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(212) 539-8777

425 Lafayette St (nr. Astor Pl.)
New York, NY 10003 40.729 -73.9922

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Neighborhoods: NoHo, Downtown

Hours:

Daily, 6pm-2am

Last updated 4.14.11

Category:

Nightclubs, Cabarets, Bars & Pubs

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Club Type of Music:

Country, Folk & Bluegrass, Alternative Rock, World, Jazz, Funk, Soul & R&B, Blues, Rock & Pop, Hip-Hop & Rap, Latin

Bar & Club Special Features:

DJ, Live Music

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Joe's Pub

Featured Review

Kara Zuaro

Contributor

The Scene – This cozy, Public Theater-owned venue proves that good things come in small packages. Though the floor is cramped, the soaring, chandelier-hung ceiling has enough height to dismiss the fears of claustrophobics. Seats cascade up from the stage to the tiers of tables and plush booths near the elevated bar, so the performance feels like a private show from any vantage point. Ticket prices are accordingly steep, and the varied roster draws a mature and artsy clientele to younger dancing crowds. – – The Draw – With two shows per night, a regular week at Joe's…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
Seated guests (whether they requested a table or not) must abide by the two-drink minimum. If you're not drinking, order at least $12 of food from the light menu instead.
Look Good:
If you're interested in sitting, reserve a table in advance and get there promptly--shows start meticulously on time.
The Extras:
The classic menu ranges from light salads and pastas to $30 steaks.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The music is great, the crowd is beyond attractive, the atmosphere is nice and chill.”
  2. “Great intimate setting that allows almost everyone in the pub a good view and experience of the performers.”
  3. “This place is good for the performances, drinks, atmosphere but the food can use a little work.”
  4. “Joe's Pub is a cozy, intimate performance space in the Public Theatre.”
  5. “This is a great place to bring a date, although I felt comfortable here as a single person.”
  6. “went with a group of girls and we loved the music and the lounge atmosphere!”
  7. “The stage and lighting set a romantic mood and is a charming backdrop for dinner.”
drinks
75.0% positive
  1. “This place is small but has a real NY vibe, great drinks, the best entertainment from around the world on certain nights and a real NY celebrity hang out.”
  2. “DO make reservatoins for a table; the food and drink are not particularly expensive and it's way better than standing) The food I've had was decent; my flatmate thought the veggie panini was quite good.”
  3. “Intimate, chic, democratic, good cocktails, nice snacks, great performers.”
  4. “The food is gross and the drinks are worse.”
  5. “This place is good for the performances, drinks, atmosphere but the food can use a little work.”
  6. “It's the best spot in town to eat and drink and hear topnotch acts perform without going home smelling like Bayonne.”
  7. “Food was about average and drinks were expensive (but such is life in NYC).”
  8. “You can sit, drink, eat and listen to good music.”
food quality
72.22000122070312% positive
  1. “The food was so good that I tried to google the menu for ideas and ended up writing this review.”
  2. “Joe's Pub is a great lounge w/great food, live music and a great crowd.”
  3. “This place is good for the performances, drinks, atmosphere but the food can use a little work.”
  4. “Drink and table minimums are high (expect to spend at least as much if not more than you did on the ticket) and the food is abominable.”
  5. “DO make reservatoins for a table; the food and drink are not particularly expensive and it's way better than standing) The food I've had was decent; my flatmate thought the veggie panini was quite good.”
  6. “ordered the orichiette with meatballs and tomato sauce, which was delicious.”
  7. “The food is gross and the drinks are worse.”
  8. “Horrible food, Good music”
  9. “Didn't have any food, so can't comment on that, but I can highly recommend that you make reservations for the upper tables or couches so that you have a nice place to sit.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The choices of stage lighting were weird at times, but the sound was good.”
  2. “The food was so good that I tried to google the menu for ideas and ended up writing this review.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Didn't have any food, so can't comment on that, but I can highly recommend that you make reservations for the upper tables or couches so that you have a nice place to sit.”
  2. “Other than that, it's a really great place to see a show.”
  3. “All in all a great place to see live music.”
  4. “This is a great place to bring a date, although I felt comfortable here as a single person.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “The staff was friendly and attentive (may be due to the fact that we tipped and tipped well) I will definately be back this Friday for their new Hip Hop, Reggae, R&B, House, Reggaeton party this Friday night.”
  2. “Won't ever return, especially given the number of other great places in Manhattan that have the music without the attitude.”
service
37.5% positive
  1. “You can find famous actors and common people.”
  2. “The service was not good either.”
  3. “Condescending, snobby, rude staff who looked down their noses at us to see if we were "OK" for the place.”
  4. “The male employees that boss the all female wait staff around are horrible.”
  5. “the only complaint I have is the waitresses are very obnoxious.”
  6. “The wait staff was a little slow and service was a bit strange; at one point, a waiter collected and momentarily stacked some dirty plates on my table and then took them away.”
  7. “The staff was friendly and attentive (may be due to the fact that we tipped and tipped well) I will definately be back this Friday for their new Hip Hop, Reggae, R&B, House, Reggaeton party this Friday night.”
  8. “The people who run the place better get a clue and hire a decent staff or people are going to stop coming.”
value
33.3299994468689% positive
  1. “Drinks expensive and not much to write home about.”
  2. “DO make reservatoins for a table; the food and drink are not particularly expensive and it's way better than standing) The food I've had was decent; my flatmate thought the veggie panini was quite good.”
  3. “Food was about average and drinks were expensive (but such is life in NYC).”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “The wait staff was a little slow and service was a bit strange; at one point, a waiter collected and momentarily stacked some dirty plates on my table and then took them away.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/12/10

