"If Frenchmen Street is home to the city’s best jazz, the Spotted Cat is its epicenter—a small, kind of rundown bar that comes alive each night as old-school jazz plays on. Expect to hear brassy quartets and quintets; clarinet solos and big voices; and swing when the Cotton Mouth Kings come by. Cram in and stay for more than one set; a dance floor will open up for the local swing crew to show off its moves. This stretch of the Marigny neighborhood, just as you leave the French Quarter, is changing, but there are still a few outposts that hold tight to their roots like this one does. It’s going to be packed when you arrive, especially on Friday and Saturday nights; weekdays are a good chance to get closer to the band without too much crowding. It's free to enter, but cash-only at the full bar, which has a one-drink minimum." - Paul Oswell
