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Cafe Wha?
115 MacDougal St., New York, NY 10012
between 3rd and Bleecker Sts.
212-254-3706
Scene
Bar Food, Private Party Space, Classic NY, Restaurant & Bar, Hot Spot, Live Music
Profile
While Cafe Wha? claims to be the birthplace of legends like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, the truth is that they actually got their starts at the original location next door. Still, this basement tourist magnet milks the name for all its worth and accordingly, Wha? attracts a host of European and Japanese visitors who invariably take pictures of themselves in front of the garishly colorful façade. Live music remains the club's hook, with the house band playing covers of R&B, funk and classic rock Wed-Sun. The cover charge is a good thing here, helping to keep out the MacDougal horde of NYU kids with the munchies, and the drink prices are affordable, although there is a two-drink minimum. Still, for a place that claims to have people "dancing in the aisles seven nights a week," it's so cramped patrons can barely move, let alone groove. — Michael Y. Park
Extra
Manny Roth, owner of the original Cafe Wha? and uncle to David Lee Roth, sold the bar to the current owner's family in 1988. The original Cafe Wha? is now a comedy club.
Hours
Sun-Thu, 8:30pm-2:30am; Fri-Sat, 8:30pm-4am
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Has any of the Roth Army members every been to this place?
115 MacDougal St., New York, NY 10012
between 3rd and Bleecker Sts.
212-254-3706
Scene
Bar Food, Private Party Space, Classic NY, Restaurant & Bar, Hot Spot, Live Music
Profile
While Cafe Wha? claims to be the birthplace of legends like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, the truth is that they actually got their starts at the original location next door. Still, this basement tourist magnet milks the name for all its worth and accordingly, Wha? attracts a host of European and Japanese visitors who invariably take pictures of themselves in front of the garishly colorful façade. Live music remains the club's hook, with the house band playing covers of R&B, funk and classic rock Wed-Sun. The cover charge is a good thing here, helping to keep out the MacDougal horde of NYU kids with the munchies, and the drink prices are affordable, although there is a two-drink minimum. Still, for a place that claims to have people "dancing in the aisles seven nights a week," it's so cramped patrons can barely move, let alone groove. — Michael Y. Park
Extra
Manny Roth, owner of the original Cafe Wha? and uncle to David Lee Roth, sold the bar to the current owner's family in 1988. The original Cafe Wha? is now a comedy club.
Hours
Sun-Thu, 8:30pm-2:30am; Fri-Sat, 8:30pm-4am
--------------------------------------------------------
Has any of the Roth Army members every been to this place?
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