. The chicken tenders and the fries are excellent. Chips and salsa, not as much (chips are just ok and the salsa is a form of pico that has little flavor and is hard to pick up with the chips). Wings are pretty good, nothing amazing.
The history is relevant upon walking up. Door staff and serving staff were exceptionally kind. The house band was brilliant. They were a straight up funk band which was bizarre considering Bob Dylan’s history of the room but they were so good it didn’t matter. They had Heaven’s Door whiskey on the menu and it was reasonably priced. The crowd was there to dance and it was a blast. Head up that once your downstairs and in the room cell service is limited to none.
I’ve been coming here for years! It never gets old. The Cafe Wha band always gets the crowd out of their seats and dancing in the aisles. So fun!! It’s a great casual night out.
$$ Live Music Band, Tasty Comfort Foods & DrinksMulti Music Genres, Ex:Soul, Funk, Disco, Jazz, R&B, Merengue & More.Once! You Step Into CafeWha. You Are In A Video. You Become Part Of The Show.Everyones Celebrating! Like One Big Family.And SomeTimes Moments Occur & Fantasies Happen...!ThanksLoyal Friend
The house band was phenomenal. Some really talented folks. Purple Rain was definitely our favorite. They did a lot of mashups very well. We would definitely come back. The service was also good. Food was decent. Drinks came quick. There wasnt any cell service, so message your people before you head down.
My favorite place in New York. Attended two live band music shows. Both of them were exceptionally entertaining. Impeccable service. Decent prices.
One if the best places in the areaAwesome service, fair prices and most importantly - the band was phenomenal!
What a cool place this is. Such a great vibe. Love the location. Found out this place has a lot of history here in the Village. Will have to come back for sure
Its really fascinating. performers rock their hearts out. fair price for drinks, food is good. but the performers are definitely the main attraction great place for live music
Great venue with an awesome staff and the food was great and the music was incredible perfect date spot.
Awesome experience, the House Band plays very good music and fills the place with good vibes. Make sure to be there early so you can get good seats close to the stage! The beer selection is a little limited, but the show still makes it worth a visit. Will definitely go back!
I ve been on dec 23 2021 locking for a Jazz night...good band but no jazz..good frozens from the bar..the sound was not perfect, if you go there to listen good music you have to check in advance for the band and to choose the table not so close the stage. imho.
We had cafe wha at our wedding and they were great. We had the best time.
This place was so much fun. Live band and a great atmosphere. It gets packed very quickly.
TERRIBLEFood wasn’t even that good and the one of the male waiters kept brushing himself up on me.They randomized seating (even with the reservation) and sat 2 reservations together.Place should be called wack and not whaGiving 1 star because you can’t give 0.
We had a great night visiting from Austin, TX. The show was fantastic and service was even better. The Cafe Wha band is so fun to watch and they are all so talented. Our server Lakeysha made sure we had what we needed throughout the night. We will definitely be back!
OMG - GREAT MUSIC. GREAT MUSICIANS. COZY SPOT. GOOD FOOD. OMG. WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL.
Live music! The house band is awesome. Amazing chill vibe. There is a two drink minimum, but I mean come on, worth it!
What a blast! SO much fun. GREAT live music, great drinks. Our waitress was phenomenal - she was in charge of drinks for so many people and so many tables, but she killed it. We never had to wait long for refills and we were never forgotten. The hostesses in the front were very nice and helpful! The band was spectacular and there were no breaks to the music. They played a fantastic variety of hits. Loved it and would definitely return!
The music is great, the band is awesome, the people are amazing, but the place crew/management are hypocrites, they ask you to keep your mask on whenever you move, but they put strange people with you on the same table to eat/dance and share the same table with 8 people (the people are so friendly but the way how the place is managing this...)Then when i was leaving they asked me to put on my mask when i step out of the door, i said why, they said “well, it’s not nice for our neighbors to see you stepping out like this”Oh also, at the mid of the show they ask you to pay again of you want to stay for the second part of it.
Went on a Tuesday for Funk Night and it was so fun! A complete throwback with very talented musicians and vocalists. At midnight, they host an open mic that doesnt disappoint. Could have a better food but its pretty standard for these clubs.
House band was *fantastic*. Totally worth going!
Wow! Café Wha? is the type of place that you should visit one night while in NYC. They have good drinks, beers and ok food, but the band is AMAZING! Seriously, theyre fantastic and youll find yourself singing and dancing by the end of the night.
Attended for a larger group open bar. Horrifical service and rude/unhelpful wait staff. Used to enjoy this bar but will pass from now on
Great place to listen to live music from great musics while having a meal served by professional waiters. To go again and again.
Historic place that is nice to visit and read about past prefomers but honestly the food is overpriced and not good, the cocktail I ordered was way too sweet. I recommend if you go: eat before. Drink a beer.The sound however is pretty good. We saw an acoustic show and music and sound wise - everything is good. Go there, but dont do their food.
I am frequent visitor to this bar and this place never disappoints. One of my favorite live music place in Manhattan. The house band is pretty awesome and the atmosphere is amazing. The prices are a bit steep (especially the $15 cover per person) and the service a bit slow but the music is pretty awesome.
Great place for Baby Boomers to listen to live music from the 1960s thru 1980s. Sound system excellent and you can see from anywhere. Prices reasonable for Manhattan.
Went to see the house band on a Sunday night - it was just a fabulous evening
Second time here, this place is amazing. Great entertainment, while you have a drink. The first time I came they opened with a stand-up comedian followed by music, this time around they went straight music. The talent is amazing. Ill always sto oll bu when Im in the city.
Went to see a live performance by Alicia Witt which of course was great! I had read reviews for this venue beforehand and was a bit concerned that as a totally blind person I might have difficulty getting into an out of the location but thank heavens that did not turn out to be the case. One of the workers even helped me out of the venue and across the street which was very nice and above the call of duty
Curious because of its rich (rock) history, we went on a Friday night to the Wha. With our high expectations we were deeply disappointed. It feels like a tourist trap, very commercial. The band was all over the place, from old rock songs to Latin, Jamaican and more recent pop songs. Cliché performance and music. I am not an expert, but I think that the average wedding band plays better. The main character of the band (David?) was acting super fake while video recording himself. Anyway, the public was enthusiastic and ready to dance and cheer. I think this place is great for anyone looking for a quick party, but if you come here for a tribute of old times, or listen to good, old music, performed by good musicians then you’d better go somewhere else.Drinks, prices and service are all fine.
