Cafe Wha Reviews

We booked a table of eight before leaving Australia as I'd been once before and I wanted to show some friends a great time in NYC. Seats are allocated on a first come basis so we arrived just prior to opening. We got seats right in front of the band. We enjoyed buckets of beer and the odd cocktail and short thrown in. We sang and danced along to some epic songs. Everyone had an awesome time. A number of the staff finished there shift around 12 and whilst it was still open for an hour or more it became hard to get service so we left and went elsewhere for our final drinks for the night. An enjoyable night with plenty of singing and dancing!

Good place to kick around in the village. Food is pretty good and they have a decent drink selection. It's perfect for when visiting by NYU as the entire street has pretty good options

I went to this bar on recommendations while on holiday in NY. On first glance it seemed like a nice enough place. We were seated in the corner, away from the stage. Fair enough, someone’s got to sit there but not a great view. Before the comedy started it became clear that the staff were trying to cram as many customers in as possible. Bit by bit we were shoved over as more people were squeezed into our table. This continued after the performance had started and staff were aggressively getting us to move up during the performance meaning that we missed most of the comedy due to staff talking at us and squeezing more customers in until it was worse than a crowded commuter subway. In the end it got to the point where it was physically uncomfortable to sit there. We left before the music started as it had just become unpleasant. I’m not going to pretend I’m a slim chap but people were crammed together in a ridiculous - and probably unsafe - fashion. The beer was crap too.

Cafe Wha New York City Legendary music venue with a B...... manager Jacki ( don't want to meet her) 906820375 Cafe Wha is one of my favorite places in the city. I have been coming here for a little over 25 years. I owned a few bars in the east village. I knew lots of the old band members and guys at the door. I remember when Brian Stevens was the new kid. He is a great talent. New additions like Jason Merdon are awesome. Forte at the door has been there forever. He is awesome. Ryan the server is one of the nicest guys you meet. Super friendly. But there was this manager (wanna be) Jackie who was a ...... If she is not the owners mistress or daughter, she should not be working there. No PR skill. Looks miserable. Could not take care of a small issue. Then there was mask wearing with big glasses girl. Who should not be in the hospitality business. She and Jackie works very well. Because they are both miserable. Rudest people I have met in this business. When I mention Mike Davis's name the ........Jackie talk down on him. Mike Davis has been one of the staples at Cafe wha. I have brought 100's people over to Cafe wha. I am still giving 5 stars. Hopping not to see the ........ Jackie again. I have 25 million views on my reviews. I am a level 8 Google writer. So, my reviews matter to people. You will have a great time here. As they say, best freaking band in NY. Love the house band.

I would give Café Wha 20 stars if I could. It is a great place to have some drinks and hear live music. On weekends and on Thursday they charge a small cover charge 5-15 Dollars. I am not sure about Monday and Tuesday. They have a fantastic live band. The band is quite incredible. The only bar that can rival them is the Village Underground. The guy who owns that bar is the previous owner of the Café Wha. They have great food and snacks, however, it is mostly bar food. If you come to New York you absolutely must go for one night to the Café Wha. I would recommend to go Wednesday or Sunday when there is no cover charge. Did I mention it??? It is my favorite or second favorite bar in New York. Please go there on your trip. You will not be disappointed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have lived in New York for many years and I have been a regular there for more than 15 years. I say it again. I cannot recommend the spot highly enough. I should also mention that it is not super modern but more a bit "Rock n' Roll" and it is located in a basement.

With my mother (70) and my daughter (23) we went to NY for 5 days. For one of the nights I bought tickets online for a show in Café Wha. We went there on time. At the entrance, the man asked for our ID. We told them that we never carry it with us because we are tourists from Europe, we left it at the hotel, because we are afraid that someone is going to steal it. They didn't believe us, and they didn't want to let us in (3 women mother, daughter, and granddaughter) because they didn't accept the fact that my daughter is 23 years old. They asked us, to pay an extra 25 USD for her (that is not shown anywhere on the website) just to let her in, although we had our prepaid tickets. I agreed to pay that unknown extra fee. The man at the coatroom (he said he was the manager) was extremely rude and when we questioned him about the extra charge, he decided not to let us in at all!!!! Without any certain cause. He refused to give our money back saying he doesn't know where we bought the tickets. ( We bought in on their website, and we showed it to him, but he refused to look at it) We came to NY only for 5 days for my mother’s 70th birthday; the Club ruined our evening . It's unacceptable. Finally the manager of the Club refund our tickets, but we still don’t know why didn’t let us in and what they asked for an extra charge.

The houseband KILLS it everytime! I've never seen so many diversely talented people on one stage! Not to mention the members of the band are awesome and come down to chat to the audience between sets. If you want to dance, drink, and enjoy some amazing live music, GO HERE!

We went hear because of the musical history in Greenwich Village. Wasn't sure what to expect. It was one of the best nights ever.

