Cafe Wha? Reviews

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.

Love this place! Staff are great. Music is awesome. Can't wait for the next visit

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.

Had an amazing time at this place! The atmosphere is great with the house band rocking the place all night - the food and drinks were pretty epic too. Definitely a famous part of Greenwich Village worth checking out.

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 don't understand how is that possible.

It's 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. Can't wait to come back.

There is a bouncer around 300 to 400 pounds that has ruined my experience. Though the music and energy was very good, this bully of a bouncer called my wife retarded because she was standing to long in the door way. I gave him a serious look and he stated "Yeah I am talking to you, what are you going to do about it" as he approached me aggressively. I told him I was sorry as I really would had to fight this man to protect my self. My wife and friends did not see this and still do not know. I took the higher road just to keep the experience good for them. MANAGEMENT: I have told 10 people already, and they will tell their friends. He is costing you money and reputation. Let him go. Tell him it is simply a business decision. He is obviously not doing what he loves anyway. This kind of bouncer may be needed at place with a rougher crowd, not a tourist attraction. Thank you I promise all of this true. This review is not by Patricia Maravilla there is no connection between us I prefer to remain anonymous.

I heard a lot about the place and we finally went to check it out.
It definitely doesn't 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 didn't fill up the table they placed other people that didn't do reservations as we did.
The band was very weak for the famous of the place and the comedian show very poor. The prices don't help too, the beverages are expensive.
The waitress was good.
I don't recommend this place at all, you can spend your money at a lot of better places around.

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 etc
A must go

This is one of my favorite places in the city! You are guaranteed to have an amazing night every time that you go. Drinks are not that great but the music is wonderful!

The food and drinks were just alright, but the performance was excellent.

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??? I'll definitely make sure, i get money back!!! My server was Rick... not your first time of doing this sht to your lovely clients, right?

Excellent the music of the place. True professionals Your entrance cost is 10 dollars and worth every penny.

The house band energizes the audience with their performance! There is a $15 cover fee charged along with your order.

This place DOES NOT want your business. They have coasted on the fact that Bob Dylan once played there over 50 years ago. You will be made to feel like you re an annoyance the second you set foot in the place. Literally everything they do is designed to get you to leave as quickly as possible after they ve got your cover money.

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.

Band is the best. Service was great and the food was very tasty . Thanks for the good service Kevin.

Best cover ban in nyc. Been coming here since I was 21.

I was very excited to visit Cafe Wha? but it was 16 degrees outside and we waited for 30 mins in the cold but were not admitted despite reservations so left. Very disappointed!

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.

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 was very disappointed. Small local. They hold your credit card for dinner until you pay. Bad food. The mediocre performance

amazing place . Excellent food. Good drinking.
Great atmosphere. Required .

Worst place for concerts ever. I was seated back the concert with way too many people at my table. Couldn't move and see anything

Love the band. Great music. Would not recommend if you're 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 I'd experienced at Cafe wha. Then, after we'd 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 they'd 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. It's just not something I expected from an establishment like this.

I've never eaten here, but I went out for drinks here one night with some friends from out of town, and we had a BLAST. House band is so fun.

Awesome band
Nice drinks
Great crowd

Great band. The process of splitting checks is a mess.

Live of cover bands of all kinds. A bit of tourism.

The music is some of the best I've 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.

Love this place. Great music and good service. I recommend it.

Local with many people. And according to where they feel you don't see the band.

Great vibe and live music. Wish there was a little more room to dance.

Great atmosphere. Good music. Delicious good and drinks. Reasonable prices.

Brilliant house band. This place has an amazing atmosphere.

I ve been coming here for years! The band is always a great time! I plan to keep coming for years to come.

Amazing band, totally out of this world! Food was just okay but the music and the vibes totally made it worth the while

Awesome experience! Live performance is simply unbelievable. Enjoyed very much.

Celebrating my 50TH & they helped make it special!!

Music was great, seating was less than enjoyable. Service was acceptable, curt, partly because of the volume. Go just for the band.

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!

this place is very small, the food is great. theres is an awesome band that plays classic rock all nihgt long along with some salsa. the vibe is awesome everyone gets up to dance and sing, such a wonder night out in the cityt

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.

The place is ugly, the music bad (although for $ 10 little you can ask), the tables shared with very little living space. But the most unique thing about this place is that when you sit down, so you do not leave, they ask for your credit card, they take it and they do not return it until you have paid.
I do not recommend it, I've felt cheated.

One of the coolest live music spots in town. Be ready for amazing voices belting out a variety of songs. Crowd is quite craz.

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 didn't 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

Very good experience.
Very nice and friendly waiters.
The sensational music.
You can eat while enjoying the live.
Beers around 8_10 dollars.
I recommend booking your website, it is very easy and they only ask for your email.

Fun, very crowded place. Great music. Very crowded. Very. Good food. Very crowded.

Iconic place...the cover band was good and a place to dig if you like live cover music....:)

The place were jimi hendrix was discovered and bob dylan played for the first time in new york

First time here. Embarrassed at not having an iota of Cafe Wha?'s remarkable history's awareness. Quite comfortable, sweet staff and surprisingly delicious food.
Randomly went to see a group called The Evergreen Experience. While I don't know to what the evergreen refers, I assure you the experience was transcendent. Vocalists Mike Grispin (also a talented guitarist), Ashley Menard and Jessica Stark: Remember their names youll never forget their voices. Find them and hear them.
We'll def be back to this gem of a place.

Must-go if you're into live music and college crowd

Always a great time with friends, drinks and the best live band in nyc

Amazing environment! Cant wait to visit NYC so that I may go back!!

You go there for the great atmosphere, the live band and the fun you'll have. You don't go there for food (It's 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.

This is not the place for a fun night out, this place is here to shake as much money as possible out of as many people in the shortest time. Expensive, (very, very) crowded, and most important, the band is not very good. As a big fan of live shows, i would not recommend it. 2 stars because the soul entertainer gave it his all.

Great place one of my favorite places in NY, not to mention the favorite, the price seems fair for what it offers, incredible live voices and sometimes highly recommended artists

Amazing music and drinks in the place that Bob Dylan and many other greats loved to hang out at. It's 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.

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.