This place is horrendous. I rarely leave one star reviews. While with a group of friends celebrating a birthday, my friend and I were given drinks from a stranger. A few minutes later, a waitress approached us and accused us of stealing the drinks. We, in fact, did not take any beverages that did not belong to us. This accusation was especially humorous because we paid $80 for unlimited beverages. While trying to discuss the accusation, the owner (perhaps manager) threatened to physically assault us. Luckily, his bouncer stopped him. Wholly unprofessional.Long story short: avoid at all costs. Go to any other venue in the West Village. Cafe Wha is a shame of an institution.
GREAT, GREAT, GREAT time!! Live music outside and inside! The house band absolutely ROCKS! Food and drink are great! Try the mozzarella sticks, burger, buffalo chicken sandwich, and chicken quesadilla. The cider and sidecar are good drink options. Limited space for getting up and dancing, but everyone makes it work. The energy from everyone in there in just magnetic. Entire experience, 10/10!
Great place, I would suggest you to book upfront. The live music is great worst of every penny you spent here
Music, food and atmosphere was awesome. Well definitely be back!
Great atmosphere. Good music. Delicious good and drinks. Reasonable prices.
Great for big groups, awesome music! We went on Saturday around 9pm and we didnt know that on weekends they have 2 rounds. And they charge $15 for the first round and if you want to stay for the 2nd round you have to pay $7.50 more. They only warn you about that after the first round finishes.On weekdays the cover is only $5.
Packed tight, but sound quality is superb! Emilie Sutees & Burgandy are a must see ....WOW!
I give 3 stars only because of the great band!!!Music was awesome 👌 great energies and good vibes. The food was horrible though so dont come hungry. Also you have to pay 15$ donation each + order two drinks per show and food. The food was served cold and uncooked, my friend ordered too and her food was also served cold and flavorless. Food and drinks over priced and definitely doesnt worth it. If Ill come back its only because of the great bands! and will only order drinks and sides.
What a great night! The Houseband are amazing!! Something for everyone.
This was one of our favorite spots to go with my friends while studying a master’s exchange program in the city. The live music was always super cool and they also have a singer for Latin music in Spanish (he used to play with Wilfrido Vargas! And he told me once he was my Uber! Too much coincidence but it’s true!)We danced every time and was so much fun! The drinks are ok, it gets very packed but you will definitely have tons of fun. Oh I miss those days!
Cafe Wha was EXPLOSIVE! 😎😁 ALWAYS so diversified with a cultural mix of great talent. Music, food, drinks & the ambiance is ALWAYS so amazing at The Wha...Dancing in the isles is ALWAYS fun to do & fun to watch.If youve never been, I highly recommend it.
No just comedy they have great live bands 👌 I was so happy to come back here after so many years ... Still fun 😊
That was great. if you want to feel the real america, listen to good music, and spend a great evening with friends, I recommend it to everyone 👌
Well, one of the best live music nights in the city. Blues Spanish and mix . Just amazinf
This is the first and last picture I took before having the time of my life! Cafe Whas live band is one of the best Ive seen in a while! Definitely the spot if youre looking to just hang out & dance!!
Music and band was great. Unfortunately, drinks and food are terrible! This place uses cheap liquor and cheap liquor is a no-no when paying high prices for cocktails and drink... drinks were bitter and had a lasting terrible after-taste. When asked to used Makers Mark (decent) for the Old Fashioned we were charged an additional fee... the drink was already expensive and the glass was filled with ice. I wish we could have just skipped the drinks and food and pay (as we did) for the concert.
We went there with our group of friends last night as we were regular customers years ago it was already the last set for the band ...we ordered drinks and the waitress told as if we want to order again last drinks since bar is closing so we said sure and had to wait for our orders to come in..when it arrived of course we havent even consumed the drinks and the rude staff suddenly came to our table and started saying we should leave and the bar is close already 😤so whats the sense that we ordered and paid for a lot of money for the drinks only to asked to leave?i sure hope management should look into this..kinda disappointed bigtime we were treated badly i guess bec were all asian btw we were all healthcare workers!i dont think i would go back here again...
Went back to Cafe Wha? First time in a few years. Had a great time just like aleays.
Place is pretty cool. We went on a Thursday night and they had a live band playing. They played a great variety of songs. Its a bit squishy when its crowded but most people are cool about it. They have booths and table seating which is nice. They have a decent drink menu and a lot of servers there taking drink orders so you never have to wait too long for drinks which is always a plus. You do have to pay a cover charge and check your shopping bags if you have any with you so be prepared for that.Overall we had a great time.
Apparently returning a lost customers hat gets you yelled at by immature employees working the line outside who assume everyone is trying to mess with them because theyre close to the Comedy Cellar. Was called an obscene name and when I took issue, was followed up with by a manager that asked me to be a bigger man despite his employee yelling at me for handing them a dropped hat. Sorry for being a good person?
Amazing house band! So fun we came back twice in three nights!
The $15 cover and one drink minimum was so worth it considering the wide ranging talent and musical spectrum of the house band. I also thought the drinks were really affordable. I had so much fun, I’ll definitely be back. A note that this location (in a basement) is not accessible and I do agree with other reviewers that the seating is super tight, but it didn’t sacrifice the great time I had.
The entertainment here was amazing. House band was absolutely fantastic. Service was good. Chicken wings were delish. I didn’t find this place to be any more “affordable” than other places in NY as stated in another review. Drinks are about $14 unless drinking beer, then $8. Food is pretty overpriced too. However, I still enjoyed the music and overall experience. Also, gents, if you’re bringing a bag they make you check it for $2. Cover Thursdays $10.
Great band that plays many genres of music
I’m not the type to leave much negative reviews but as someone who’s been to this venue pre-pandemic I was seriously disappointed with my recent experience. They required us to buy at least 2 drinks (had to be alcoholic) and my wife and I don’t drink alcohol at all! They couldn’t even make the exception and serve us regular drinks that were not overpriced. Instead they offered to sell us $20 tshirts (per person). Not feeling it.. this place needs some work and rethinking to provide a more equitable experience for guests
RUDE MANAGER RUDE STAFF NEVER WORTH YOUR MONEY OR TIME!Well I wish I had read the reviews before heading there with my friends. We had terrible experience on the door! Even though we had reservation, they kept us outside in the cold for 40 minutes. We were never clearly instructed about the entrance fee or when they would let us in etc, the day before on the phone. I can understand that the staff was not professional enough but what about the MANAGER? He clearly had some ANGER MANAGEMENT ISSUES and started yelling us on door in front of everyone just because we stepped in 2 seconds before he told us. UNBELIEVABLE!!! He suddenly cancelled our right to go inside even though we (10 people) agreed upon being there for the 10:30 pm show. Manager is reflecting his own psychological issues by yelling to women and basically playing the tough boss card. Save your time and money for places where you can at least be treated as human. So disappointed by their attitude and cancelling our reservation. There are tons of places in NYC to have fun and listen live music.
