Cafe Istanbul

Went to see a show there and the food was served by a local caterer. $15/plate, I bought a VIP Ticket for $20, a cocktail double for $20. Drinks were a little pricey but overall a great time.

I don't know about any food available here, so I can not speak to that. This space as an event venue is quite lovely. I came for an event where the author talked about his writings and his passions, and the whole experience was amazing. I look forward to coming back for future events.

The timings of the shows were not properly organized. This is the second time where I've seen a performer rushing off of the stage, cutting their show short for the next set of people who were also scheduled to perform around the same time. I think that too many performers are constantly getting booked in such a small amount of time. It's kind of hard to fully enjoy a show like that.

Good food, wish the space is bigger and have a better A/C

Great venue. Drinks strong, but a lil bit higher than I expected. Ladies bathroom was exceptionally clean. That's the 5th Star.

This was an amazing music venue especially for Sunday night! They allow vendors inside and outside for art and food! Great bartenders! The upstairs area is cool and has seating. They have couches inside to sit down to. Great place for cool visuals!

The Black Film Festival New Orleans was held at this great location. The owner was friendly and helpful.

Drinks were good, I didn't have e any issue with seating, parking in the lot is not easy with a large SUV

My secondline club had our Queen and King party here. The bartenders were amazing and made equally as amazing drinks. This place is so versatile for any event, I'm thinking of having a party here myself. I love Cafe Istanbul. Highly recommend you to hold your next event here.

I don't know about any food available here, so I can not speak to that. This space as an event venue is quite lovely. I came for an event where the author talked about his writings and his passions, and the whole experience was amazing. I look forward to coming back for future events.

Whenever someone says there's an event at Cafe Istanbul, I flash back to the 90s when it was a major club on Frenchmen Street. But no. This is a lovely theater inside the Healing Center building. And it is accessed from the back along St. Roch. There is a small parking lot that is accessed from N. Rampart. I was there for a charitable event with a variety of musical presenters... shout out to the dance group that finished their number by holding music streaming from a phone up to a mic when the sound system cut out. Sound was pretty good but at least one band was just too much for the small space. The bar prices were $$$ but maybe that's because the charity was getting a cut. Restrooms outside the theater were clean and spacious.

Experienced Cafe Istanbul for the first time in many many years. My, how New Orleans venues have changed! I went with a friend to Al "Carnival Time" Johnson's 80th Birthday Party here. The stage is easily visible from anywhere in the place. Room for dancing, chairs & tables for relaxing. Bar service is fast, bartender was pleasant. I didn't get a chance to try the food. I believe it was free for Al's birthday event. Bottom line, I'll definitely check out other performances here. I prefer the more I the more setting. Happy Birthday Al!

What a wonderful room. Intimate and great sound. I'm blessed to have it in my neighborhood

We have yet to experience all that this magical place has to offer. On our most recent trip to New Orleans, we came here twice during our ten-day visit. Never got to experience the theater side, as we were only here for Poetry on Poets, an open mic on Monday nights. Hosted by Chuck Perkins, he creates a more intimate space near the bar by closing a curtain and creating a "living room feel". The weekly event is not limited to poetry. Anyone with anything to share is welcomed and encouraged to grab the mic. Poetry, stories, vocals, instruments...you name it! Residing in NYC, my husband and I have access to plenty of poetry slams and open mic venues, but it's different here. Can't explain it. We both felt inspired by the creativity in the room and super comfortable with the loving and playful energy of the host and attendees. Hubby felt so inspired, he actually got up and read one of his writings from many years ago, on both nights. I'm not sure what came over me, but it hit hard! On the first night we came, it hit so hard, I ended up writing something while taking a restroom break. Haven't written anything in almost two decades. Had no intention to share it initially, but they got me up there. I got on the mic! First time on the mic in OVER two decades and I'm reading something I wrote in ten minutes, ten minutes ago. That's HUGE for me! It's this place! It's magical.

It was hard to narrow it down during jazz fest and decide on the perfect venue for our evening experience. I'm glad we chose Cafe Istanbul. It has the class, intimate feel and top-notch performers of a much more expensive and well-known venue. Get in here before everyone else figures out this is the diamond in the rough.

Perfect venue for some our our best entertainers - just the right size and layout for a romantic crooner, for example. Low key, fine sound system, good lighting, cozy layout, very pleasant (volunteer) staff. Check out a performer you want to see here soon.

My friend knows that I love LIVE music... so she brought to wear the locals come to listen to great music! I'm loving it!! Real music!

No respect for the neighborhood. Patrons hang out in the parking lot screaming, yelling, playing car stereos at full blast, blowing car horns until 3-4 in the morning on any given night and management could care less. Neighbors have asked many times for this to stop and we have made it known that the music/shows inside are not the problem. We get continually told it will be handled in what just turns out to be a way to get us to move along.

A nice little niche place to hear great music, poetry and the performing arts. I came here for the first time when they hosted a tribute for the late great Dr. Maya Angelou. The poetry and performances were very moving. I will be back.

