Barbès

Well-curated music series in an intimate space

Kifta tangine with coscus was great

We went to Barbes on October 4, 2014. That night at 8:00 p.m., Raquel Rivera and Ojos de Sofia were performing. Barbes is a small bar with a back performance area that isn't much bigger. The bar had a decent selection of beers on tap and the prices were in line with the rest of the city. For the performance itself, they had about 15 or so chairs set up so unless you arrive early, expect to stand. The 8:00 p.m. performance was free but there was a suggested cover charge that the bar made clear goes directly to the performers. This was great for us because we were able to enjoy some great music without spending a lot of money. We are always looking for inexpensive entertainment options so Barbes is definitely going to be a place we check out again. If you have a chance to see a performance by Ojos de Sofia, you should definitely do so. They were excellent!

Fun Parisian spot in the middle of Brooklyn. Very active at night with some live bands. Very vibrant.
Gets very warm in the back if you assist to the live performance.

I love intimate venues, and this one certainly qualifies -- seating for less than 30 folks and standing room for maybe 10 or so more. Friendly bartenders, good selection of beer, wine and cocktails. The "cover" charge is collected mid-show if you're in the back room, and goes directly to the band.