Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse

We stumbled upon this great venue. We got there early to get a good seat. There didn’t seem to be a bad seat in the house. We ordered appetizers… got Debris Fries, artichoke dip and crab macroni. The bow ties crackers served with the crab dip were so unique and delicious. They were all really good. The BEST of the night was the fried peanut butter and jelly!!! Music was great! Very classy but casual venue. Will recommend this to friends that are coming to New Orleans! FYI tip is included but called a cork fee.

This is a great place. However, their website is confusing as to them the boss is playing — or it’s not well-​optimized for mobile apps
Comfortable, attractive and good
Sound system.
Had one great night there. Swing by tow others, but weren’t interested in the entertainment or thought it was Mayfield himself.
It is however, a little spendy.

We came to NoLa not only for living in the Big Easy for our anniversary weekend and eating the best food ever, but also to hear live jazz. We arrived at 9:30p, and the lounge was being emptied out by a previous private party. Once cleared, the hostess began seating people. We were seated at a small couch and table in the back center facing the stage. At first it was just jazz being played and no singing. Then, a local blues singer graces the mic with his voice. Now, I love jazz and no one knows that until now. It calms my nerves and it puts me to sleep, in a good way. I sat with my love and as I enjoyed the tunes, my eyes became heavy and I’d snooze and bop my head at the same time. My lips would move to sing along, so I wasn’t completely asleep. When he started singing Mack the Knife, I opened my eyes and sang along. I love music from the 1950s-​1960s and Bobby Darin is a fav singer of mine with this song. We ordered chargrilled oysters and shrimp with fried green tomatoes. Both perfect light bites to enjoy with our cocktails and the smooth jazz. If we get a chance, come here for live jazz, tasty bites and cocktails.

Nothing but great vibes from this place. The food was amazing and the service was great as well. We had a special treat celebrating with Dee Dee Bridgewater which turned out to be an amazing experience.

So we went on line and paid $ 20 per person to a see a Wednesday night trio perform a 8pm. The band piddled in at 8:05, placing instruments on stage, drinking lots of wine and goofing off at the bar. The first note was played at 8:32. Very unprofessional. The trio: piano, bass player and drummer were solid, the trumpet and horn players were horrible.
Our server was mechanical. She wasn’t rude, just blank. She did not exude «hospitality» like one might except at an upscale
fact, the servers at the Ruby Slipper are 1000x more friendly and welcoming for a diner breakfast. For God’s sake, this is supposed to be FUN!!!
The cocktails were also sub par compared to other local clubs. What a crushing disappointment. As we left after two songs and surveyed the geriatric NY retirement crowd we confirmed we will NOT be staying at the Royal Sonesta on future trips. Back to the Ritz Carlton.

Located on Bourbon street but inside a hotel. No cover charge. The live jazz music amazing boy to loud, the entire experience was def great. The cocktails are strong and the price is reasonable. Def a must visit in NOLA!

I hit a chance to experiment Irving Mayfield by surprise, it was wonderful, cocktails were excellent a little pricey, venue comfortable and crowd was mature.

One New Orleans music spot I won’t be visit again. The artist appearing was not the one advertised or listed on the website. Also at the door the hostess erroneously confirmed that it was going to be the artist that was advertised. Additionally advertised time was listed as 8. The hostess once again confirmed the show would start at 8. It ended up starting 40 minutes late. Add to that subpar cocktails that would be disgraceful even at half the price and that makes it a place you want to avoid. It tries to pass itself off as classy and sofisticated but is anything but.

The fried pb&j here is insane. Also crab cakes are very good, my only complaint is that you only get two. And Irvin Mayfield and his group are fun to watch.

The best highlight of our time spent in New Orleans. Any night of the week it is filled with unique people down for some jazz. The hotel is beautiful, the drinks are delicious and a little pricey, but definitely worth it. Music was absolutely incredible. If you’re in town for only one hour, spend it here.

Went here to listen to Grammy Winner & Apollo Resident, Irvin Mayfield. That dude has major talent & lungs! I wish there was a gift shop of his stuff!

This is a nice jazz club, of the swankier variety than what you find on frenchmen street. We went on Wednesday to see Irvin Mayfield himself play, so there is a $ 15 cover in addition to the one drink minimum per set. We’re not really serious jazz aficionados, but it was fun to see a Grammy winner playing in his own club. I think there were a few times where he seemed a little annoyed that the crowd was not more loudly appreciative of his fame and skills, but it wasn’t really a full house, and on Bourbon street you’ve got to assume most of them are tourists like us. Service was a bit slow, but the drinks were good. This is the kind of place I picture when I think of a jazz lounge, so I enjoyed the experience even if its not a regular scene for me.

So my husband and I came here to enjoy an evening of jazz and hope to see the burlesque show. The venue was nice. However, there is a one drink minimum per set. We were not told that the drink requirement were per set. Also after we ordered our drinks the waitress did not check on us.