They book great entertainment

by njrugger45 at Citysearch

I love the entertainers they book here. I've been multiple times, but only eaten once. (Usually I just go with the two drink minimum instead of the dinner. DO make reservatoins for a table; the food and drink are not particularly expensive and it's way better than standing) The food I've had was decent; my flatmate thought the veggie panini was quite good.

  • Pros: Great entertainment at great prices
  • Cons: Decent food but nothing extraordinary
4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/09/09

Lovely place to listen music

by EmanuelaB at Citysearch

I found it very special because it's not a snob place, even if it's in the most fashionable city of the world. You can find famous actors and common people. Lovely!!!!!!!!

  • Pros: feeling, music
  • Cons: humburger too much rare
1 Star Rating: Poor

10/19/08

RUDE Customer Service Horrible Food and Drinks Just not worth it.

by thinkaboutme at Citysearch

This place has gone from great to plain bad. Management yells and makes scenes in front of patrons. The man who holds the people's tickets that have been held at the box office has the attitude he is holding the holy grail. RUDE!! He was taunting a female patron with yells and plain abuse when I was in line to get in. I felt terrible for her. The male employees that boss the all female wait staff around are horrible. The food is gross and the drinks are worse. Hot beer can I say enough. Save your money and go to a real venue.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/14/08

What an evening!

by shirah at Citysearch

Joe's Pub was wonderful! It is absolutley beautiful inside. There is so much detail. It is very elegant while at the same time the feel is informal. It doesn't matter who you go to see there because the setting is like hanging out with some friends who happen to be on stage. The drinks and food were a little pricy, but worth it because every drink I wanted was in my hand right away. That goes a long way with me. The food was so good that I tried to google the menu for ideas and ended up writing this review. I will definitely be back for more!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/16/07

Great music and Vibe

by angyboston12 at Citysearch

This place is small but has a real NY vibe, great drinks, the best entertainment from around the world on certain nights and a real NY celebrity hang out.

Great fun if you can get in, advance notice would be advisable for a perfect night out in NY

angus cooney

The Details on Joe's Pub

Place Categories:

  • great live music
  • great place
  • loved lounge atmosphere
  • great lounge wgreat food
  • gross food
  • cool intimate performance space
  • like pub
  • decent staff
  • great entertainment
  • great spot
  • wonderful musical talent
  • famous common people
  • rude wait staff
  • good sound system
  • great musicians
  • amazing little cabaret space
  • good cocktails
  • nice lighting
  • bad seat
  • not universally good sightlines
  • not good service
  • charming backdrop
  • love entertainers
  • expensive drink
  • insufficient seating