Siberia

I loved this beat up bar, with a Slavic street food restaurant in the back. More on that in my review of the actual restaurant.A dark bar with a Russian vibe. Get some vodka and listen to music, comrade, you are welcome here. It's sort of out of the way, but that's good. Not touristy, though I was a tourist. Whatever. GO HERE.

This place looks a lot nicer on the inside than I expected. It's a little divey but cozy and almost romantic. They have an interesting Slavic food window, and the comedy/burlesque show was pretty good. Make sure you get there early for a seat if you go to that show, and be prepared for them to pass around a tip bucket. I would definitely go back.

We were seeing a burlesque show across the street and stopped in here for a quick bite and drink. Perogies were delicious! There was plenty of seating so we were ableTo grab a table and enjoy our conversation

Hey, Stumbelina... ( That's me, talking to me )Let's go to Siberia to hear ...* Bulgarian throat singing?*That was completely my impression. I'm not sure what it really was but I loved it. And I was also pretty damned sauced up by the time I got there.It's raucous and real. The vibe in that place will put a smile on your face, drunk or not. They serve pierogis out of a window in the back of the bar. What else do you really need in life, anyway? I felt liberated from the same ol French Quarter herd, set free from the crowded Frenchman St droves.. I walked there from Tremé and survived just fine. Maybe have a partner. I didn't feel unsafe at any point. I met some fun people and gratefully absorbed the foreign sounding music and all too familiar beer. It's worth your time- put it on your NOLA list.

Monday night is comedy and burlesque! It's a rear night! It's polish menu which is weird but it works. I like various French fry options. If your into beets you'll be in heaven. Drinks are always strong here. This is the place to see great comics or catch your favorite underground musical acts.

A bar/restaurant in New Orleans that serves Polish/Slavic food! With character and atmosphere. Siberia is one of those gems you hope the tourists don't find--although I am one. It is one of a kind. It is phenomenal. A dark cave, with character in every nook and cranny of the space. It is like a treasure hunt for adults with alcoholic beverages. The space is dark. When I say dark, the walls are painted black. On all the surfaces though there is something, whether it painted onto the surface, or outsider art hanging, or flyers, or, or, or... There is a stage for shows--I'll get to that--and a long bar. It has character. It has depth. It is unpretentious. The staff was great. One of the things I hated most as a bartender was the drink order, "make me something. Surprise me." Well, I'm that person now, but only on a slow night, and when I give inspiration. So, I gave that order, with the suggestions, "bourbon." I was not disappointed. Red absinthe, bourbon, a little simple syrup, and water. Wow! For the rest of the night I ordered cocktails, and was pleased with every one. The staff was courteous and friendly. You can tell this is a locals bar, but everyone smiled. The food is great. I am probably biased because it is so hard to find restaurants with slavic food, but it was delicious. It is separate from the bar, but inside the bar. You order at a window. They eventually call your order. The food comes out in paper dishes. I ordered a whole host of food. The noodles were tasty. The pierogi's were to die for. The helpings are quite sizable and a few dishes can be shared between two people. There was a comedy act and burlesque the night we went. Wow! A lot of fun. Some of the acts fell short--open mic--but that is expected. The burlesque though, they were great. Such a good show. The comedy was fun. Some were spot on, some you felt bad for, but you still clapped. It was a raucous time. This bar is outside the tourist area. Grab transportation there. Don't judge a book by its cover, walk on in there and you will not be disappointed. I saw they have musical acts here, and I can only imagine it would be a rowdy space for a show. This will be my first stop when I'm back.

I'm kinda in love with this place. It's unique, quirky, and oozes a little kitsch. I'm certain Siberia is making big trouble vith moose and squirrel. I fell into the joint on accident months ago and was smitten with the vibe and distinction. The couple bands I've seen sport several types of instruments beyond the norm. Accordian, concertina, steal guitar, clarinet, and others have been known to fold into the usual brass, bass, drums, and strings of conventional bands. The bathroom is full of graffiti spilling the secrets of drunken rhetoric and a shelf in the back offers a place to give and leave an original creation of your own. The food is pierogies, sausages, and eastern fare supplemented by regular bar food like burgers and fries. Expect a dark, edison light lit, and eveloping venue with captivating musicians and colorful locals.

We stumbled into a variety show here after leaving Kermit Ruffin's show at his Mother-In-Law Lounge and ran into a burlesque performer we'd just seen play Kermit the Frog in a Muppets-themed show at One Eyed Jacks the night before. What are the odds?The comedy was a bit uneven but the burlesque was excellent and we loved the atmosphere here. We had just eaten or we would have tried the Slavic food that everyone told us is the best on the bloc.

I only find myself in Siberia on occasion when I'm catching a show. (And for the delicious food... but that's for a different review.). I appreciate that they offer a specific type of musical act that you can't find much elsewhere in NOLA. And the covers are reasonable. However I do find the drink prices to be a bit higher than comparable establishments in the area so I usually just opt for the $3 high life or bud light. Expect a crowd fully invested in the show and the venue being a tight squeeze for the bigger shows. A seat at the bar makes for a good view of the stage if you're lucky enough to snag one. Pro tip: sometimes the back bar is open for cash only.

Writing from a national touring band perspective:In December of 2024 we had a really unpleasant experience with the booking agent at Siberia. We have toured 6-8 months out of the year for the past 5 years, and honestly haven't had such a negative experience before. If you're a touring band going through New Orleans, I would NOT recommend this venue at all! If you're local, buyers beware!