Good song, drinks and nice people!
Terrible and disrespectful management! Very unprofessional.These people expected us to leave a 20% tip on a cover charge of $15 per person for a group of 6, then threatened to have his bouncer to REMOVE us from the place if we didn’t pay more tip on the already left 15% on the drinks and food. The service was trash anyways, didn’t deserve anything. The Manager wouldn’t leave the table until more tip was left. I’ve never heard that ever in my life even in high end spots. Will not return, do yourself a favor and go to another spot. Do not give your money to these con artists!
I used to love this place pre covid and was looking to come back but with all the repetitive negative comments about the same exact thing and doesnt seem like things are changing is detering myself and Im sure others from coming. Hopefully things change otherwise Im sure things wont last much longer. The live band was great. The throwback music video during the breaks, the food which now sounds horrible was good. The atmosphere was out of this world. Not sensing that to be the case.
Always great!! So much fun!
This is my absolute FAVORITE live music venue in the city. I love love love it. The band is great. Prices totally reasonable. Such a fun place - every time.Always reserve a spot ahead of time. Show up a little early to get a good seat. Expect to sit near other people or share a table with them - get over it and have a great time.Starts with a comedy bit and the the band comes out. Enjoy it!!
Since Cafe Wha was the very first venue I performed at back in my High School Days I was extremely excited once I found out I would be going exactly there for my first post covid-19 event. Yes, I was finally getting my life back. After lockdown for over a year I needed a night out with friends. My friends were on stage performing their show, The Woman of Rock. The performance was impeccably. Becky Curtis performed songs by Heart, Janis Joplin, Pat Bennatar and many other of my favorite artists.The band was amazing with JT Curtis on guitar with a slamming group of musician.The sound system was working quite well. You could feel the bass drum and clarity of the snare along with the bass and keys all blend well with the vocals. The Cafe was well managed and a friendly person would assist you while help you to find your seat. The food was delicious and service was on the spot with the raise of an eyebrow.
We went when capacity opened to 50 percent. Strong safety protocols were in action and ever table had a plexi barrier between each other. The music for the fist step was amazing, lots of energy and great, great performances.
It was my second time to come here. It’s a fun night out, with world class performers all for a 15$ cover charge. The singers are amazing, especially the girl who is the lead in the house band. Honestly... give that girl a record deal! The servers are quick with the drinks, as per the food, I think it’s better to eat before going. Make sure to reserve a place before going, otherwise, you won’t get in.
Awesome place...for r&b live music from the past...food and drinks are good...i frequent this place when I can....monday night was $10 cover charge included in tab...
A very good live music place full of talented performers, great energy, and fun crowds. The place is quite busy on a Saturday night, and dont mistake it to be a jazz bar (though I hear they play jazz at times). Expect it to be pricey, though.
The absolute best house band in NYC and beyond. Ive been coming here for many years and will continue to do so. Whatever the occasion or for no reason at all, its suxh a good time! We have celebrated many birthdays and Ive brought many out of towners here and they are equally wowed and always ask me to bring them back when they return. The place is simply a must do wether you live here or are visiting NYC!
First, let me explain... The 5th star in a 5 star rating, in my opinion, is reserved for the dining experience of a lifetime. But thats not always whats best. Sometimes less is far more! And if what you want is the dim lit, smokey(even without the smoke), night club feel with good food and great LIVE entertainment, then you would probably give Cafe Wha? your 5th star. This place is exactly that. Which is perfect for a date night, ladies night, boys night out for a few drinks or whenever grown folks find occasion to gather. Check their calendar online; Im sure youll see an event thatll suit any taste. Enjoy!!
I heard a lot about the place and we finally went to check it out.It definitely doesnt worth. We were in a group of 4 people, they put us in the corner of the sound technician, it barely fits 2 people, we could sit at a better table only if we buy a bottle of some drink, that costs around $200,00. After they didnt fill up the table they placed other people that didnt do reservations as we did.The band was very weak for the famous of the place and the comedian show very poor. The prices dont help too, the beverages are expensive.The waitress was good.I dont recommend this place at all, you can spend your money at a lot of better places around.
Great musicians and singers. Great waiters and waitresses. Fun Just be aware you are charged a $15 cover per person and theres a minimum of $20 consumption per person. Also, they expect to be able to seat 8 people per table so.... if you are a party of 4, they will seat 4 other people at your table. This is kind of awkward if you are seated at a booth.
Not bad
My friends and I were regulars at the Cafe wha until last Saturday night when this short guy with long hair was super rude to us and intentionally didn’t let us in and we had to wait for 20 minutes. This is nyc and we can find live music everywhere! If you don’t want to lose your customers please train your employees!! So disappointing!
Great music, very expensive price for medium food
Went on a Friday night to listen to house band. Pretty darn good professional musicians for having to play cover songs. Music spanned several decades so there should be something for just about everyone to like. Ages of patrons ranged from millennials to grandmas. Everyone there seemed to enjoy themselves. I wouldn’t bother with “reservation” system online. We had a reservation and got in line just like everyone else. Get in line early to secure a spot near band, although place is small enough that there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.
Always a great time. The live bands are always full of energy, high quality, and the vibe is real inclusive. Intimate setting, as in youre on to of one another as it gets packed quickly. Drinks are reasonable. Coat & Bag Check is very helpful.
Great band that really knows how to engage a crowd. They musicians play well and keep the beat constantly running while four vastly different and all talented vocalists provide diversity in genres and styles, singing great hits from the 60s up to modern pop that everybody knows and can sing and dance too. The comedian was also funny. On the other hand, it is way too small and crowded and the prices are not exactly cheap
Me and some of my friends went, and we were dissapointed that the waiter was continuously asking us to buy more foods and drinks. First of all the place was empty for a long time, and 2nd of all that constant interruption was rude. Never coming back to this place. The band was great but everything else was an unpleasant experience.
Discovered this place quite accidentally. Was pretty crowded and service was slow, but I couldnt blame the wait staff for that because they had their work cut out balancing drinks and food amongst dancing patrons in a really tight space. The highlight is the live music, they have a lineup of extremely talented musicians specializing in different genres and theres stuff to like for fans of rock, blues, pop and even some lively Spanish music. Great place to have a good time if you like live music and its pretty affordable considering its in Manhattan.
