Balcony Music Club

New Orleans, United States

4.3

Open now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 504-301-5912
Address:
1331 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA, 70116
French Quarter
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
840 ftFrench Market Station
0.3 miDumaine Station
0.5 miToulouse Station
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Apple Pay
No
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
No
Good for Groups
Yes
Ambience
Divey
Noise Level
Loud
Music
Live
Good For Dancing
Yes
Alcohol
Full Bar
Happy Hour
Yes
Best Nights
Wed, Fri, Sat
Coat Check
No
Smoking
Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Has TV
Yes
Has Pool Table
No

Today

Today 3:00 pm – 4:00 am
Open now
Local time (New Orleans) 12:37 AM Saturday, November 30, 2024

Business hours

Monday 5:00 pm – 2:00 am
Tuesday 5:00 pm – 2:00 am
Wednesday 5:00 pm – 2:00 am
Thursday 5:00 pm – 2:00 am
Friday 3:00 pm – 4:00 am
Saturday 3:00 pm – 4:00 am
Sunday 3:00 pm – 2:00 am

Description

Specialties

Balcony Music Club (or «BMC») is conveniently located on the corner of Esplanade and Decatur. Although this music venue is in the French Quarter, it isn’t technically on Frenchmen, but definitely a part of the Frenchmen culture.

You will find a wide range of music at BMC! Brass, jazz, blues, folk, funk, rock, and country. One great thing about BMC is that its music lineup often starts much earlier than the rest of Frenchmen St, so you can get started closer to midday and happy hour, especially on weekends. And since there’s usually no cover, you can pop in for a few songs, take a stroll, and come back at your leisure.

BMC, also affectionately known as the Center Of The Universe, showcases live bands seven nights a week. Since the venue is larger than most in the area, it’s usually not as cramped, but on busy nights, you likely will not find seating. In which case you can relax at their indoor/​outdoor patio bar, stand, or dance the night away. Either way, the staff is friendly, drink prices are reasonable, the entertainment is always on point and you will not be disappointed.

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Vicinity

Browse nearby places:
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Milk Studio
1309 Decatur St
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1319 Decatur St
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The Italian Barrel
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20 reviews of Balcony Music Club