If you like live music while having a drink, you should go here! Great place, with lovely atmosphere! Open mic too, so you can also listen to artists-to-be musicians and/or singers.

We visited Cafe Wha for the Saturday 9:00pm show. I had reserved the 11:00pm but we wanted to catch the early show and decided to see if space would open up. Understand that you do not "pay" in advance via the registration system. The process holds your seat for a given time period. Therefore, as with most such systems people do not always attend. Lucky for us we were able to attend. Now the good part. On this night the house "Cafe Wha" band performed. They play an mix of almost every style , soft rock, R&B , Hip Hop, Neo Soul, Latin, etc. This "mixology of music" is a gem! If you don't like rock, or R&B, just wait... your favorite style will likely come shortly on this musical train ride. The performers where all gifted, and many switch from back ground to lead vocals depending upon the song. The clientele is as eclectic as the music, a kolidoscope of the New York vibe. As Price sang "White, Black, Puerto Rican, everybody just a-freakin' UPtown! " Now, be prepared they will pack every seat possible! The food and drinks are average and will do. Don't expect to have a lot of elbow room. Truth is people come for the music not the cocktails and chicken wigs. For a $15 cover charge this is a bargain. This was a great experience and has been added to my to-dos when I am in the big apple!

We went on a Friday night after a show at a Comedy club. Wha? was recommended by a friend who said he had a good jazz experience here. He must have been there while another band was playing. The "house band" played cover songs of cheesy "classics" all night long. There was a $20 cover and the drinks where expensive. We where seated in a booth with another couple which was fine but 10 minutes later 4 obnoxious guys was seated in the booth with us aswell. I would say the booth was could seat 6 people somewhat comfortably, but the waitress insisted there was room for 8. The fact that the four obnoxious people all took up more space then the average person and one of them needed at least two seats didn't seem to bother the waitress. The whole situation forced the other couple, who obviously was on a date, to pay their bill and leave. The four overweight people didn't seem to mind spoiling some other people's night, neither did the waitress.

Always a fun night...excellent band...great vibes...very very tight space to dance with waiters trying to get by every few seconds which is very annoying!

This small little hole in the wall bar/restaurant is one of the most hippest places in the NYC bar scene!! The live music from the house band is the most eclectic array of music genres you can ever imagine!! There is dancing in the aisles and even though its small, its service is pretty good and the food isnt bad!! I would highly recommend this for the atmosphere and the good time!!

We made reservations for the 9:30 show at "Cafe Wha?" a few weeks ahead of our trip to NYC. We heard it was a great place to hear live music, so thought we would check it out on a Saturday night. We went there after the 7:30 show ended at the Comedy Cellar next door. What a great way to spend a night out. Not cheap, but a blast! Cafe Wha? is located in the basement of a building in Greenwich Village and is very dark and full of character, but not scary either. We were there about a 1/2 hour before the show started so we had our choice of seats. We shared our table with another couple which was fine. The place was packed. The service was pretty good and the drinks were nice. The show started with a comedy act. The guy was pretty funny. Then the house band came out and put on a phenomenal show until about 11:30. There were 8 members and about 6 of them sang. They were all excellent and each had their own genre. Each person sang about 3 songs--- some country, some old rock, some R&B, etc. Two special guest singers came up on stage which added a great dynamic to the show. The crowd really got into it and some people even tried to dance in the tiny area in front of the stage and in the aisles. It provided for great people watching. I would definitely recommend Cafe Wha? for a fun night out. Save some cash to get a T-shirt at the end of the night! It's a great souvenir.

We were 2 couples and booked in advance. The place wasn't full but the drinks were good and the band and the music were awsome

It’s a very good place to everybody know how is the New York nights. If you like to dance you will love it.

We visited Cafe Wha on the 12/30/15 to see the Stevie Wonder tribute show which was very good even though it only lasted 1 hour and then the band moved on to another venue which was disappointing as the show was so short. The house band began to set up and we decided to stay a little longer until we was told if we stayed to watch the house band we would need to pay again!!!! I have been to live music venues all over the world and I have never been charged after already paying a entrance fee to see a band. Also I went there with my partner and they sat us opposite each other across the table with other revellers so we moved to sit next to each other so we could talk and Mike our waiter moved me back to my original seat. All in all I would not recommend this venue unless you have lots of money and don't mind paying numerous times to enter the venue once you are already in the venue.

Great place to listen some rock, podisbility to drink and eat also (but we didn't).. I come back here after 15 years and still the same nice atmosphere!!!

Was made feel very welcome by the security on the front door ! We were then given a great table and was looked after all night by a fantastic waitress , who keep the drinks flowing all night ! The house band was awesome ! They played classic after classic !! Was my favorite night out whilst in NYC ! Can't wait to get back there !