Located next to the cellar, this spot hosts live shows and once you walk in, youre in for a fabulous time. Generally a cover charge is required with a one or two drink minimum. The staff is fantastic and will make sure you get your drinks on time. Great atmosphere if you get to watch a good band performing.
The whole experience was awful. The host rushed us in and tried to sit us at a table already preoccupied. The waitress was not informed about the menu and brought us the wrong drinks. Get this, they charge for refills on a SPRITE? So you pay $10 jus to drink comfortably with your meal. The drinks are not the great. The band that was performing was the best part. Make sure you ask questions when you get there. They will charge you just to breathe air. We were there 25 minutes (again the entire experience seemed rushed) and the waitress was not concerned with ensuring our comfort but only increasing her gratuity (which is automatic). A total waste!
Eclectic music all live. A good place to go for ages 25 to 60 if you want to eat have good drinks listen to good live music and get up and dance some of those calories off you can dress casual or you can dress up you wont be out of place. All genres of music are covered R&B to classic rock and roll.
We stopped in here around midnight as we wanted to catch some live music. One of the best random stops weve ever made. The house bands is INSANE, playing all genres of music. Their talent is top-notch. We were able to see a woman named Kennedy sing with the band - one of the best vocalists Id seen live in a long time.I cannot suggest more going to see a performance at Cafe Wha? Any fan of music will enjoy and be glad they went.
Perfect hole in the wall for a lowkey date night. Love the live music, band, and the different sets they have. The food was great for a great deal. The drinks were definitely a plus too. My date loved it and we plan on returning. Best advise would be to check their calendar online to seen what bands are playing on which days. The house band is great!
I absolutely LOVE this place! They have an awesome staff, great vibe, and brilliant performers! The type of music varies which makes it all the more fun! it is a great place to kickback and dance or just listen to great music. Ill definitely be celebrating my birthday there.
Its a great music venue with good food but the drinks arent strong at all for the price. I suggest Just sticking to beer.
Very good atmosphere, live band is great, played lots of varied music, engaging with the audience. Live comedian was very funny. Food is good as well.The only negative is that the place can be a little cramped, not much leg room when sitting at a table.
I love it here! I went on a Saturday with friends. The music is great many genres, music is live! Drinks are fresh! Amazing atmosphere! Look forward to going again. Such a great time, friendly staff as well!
It’s a great place to go with friends and family love ❤️ Cafe Wha
House band was absolutely amazing. Lead singer’s pipes were unreal. Fun environment, great playlist, engaging and interactive band. Absolutely recommend attending. Good, prompt service. Comedian at the beginning was subpar but band more than made up for it.
Many of the reviews here have a common theme - good musicians with poor service and dishonest management. I made a reservation for 4 after checking out the website and calling to confirm that on a weekday minors can attend a show for a $15 cover charge and a minimum of $20 spent on food/sodas (same as adults). We didn’t get past the security check downstairs - the manager insisted that we pay $15 cover plus a $40 up front charge per minor. He agreed that this wasn’t what the website says, he just shrugged and said the website was wrong. Wasting our time to get there for the show didn’t seem to bother him at all.
I have been here 3 times out of my four visits to NYC !! And I have enjoyed the place all 3 times. The small plates or sides with the drinks are nice !! The musics great. The place has a nice feel. Once we were a large group but service was good for a busy bar night.They have live music too !! I loved going back each time I visited New York.
Chill decor and design, but expectations were SEVERELY let down due to poor management / experience. Ill break things down if interested:When I first arrived, the entry was very confusing. There is a comedy bar next door, and many people were getting an a very long line just to be told that it was a different entry. Same for the restaurant line next door. Likely due to a busy weekend crowd, but the exact place to enter is a bit confusing.Once I got in, I was told that I had to check my bag for $3.00. I was meeting a party of 5 that wasnt there yet, and there was no cell service, as this is in a basement setting, so I went back up to try calling them. They were at a nearby bar, so I said I would come meet them to report that there was likely no more room for us (it was already VERY full at 8:30). I grabbed my bag and told the staff Id be right back.When we returned (less that 10 min later) the friendly doorman said This is your party huh? lol So he clearly recognized me. I was with a friend that apparently knew some of the staff, and we were told that they had plenty of room for us. Before we were seated, I was told that I again had to pay to check my bag. I mentioned that I had just barely stepped out. but was informed that I still needed to check it again and that it would be $2.00. I said that I was just told not minutes ago that it was $3. I was then told oh, yeah. Thats [staff members name]. He always charges an automatic tip for himself...I payed the 2.00 fee...When we were seated, the seats were VERY cramped. I realize that Im a 6 ft. tall guy, but the benches were SO CLOSE to the table it was nearly impossible to get it. We squeezed in just tight enough for the outer person sitting had to half cheek it, and we had little arm and leg room, but were happy to be seated. The server came over and took drink orders (there is no bar, you must wait for a servers attention), and I asked if I could be on my own tab as I would be ordering cocktails-- which are the more expensive drinks on the menu-- and would like to pay separately. I was informed that they were unable do that.The cocktails themselves were not very well priced, as I have had much better cocktails at venues just as good that dont charge a cover or a bag fee and are far more comfortable. I ordered a drink that cost $15.00 (as most are) that was flavorful, but not very strong. I felt almost nothing from it and it tasted mostly of the mixer ingredients. My friend ordered another one for me which again was good, but had no real enjoyable effect of having a drink.The band was very talented, nothing bad to say about them at all!Would I go to this venue and pay for pricy drinks, a cover, mediocre service, and bag fee JUST to see them? No. They were wonderful and had tons of energy! But nothing EXCEPTIONAL.It may have had something to do with the fact that everyone was crammed into their booths and tables and there is no dance area. Maybe 5 ppl or so can dance in the aisle, but servers are constantly squeezing by. After we asked for the check, it took a while to get and there was some discrepancy that the manager had to fix, which took a while and Im still not sure was resolved.While this is a hip place to be, Its definitely for tourists. There are much better places with better prices, atmosphere, space, and just as good live music. If I went again it would have to be someone elses treat, and even then Id make sure it was not on a weekend. Given my choice, I would not choose to go again.
What a fun night!! The house band was entertaining, great variety of music: rock, jazz, latin, reggae, blues. Only deduct a star because the food options were not yummy. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and chicken tasted burnt. Dont come hungry and youll be fine.
