Cotton Club
Cotton Club
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The area
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Neighbourhood: Harlem
As a hub of African American culture, Harlem has played a vital role in the history of New York City. Today, the neighbourhood is as vibrant as ever as new businesses and developments go up next to local institutions. The heart of the neighbourhood is bustling 125th Street, where street vendors and historic landmarks like the Apollo Theater mingle with big-name stores. Turn down almost any corner, and you’ll discover some of the most beautiful blocks in the city, filled with handsome brownstones, soul food restaurants, corner shops, and scenic parks. For a taste of a real New York neighbourhood, it’s hard to top a visit to Harlem.
How to get there
- 125th St • 4 min walk
- 137th St – City College • 9 min walk
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Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
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3,363 within 3 miles
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1,875 within 6 miles
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3.0
60 reviews
Excellent
5
Very good
20
Average
17
Poor
11
Terrible
7
Chris
1 contribution
Mar 2022 • Friends
The Cotton Club should not be open! We saw a concert there recently promoted by Charles Piazza and the supposed red carpet was a sheet of plastic red table covering, the venue smelled like piss, the women’s bathroom had toilets that were broken with stool in them and no toilet paper, the air condition was not working so we were sweating in 95 degree heat and the service was horrendous! Rude waitresses and they did not clean our table. Charles Piazza and the owner John Beaty should be ashamed of themselves. So sad! This is not The Cotton Club we once remembered. Moreover, it’s an embarrassment to it’s rich legacy and the Harlem community.
Written 18 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yyz14209
Mississauga, Canada113 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
My wife and had planned on going to the Cotton Club during our visit to NYC. I had emailed the Club previous to our visit to clarify a few things. Prior to our visit I received an email indicating that the night we were planning on going there was going to be a private function and would not be open to the public. I was very impressed that they took the time to email me as opposed to my wife and I going to the venue only to find out it was closed.
Note: My review does not include any feedback on the actual venue since we did not go.
Note: My review does not include any feedback on the actual venue since we did not go.
Written 2 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paige R
Seattle, WA93 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
My husband and I wanted to come here for the history. A lot of the TripAdvisor reviews concerned me, but I’m glad we still went. No dress code.
Pros:
Length of time- got there at 12:30, had time to get our food from the buffet and eat before the show. The show was one hour.
Organization- buffet had small line but it was organized and they kept people from overcrowding. They delivered your check before the end of the show so when it was over, you could take off.
Food- the food was satisfying. Not the best we’ve ever had but completely reasonable for the buffet. I enjoyed the potato salad, pasta salad, bbq chicken, and Mac n cheese. Plenty of options.
Performers- it is a woman and a small band. They were entertaining and seemed to enjoy getting the crowd into the performance. Talented!
Cons:
Building- it is an older building, bathrooms are narrow and down a winding staircase.
Drinks- Cocktails were sub-par. Beer selection is small.
Overall we had a great time. Expect buffet food and know it’s an older building- you’ll be able to be realistic and have a good time!
Pros:
Length of time- got there at 12:30, had time to get our food from the buffet and eat before the show. The show was one hour.
Organization- buffet had small line but it was organized and they kept people from overcrowding. They delivered your check before the end of the show so when it was over, you could take off.
Food- the food was satisfying. Not the best we’ve ever had but completely reasonable for the buffet. I enjoyed the potato salad, pasta salad, bbq chicken, and Mac n cheese. Plenty of options.
Performers- it is a woman and a small band. They were entertaining and seemed to enjoy getting the crowd into the performance. Talented!
Cons:
Building- it is an older building, bathrooms are narrow and down a winding staircase.
Drinks- Cocktails were sub-par. Beer selection is small.
Overall we had a great time. Expect buffet food and know it’s an older building- you’ll be able to be realistic and have a good time!
Written 17 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
karajake
Minneapolis, MN305 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
My 16 year old really wanted to go to the Cotton Club due to its history with the Harlem renaissance. We went for the Gospel brunch. We both were surprised at how small and rundown the exterior was but still had high hopes for what was inside. The information said it started at 12 noon. We were the only ones there for a good 15-20 min. We were then explained the buffet was 12-1, show 1-2pm. The inside was VERY worn, bathrooms cold and worn down, carpets dirty. Food was mediocre at best (but worst collard greens ever: tasted like cleaning solution!) The show consisted of a drummer, a bass player, pianist and 1 gal singer who tried so hard to give the 28 people in the audience a good show. We left feeling deflated as clearly the Cotton Club’s heyday has passed and what we hoped would be good soul food did not turn out to be, either. Take pictures of the outside but save your money for better soul food, better jazz elsewhere or a nod to Harlem history at a show at the Apollo.
