Dos Jefes

While in New Orleans, my husband and I wanted a good cigar, a good drink, and live music. Dos Jefes fit the bill! What a tremendous find in a city swamped by tourists.
Out of the tourist fray, it is a local neighborhood bar with all that typically involves: friendly people who wouldn’t let you stay a stranger for long if you were open to meeting people, great bartenders, the nicest bouncer on the planet — though I’d guess he can get serious if need be. The décor is probably best termed comfortable and kitschy; a screened patio, the main bar room, and on an upper level, lots of comfortable seating. All of the men in our group found cigars to enjoy — and the afficionado in the group had no complaints about the selection. And the double door stands wide open as does the door to the patio and something out back, too, I’d guess — so the cigar smoke does not build up in the air. As a non-​smoker, it never bothered me to have cigars going all around me. There was plenty of fresh air moving through the place.
The bar selection was great. If you could name it, they could pour it.
But the best was the music. Live music — NO cover charge. WOW! Great, great jazz performed by fun, friendly musicians. The night we were there it was Tom Hook & Swing Cats Ball. Absolutely fantastic musicians. If you get a chance to hear them play — go for it. (Google them for their schedule.) You won’t be disappointed. And be sure you stick around for one of the songs that Wendell (?) whistles. Incredible! It was the best jazz we heard all week — and we ventured out in search of great jazz every night. Forget the FQ and Frenchmens — at least for a night or two — and head to Dos Jefes.
It is a cab ride out to the bar, which is in an Uptown neighborhood. But you don’t have to pay a cover charge to get in so it is well worth the fare. And when it is time to leave, be sure to ask the bouncer to call a cab for you — he will make sure nobody else hops your cab! Loved this place!

The owner of this place, Ritchie Shaner, told me to GET OUT because I had my Service Animal with me, who accompanies me due to a medical issue. Not only is this ILLEGAL, but he was very rude about it as well, yelling at me and telling me that he hoped I’d break down on my way home! I will not support anyone who feels he is above the Americans with Disabilities Act!

Fun neighborhood bar. Ask the bartender for scotch recommendations. Enjoy Sunpie if he is playing. And enjoy the locals, a warm and friendly bunch!

Music = 5 stars
Drinks = 4 stars
Cigars = no idea
Smokiness = 1 star
The music makes the smoke worth it. This place is a local institution, and even though I have to do laundry each time I come here it’s still a great place to spend the night.
Bonus — A food truck is regularly parked outside! Typically one of the good ones (Taceaux Loceaux).
PS — Yuppies need not come in, you ruin the vibe. This isn’t your type of place, go to Monkey Hill instead.

Cute little spot for live music. Beware it is a cigar bar so make sure you’re ok with a smokey room. There is always a very nice patio area which is secluded from the road where you can escape the smoke.
Went there with friends and had a really good time on the patio. There are swing seats as well which was a nice touch, as well as the ring bar game out there. Overall it was great because there was live music inside and a large patio outside.
Downside was that their bathrooms were small and the women’s didn’t have doors to the stalls, just curtains. Kind of awkward.

if you want to feel as though you stepped back in time and arrived in a cozy jazztastic bar where the music dances through a slight fog of cigar smoke this is the place for you. The servers could be a little friendlier that’s really the only reason I didn’t give them 5 stars.

We went on a Monday. There was no band that night which I was fine with because we enjoyed wonderful conversations with other patrons, the owner, and the bartender.
This place may not look like anything special, but the amazing time I had there with the people made it something special. This place is added to the list of places my husband and I will go to when we go back to New Orleans.
Decent cigar selection and drinks aren’t expensive.

I’m no cigar aficionado but i’ve always enjoyed relaxing at Dos Jefe’s for years. I came back to New Orleans just shy of a year after Katrina and Dos Jefe’s was one of the bars i frequented beginning in ’07 if my memory serves me correctly. I was a real regular, Sean the owner was a very cool dude, he surely made you feel welcomed.
I stopped in here the night before last for the first time in about two years and nothing has changed, and that’s perfect. Same chill ambiance with live (good) music, a fine selection of cigars and pretty nice drink specials.
I love bars with couch lounging and there are some quite comfortable arrangements in the pool table area that also has a little service bar, the place is quite accommodating and there’s usually a bangin’ food truck outside to cater to your hunger.
Would have given another star but the bartender last night either thought i couldn’t do math or i wasn’t going to tip him because he certainly didn’t give me correct change on an order my 8 year old nephew could handle. It reflected in his ‘tip’, don’t try to play me.

One of the best jazz bars in New Orleans. Which puts it high in the rankings for best jazz bars in the world. Free admission every night with bands playing every night.(except Monday) wonderful cigar selection and copious drink selection with friendly bartenders that can make anything. And there’s usually a good food truck sitting outside. I love this bar.

Selection of cigars is horrible. It is hard to believe that they even call themselves a cigar bar. There is no walk in humidor. Prices are way off. This place is divey for sure. I don’t necessarily mind that but I still think they could up date the furniture. You should always avoid cloth furniture in places that are smoke filled. Leather makes so much more sense. The lounge area in the back with the sofas that look like they were left on the curb somewhere… ugh ! The bartender was quite dismissive for whatever reason. The drinks were not good at all. It seemed as if the pineapple juice in my Vodka may have been too old or something. Not sure, but this place just did not meet our expectations. We left after one drink.