Scrolling through these reviews; something doesn't quite add up. Wave after wave of 5 star ratings are met with isolated damning accounts of poor service, and cheesy music. Disappointingly, I'm going to have to side with the non-believers. Didn't eat, so can't comment. Drinks were fine - service was ok, given that it was quite busy. Music is what sorely lets this place down. This was not as I see written time and again here 'the best band in New York,' I know this because I was quite sure that it was not the best band in cafe wha that night I think it's important to consider your motivation for coming here. I've you have travelled a long way to experience the atmosphere in the folkloric, early stomping grounds of bob Dylan and jimi Hendrix, forget it, that could not be further from what this is. If you like wedding bands and getting drunk and singing mediocre covers of pop songs at the top of your lungs - this is the place for you - don't forget to leave a 5 star review when you're done, Peace and love.

went here on recommendation and wasn't disappointed. The singers are all excellent at different genre's and interact really well with the international audience. don't go over board on the food , all you need is a few beers and nachos then you are set for the night.... superb entertainment

I've been to Cafe Wha twice, both on Sat nights, when both a pre-show comedian and the Cafe Wha band perform. the Cafe Wha band is a must hear! They are a diverse group and have fabulous musical talent between them. The drinks are a bit priciey and the $15 cover is not bad at all for NYC. There are 2 shows, one at 9:30 and one at 11 or so. My advice": go to their website and make reservations; you don't want to have to wait on the long lines!

Went to Cafe Wha to hear music. The house band is billed as the best band in NYC. Thankfully this is not even close to true. They are terrible. They are a high priced cover band who covers mediocre songs. The cafe that gave us Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix is dead. If you love music, please skip Cafe Wha. This is a place for tourists who think Nickleback is cool. Need I say more. I didn't bother with the food by the way. I left in disgust and disappointment.

We love coming to Cafe Wha for live music - they totally rock the house! The venue is small, and therefore will be packed, but it is a great spot that is lively and fun for a late night activity in the city. The band could not be better and they cover a large range of styles of pop music. I will certainly be back!

In the village and a ton of fun. All covers for music but extremely talented musicians. You shld sit thru both sets. Comedian came out for start of set 1 and was a real bonus. Drinks seem watered down. Maybe stick w beer. A place I will return to with family or friends. I don't think I wld go solo there.

Just got in from having spent Sunday evening/early hours of Monday morning at Cafe Wha and was compelled to come on here and write how amazing the place is! Took my fiancé for his birthday, booked same day for the 9.30pm set, which goes on til 2.30am! Free to get into on a Sunday (no cover charge), only a two drink minimum spend per person but drinks were flowing tonight as the atmosphere was wicked! People were on their feet dancing as the talent of the house band was unbelievably good. Venue nice and intimate, bar food was decent, drinks a bit dear but worth it Look out for Rose, the 80yr old regular - she is so much fun, first person to get up and dance! Plays all different genres to please everyone Would definitely recommend it as I would definitely go back if I'm lucky enough to come back to NYC

Myself and my girlfriend had the best night in NYC in Cafe Wha? The band, a nine-piece with rotating lead singers to suit the several genres they cover (rock, funk, soul) are one of the best I've ever seen. The place is built around the band, and the atmosphere is brilliant. (Never tried the food.) Don't miss it!

The place is below street level and cozy with great food and entertainment! My friend and I had booths that allowed us to see the stage easily. A must visit!!!

Brilliant night. Food was pub grub, burgers ect but were very tasty. We mainly went for the live music.....and were not disappointed. The in house band were stunning amazing, they could play well and they could all sing great too. The Cafe Wha had a great vibe!! Even although it was dark and small in size, the sound people have done a great job,not over powering, even when sitting so close. The only down side was the service we received from our particular waiter was awful. We complained to the manager as the gratuities added to the bill were over 100 dollars. The manager rectified the situation, waived the tip and offered us a round of drinks by way of an apology. I would definitely go back again as it was a fab band. Wish we had something like this in Scotland.

terrific place with a great bar band. nice atmosphere if you're looking for a fun place to hangout and listen & dance to some great tunes. beer chilled just right.

I first visited this place with friends on a recommendation and 7 years later back again with family. We booked to see Ali Isabella then stayed on for the houseband. I was the only one out of the group that had been to NY already but we all felt it was the best night. Food was great too. No visit to NY would be complete for me without a visit to Cafe Wha.

Great for a night out of beer, music and dancing. We didn't eat here, but the band were great. A huge range of covers and they had the whole room up dancing by their tables.

We went to Cafe Wha? while in NYC for a girls weekend getaway and had a blast!! Like my title says, we didn't even realize that we could still party like rock stars...that is getting home at 4:30am!! We made reservations online for the 9:30pm show. We thought that if we didn't like it we would just head somewhere else in the village.....we landed up staying the entire night at Cafe Wha?...because it is so much fun! Great atmosphere, great people, and a fantastic band who played a variety of music that will be sure to please any person! I definitely would recommend Cafe Wha? to anyone who is looking to have some fun while in NYC. It is now definitely on our list for our next trip!