Far too overcrowded, me and my husband were sat on a bench with 2 others and we were so squashed in we could hardly move and the woman sitting us down was incredibly rude. The cocktails are not that nice at $14 each and I was told by friends that had previously visited that the food was not good, so we ate beforehand one of the many nice restaurants close by. However the music is brilliant!
Such a great place. Mom and I went, and we had so much fun. Free entry, you only pay for food and drink (obviously). Waiter was so nice, kept checking in on us. Band is so great, organized singers who know how to entertain a crowd. We spent 4.5 hrs without knowing how fast the time flies.
Great drinks,Great energy and the house band is 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Great as usual even with all the adjustments for covid & precautions for safety. Live music, great food but with ok drinks. The atmosphere was priceless however and THAT makes up for any complaint i have in this review.
Usually I dont like to go to crowded live music places because I always get disappointed. Here you will NOT! What a great place to be. What a house band they have! These people have voices, unbelievable! I just had to get up and dance and never wanted to sit down again.Great place to be! Go for it!
Best hangout place to jam on a live band with friends and family.
A classic. Other than being home to various world class performers, this restaurant venue offers nightly class A entertainment, counting with a groovy house band. A nice selection of bar food always goes great with an ice cold beer. I recommend this place for a night of groove and dance and in some nights, get to perform with the band in their open mics.
All of the artists were superly good, It was unforgettable night to have beer there. They are so good at singing and playing guitar! I love it, here is one of my favorite!
Some girlfriends and I went on the summer cruise around NYC. It was a great deal for the price. The band was so much fun. Everyone was dancing in the sweltering heat. The drinks were fairly easy to get and the food was pretty decent as well for boat food.Other people there dancing were nice too for the most part.We took so many pictures. It is highly recommended! There is a reduced price if you order a bit ahead of time.
Awesome so many great things to say about this place. 1st the cafe what band is amaizing the band play the sound the singing. I felt like one as at a concert. So it looks really small from the door then you make your way down some stairs to the basement. Has a pub like feel and look with booth seating and tables. There is one slight set back but, really didnt turn out to be after. So the booths hold 8 people so if you reserve for 2, 4 or 6 you will be seated with other people. If they have a sold out show. However, we sat with amaizing people who made the night fun as a group. The price range is one dollar sign and we enjoyed the food and drinks. Staff was awesome came around often and checked on us. Very helpful with the menu and all questions. Me and my group of 4 had a great time. The best!!
Cafe Wha? is a weird twin to the Comedy Cellar. They fit as many people as they can into every table, so you may be sharing with some randos but you probably wont mind! Youll be too busy singing along with the house band. If you like to dance sit on an outside seat, at some point throughout the night youll find the aisle filled with people just dancing their hearts out. Be aware there is a cover charge per person added to your bill, and also a per person item minimum (but they are upfront about this at the place and all over their website). Overall great music, and great service!
This has been one of my favorite places in the past for many years but somehow today the band was disappointing. The quality of musicians was always fantastic but it seems to have deteriorated. I hope they get back to what it used to be. Service was great in spite of the long wait. Cost was reasonable compared to NY.
The drinks and food are good. The waiters are ok. The music is awesome because of the band. The atmosphere is always live and enjoyable. I always have a great time when I go.
They made us ( 5 guy) to seat in 4 seat table and then ask to seat two more strange in our table 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ when we complain about that they just started acting rude and made us leave and also charged us for a service whoch one they never provided. manager just 0 from 10. very disappointed.
Great music , but very overcrowded.
Loved the music, food and atmosphere.Its proper Old-school with some really lovely soul and R&B music. You can always tell that a music venue is good when their equipment is high class (good bose sound systems).They allow people from the audience to come in and share their talents too (music or poetry or even stand ups)Good soul food, some of the best batter fried chips (fries for you Americans) ever!My rating is on the low side because I was charged a 10 dollar cover charge over my 40 dollar food bill (for one person). I think this is appalling and I feel they should waive the cover charge for those who dine in as their food isnt cheap either.Good place nevertheless.
Ive been going here for years and I have to say its so Bad now that I cant go back. Its always been too cramped and pushy which you can deal with but now its crazy expensive. New owners started $350 bottle service tables in front of the band with bad service/food, the new owners are so F***ing greedy they couldnt care less because they know tourist will come. My bill was $650 for 3 people and after the 1st set they moved us to another table because I didnt want another $350 bottle. We stayed for 1 song and left but they charged us a 2nd entrance fee. Also mangers are rude and ignore you when you try to talk to them. This place went way down. The musicians are consistently great though and always try. Its a shame they have to play for these greedy owners. It was a much better vibe with the old owner (Noam) who is a musician.
Awful customer experience.After todays poor customer service from the hostess and the manager, I will no longer come to this place which I used to recommend to everyone.Tonight, the venue was half empty. The waitress managed to seat 4 in our booth for 3 people. I let her and the manager know that we were not feeling comfortable sharing such small space when there were seats and tables available. Manager didnt care.
Fun live music with reasonable price. this place doesnt have a big space, youll squeeze to share tables and chairs with others. if you like soft rock music in 90s to 2000, you might enjoy here.
Oh what can I say about this place. This is one of the best places for live music in NYC. I wasnt big fan of live music but this place has changed my opinion. It gets crowded every night and the space is tight. On Fridays and Saturdays, if you dont have a reservation be prepared for 30-45min wait. There is usually a cover charge for $10 on weekdays. I believe its $20 for Fridays and Saturdays, but Im not 100% sure.Overall a great place to come to with family, friends or a date. However, this place gets loud so I wouldnt recommend it for first dates.
Love the band. Great music. Would not recommend if youre brown.I was a regular here until I felt racially profiled. I was joining some friends who were already seated and the moment I walked in, I was led to the table with other brown people. This was the first instance of racial profiling Id experienced at Cafe wha. Then, after wed ordered drinks, we were asked to leave because of an alleged smell that was coming from our table. The manager, Graham Astute, refused to give us any more detail than that except that theyd gotten complaints from numerous guests about it and the manager himself had ascertained it. Needless to say, we were very confused. The place was full but as we all got up to leave, I looked around and realized we were the only brown people in the room. They also had a group of 4 white individuals waiting as we left, who took our table. This might all be coincidence but it definitely smells of racism. Its just not something I expected from an establishment like this.
This place is absolutely amazing,the house band is so talented. I loved the food the vibe and the service!
The ambience, atmosphere and staff was amazing, we went as a group and had a blast, had some drinks, enjoyed the music and danced a lot! The band performed modern and old hit song which was pleasant for every age group.
