Bamboula's

A great stop on Frenchmen St for great food and live jazz. I've seen several bands here, and it's always a good time. Recommend the fried shrimp and gumbo! No bad options here, and even has routine options like burgers, so there is something for everyone. Also good for families- kids can enter.

Bamboula’s is a fantastic jazz bar! We just happen to be walking around Frenchmen area on a Monday afternoon when we heard this wonderful jazz music from the street. The jazz band was great, they were very lovely and interacted well with the crowd. We had drinks at the bar; the bartender was friendly and nice. Some people were eating but we just stayed for drinks. No doubt this bar would be rocking in the evening so this is definitely worth a visit next time we’re in New Orleans!

My dinner experience at Bamboula's on Frenchmen Street was nothing short of spectacular! The ambiance was enhanced by the lovely music performed by Amber & the Sweet Potatoes, adding a delightful touch to the evening. The food was absolutely delicious, with each dish bursting with flavor and creativity. From the charming atmosphere to the incredible live music, Bamboula's offers an unforgettable dining experience that captures the essence of New Orleans' vibrant culture. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable night out in the Big Easy! 🎶 💜👑 -Marisa Balletti-Lavoie

We were looking for a place with live music and a little different than the hustle and bustle of Bourbon Street, and did we ever find it. The setup was great, with the music at the front of the house and a great band playing, really made it a great experience. The staff was great and quick to help us out with suggesting items that would be tasty. The drinks were reasonable, and the food was delicious. Far and away, one of the best gumbos I had during our whole trip. Take a moment to venture down Frenchmen Street and grab a table here, you won't be disappointed.

This is a great place to watch live music!!! The drinks are always great and the food is what you'd expect from a bar. The atmosphere cannot be beat!!!!

We stumbled upon this bar while strolling Frenchman searching for some live blues or jazz. Creole Cookin was playing and big papa knew how to draw a crowd! I tried the melon tone... and proceeded to have 4 more! They were just that good!! The fried green tomatoes, fried pickles and mini muffallatas were all delicious!

What a horrible experience we had in Bamboula's. There was really no need for it. We were walking by Frenchman street to check out the various clubs and decide where to stop, as you do when you are in that part of NOLA. We were entering in Bamboula's and a very grumpy man at the entrance told up quite abruptly "you need to pay if you want to listen to music". "Fair enough" we thought and didn't give it much weight as the message was in line with other clubs. We got in, ordered 2 drinks, and had to pay cash, which is not ideal but ok. 1 of the drinks was watered down, which is extremely unusual in NOLA. We then started watching the show. As we were squeezed in a corner, we saw a free stool. Awesome! We had been walking the whole day and decided to sit on it. The grumpy man comes back and quite rudely tells me to hop down. "Ok" I think "it must be his stool" so I move a few steps to allow him to sit & control the room and allow me to keep watching the show (that we had paid for at that point). The man immediately comes to me again and tells me to move because that was a fire hazard. He almost shouted at me and called me "kid". Now.. I am a pretty big man, I'm over 40 and I have my dignity. With total calm I move and tell him "I'll do it but there is no need to calm me a kid, thanks". The man lost his temper and aggressively told me to shut up and stop acting like that or he would have had my a** kicked out. This was the only single bad interaction with a human being in NOLA. It left a very bad taste luckily washed away in the other days. I am surprised that place is not empty by now. Maybe that's because the following day they had already changed the bouncer. In addition, after the first song, music was not that good.

We got there before the rush thankfully. Got a burger and a drink. Bartender was a sweetheart. The live band was good, the singer was fun. Amazing energy here.

One of my favorite places to listen to live music in all of New Orleans!!! Their musicians are so talented and always such a treat to listen to. They often play jazzy renditions of popular pop/r&b songs, which is always fun. Ambiance and energy is unmatched. A must visit!! No cover, but 1 drink purchase required.

Walk down Frenchmen Street and keep your ears open to some music you enjoy. That's how we found Bamboula's. On a Friday night at 9pm, there were still some seats available, but they quickly filled up. We ordered drinks and a burger. The food was fine. Nothing to call home about, but did the trick for what we needed. No cover for the band and the food and drink were well priced. Service was excellent and so friendly! Don't forget to bring cash so you can tip the band.

