Preservation Hall

What a surreal experience joining a group of people here on the first night after the remodel. I have probably passed by this place a few times while walking around the quarter but didn't find it until the day of. It has such a humble entrance, just a small plaque with the name on it. I actually bought the wrong date, but the ticket office exchanged it for me with no question after I emailed them over the weekend. After chatting with a group of older folks while waiting at the door and sharing some beers, I was told it was the first night they re-open after the long period of remodeling. The air was electrified even while waiting outside. Inside the hall it's a small room that could only fit 50 people or so? It was just rows of benches. Perhaps this is how people appreciated jazz back in the days. Time flew by and after many songs and audiences cheers, I thought it was too short. This place is a must visit.

Been over 35 years since I was here and I don't know if it's still in the same storefront ... but it remains a must stop on the French Quarter rotation. The old place was a bare room with the musicians on one wall and everyone crowding in around them on the other three. People came and went as they pleased with new people filling in the spaces. It used to be a freewill offering too. Today it is the same four-sided room with the musicians along one wall, but they now have a few rows of benches and an SRO section in the back. While they still have a free-will offering at the end, it is now solely a ticketed event ... but don't let that scare you away.The band is usually 6 musicians ... three brass with a trombone, horn, and clarinet/flute, a guitar and bass providing the strings in back, topped off with a drummer. The music they play is New Orleans jazz with that gravelly brass sound. Preservation Hall claims their room is rehabbed, but I think that really means brought up to fire code. This is a wonderful experience and you shouldn't miss it. Tickets are reasonably priced, they sell booze, and they now have bathrooms ... everything you need for a good time. Highly recommended.

I am a professional musician and this place is the real deal. Not only are they legendary, but the quality of music is still at the top of what they do. It is a very small venue, definitely reserve seats in advance. There are just a few wooden benches to sit on, no backs on chairs. But, this is the kind of experience you travel the world to see. Totally pure and authentic soul. You will not regret it!

It's not what I expected. It was located in Preservation hall, they must have finished the renovations. When you arrive you go to Preservation hall and get in line. We were around 10th in line. We arrived at 3pm The place is set up to be old looking. Seating is on benches with no backs. We reserved front row seats.We were on the front row stage left. You can take pictures before the show starts. No photos or videos during the show.The show was phenomenal. Classic Jazz at its finest. The show lasts an hour. Don't forget to tip the band.After the show you can buy souvenirs in the lobby. They sell Christmas ornaments, records, T-shirts, pads of paper, ect.

Such a lovely and lovely experience. We bought general admission seats and ended up getting 2nd row (arrive 30 min before showtime). No outside food drink allowed but lovely selection of drinks inside. 45 min of pure bliss and connection to culture. Cannot recommend enough

Amazing jam session! The Legacy Band was great and Gregg Stafford gave off the funny grandpa vibe which I adore. I loved that he gave the audience context on each piece and even made one of the pieces engaging by asking the audience to sing a phrase back to him.Although a bit pricey, I would suggest booking the seated tickets as the standing area is a bit awkward and can get crowded. General admission is first-come-first-serve seating so I'd recommend coming at least 15 minutes early. The seats are not elevated so if you're stuck behind someone tall your view won't be the best.No photos or videos allowed. No options for food/drinks so don't come here on an empty stomach!

Preservation Hall is a must anytime you are in NOLA. The atmosphere is as authentic as it gets as you sit (or stand) to partake of the musical genius in front of you. Soak in every beautiful harmonious moment.

Went here many years ago and I see I never typed in a review. You can get standing tickets but we paid a premium to sit in the front. Definitely worth it to listen to some great Jazz. As others stated it is very small and they don't serve food or drinks. Definitely worth going to.

This was highly recommended to my wife by friends and family.We purchased our tickets online several days before but could only get standing room tickets. The website was easy to use. The venue is intimate so there is a limited number of people that can attend any given showingThe seats are wooden benches, and the standing tickets are basically standing shoulder to shoulder with others in the back.You need to arrive 30 minutes in advance and have your tickets with you. You will wait in a line outside. When it comes to the standing room tickets, the folks who get there earlier will get better standing room.No food or drink allowed, BUT, you can bring in water. Be prepared as there is also no food or drinks for sale. You can buy souvenirs after the show, you will walk through the merchandise area ass you head into the seats. The music and show was awesome! My family and I had a really great time! Depending on when you go, the artists tend to rotate. Definitely worth doing!

5/5 stars for an amazing jazz performance. We went here Friday night for the 7:30pm show. I bought the tickets ahead of time on the website. I paid extra for the front row seats and it was worth it. We had the best view and fans were blasting on us. This is a popular venue. We lined up outside the venue 30 minutes before the show, had our tickets scanned and were shown to our seat. There are no videos or photos allowed during the performance. There are no bathrooms here and it is a small intimate venue. You sit on benches and there is a standing area in the back. The 45 minute jazz performance was authentic, soulful and joyous. I was so happy to see a woman as one of the jazz musicians. This is a must see when you visit the French Quarter and worth every single penny. It was a highlight of my trip here.