Awesome venue for jazz music. Even on a Tuesday night. Came here on a recommendation from our bartender at the Hotel Monteleone.
No cover. Great drinks. But this is not about that. This is about the music!
Simple. Piano, bass, drums, sax and trumpet. Who knew this combination of musical instruments could create feelings of joy, sadness, wistfulness and longing. The musicians were truly truly talented. Why they weren’t world famous is a travesty. Sat through the entire night mesmerized. Toward the end of the set they even invited some tourists up there to sing and play. So cool.
Go. And be amazed.

Great live music, talented band. Right on Bourbon Street in the Royal Sonesta Hotel. No cover, one drink minimum. Exactly what I expected a New Orleans jazz club to be!

New Orleans must visit place for great quality engaging jazz!
No cover charge drinks are reasonable
The hotel is also very pretty

What an incredible venue for live jazz music! I ducked in here with a friend after seeing an advertisement outside. It’s a total hidden gem, tucked behind a thick curtain just inside the Royal Sonesta in the French Quarter. The moment I stepped into the lounge, I immediately noticed how intimate and inviting the space was. It was all dark wood paneling and low lighting – but the lighting was absolutely perfect.
The staff was friendly and efficient, the wine was delicious, and the band was amazing that night! The James Rivers Movement has an amazing sound, and I’m so glad I went that night! I made sure to introduce myself to Mr. Rivers and thank him for such an incredible set. I also bought one of his cds and asked him to sign it for me. He is a really sweet man who is thankful for his fans.
If you want to experience New Orleans jazz at its finest, this is definitely the place to do it! I will definitely return.

First night in NOLA. Husband and I decided to pay cover and come in. It’s cover +1 drunk. They weren’t pushy at all with us. We were very entertained. All if the musicians were doubly talented. I’m spoiled by good jazz because we’re from Chicago. IM did nit disappoint. If you’re drummer can get the entire room to sing:” I believe I can fly”. Then you’re band is good. Excellent way to kick off our trip. It was the highlight for me. Go see him! It’s an intimate spot and small so get there early.

I don’t know much about jazz music, but it wasn’t difficult to figure out that musicians here were simply outstanding. Make sure you come earlier or make reservations if you want to secure a seat.

Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse is an oasis of class and culture on Bourbon Street. Take it from a local!
A friend and I arrived around 8PM on a Friday to listen to the Jazz band. The musicians were super talented, and the dark, romantic room complemented the soothing music. Plus, there was an adorable older couple dancing by the stage! From the cocktail menu, I ordered my first Sazerac, which was a delectable experience. The place was a little empty when arrived, but by 9:30PM, the room was pretty filled.
After stepping out for a short break, we returned around 11PM for the Burlesque Show they host on Fridays. The show does not begin until a little past midnight, but you need to arrive no later than 11PM to get a seat if you don’t have reservations. We spent the next hour enjoying the Jazz music and a few glasses of wine.
The Burlesque performers were absolutely gorgeous and very personable! Don’t worry about being close to the stage because they will float around the room and interact with the people on the isles. The atmosphere was very fun, carefree, and not sleazy in the least!
Overall, I would highly recommend this venue for a exciting, memorable night in New Orleans!

Let me get this straight… Free Jazz show and Burlesque (midnight) every Friday night with one drink minimum? Sign me up! This was awesome! I kind of wish it was a secret but the cat’s out of the bag. The line to get in can be long, get there very early and watch the Jazz bands if you want a good seat at the burlesque show. There is standing room also though. I would suggest front and center couches and chairs for the best spot. We had a reserved table and didn’t get involved into any part of the show like other patrons. Great band and singer also, great night! I love the décor, dim lit with red drapes, super sexy.

5 stars for the band
3 stars for the service
Arrived late on a Monday night and it was pretty full, but we were lucky to snag a small table in the middle of the room. Took a good 15min to get a waitress’ attention and order one drink, so I quickly closed my tab after ordering. Definitely the youngest couple in the joint (mid-​20s and early 30s), but we didn’t care– still a very fun and lively atmosphere inside a beautiful hotel (unfortunately on Bourbon St.).

I had a really great time at Irvin Mayfield’s. I came here for the burlesque show at midnight last Friday, March 13, which was my first time attending a burlesque show ever. Earlier that Friday I tried to make a reservation to get in, but I was told that they only take a small number of reservations so that they could accommodate walk-​ins, and those spots had filled up a day or two earlier. The staff member on the phone told me that I wouldn’t have a problem getting in as long as I lined up by 11:30 or 11:45 the latest. My group of 4 showed up at about 11:20 and we were able to get in, but there was already a line there when we arrived.
The show itself was fantastic, the band was great and we got prime seats directly in front of the burlesque dancers (they don’t perform on the stage, the band does, the dancers are level with the audience). All of the dancers did a great job, but I can see why Trixie Minx seems to be a big name in the NOLA burlesque scene. I had heard about Trixie while researching this trip, and it was cool to hear that she would be performing the night we were there. She put on a great show, you won’t be disappointed.
A big plus for Irvin Mayfield’s is the lack of a cover charge, everyone gets in free. The only requirement is the purchase of one drink per set. I think that’s a pretty fair policy, but the drinks here are definitely pricier than anywhere else on bourbon. I don’t remember the exact prices, but my rough estimates are: wine $ 8 — $ 10, beer $ 5 — $ 7, and cocktails $ 10 — $ 14.