Simply the most fun I have had at a smallish music venue ever!!! People who wrote negative reviews because they were seated with people they didn’t know and service was spotty simply don’t get it. It’s like going to an off broadway show and complaining about leg room. Or going to a comedy club and expecting the whole table to yourself. And, what’s so wrong with partying with strangers while listing to the most incredible, versital, multi-ethnic band you have ever seen. They played everything from Pink Floyd to Pink. I never knew I loved Reggae until Iast night (2 or 3 songs). I would go back again and again to hear the House Band! Please save us our table by the entrance. The staff hangs there when the music is playing and they were delightful and answered all my “who sings this?” questions. To all the negative reviewers, you missed a great night, you should have just chilled out and went with the flow.... or rhythm I should say.
Had great time! House band was AMAZING! Food was tasty, drinks were good. Tight space make sure you check in your coats.
The band was awesome! The singer Kim was amazing. Loved the energy and the vibes. Thank you Cafe Wha for a great night!
Music is awesome but the services by the waiters is lousy, stink and extremely slow. It took 30 minutes to be served and another 20 minutes to finally get the food. After the event ended, it took the waiter another 15 minutes to returned to my credit card; I actually went looking for the waiter and when I finally found him, he was taking orders from the next set of crowd that was coming to see a show... I was extremely pissedHeres my recommendation, bring cash with you, so you dont have to wait or go looking for the waiter and you also wont get stuck inside the cafe. Also, another reason for taking cash with you, they like to hold on to your credit card, to run a tab...its never a good idea to let a restaurant hold on to your credit card because anyone can order on your credit card without your knowledge.Overall, go there for the music and entertainment and not the food and services; you will be very disappointed, angry and frustrated
Cool live Music, nice waitress, who however enjoyed watching the show over bringing our stuff. In addition 15 $ cover is too much for a seat where you only can see the wall and not the stage. And 120 $ for 4 beer, a cocktail and some chickenwings is way too much - sort of overcharged.It was an expensiv experience, but I dont need to go here again
If it didnt have a kick arse house band, Id give this place ZERO stars for hospitality (testy seater) and food (LUKEWARM) and drinks (WATERED DOWN AND OVER- PRICED). It doesnt help that they hold your credit card and try to force you to tip for crappy service.. Took staff 3x to get the drink right..or should I say, I gave up waiting for the manager to come over---he was super busy After about an hour, a staff member comes over with individual parts to the drink.. so I became Isaac from the Love Boat. Music was awesome.Heck NO! was I paying an additional charge to stay over for the next show. $15 p.p. was more than enough on the cover..And then the horrendous service??? Settled the bill..server questioned/got aggressive about the tip given. $%$^ hes lucky he got that. I would have paid with credit card..and he would have gotten NOTHING.Overall, will return for the music, but will pre-game it to avoid the weak drinks!
Awesome vibes! Great staff, starting a local band show at 9pm, dont miss it!
I was so excited to visit this place because my friend recommended so when some friends from Germany came to visit NYC we took them there. Let me tell you something I never felt so embarrassed in my entire life.Right after they bring you what you have ordered you will be ask to pay immediately or they will tell you to leave if you don’t do as they say. Im death serious, I never visited an establishment with that kind of policy.The staff is rude but the Manager is a “Disgusting Pig”Sad tho because the music is pretty good..
Truly disappointed!!!!!!My sister is deploying to Qatar for the Air Force and I wanted to take her to a nice chill spot. We arrive at 8:10pm and we are seated in the back. It is hard to see the stage from where we are seated so I inquiry if we can sit closer. The hostesses ushers us to a closer seat. 15min later the Manager, I believe his name is Greg, comes to the table and ask us if he could move us to another table. Reason being a member of the band has guest arriving. I am truly shocked that a manager is requesting, paying customers, to move to another seat. The table did not have a reserved sign and furthermore a hostess sat us there. I politely asked for my credit card that was being held and exit the venue.
This is a second time we bought tickets and very disappointed. The music itself is really good; however, the service is unacceptable.We had to wait 30 min for the waiter to come and take our order; while other people who came much later were already eating. Another 20 min with reminder to get a water and when finally food came salad we order didnt have chicken.After show was over, we had to wait another 15 min and hunt our waiter down to get a check, while he already started to take new orders for upcoming new group of people.We bought tickets for 2 more shows, but will try to cancel it and get our money back.
Went here on a date (Sunday night) and, at first glance, thought the place to be too loud to have a conversation. By the end of the night, didnt need conversation because my date and I were singing along and dancing to our favorite tunes. Ive for a list of friends to being here. Absolutely recommend it for anyone that enjoys a touch of old school and new school music.
They sit 4 people in a small corner of a shared table. Irrespective of the fact that we had a reservation. Extremely expensive if you consider the band played 8 very well known songs, nothing special and than they stopped for the break which means you must pay another round of 15 dollars if you want to watch the second part of the show. I know it is very famous and the line was huge outside, I just dont understand how is that possible.
The best place for cover music in the city
Kind people working there, we had a good time. Although we didn’t have the chance of communicating with each other as it was very loud. Other than that, nice live music and great musicians!
Horrible! Absolutely horrible door staff. There were people waiting in line for an hour or more and the door staff continued to let in friends and people they knew. When asked what time people would be let in the staff told people 11, but that time came and went. People continued to freeze outside while the door staff ignored them. This establishment is not a place for people who want to enjoy a bar and listen to music. It’s for friends of staff only.
Great music, good beer. Heavy on the character, But deservedly.
This is one of my favorite late night spots to visit in NYC. Located in Greenwich Village Cafe Wha? Is a great spot for a date or a group night out. They have an amazing band playing covers of well known songs from every decade. The instrumentals and vocals are beautiful and the energy is amazing. The food is also pretty good and the drink options are decent. There is a two drink minimum but the entertainment is worth it.
BE CAREFUL with what they charge you in the card. People that paid with card in my group were charged $3-8 more of what they signed. We dont know who did this change in the tips/receipt.Also, waitresses are rude. One told 3 times a friend that wasnt feeling OK: everyone has to order a drink. In bad manners. And the rest of the people ordered 2-3 drinks...2 times, 2 bad experiences. The charge of more money is unbelievable. Despite the good music, I wont come back.
A Village staple for drinks and live music. Cool atmosphere though a bit Spartan and the cellar vibe largely smells of spilt beer like a frat house. The overhead lights get quite annoying as they flash them during the performances. Drinks are pricey, and add up through a long performance. The house band is pretty awesome. They roate in and out singers to mix up the sound and it keeps things lively. They played a great mix of modern music from Oasis to Taylor Swift. Even the comedian who opened up for them was pretty good. We stayed for two sets but they stay out a while so a set is pretty long.