A lovely start to our time on Frenchman Street. The music was hopping with a standout trombone player and drummer, the drinks were strong - looking at you, Hurricane, and the shrimp po'boy was surprisingly good with tasty shrimp and a beautifully crisp baguette. Plus, the jambalaya and bread pudding went over well with my husband. To top it off, even on a busy Sunday we could snag a table in view of the band and the service was attentive.

I can only comment on the ambiance, music and service as I did not eat. I came here with the hubs because we wanted to hear some great music from local musicians and Bamboula's did not disappoint! We kept it simple and had 2 beers each, our waiter was friendly and checked in on us. The music was AWESOME! The band had us dancing in our seats and the vibe was dope! This is def a NOLA gem. Frenchman street is the place to come if you want to hear great music and get away from the scene at Bourbon Street.

FABULOUS beyond fabulous place for excellent live music and beautiful atmosphere. I've been a handful of times and it's always a great time. Our server, Sean, was exceptional at our last visit. The drinks were strong and he was on top of them the moment they got low. The only thing we didn't like was the food. We tried the chicken nachos and the pretzel. Both were pretty cold and lacked flavor. Chicken was not grilled on site it tasted like it might be the grocery store pre cooked grilled chicken - not good. Veggies on top were fresh though. Back to the drinks - Might've been one of the best old fashioned we've had in the city. This is a place you could spend the day at and not get bored or pop in for 20 minutes and have a quick memorable moment in your night. The music is always exactly what you're looking for (even when you don't know what you're looking for). Go visit!

A Frenchman staple with a gregarious doorman and amazing live music. You will be transported to timeless good times. But the food is just meh. Goat cheese balls with habanero sauce were the highlight. My shrimp poboy was misfired as a platter. Regardless, the shrimp was fairly flavorless but it was fresh and the right amount of crispy. The jambalaya was okay, not too exciting either. Service with a smile, sure, but also confusing: not one person assigned to the table just a flow of over stepping, yet friendly, servers. My drink came out wrong 3 times and they were out of several things. Now, the music of Ed Wills and the vibe from the crowd made up for everything! Check it out- just eat somewhere else first.

Bamboula's is a cozy hang out to listen to music with some better than average bar food. It is strange to go to a joint like this in the daytime where there is music playing and food being served since those festivities are usually reserved for the evening. Since Nola is a 24-7 town, you go with the flow and we enjoyed listening to the music in this cool and open atmosphere. Daytime brings a different vibe than the night time but it was worth dropping in for a respite from wandering around Nola.

Looking for some after-dinner entertainment, we wandered over to French Street from Bourbon Street in search of a jazz bar. While we waited for the bar next door to open, we checked out Bamboula's and ended up enjoying it so much that we just stayed here. It helped that we were lucky enough to snag a table in front of the stage. We ended up staying to watch two bands and have a couple of drinks.

Food is reasonable. Jazz was great. No cover charge while we were there in the afternoon. Staff were very friendly. Good volume for listening. A far more enjoyable experience than D.B.A.

Good place for live jazz music and some great bar snacks- Yes the bar food is good too. Loved their fries and fried tomatoes- Had really nice drinks. Overall it was a good laid back hangout. The jazz we heard was more classic. Loved the band- One drink min per person and band tip- No extra cover charge. Very friendly staff.

It's fun and it's super divey. 4 stars for the live music, 2 stars for the service. Expect to wait a long time to get a basic drink. The bartender was really frazzled. Even splashed water on herself and pretended to cry from the stress of a frustrated, waiting crowd. It's also extra irritating because they ask you to buy a drink instead of paying a cover, but takes forever to get one. If you can get past that frustration, the live music is what really deserves the 4 star review. Amazing female performer with a rough, deeper voice who could sing a lot of amazing songs. She was also hilarious and entertaining when she wasn't singing. It was a fun experience.