Great option for those who like good music. It's usually packet, specially on weekends. Iconic place in NY to dance the night away.

I've been to Café Wha a number of times over the last 10 years. The music is excellent, musicians are fabulous, and everyone is grooving with the music.

We found this amazing place by wandering around the village. I was a little sceptic at first, but as soon as we walk in we were overwhelmed by the amazing vibe. The drinks, food and service were awesome. The music was incredible! We had an awesome time dancing in the isles! We will be back!

Small crowded space, food is delicious if you don`t mind eating in a crowded place. Music was great, comedian was great and band was awesome

This was an absoutely fab night. The band were fantasic - talented, entertaining & funny

Myself and my husband stumbled upon Cafe Wha on our first trip to NY 10 years ago and loved it. On returning this weekend with my in laws who love live music, we thought we would try it again and hoped it lived up to the first memory. If you are planning a visit, especially at the weekend reserve a table via the website as the queue for non-reservations was huge when we arrived. It was $15 cover charge but I think this varies depending on night and show. Staff were great, really welcoming and service was brilliant, despite how busy it was we were never without a drink. We also ate here and the food was decent bar food at a reasonable price. Before the house band came on there was a comedian on and he was excellent. Then the house band come on and they were exceptional. Top musicians playing a variety of music genres. The atmosphere was great! We were at the first show so doors open at 8, showtime at 9 and finishes at 11. We were all enjoying the music so we decided to stay on for the second set, paying an extra $10 to do so. The band continued to be incredible with different guest singers coming up to do different songs. The range of songs they play and for the amount of time they are playing is impressive. If you like live music in a place with a great atmosphere, you can’t go wrong in Cafe Wha!

Nice place, good music (not for talking, but if you just like enjoy the music). However: 1. when you arrive they just tell you that you ll be charged 10$ for the entrance, not that you will have to take at least 2 drinks (it is written on a chart which is put only on some table) 2. On the ticket the waiter just deletes the 15% tip suggestion, so that you can read only the larger tips suggestions 3. If they do not like the 15% tip, they just charge on your credit card what they want (6$ more in my case) ...small things but very annoying for a place with so many good fedbacks

Went on a Satuarday night and was surprised to see the place packed with a long line of people waiting outside (make sure to reserve a place in advance!) The night started with a great comedian and went on with an increadible preformance of the house band- from Maroon5, Rihanna, Radiohead, Sting to latino covers and more, it was AMAZING. Was sad to leave when it was over...will def stop by again!

If the live performances here are half as good as the one we saw, Brazooka, you're in for a treat. Cafe Wha? combines terrific music with great service, interesting drink selection, and a cool atmosphere. Plus, the village location is excellent, perfect for late-night strolling. Despite a small crowd and limited dancing space, Brazooka tore the place up and had everybody dancing. Thus far, this is my favorite New York bar.

when you want great locals covering classic and contemporary RB music; plus reasonably priced beverages; and lots of history , this is the place to go

Good place to listen some music with friends or family. Excellent option if you don't want to pay for any entrance. You can reserve your place in advance. I advice you to ask for a place as close as possible to the artists. Food was poor/average but It's ok if you want to have some burgers.

Stumbled across here by acciden with a couple of friends, we were able to have a look/listen before deciding if we wanted to part with our $15 cover charge. We decided to stay and had an excellent night. Great music with reasonably priced drinks. Service was good considering the number of people in the place (it was a Saturday night).

While avoiding places with too many tourists when travelling we could not resist visiting cafe Wha? and didn't regret it for a bit. They have house band playing few days a week playing good music and engaging with the audience. Other days they do jams with guests and that's when you feel welcomed in NYC the most. Their burgers are excellent as well as cocktails. The prices are a bit higher than Manhattan average but definitely worth the experience.

Visited NYC for the weekend and I was looking for something fun on Saturday night with my 19 y/o daughter. I heard Cafe Wha allowed under 21 so we gave it a try. We made reservations a few hours before the 9:30pm show and I'm glad we did because it ended up selling out. Comedian before the band was good and we had a few laughs. The band was excellent but we didn't like how the MC kept coming on stage and making birthday announcements etc... I thought it took away from the flow of the music. The crowd was older than I was expecting, median age was around 40, which is probably why they played so much '80's music. I am in my 40's so this worked well for me, my daughter didn't mind but she probably would have preferred some more modern tunes. I ordered a mixed drink, which cost $15 after taxes and I couldn't taste ANY alcohol AT ALL. None. I would recommend the beer. The evening cost $100 ($15/each for admission, 2 mixed drinks, 1 coke, 1 appetizer, plus tip) Show got out at 11pm and we enjoyed walking around the festive atmosphere of the neighborhood.

fun times

We recently attended a music event here and made the mistake of eating while we were there. I had a burger and fries. My standard is Wendy's. I think the food should be at least as good as Wendy's, especially since it cost three times as much. I was very disappointed. I would have been better fed had I eaten in a fast food restaurant and then got drinks here. That's what I'll do next time. Although I may not settle for fast food.