Was there with a large group of friends. We had a BLAST! The band was amazing and the drinks were good. Would definitely go again!
The band is talented. Its live music modern jazz. I had an incredible time with my bf. Eat before you come though. Its bar food. Come for the entertainment in music
$5 door charge then added tax to it, which was a little odd but didn’t think twice about it until after paying the bill for 8 of us and leaving, when we realized they added another $5 “music” charge per person to the drinks bill. Would’ve been happy paying a $12 entry and knowing up front.
Still has a great house band but the owner has gotten greedy. Let me elaborate....We had reservations for five people so they seated us in the front for a table of eight. They were determined to squeeze 3 more people in. So people arrive with no reservations get seated at the same table and the bouncer is forcing us to change seats so this couple could face each other. So we drop over $200 on the first set...and they want to charge another cover for the next set (1/2 price off the original cover). I thought we were going to head out and told one of the staff this. My wife and her father decided to they wanted to stay but because I told the staff member we were leaving, we were forced to move to another table as this one is now reserved for bottle service. Happy Birthday to my wife. By the way, the table sat empty for the rest of the night.
Fabulous. Original music great eats. Its difficult to find a place like this. You walk in and can witness incredible performances by very talented people. No time to chit chat. Just enjoy the music
My first time in New York and my first experience.O.U.T.S.T.A.N.D.I.N.G!!!The staff, especially Fernanda, was amazing! Smiles for days and always on top of our food and drink refills and needs.The band...simply WOW! Unbelievably entertaining and engaging!Hands-down a 💯💯💯 experience!
On Sunday they had the house band . They played different genres it was very nice and fun
Really cool basement music & dining place. Their house band is amazing, they really know how to do a great show! I particularly liked the rocknroll version of Rihannas Diamonds, way better than the original version! The foods is good, but not exceptional, however the reasonably priced drinks easily make up for that!
Its a Village staple... Great happy hour specials and live music. I went with 4/5 stars, because for some reason I never seem to like any food that I have ordered here. But, its definitely worth a visit for cheap drinks and interesting music!
Very good service and great live music venue, both sound and ambience wise. Food is just regular. Tried the burger and fish n chips. Highly recommended for catching a drink with some live band.
Big line at the entrance in the cold to see the in-house band which someone told to us that was very good. The band was indeed very talented but the gig was commercial. They started with a Pink Floyd cover and ended the night with Beyonce’s New-York Cover. As a rock band but you can’t start with pink floyd put some slow latin in the middle and end the show with Stevie Wonder & Beyonce covers. To me the Caffe-Wha band was like a wedding band trying to do something for everyone while it kept the atmosphere up for the majority of the people there. For me who went there to see a rock performance it was a bit disappointing.
Awesome place, great NYC vibes, good food and awesome band and music. We watched their home band, they played all kinds of genres and they were magnificent.Highly recommended
We probably would have had a much better experience if it wasnt for the terrible service. We had a group of 8 people and our bill was close to $600. Service was the absolute worst and the tip was automatically included in the bill. Our waitress refused to split up the bill 2 ways and once we ordered she never came back for waters or refills. We had to find other waiters to ask and even had to go up to the bar ourselves to order things. Not fun.
What an amazing show!! We stayed for both shows as they said theyd play different songs and had different guest acts, and it was so worth it 😁 We had a great time 😊 PS: the food was yummy too 😍
Bad hause too low selling. Extremely expensive drinks and non of them tastes good. Super unprofessional stuff. Unprofessional waiters too. There isnt place to dance because they want to place as many table as possible. Minimum 20% tip.
Amazing live music if you like rock Motown and soul with an electric atmosphere visit this historic and authentic music bar. Amazing house band when we visited and a wonderful place to dance the night away
The music is some of the best Ive seen in a long time(melting faces), however pity about venue. No room to dance And you pay the same 15$ for a bad seat as you do for a good seat. Also food is disgusting.
Great variety in music from one visit to next. Cozy location. Great hot wings.
Amazing music and drinks in the place that Bob Dylan and many other greats loved to hang out at. Its actually not even expensive, and really keeps up the classic style of the cafe. Well worth a visit as a tourist or as a resident.
Great houseband and very decent food. A good nights out!
We were looking for something to do on a rainy Monday night in the village and stopped by this place. They had an authentic Brazilian band and some great $5 caipirinha specials. It was a great atmosphere and it felt like a Saturday night! Definitely must see their Brazilian band if you’re looking for some fun on a Monday
You go there for the great atmosphere, the live band and the fun youll have. You dont go there for food (Its basic American food: nachos, burger, wings), the drinks (small selection of beers, the cocktails are tasteless and overpriced) it to talk to friends (loud, even when the music is not good). There is 10 USD cover pp.
Wow! Where to begin? We came to a set here after purchasing tickets for two shows. We came in they couldn’t find our tickets and we had to prove we had two tickets (via email). We went downstairs and before we could walk in, the host rushed us in. Then he trie, to sit us at a table that was occupied with a few other guests. My bf declined and we were placed off to the side of the stage. Our waitress also rushed us to order, I ordered a drink and my bf ordered a sprite and a sandwich. She came back to check on us and asked us if we wanted another drink, we said sure. When the bill came not only did she charge me for the wrong drink, my bf had to pay for a REFILL for SPRITE? Then after eating the waitress asked if we’re staying for the second set (again we paid to see two sets), I told her we paid and she said, “no this is something different”. We spent $89 in twenty minutes and it was totally not worth it. The waitress wasn’t informative, the food was subpar and the prices didn’t match the quality of the venue. Probably won’t be going back.
Had a brilliant time here. Make sure you reserve a spot or arrive early to get a table!House band was fantastic and got everyone on their feet.
This place is absolute trash. The staff consists of airheaded zeros. We checked in at the door and walked down the stairs to the hostess who was to seat us. A bonehead stood by the stairs (we assumed he was security) and shouted out that we didn’t have reservations. We explained we checked in at the door and It wasn’t until he blocked us from the venue that he said we were to check in again. We simply did (while wondering why he didn’t ask in the first place to avoid the back and forth) and proceeded with the hostess. She told us our only option was to sit in the inside of a booth with a party of 6 already tightly seated with their table full of plates. It was already so close to showtime and the place was empty so we asked if we could sit at any of the many other empty tables. She got unbelievably rude out of no where, so we decided to leave. Absolute waste of time and energy. I cannot emphasize enough how much this place and their staff is absolute garbage.