Went there for lunch. Awesome place. Saw live music in a random Wednesday afternoon. Went a little nuts on the order but we were hungry and figured we'd eat the leftovers back home anyway. We ordered fried pickles, fried oysters, muffuletta sliders, pulled pork sliders and the hangover burger. Everything was delicious. I liked the pickles because they were cut and fried like chips. I've had wedges and thicker cut fried pickles and they were good but I liked these more for some reason. Maybe crisper than others??? Anyway, the oysters were flavorful. You could really taste the local flavor over my usual blue point oysters. Not better or worse, just nice to get some local variations on one of my favorites. My son's burger was great...at least I think it was because I never got a chance to have a bite. He said it was exactly what he was looking for and they cooked the egg perfectly. We both loved the muffuletta sliders. A little bit of a loose translation of the great full size sandwich but as an app it was tasty and just the right bite we wanted. Of course the pulled pork was killer. Great flavor with a savory sauce and crisp coleslaw. Our server was really friendly and made suggestions that were spot on. The atmosphere is very cool with a long old fashion bar and a beautiful painted tin ceiling. It was clean as a whistle and felt open but still inviting. With out question I'll be coming back next time I'm in NOLA.

Great live music and vibe! Great copper bar and friendly staff which can be hard to find on Frenchmen row.

A great drop in on an historic block in a historic city. I enjoyed the music the most. I had a fried oyster poboy that was fresh and good. Washed down with a Pims. Everything was alright and tourist approved. Service was typical NOLA style. We enjoyed ourselves.

Wanted to get some live music ASAP- so headed over since the music began at 11 am. We had the place to ourselves and enjoyed drinks and music. A great way to start the day!

Good music, lots of space for seating, comfy seats (even for people with bad backs), execellent service, excellent cocktails, and an awesome fried catfish po-boy! I wasn't expecting much of the catfish po-boy and was amazed by the crispy breading that's not oily and catfish that taste great. Good bread and fixings! Loved it here! Can't wait to go again.

We heard some good sounds so we stopped in. We had a table right in front and had a few beers. The music that night was Fully Dressed Po' Boys. They had a nice laid back sound perfect for early evening. The food looked good. We would probably go for dinner and music next time.

Terrific place! We ordered a hamburger and shrimp po boy. Husband's favorite sandwich in NOLA. Hamburger was good and food came out fast. Server was awesome. Music was great. Very friendly happy band with nice blues, jazzy sound. Frenchmen street is crowded on. Friday night but this place is worth it.

Great live music. We liked our drinks and the service was friendly. We had fried okra which I loved

Amazing live music at night. The band was so good! There's no cover but you have to make a drink purchase each set. Trust me, it's well worth it. A beer on tap will run around $7-8.

My recent discovery of Bomboula's in the vibrant Frenchmen Street area of the French Quarter was nothing short of serendipitous. Drawn in by the allure of free live music, my visit turned into a delightful immersion in New Orleans' rich musical scene, leading me to return the very next day. Bomboula's stands out as a testament to the city's commitment to live music. Each day I spent over four hours there, completely captivated by the fantastic array of New Orleans jazz and rock. The atmosphere is electric, buzzing with energy and talent, making it an ideal spot for anyone looking to experience the heart and soul of the city's musical heritage. While the food didn't quite hit the mark, the experience of being enveloped in live music every night more than compensates. Bomboula's may not be a culinary destination, but when it comes to providing an authentic, lively, and soulful musical experience, it excels. Establishments like Bomboula's are the backbone of what makes New Orleans truly special and distinctive. The city's music scene is a cultural treasure, and venues that offer live performances seven nights a week deserve our full support. My advice to fellow travelers: come to Bomboula's for the music, the ambiance, and the pure joy of New Orleans jazz. For dining, explore other culinary offerings in the area. But do not miss the chance to immerse yourself in the musical soul of the city at Bomboula's.

Good sized venue with great music. Cocktails were solid and service was efficient for how loud and crowded it was. They offered a one drink per person minimum so it was a really great venue to have a nice cocktail and enjoy some great live music. There was even enough space for a few dancers near the stage on some songs. Would definitely recommend checking this place out while looking for live music.

This is a good place to come to for love jazz, NOT for nachos. Chips were stale the first time, it's nacho cheese instead of shredded and the salsa was rancid. As long as you just get drinks you should have fun

Heard some great music coming out of Bamboula's during an afternoon on Frenchman Street, and the young jazz band did not disappoint! Good tunes, good solos, definitely tip when they pass the hat because Bamboula's is no cover charge! Beer selection and service was really good. Good place on Frenchman to while away some time with live music!