Stayed in new york for a week, i have travelled over 30 countries and live in manchester, uk and never have I experienced such an awful service, we were with a group of 8, my girlfriends father ask the waitress for his card back because he was leaving earlier and his card was being held for the table (weird I know), he's partially deaf in one ear and so, when he couldn't hear what the waitress had to say, he tapped and asked her to come closer and repeat what she said. However, this was quickly blown out of proportion when she jumped back and said don't touch me. All 8 of us were stunned, this was our first bar of the night so we had a clear judgement and view of the situation but we were completely gobsmacked at what had just happened. So much so that my girlfriends father was lost for words and so when he didn't say anything back, the waitress commanded 'SPEAK' as if he were a child. We were all honestly completely disgusted at the waitresses reaction and to be honest we were devastated as what was planned to be a great night full of laughter and music turned in to a horrible, extremely uncomfortable and awkward situation. As a result of this, we decided to leave instantly. As we were leaving my partners mum confronted the manager and explained all our feelings, he completley ignored her, he didn't lift his head from his ipad, he was very ignorant and very unprofessional. As we walked out the bouncer asked if we had a good night, we started to explain the situation (he was very sympathetic) then the manager came up for some odd reason. We told him his service is terrible and he reacted aggressively, stating his waitress had a bruised arm? We said there was 8 witnesses and bring her up and we will see her bruises (the waitress had disappeared to.cloakroom duty since the incedent) he replied with happy holidays and continued to do so when we asked questions of the venues service. A waitress with horrendous people skills and a manager with no management skills. The worst experience of a bar I have ever had and you need to pay $10 service regardless of the what the service like. Would not recommend at all and will filing an official complaint. I just want to warn tourists before they think this cafe is a good idea.

I love this place - the house band is great singing all time favorites with great voices and great musicians. Food isn't bad actually. I was surprised to enjoy the food quite a lot in such a place that puts its focus on its bands. Great job - get there!

Do not go for food. Go for the chance to see someone like Bowie do a set unannounced.

The place is quite small and the tables are quite squizzed, but the music is outstanding. From the musicians to the playlist, the show was fantastic. The food is nice for a NY bar standards. It is worth the visit for sure.

Came here on Valentine’s Day to see a band - for a cover charge. Food average, service was slow, but we understood since the place was packed. They asked us to order 2 items per person but we ordered 3 to 4 per person. As soon as the band finished playing, they gave us our check - unless we wanted to stay for a house band and order 2 more items per person. It was getting late and we decided not to stay. They were extremely RUDE - told us to “clear out” immediately. I stood in the hallway waiting for my husband who went to the restroom and they literally kicked me out to go wait outside - it was freezing. Come on - there are over a 1000 similar bars in NYC - never experienced being kicked out like this. Pick a different place when you get a chance.

Had a great night, brilliantly entertaining live music of many different genres. Largely pop based. Food and drink good too. Its all cover versions of well known classics. Musicians all very accomplished. We even had a comedian as opener, who was very good. Our visit was the highlight of our trip to New York.

I know this review is rather late but hey......we visited cafe wha and weren't expecting anything special, but boy were we pleasantly surprised! It does serve food, but it is very dark. Food average so perhaps eat before you go. We booked a table and after we had food the band came on. There is waiter service for drinks to your table, and offers on buckets of beer. We saw the cafe Wha band, they were excellent! truely entertaining and brilliant night. A must for visitors to New york! Definately visit!

Came for the live entertainment and my expectations were certainly exceeded. I would have paid decent money to see their house band perform again! Super talented and super engaging. Played a selection of well known hits, with songs from Adele, U2, Radiohead, Rihanna, etc. Didn't eat any food and not sure I would, as its a bit of a grunge bar so wouldn't expect anything amazing, but the drinks were certainly good and strong! Their shots of the house vodka were huge, like 2 shots in one. There was a lineup to get in and there was a bit of confusion upon entry but its all worth it. Make sure to get a reservation beforehand! It gets jam packed in there so not super easy to move around but we were on the left side of the stage when looking at it. That was actually the perfect location because it was easy to get to the bathrooms and people like to stand in front of the stage and dance, but that didn't obstruct our view since we were on the side. Will definitely be returning when I'm back in the city. This place is also right beside an amazing restaurant (based on reviews from friends) called Minetta Tavern, if you're interested in a great dining experience beforehand.

we read some good stuff on this place about having great music and historic fame. The atmosphere was pretty weird though. Lots of tourists mixed with some dubious acting and looking locals. The much praised house band was actually pretty lame too.