A friend went there yesterday and had a very bad experience. The Cafe kicked their group mid diner, still required them to pay cover + $20. Police was involved, supported my friend, but the overall experience was such that he said hell never visit there again.
BE CAREFUL! 😤WORST MANAGEMENT and SERVICE.Very rude manager, impolite waiters, they will surely get deceive you and if something wrong Management humiliates you. Your reservation don’t matter them, u will be staing near the door 30-50 min and maybe they will find some place for you. After this you will be pushing you for to order. Worst management ever! NEVER get back if whole stuff will be not changed!❗️❗️❗️Because music is great but stuff sucks😡
I just got home from that place, went there with my friends, live music was wonderful, drinks had reasonable price. Only the fact, the overcharged me, pissed me off, instead of 90$ for some reason the f.. charged me 132$. WTF??? Ill definitely make sure, i get money back!!! My server was Rick... not your first time of doing this sht to your lovely clients, right?
Its been a while since I have been to a show here. Came out tonight for a Birthday Tribute to Michael Jackson. Beautifully done by Kennedy and her wonderful team singing and playing the music of Michael Jackson. My server Frenanda awesome and sweet brought my order a bucket of french fries and some bbq sauce wings. Delish! I had the best seat and an amazing time. Cant wait to come back.
Amazing band. Great service.
We came to see our friend at Black Velvet night, made sure he signed up early and saw how artists way down the line our going up the stage. What a disgrace. Ending up leaving without seeing him. Not to mention they overcharge me $200 on credit card. Never going back there.
Amazing place, amazing shows!
One of the best places to go in NY, amazing band performs there, you can get drinks food whatever you like, and usually there is a $5 cover but totally worth it.Some big names have performed here such as Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Dylan etcA must go
Dirty and disgusting place with very disrespectful and unprofessional customer approach. You are just wasting Your hard earned money if You come here. If You go to Comedy Club or the Blue Note or a nice may be small but professional restaurant You will do much better. Way much better! Let me tell a couple of things so You know where not go to if You want to have a nice and pleasant night.First: You sit down with Your friends or with Your Wife or Husband and as soon as You are served with a drink or even just with a soda You will be asked for Your credit card or pay right away for Your drinks. This is very-very unprofessional, disgusting and last but not least disrespectful attitude toward the guests who gave the restaurant His/her initial trust!!! Congratulation! Great Marketing Concept toward the Customer!! If the Owners are afraid that some guests leave without paying than the Owners/Management should find an alternative solution but not in the way that They show distrust to first time Guests!Second: Customer orders food that comes with a certain sauce. Lets say the He wants a little extra sauce with His food. They charge for Him right away. How can a restaurant be soooo miser!!! I have already been a guests in many restaurant in US and Europe, but for a little extra sauce I have never been charged. Miserliness!Third, papers and dirty napkins are everywhere on the floor! Like filthy rats! After the first set it does not matter, that there are dirty paper napkins, used toothpicks under the table....not...no problem...the staff lets the Guests sit at dirty table, garbage under it. Nice!!!! That is Hospitality!! I wonder what the United States Department of Public Health would say about it. Repulsive!Believe me You better go to somewhere else if You want a pleasant and unforgettable night! Where You are not treated with disrespect and distrust! I share my experience on the Internet with some Social Media and review sites because this place is everything except professional.There are great restaurants and clubs-that are tidy and clean- in the surrounding area. But this on....??!! Do not waste Your money here!
Fun place to go on a weekend. The house band plays several styles of music and later on opens up to guest performers. Only a small area for dancing and its a little cramped when busy.
Best live music in new york city!!!The band plays nostalagic and recent hits.Once you hear this talented group your mind blows to a billion pieces.The mangers and the servers are very kind and excellent service!!!
The house band is fantastic. Decent bar food. Its in a basement with very low ceilings, so after an hour you start feeling claustrophobic.
Ok, when my friends first invited me I was like, I dont do tourist traps....We had a friend in from out of town, and my friends insisted it would be a great time.To be honest, I did have a great time. Yes its not my cup of tea, nor do I have any desire to go back, unless im entertaining guests.But whenever someone comes from out of town this is my go to suggestion, because it really is an all around good time (music dancing etc...) thats hassle free. Plus prices are affordable if you are cost conscious.
Avoid this place, definitely !!!! We booked an entrance for 2 people from 6:30 as we were late they asked us to repaid the 30$. The website even didnt mention we have to arrive right on time, we were suppose to stay all the night long there. The staff is really rude and we had to leave straight away...they refused to refund us and just let us a phone number to call but nobody respond....There is a lot of better place around, just have a look
Total reviews rating 4.4
199 Reviews for Cafe Wha 2023:
Review №1
2022-04-03Had a good time foe the Micheal Jackson tribute. The singers were awesome and so was the band. Check them out they have some good shows coming up
Review №2
2022-02-26Great place, great ambience don’t know the artists names but it’s one of the best live music I have attended.It’s worth the money and time
Review №3
2021-09-05Such great vibes tunes and staff. Shout-out to Cafe Whas house band that keeps rock the block. And a hearted thanks goes to Forte the iconic door manager, as well as to GM Graham, the eternal hospitality wizard 🪄.Keep on rocking l!!!
Review №4
2022-02-02The house Band is just amazing! Great place with great energy
Review №5
2022-05-31Amazing Band!!! We loved the experience. Great food, drinks, service and show!!
Review №6
2022-05-08Small venue, and a 2 item minimum, but the house band was fantastic and super fun. There was a singer who had a beautiful set of pipes and hit the high notes on an Alicia Keys song! Also, the comic that warmed up the crowd was hilarious!
Review №7
2021-12-08Reminds me of the Cavern Club in Liverpool. The staff are always outstanding. Food is great and good drink selections, neighborhood is also packed with great vibes and easy to get to.
Review №8
2022-04-23The best around. Not only did cafe wha perform what my wedding, but they are the best house band around. Go to this legendary club and take a trip back in history with some of the most famous performers around who have played the wha. You will not be disappointed!
Review №9
2022-04-12The most amazing place for live music! If you have a bad evening here there is something wrong with you. Super talented musicians and artists playing their hearts out for you. I go back almost every trip to NYC.
Review №10
2022-07-03This place used to be amazing.. Ive been going there for 20 years, I have brought guests from all over the world, shared in my network, brought groups for parties... Recently it has become terribly managed and people get screamed at by the new manager. Can you imagine someone screaming at you because his staff put you in the wrong table, you explain the situation politely and he screams louder and tells you and your party of 4 to leave the place?Horrible. Never never never coming back.