What a great venue inside the Healing Center on St. Claude! I never would have known this was inside that building if it weren't for my friend D's performance here last weekend, but it's a venue with lots of room and a large stage. There was a piano on one side of the stage, a drum set that was pushed back, a DJ with his equipment, and after all that, there was still plenty of room for performers. The performance I was at was on the smaller, more intimate side, and the staff used their furniture strategically (more tables and chairs closer to the stage during the performance and moved them back to create room for dancing later on). There is also a balcony and there was art up there. My lazy self did not go up to explore, but their website says that they display works of local painters and photographers. The show I went to was a poetry/music performance by various artists, but I can definitely see this venue being used for theatrical productions, dance performances, film screenings, etc. It's most definitely a multipurpose performance venue. There is a bar inside for your beverage needs. Check out their calendar and pay a visit to this venue for an event that intrigues you!

The best!! I read for first time and was greeted with high praise. So many performances; original. Deep shit!!!!!

Would give 0 stars but not possible. Place sucks. They billed Dead cover band during JazzFest as Featuring Joan Osborne. Joan barely sang and hardly showed up onstage. Combine this with rude staff (especially the woman at the door) and the evening was a complete disaster and waste of money.

We have held the Southern Sideshow Hootenanny at this venue for the last three years, and it holds a special place in my heart. The staff is always friendly as can be.

Fantastic local theater to see a local stage show! With the loss of so many local theaters, Istanbul is a go to!!!!

The Veggie Fest was having a party here when we stopped by. The live band was really awesome. There was going to be a burlesque show later that night, but we couldnt stay to enjoy it. The space is very cozy and there were some people dancing to the side. They had a bar and pretty dimmed lighting. I just wish we could have seen the burlesque show!

I love this place. Eclectic, surprising something new and different but also as New Orleans as it gets. I love to hear Michaela on Thursday nights. This woman is one of the best singers anywhere. The proprietors have a great ear and eye for some of the most people in the City. They also attract seasoned musicians who must love the acoustics here and the freedom. On any given night there might be a play, a great screening, hiphop , comedy drag poetry reading , great bands and singers ...and all of it really good. As an atmosphere The healing center is a bit weird and bright but i love that feeling of going from one kind of space , through a door into another world of some dark and cool a creative space where anything can happen. Oh, really safe environment I have never come close to having a problem at Cafe Istanbul. Safe, loving and cool.

Any review of this place should of course come with the tag that your mileage may vary - it is after all just a venue and so if you go here and the performance sucks, well you won't be leaving positive reviews. That being said I've been to 5 different events here and they all ruled - if an organization is putting on an event at Cafe Istanbul it makes my ears perk up. It's a nice cozy space that makes you feel like a part of whatever is going on but also allows you to easily slip away and have private conversations with friends. It can be a little hard to find on your first trip but it gets easier and funner with each return.

so glad NOLA still has a local theater whose mission is to help new artists and entrepreneurs get a start. Thank you Istanbul for believing in us, and making things happen!

No lie I had a Hard Time trying to Find This place because it Does not jump out at you at night while riding along St. Claude. It is located in the "Healing Center" Building along St. Claude Lol. It's something like a building in a building inside a building type of location. I was kind of pissed because I was looking all over for the place then had to look for a parking spot. But that's Ok. Helen Managed to Find her one! YAY!!!! The place was really raw. By Raw i mean the basics of a spoken word place. A Bar. A Stage. And an arrangement for the selective few audience that decides to participate in the listening of artists just speaking from their soul. The lightening was Soulful. Everything about this place was Soulful. It was Laid back and Chill. I enjoyed the scene, setting, and most importantly the artists. They were so creative and just soulful. I also probably had many drinks that night so I was in the "Love Jones" Mood so I should say! Lol!!

Attended a variety show here tonight. I love to support the local talent. Unfortunately, the bartender was extremely rude. I was told the restroom was closed, and to use the restroom across the street. I left after the first act. The men's restroom was open and fully operational. There are better establishments in Nola with more professional staff!

I've been here a couple of times for fundraisers for the nonprofit that I work for and I'm always impressed by the ambiance and cleanliness of the place. The staff are friendly and the layout is very flexible in that you can change the tables and chairs to fit your needs. They also have a well-lit parking lot, which is helpful (and safe) and we had a security guard standing outside the whole time watching people get to their cars. As a woman, I appreciate this most.

We attended a Moth Story Slam while visiting NOLA. It was a highlight of our trip. So glad we found this place & the adjacent co-op.

This is a cosy space that has been prepared specifically for live performances. There is an intimate seating are containing a handful of tables, a large couch and seating at the bar. Balcony seating upstairs. No food available but the drinks are not bad. Come here for the live performances and the relaxed feel Cafe Istanbul delivers.

This place is beautiful! The best venue in NOLA weather you'er looking to hear music, see an independent film, or see an outstanding drag show. Great sound system, elegant atmosphere, and not a bad seat in the house. Keep an eye on events at Cafe Istanbul and check out Michaela Harrison Thursday nights.

Classy, elegant place to see performances or independent films. Check out Michaela Harrison on Thursday nights or the weekly happy hour events early Friday (~5-7pm).