My friend and I visited Cafe Wha week before last on a trip to NYC. Tucked away downstairs in Greenwich Village is a hip, historic and cool little restaurant bar called Cafe Wha. This was my second visit here and the house band was EXCELLENT both times. Service was great, food and drinks were good and reasonably priced! Great venue! Make reservations. They usually have 2 shows a night. Popular place!

I went Thursday night to the Cafe Wha, and then Friday night to the Village Underground around the corner. In almost every way the Underground was the better pub. Better musicians and sound system, friendlier atmosphere etc. Best thing about the Wha was the nice looking guitar player who sang Radio Head. I since found out that the Underground was opened by the original owner and band leader of the Wha who left the Wha and moved around the corner last year, so I think that explains it.

A must visit when you're in NYC! The best live band I've ever experienced.

CAFE WHA??? Oh la la!!! When You say CAFE WHA You are telling JIMI HENDRIX, THE DOORS, THE WHO...Every Wall have part of the american rock and roll music history!!! Go there and check the incredible spirit, the air, in this block: the Regio Cafe; Artichoke; Comedy Club...in the MACDOUGAL Street!!!

great house band, all around fun time. drinks are not the best, but hey it's good enough for a dark, urban live music venue w/ a rocking band.

Very cozy place, great-great-great atmosphere! Excellent music! Phenomenal! Just learn later that Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, and many more start their career here! Really recommended place.

Last night of our weekend in NewYork we spent enjoying the house band on a Sunday night! We booked a table and we're say right at the front .. Service excellent and drinks continued to flow We didn't eat so I can't comment on that however the band was simply amazing I had everybody up dancing and I didn't want the night to end I would definitely return if I get the chance to go back to New York.

This is a very special Cafe. It is not just a good Cafe with special food. It always offers good shows and you enjoy your time there. You will always return again and again.

The house band were brilliant and such a fun atmosphere. Drinks were a tad exensive, but well worth a visit!!

Best place I have EVER been to in New York...I'd love to come visit again...

We were recommended this venue by friends in London and are so glad we took them up on their recommendation! Tasty, generous portions, efficient and friendly staff but the best thing... the house band! They had us up and dancing on a few occasions! Such a cool NYC evening courtesy of the Cafe Wha? house band - thank you!

Had a great time!

The airconditioner turned the Place into an icebox. We werd mit able to enjoy the music and eben the singer on stage complained about the cold. Never again :(

Having been recommended to Cafe Wha by several friends, on our first trip to New York we were looking forward to our trip there. Arrival was fine and we were seated with no problems. Upon ordering however, despite being 33 and 28 respectively, the waiter refused to allow my partner to order a beer as he did not have ID with him. This was not explained in a pleasant manner whatsoever and we debated whether to stay or go. Knowing our friends had recommended it, not knowing the area and being hungry too, we decided to stay and he opted for cokes all evening. On top of this, I was expected to hand over my credit card and driving licence to the waiter, to be returned after we'd paid - should I really have to hand over valuable ID for their 'security'? In hindsight we should have left then! The food was good, and the comedian and band excellent, with a special mention required for Kim Summerson who was fantastic. Service was a little slow when ordering drinks but generally ok. When we were ready to leave, we requested the bill and settled in cash paying $100 for a $95 bill, inc tax. Feeling our experience had been spoilt by the ID fiasco, we didn't feel the suggested $15 tip was justified. Handed the waiter our payment and left. Just as we were crossing the street outside he appeared behind us demanding full settlement of the bill, in an unpleasant and aggressive way. I tried to explain I was under the impression a tip was discretionary but he refused to accept this and suggested we should speak to a manager. Being in an unknown area and having by this time been approached by others outside the restaurant, we paid what he felt was the outstanding amount and left, feeling that our evening had been ruined by his attitude. Is it right that a 'tip' is compulsory? Not by my definition. Would definitely not be recommending somewhere like this where the staff act as if they're above the customer and with no attempt to offer customer service in a pleasant manner.

A live band playing good music and a very nice vibe down there, i will love to go again. I just had such a great time :)

Great music, atmosphere and a night to remember - brilliant house band.

This is a really fun place to go with a group. The house band is extremely talented and you can either side at your table and enjoy the music or dance on a small stage or in the aisles.

This was our second visit to this location. We were there with friends who were in NY for the first time. The evenings entertainment was the house band. The music from this band was the best I have ever experienced from a band of their standing. Every song they did was of the utmost quality and they certainly had the house rocking ALL night. Our waitress Sam was amazing along with her male counterpart, who's name eludes me. With a cover charge of only $10 for a 5 hour evening of first class entertainment was a steal. If anyone is in New York they MUST visit this location for a truly top class musical experience. Doors open at 8 pm and the music rocks until 1am. Go, Go, Go Thanks to everyone at Cafe Wha for a fantastic experience of top class music

Very crowded, full of people from all around the world - great live band and awesome atmosphere! I will recommend you to avoid the cocktails, the ones we got where really not tasting good at all, and in addition lukewarm :-/ not good service from the waiter either, but the ambiance made up for it!! I will definitely go back and order a beer instead!