No registration required
Place rating: 5
New Orleans, LA
Wandered into BMC, met Kinsey the chef who was preparing a duck confit stuffed in a puff pastry — it was the best dish we had in our 4 day New Orleans trip. We followed that with the ham/​provolone «Mallorca”-an amazing dish topped with powdered sugar and honey. I highly recommend you check this place out!!!
Place rating: 5
Philadelphia, PA
Holy Snikies! We had a few drinks prior to hopping in to listen to some live jazz. But… This is one of the sexiest little bars in Nola. Over priced drink and a sticky floor, wouldn’t have it any other way. Love the bar set up and gothic cathedral vibes. Good times!
Place rating: 5
San Angelo, TX
This place has decent music and great drinks. Try the 1331! It’s delicious. Didn’t try the food but it looked good from afar. Overall it had friendly staff and service.
Place rating: 5
New Orleans, LA
BMC has been totally remodeled and is under new management with a new booking agent.
We had a great time listening to The Snake Charmers, a Jazz Band. Everyone was totally friendly and very professional. Drinks are good.
They also have a separate bar and patio lounge with Big Screen Tv’s for you sports fans.
Place rating: 4
Rolling Meadows, IL
This place has some crazy drinks on the menu and I wasn’t brave enough to try one.
Reasonably priced drinks. Good service (order your drinks at the bar) and exceptional bands. You’re in for a treat.
Place rating: 4
ASTORIA, NY
The real deal, authentic, and best of all no cover charge. Give this place a chance.
Live music that is enjoyable, happy, and infectious! Finally a place where one can enjoy music in an uncrowned environment. One more time: pure, real, and a must!
Place rating: 3
San Francisco, CA
The music is great but I ordered Patron tequila neat and was served an inferior well brand. It was poured out of a Patron bottle. Someone was busy after hours up to no good. Patron is my brand and it was my first drink of the night. I KNOW MY PATRON. Enough said.
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
We love this Music club next to Frenchman’s Street, on Decatur. It has wonderful bands and good drinks. We go there whenever we visit New Orleans, and there is NO cover charge.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
I discovered my new favorite cocktail, the Etta Jameson, at BMC.
Don’t be discouraged by the fact that it is not as cramped as some of the other venues on Decatur/​Frenchmen. That is the charm. Plenty of space to enjoy the music, even hit the dance floor if you are so inclined. On 3 separate nights I had the pleasure of hearing amazing country, funk and soul music that kept me up well past my usual bedtime. Don’t bother finding a chair you don’t need to sit, just find a good spot to get your groove on!
Place rating: 5
Gulf Breeze, FL
While the venue is classic old school, and the corner location is inviting, don’t be discouraged and drop in. The music was phenomenal, entertaining and an absolute top tapping, knee slapping hell of a time.. Enjoyed it
Place rating: 4
Bigfork, MT
Great place for live music! Smooth jazz, or the blues. We’ve caught a few of the bands over the last week and we’ve enjoyed the feel here. No cover either.
Place rating: 5
East Grand Rapids, MI
LOVE THIS BAR! We just happened to stop in on a Sunday evening, while visiting New Orleans, because it was the first bar we heard that had live music. The first band, Snake and The Charmers, were so much fun and played great music! The venue is cool, the drinks are cheap and the music is even better. I cant wait to go back the next time we visit!
Place rating: 4
New York, NY
Loved the jazz but we didn’t get to linger TOO long because the place was a little too loud for the Hubby’s taste. Laid back atmosphere and huge space!
Place rating: 4
Houston, TX
We had a lot of fun here listening to a band which had an accordion as a lead. There was a guy playing a sort of metal plate hanging down from his shoulders. The place had a wonderful atmosphere with a few people dancing to the music and a laid-​back attitude of people here.
Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY
I had the privilege of catching Ed Wills and his band Blues 4 Sale two nights and a row.
The second performance was at the Balcony Music Club located on Decatur Street just one block away from Frenchmen Street. Blues for sale was amazing as usual. But on to the B.M.C.
It was a wide open space and the the acoustics were just right for the venue. The drinks were reasonably priced, I paid $ 18 for two hurricanes. I’m from NY so this was reasonably priced to me were one cocktail can run you about 16 dollars.
There was one bartender for the front hall and she also served as the waitress. However despite the double duty she did an amazing job. There is a second bar located in the rear an a patio.
The crowd was a little older let’s say 50 to 60 not really my thing, but the energy was good. If you like amazing music, we’ll check out any venue that had Blues 4 Sale while you are in NOLA, but also give the Balcony Music Club your support.
Place rating: 3
Houston, TX
It was a grand opening so perhaps in the future they will be able to take credit cards. It was just really a pain to get cash on a crowded Fri night. They have a nice set up and the music was really good. I didn’t see anything that makes this club standout greatly but I will say I enjoyed being there. It seems like this location changes owners a lot and the new management is off to a descent start.
Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY
Oh I really love this place. The music is lovely. Was walking by and the band looked to be practicing and one of the member a waved us in. No cover … No charge … Never ! Turned out to be a great jazz show. The guys were so smooth and super sweet. Loved the laid back atmosphere of this place. It’s definitely more on the divey side of things even at 3 in the afternoon but I’ll take it anyday. Looking forward to stopping through oh my return to NOLA!
Place rating: 3
Baton Rouge, LA
Walked in on since the guy out front said «NO Cover,» and we stayed for about 30 minutes catching the end of a set performed by Big Red. She did an amazing job so we had to tip her and the band several times. If you are walking along Frenchmen street and you’re not feeling the other sets performing .walk on over to this place and sit down, why not? It’s free… just how most of us like it.
Place rating: 4
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
This place is simply awesome. We stumbled upon this bar while walking by and decided to go in and check it out. It was one of the more happening places around with a live band and singer. Small pace but really cozy and warm. The entertainment made this place! Cool, interactive, upbeat, fun… NOLA style!
The place is good size, semi clean, big bar with all the drinks you need to have a great time…
Great place to stop by when in town!
Place rating: 5
Sacramento, CA
Sometimes Unilocal helps me find an awesome place… but that was not the case with BMC. We stumbled upon it unexpectedly on our way to Frenchman Street, thanks to my full and weak bladder.
The good:
After using the restroom, we hung out and listened to the live music. The band was awesome, with a kind of a gritty rocker vibe to their jazz music, and they were not bad to look at too.
Upon entering, you see the cozy stage to your left, and the bar to your right. There’s a little room to dance, but mostly the audience stood around the stage to enjoy the music.
It was a good crowd that night. I felt comfortable enough to leave my group and explore a bit, where I found the back bar in a separate room for people who don’t want to yell while talking to each other.
I really enjoyed the ambience here. It’s small and intimate but not packed, authentic and friendly, and who doesn’t like fantastic live music?
Would I recommend/​or come back? Yes!