Went last night for a friend’s birthday. Yes, the drinks take 10 minutes and cost 10 bucks. Yes, its really smokey. Yes, the bartender sucks.
But what really sucked is when two drunk assholes started a fight while the bartender ignored the problem. I know it sounds like a story, but the 10 of us were just hanging in the 2^nd room playing pool when some random dude that we had never met before started harassing the girls. We all asked him to leave several time, and the bartender really needed to step in. He didn’t and a friend got sucker punched.
I will not be going back, and if you don’t like being punched or groped, I wouldn’t recommend it. The prices are absurd too. Especially for a dive bar. Really absurd. Cigar prices were crazy too. $ 18 for a Hemingway Short Story!?! Go to St. Joe’s or any of a dozen other bards. You’ll be happier.

I like Dos Jefes.
For years I have heard how great this place was, but it was never really on my radar. A few months ago several of my friends met here after an elite event and I had a great time.
The main room has several tables and a small stage area. There is a raised back room with an old couch and a pool table. The couch was cloth and well worn. Sitting on it was nice, but the cushions are so worn you sink very deeply which made getting up difficult. The pool table is also fairly close to the couch, so watch out for cues or you may end up needing an eye patch.
The beer selection was very good. I was happy to find Nola Hopitoulas on draft, but it was expensive. Apparently they charge a music tax of $ 1 extra per drink whenever a band is playing. I am all for musicians getting paid, but it seems the beer was around $ 8 or so per pint. There was a wonderful cocktail waitress roaming the room, so I didn’t have to fight for the bartenders attention. That was a huge plus and made the entire experience better.
We lucked out that Sunpie was playing on the night we visited. It was even better that during their set break, we were able to hang outside and chat with the band.
If you can live with the smoke and the high cost of drinks, Dos Jefes is worth a visit.

Love the patio (especially the swings) and it’s usually a bit less smokey than the inside bar. I know… I know… don’t complain about smoking at a cigar bar. On the other hand, the inside bar has some awesome exhaust fans so that unless someone is stogie-​ing it up right next to you, it’s really not too bad. I’ve always had quick, friendly and courteous service.
And the fact that Taceaux Loceaux parks out front on Saturday nights. Bonus!

I hate smoking but I’ve got to admit I have puffed on a handful of cigars in my life so if you want a cigar I guess this is a bar to get them at. I still hate smoke so even though I’ve taken a few puffs on a cigar I still have no desire to be around them or any other smoke. They have a decent happy hour when there isn’t music playing. When they have music here there sometimes is an up-​charge of $ 1 per drink and I don’t like such a policy. I’m all for supporting live local music but I greatly prefer a cover charge and would much rather pay $ 5 at the door or have a tip jar for the music and know what I’m getting into rather than a surprise up-​charge at the end of the night. Overall this is a good bar where you can probably find a spot to sit and relax and enjoy yourself and there is a nice patio out in the back.

I’m definitely coming back here for happy hour.
We missed out on this deal last time, but $ 3 Sangria? Yes!
I was willing to pay the regular $ 6 on a Saturday night, because it’s good Sangria, but seeing the Happy Hour sign on the wall made me cringe every time I handed over another $ 6 + tip… knowing if I had been there a few hours earlier it would have been half the price.
The bartenders were friendly. I love the atmosphere. I mean, I could do without the smokiness, but it’s a Cigar Bar, so I’m certainly not holding that against them. Pool tables in the back (ATM in the back too),
Oh, and they often have live music… it started at 10pm the Saturday that we visited Dos Jefes.
Then again, I will happily trade the live music for $ 3 sangria and come back during happy hour to either drink more, or spend less money.

My husband is a cigar lover and is a fan of
Dos Jefes. If you get there at the right time drink specials are well suited for ladies. I was happy with my Sangria.:)

Dos Jefes gets a double dos of love from Yours, Truly.
Cigar smoke normally makes me want to puke. I’m also used to cigar bars in Manhattan that are full of wealthy, old business men and high end call girls all done-​up, trashed-​out and on the make, so that might add to the nausea that ensues.
Rejoice, for Dos Jefes has a completely different environment and just the kind I like– smoky, dark, lively; very much evocative of a different time and place. They regularly have live music that only adds to the whole pre-​Castro jazz club in Havana feel. This past Saturday night there was no cover (tip the musicians, please!) And there’s a swell patio. And a more than decent wine selection. Cigars? Not for me, but they’ve got a case full of ‘em.
I think this is my new favorite Uptown bar, yo!

**NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT THIS CIGAR BAR**
2.5 stars.
Loved the concept.
Jazz music, cigars, and whisky, right?
There was no jazz music when we arrived.
It was pretty much dead on a late weeknight.
It had a nice jazzy feel, but I preferred more leather chairs and couches for an authentic cigar ambiance. It needed a makeover.
CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKED when we were there.
After standing around for 5 minutes, a young lady finally assisted me. Didn’t offer any suggestions and was simply clueless about bourbon and whisky pairings.
If you are working at a cigar bar, please know your cigars and drinks.
Smoked my cigar, sipped my whiskey, and left after 10 minutes.
Maybe it was an off night, who knows.
On the fence about a possible return.

It is what it is: a cigar bar.
Really small and smoky inside, so if you are easily bothered by smoke, you might want to skip this one. Great local music by a live band inside. Great patio area outside, if you want to get away from the smoke and the crowds.
I agree with K.W.‘s review about the inside needing an update. It definitely feels as if you are hanging out in someone’s basement during prohibition.
I would love this place if I were a cigar aficionado. I would like it a little more, if it were a little bigger and less crowded, but what are you gonna do?

Alcohol? Check
Pool? Check
Big TV? Check
Foosball? Check
Live Jazz? Everynight
Very laid back place to come have a drink and have a smoke. Yes people smoke here so if you’re anti second hand smoke it probably won’t be a 5 star for you. Even so this place is a must to check out.
Very chill place. Good place for visiting friends too. Just make sure they’re not supporters of the smoke ban bill that just got struck down by the house.