Very good. The band is always good. Food and service for the price - not great. Seating is tight and reservations are recommended.

Despite being amongst the oldest there (!) was made to feel very welcome. Great music great staff and great burgers. Well worth the 12$ per person music charge. Fantastic atmosphere ~ would go back again.

I wish I didn't have to write this as the atmosphere of this place is actually great but unfortunately they don't do a good enough job in hiring their staff. I went there with my girlfriend last week, had a wonderful time, dancing, drinking, and just enjoying ourselves on our 2 week break from school. Our waiter was Mike. He seemed really nice at first although we did realize partway through the night that he was clearly drunk. A short time before we left we saw Mike get into a huge screaming match with 2 couples on the table next to ours. We started feeling bad vibes and decided to leave about 20 minutes later. That's when we noticed Mike had charged us for an extra drink as well as given us a higher price than what the menu had written. I mentioned this to Mike and he apologized and changed it but did not deduct the full drink cost nor did he change the tax or suggested tip amount. At that point I decided not to put up a fight as I saw how angry he can get and did not want to deal with the management at 2 in the morning with my girlfriend there as well. I might want to mention that Mike asked me for a tip several times; making me quite uncomfortable, and this was even after I tipped him, generously I might add. Oh, and he almost lost my card. If cafe wha would contact me and tell me that Mike has been disciplined and would offer to give me what would actually be quite a small reimbursement I would be happy to change my review.

The live band was great (played nearly every kind of genre). The cheap pitchers of Sangria was good, too ^_^

Superb evening that managed to perk up a couple of jet lagged travellers. We saw the Hendrix tribute night and then the house band played some other songs later keeping the evening going. The food and service was excellent but the atmosphere and genuinely superb music topped that by quite some way. A brilliant way to spend an evening in New York.

We were fortunate to be given the advice to visit the Cafe Wha for live entertainment. The band was amazing. All very talented and a great repertoire of music, spans all genre's

Dropped in after the show at the Comedy Cellar. LOVED the band! Place was packed with folks from all over. Fun time.

The waiter did a good job keeping the drinks coming. (Pricy drinks). Funktion 11 did a great job with the music and atmosphere. Would absolutely go there again!

What a great place to visit. It’s not a big club, I recommend you book a table. It’s cosy and you get to know your co visitors. The food is ordinary but the entertainment more than makes up for the food. The house band are brilliant, we had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

A friend of mine, who's a successful doctor now, took me to cafe Wha, with a gleam in his eye. He's plays guitar. He told me that Steven Tyler was just in CW with Joe Perry this week. They get everyone stopping in... The 8 piece band plays 5 days week and they are fantastic! The sound moves the soul. We munched are bar food, people were dancing at their table and ours. We sat up front, right in front of the band... like vip in a small, been there forever little spot, that doesn't really have vip variances. It was a very cool experience in the West Village. All of the greats have played there... my doctor friend, so humble, told me that he brought his guitars there and Hendrix played on them there... Def a great place for everyone to see, at least once, or to come back regularly.

Had a nice evening with a friend and nice live music. Last time I have been at Cafe Wha more than 10 years ago and enjoyed it being back.

We went to Cafe Wha during a recent trip to New York and absolutely loved it. We went on a Sunday night and there was no table coverage charge. Drink prices were average for the city. There are two shows per night and we had originally reserved a table for the first show. We loved it so much though that we ended up staying for the second show too. There was a great atmosphere and the band were brilliant. They played a great variety of music and were extremely talented! Food was lovely. Would really recommend it for a fun night out and would definitely go back of ever back in NYC!!

I took my 15 yr old daughter and her friend there this weekend and we had the BEST TIME. The Cafe Wha band is excellent!!We went on Sunday night so no cover charge just a minimum purchase. We had to drag ourselves out of there at 1am even though they still had 1 more session to go. I would recommend this place to anyone!! We have already decided that this will be a visit everytime we go to the City! We made reservations but didnt need them as we got there by 830pm.

Here's a place to be alive NYC style. It's a low ceiling, dingy basement with seats set up in booths around a small stage. The house band played all genres under the pop and rock sun, from Marley to nirvana. It is loud, and my ears are ringing almost 24 hours later. The house band isn't playing ever night, so check the web site. Cover charge is low, drink prices are not o low, but the friendly and accommodating. The only food we had was a brownie, and it was superb: hot, sticky and rich served with ice cream and cream. Reserve online free to ensure a seat and expect to dance in the limited isle space. Have a memorable night, we did!