Beautiful bourbon street style live music from the 1920 from a beautiful singer Giselle Anguizola and her band. Come stop by the French quarter and sit down with a nice cocktail. The cheesy crab dip and pretzel appetizer was great. Soft buttery pretzel was done right mixed with the crab dip, awesome. Soft and chewy. The Spinach and Artichoke dip was also done right reminded me Olive Garden dip with crispy soft pita bread. Mix all that with a great band, can't go wrong. I had an amazing time and I bought the band cd.

Food was pretty good. Our waitress was so sweet and quickly brought our drinks. The music was amazing too! Would go back!

Great food and ambiance. Quaint little restaurant/bar with good food and live music. The service was with a smile, although you have to be patient

Good food , good music but what is other tax , total tax charge?!!! Tried to ask server but she could not clarify,

SERVICE: 5 FOOD QUALITY: 5 DRINK QUALITY: 3 ORDER TIME: 5 AESTHETICS: 4 NOISE LEVEL: 5 MENU SELECTION: 3 OVERALL EXPERIENCE: 4.29 We came in here after walking the street to watch jazz in the overly crowded jazz bars. They just happened to have an open table so we sat to order some drinks. The service was amazing. Our server was extremely nice, and personal. He sat and talked to us and gave us insight to the city. As we sat and watched the live jazz, we got a little hungry so we decided to order food. Our server recommended the gumbo so we went with that. It was superb. Probably the best gumbo we had on the entire vacation and we ate half a dozen. The menu is very limited so it shouldn't be hard to find a meal if you're hungry. This place like many other just serve standard drinks, and aren't really know for creative cocktails or specialty beers. Volume is way too crazy to accommodate. Overall, this place was super fun, and we were very fortunate that a table opened as we were walking past since it's first come first serve. Service is superb, and food was delicious. We wound up going back on another night we had so much fun.

I'm going to be reviewing several jazz/music establishments on Frenchmen street. As mentioned in my review for the Spotted Cat, there are a ton of great jazz clubs on Frenchman Street. Aside from the Spotted Cat, you can show up early (between 4-7) and get a good seat and hear some awesome music before it gets crowded. The music here is more traditional jazz with some singing. Drinks are average, as in most places. Service is pretty good here. Love how their front doors open onto the street and allow for a breeze.

This place is just fun! Walking by early in the evening I hear a great jazz band playing inside. Go in to sit down at the bar and get prompt service from a cool bartender. Instantly handed a menu and bar list, placed an order and had my food and drink within minutes while listening to awesome music while drinking a very good Sazerac. Went back out and came again an hour later and it's a new band playing a whole different style of blues and everybody having a great time. I'll be back to this place the next time I'm in New Orleans.

First time in NOLA and Frenchmen street did not disappoint. The vibe and the crowd were great, mature and welcoming. The bar was overwhelmingly packed. Some type of capacity limit should be established but everyone was nice about the crowd and moving through the bar. Paggy Prine was lovely on the stage and definitely knows how to entertain a crowd. Check her out on a Friday night in The Big Easy.

This was a great place; worth checking out. LOVED the band and I loved the atmosphere. There was a guest, who got up and danced for everyone's delight and enjoyment. He was wonderful, full of life--truly a local.

No cover charge. A limit on drinks though. One drink per music set. I imagine they're trying to limit rowdy crowds. Anyway, passed by to hear some live jazz. My companion had a drink and I abstained. We were there for a good half hour to hour or so. The band playing was lively. The restaurant itself spacious given how it accommodated so many people. They serve food from what I saw, much of it fried. Overall, it was a fine stop. I'd probably return if in the area.

Such a fun place with great music and awesome service and a great vibe! Try the fried pickles!!

This is one of the coolest places on Frenchman St! No Cover ...lots of space to dance if you choose! Staff is friendly..they serve good size bar food! If you come to Frenchman St..stop in before you go to the other spots..it will get you hyped for the day/night--whenever you visit..space has good vibes!