Written 11 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
981Linda
Philadelphia, PA164 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Visited May 2017 for their Gospel Brunch on a bus trip from NJ. My first surprise came when we pulled up and saw the location and size of the building.....compact and built on a triangular raised concrete platform in the middle of the street! Once inside, it was dimly lit and featured a small stage and small square tables topped with red tablecloths wih plastic over them. Restrooms were down a spiral stairs and are in need of attention...one stall had I believe, a folding plastic door that was cracked and didn't lock. Not what I expected. Made you wonder about the condition of the kitchen. The southern Brunch was varied and seemed to please most. Ribs were good...also had fish at the end. My husband and I ordered two glasses of wine...$9.50 each.....the glasses were full. A variety of cocktails were available. Following Brunch, a three piece combo played. We thought they were very good. A soloist sang her heart out for an hour .....many were expecting a choir as was I. We thought she did a great job. As we were leaving, she approached us individually and thanked us for coming! Overall, we enjoyed the club. Restrooms definitely need attention. Labels on buffet food would help identify some dishes. Other than the name, I'm not sure how this Cotton Club is historically connected to the other well known club. It would have been nice to have actually looked at the photos on the wall, but it was too dim. It was a different experience for us so I gave it thee stars for the buffet and entertainment.
Written 24 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MEB17
El Medano, Spain112 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
We were looking forward to the evening at The Cotton Club, we both enjoy jazz music so thought this would be a great option for a night out. The music was the only thing that was decent about this place. The band and the two artists were good, not great, but ok, but that’s about the only thing that was ok about our evening. The buffet was, at best, lukewarm and for me, was tasteless, the only thing that was ok was the salad and bread, we really did not enjoy the food at all. The buffet was before the show and no background music was available to give a bit of ambience. The band played and then took a break before the artist came on, again no background music or anything else was there to give ambiance. I don’t want to take anything away from the band or the artists, they were fine, but very dated, the show was worn out and old. Much like the building, the toilets were down winding spiral stairs, the toilets were clean but again very tired and dated. The tables upstairs had plastic covers on them and you were expected to reuse your knife and fork for your main course and your desert!! The drinks were overpriced. Your cheque was issued before the end of the show so you felt as though you had to leave as soon as the show finished, although we had had enough by then. My advice look elsewhere, this was a very overpriced event, with overpriced drinks and mediocre food and entertainment, not work the money we paid - 1 bottle of wine and 2 adult tickets left us $209 out of pocket. Not worth it, very disappointing even8ng.
Written 1 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mica Lea
dominican republic28 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
I was taken to newyork for my 30th birthday by my dad his wife and my Aunty came along with us!
Cotton club visit was a part of my birthday treat!
When we first arrived there was dead silence and no atmosphere!
I was glad we went due to the history and the band were fantastic the young guy on the guitar the vocalist is excellent! Also made a few light hearted jokes which relaxed us a little! The bandmembers were very friendly, as was the waitress!
It was good to experience but not somewhere I would go back too, also the food was not very hot and just generally was not nice at all....which was disappointing!
Cotton club visit was a part of my birthday treat!
When we first arrived there was dead silence and no atmosphere!
I was glad we went due to the history and the band were fantastic the young guy on the guitar the vocalist is excellent! Also made a few light hearted jokes which relaxed us a little! The bandmembers were very friendly, as was the waitress!
It was good to experience but not somewhere I would go back too, also the food was not very hot and just generally was not nice at all....which was disappointing!
Written 10 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iris B
4 contributions
Aug 2019
There was supposed to be a concert from the Harlem Jazz Festival (which was advertised on the Festival website) and when we got there we found out that it was closed.
Written 16 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoBee65
Hamilton, New Zealand87 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
The music was great but the food was terrible and the place is tried. They charge top dollar for the show, food and drinks so it was disappointing.
Written 2 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Noel A
Auckland, New Zealand120 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
Sorry Cotton club but its now out of date. The band is awesome but the show is very old and dated. Has a great history but needs to be upgraded. Good luck.
Written 31 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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