Went there to see the Wha? band. Great music really enjoyed it. The food is fine and reasonably priced

We went on a weds.night for the house band. We had reservations but didn't need them. No cover on weds. The band rocks, lots of fun. They get you involved, you gotta dance, although there is limited space. The venue alone is historic for rock fans. Drink prices are what you would expect for NYC. We didn't eat but the food looked good. Just came for the place and the music and we got what we wanted. Stayed for 2 sets. Worth a visit and your right in the village which has lots of other choices

Great house band but rude staff who don't care about your comfort and show zero respect. Take your business to an establishment that will appreciate it.

best funk soul band i have ever heard it was the singers birthday everyone was so happy, and then to hear toni menage 2 metres away belting out songs, a wonderful experience that made my hairs stand on end.... well done wha..

I guess it could never live up to its history but we had to give it a go. $15 cover and you think you're in. Not so fast! Ahead of the set break the "break" it to you that it's an additional $6 per person for the second set. That's crazy for a house band play tired old covers. Next.

This place got recommended by a work colleague. It has to be the most fun I have had in a long time, the atmosphere is fantastic and the house band is second to none. Thank You Cafe Wha for a brilliant night. Hallowean 2009 will be remembered for a long time to come.

Don't go for the food but you will have a blasttttt!!!!

cannot believe the staff here - brother in-law who is hard of hearing asked the waitress, jess i think (sorry if thats not the case), for a drink and happened to pull her arm closer so that he could hear her as the music was so loud. meanwhile the nasty woman made a unfounded complaint against him, whilst holding my credit card to ransom. what a crappy place - all the staff have attitude, the music is too loud and its a right dive. this is purely my opinion based on what i saw this evening. im sure there are better places to visit. dont bother with their overpriced drinks and total attitude of the waiting staff... oh and they wanted a tip - really... pffft

A real buzzer bug place. You pay 15 dollars to get in. But the live music is worth it. House band supports lots of different singers. Something for everyone.. Motown, disco, bit of rock , dance stiff. Great vibe. Good is reasonable too

Iam from TX but I have been traveling to NY for business lately. I have had some really great times at times at Cafe Wha. The Wha band is bar none, very lively and energetic, and its a guarenteed great time. I have even taken clients there so that they can experience the great atmosphere. It is certainly crowded, but the music makes it worth it! If you like good times and rocking out, you will love it. Don't be expecting a quiet romantic spot where you can hold a conversation though. Its a real party.

The main reason to visit is the Bob Dylan connections from his early days in New York...a little piece of history

If your looking for something a bit different with a new york vibe then this is the place to go excellent service music was amazing something for everyone singers we're just class loved it would highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back

My NY friend brought me here and reservation is needed. It is packed to the rim. And every minute is worth it. We had so much fun here.

Loved the band! Sunday is no cover and the music was great! Although the atmosphere is dark, cramped and uninviting, I will definitely be back for the great tunes! The food was simple bar food. In the future, I would eat first and enjoy the music after.

Very nice place for young people to chill out! Great location. The "house band" is amazing, and has a large, varied repertoire. The only major inconvenince is that most of the time the place is too crowded. Cafe Wha? is also rather expensive.

I have been to Cafe Wha three times before and it never disappoints. Ok, don't come here for fine dining - the food is average to good - but the entertainment is excellent and you won't be disappointed. Definitely go when the Cafe Wha Band are playing and you are guaranteed a good night out.

Excellent night out. Went there after dinner, although they serve food as well. Saw the local house band. Lots of fun, top quality muso's. Small venue so close to the action. Need to pre-book online to make sure you get in. Drink Service was excellent. Small cover charge for house band - will vary depending on who is playing. Massive history to this place.

Fantastic place - comedy & live music. Loved it. Thoroughly reccomend it.

Surprise outing with family while visiting in New York and somewhere I heard the whispering, "jazz". Walking down the stairway into the somewhat cramped club, I also walked back a wee bit in time to some clubs I grew up with. OK, so not a polished look but that only added to the feel. The house band worked great together with so many different types of music AND, using the different band members strenght to highlight each piece. I did not eat so no comments on that but plenty of Brooklyn lagers and a couple of whiskeys. Service was great and I hope that I get a chance to come back soon.

Always wanted to pay a visit here....what music aficionado wouldn't. Located in the heart of Greenwich Village there is a real vibe around the place. Door staff were really enthusiastic and friendly, though I will agree with other peoples' reviews by saying the staff inside did come across at times as being a bit short with customers. We also had to 'surrender' a credit card before any orders would be taken...I find this very peculiar for a venue in a large city like Manhattan. The real show stopper here was The Café Wha House Band, who did covers for around 3hrs straight. Enthusiasm, professionalism poured from every member of the band...there wasn't one audience member who wasn't wooed by their charm: 10 out of 10 :)