Bamboula is representing these TampaBY losers. the game is over and the Halloween set about to start. My first stop Bamboulas. Great food and drinks. Gotta coat stomache for the rest of the night Ample seating and balcony upstairs. jazz andNOLA bands all night. i'm waiting on the costumes.

If you are looking for a venue for live music, which also happens to serve food, you're going to be pretty set here at Bamboula's. The service is always great. There is a one drink minimum if you're coming in to enjoy music, but if you're eating anyway, that point is moot. If you are seated at the tables (not the bar) it's okay to have teenagers with their parents, so that the whole family can enjoy the night out. The food is okay, but it's probably not why you're coming here anyway. There's a full bar, and there are great bands that play here on the regular, plus other guests. I love their Thursday night line ups, but you're going to get some great entertainment any time that you're here.

Food was decent. They had one server for the whole place on a Thursday night and he had trouble keeping up. He was really nice and did his best. He gave us a couple free drinks due to waiting so long for food. Music was great.

Best decision we made our first night in New Orleans was coming to Bamboula's! We had so much fun. If it wasn't our first night and wanting to explore we could've stayed here all night. - No cover! Just a 1 drink minimum per person. - Music was awesome! Paggy and the band were straight fireeeeeee *insert all the flame emojis*. Her vocals were amazing and she connected with everyone so easily! - Drinks were delicious and good price. Hurricane = $12 - The fried pickles and fried okra order was large, plenty to share with others and sooo good. - Service was great! Our waitress so kind and checked in on us frequently. Highly recommend Bamboula's on Frenchmen St.

Fun, loud, and memorable for sure! The staff were interactive with their customers. The bartender made excellent drinks lol one was too strong for me , but that was because I didn't not know what I was ordering. The live band along with the staff made it an awesome experience! The restroom was clean, always a plus! The restaurant/bar was clean as well! A definite place to stop by if your thirsty

Music was great the night we were there. They also have a solid drink menu with some good cocktail selections. The food beat my expectations for bar food.

The music was so good. Good vibes and great drinks. If you want to sit back and chill and take in some old school jams don't pass this up.

Pretty good food but they were out of shrimp and bacon so...bummer. But we LOVED the music and atmosphere. Great spot for lunch. We saw Doyle Cooper and friends and they were fantastic!

The service here is awful and the staff is so rude. Table of 5 sat down during Mardi Gras hoping for some good jazz and food. When the waiter asked for our drinks one of us asked for a Coke Zero. The waiter said they don't have any Coke Zero only Diet and started harrassing our friend about being an idiot for thinking they had that on tap. He cursed at us and eventually kicked is out OVER A COKE ZERO!! Absolutely ridiculous. On top of that, I am sober and in recovery. I ordered a lemonade and he said "with vodka?" and I said "no, thank you". He winked and laughed and i saw him write vodka lemonade on his pad. Really hope this guy doesn't stick around this place much longer.

We stopped by for my wife's birthday a few days ago. The music was amazing and the service was awesome. The drinks were made with a good amount of liquor. We definitely have a place to go on our next visit to New Orleans.

The music is great! Amber and the Sweet Potatoes were a great quartet - upright bass, trumpet, guitar and lead vocals. It was worth coming in for!! However, the drinks were light on the booze and the crab dip and pretzels were so so. The pretzel was great but you couldn't taste the crab in the crab dip.

Not sure why anyone would rate this place higher than a 1 Star. This is nothing more that a tourist trap! Save your money! Food sucks and beer is flat. The service was good.

Best Craft Cocktails on Frenchman! I was blown away at how good the craft cocktails are here. The best I had on the street. The Summertime is a Hendricks Rosemary Lemonade that is SOOO GOOD! My partner got the Melon Tone that was also amazing, with a beautiful presentation, garnished with a large slice of watermelon. They also have a great whiskey based cocktail they call St. Jameson Infirmary Blues that is made with muddled blueberries and basil with Jameson Irish Whiskey. I can't wait to try the rest of their cocktails!

One star because of music. Without it, it would be "zero" stars. Dirty tourist trap, literally. Overpriced food, small portions, extra fees (you pay an additional tax and a fee for using your credit card). Not the bathroom is the worst. I should have checked it before ordering. Dirty, no paper, one stall with the door that has no lock! Unkempt servers. Never again!