Cafe Istanbul Performance Theater

Fantastic local theater to see a local stage show! With the loss of so many local theaters, Istanbul is a go to!!!

No lie I had a Hard Time trying to Find This place because it Does not jump out at you at night while riding along St. Claude. It is located in the «Healing Center» Building along St. Claude Lol. It’s something like a building in a building inside a building type of location. I was kind of pissed because I was looking all over for the place then had to look for a parking spot. But that’s Ok. Helen Managed to Find her one! YAY!!! The place was really raw. By Raw i mean the basics of a spoken word place. A Bar. A Stage. And an arrangement for the selective few audience that decides to participate in the listening of artists just speaking from their soul. The lightening was Soulful. Everything about this place was Soulful. It was Laid back and Chill. I enjoyed the scene, setting, and most importantly the artists. They were so creative and just soulful. I also probably had many drinks that night so I was in the «Love Jones» Mood so I should say! Lol!

This is a cosy space that has been prepared specifically for live performances. There is an intimate seating are containing a handful of tables, a large couch and seating at the bar. Balcony seating upstairs. No food available but the drinks are not bad. Come here for the live performances and the relaxed feel Café Istanbul delivers.

I’ve been here a couple of times for fundraisers for the nonprofit that I work for and I’m always impressed by the ambiance and cleanliness of the place. The staff are friendly and the layout is very flexible in that you can change the tables and chairs to fit your needs. They also have a well-​lit parking lot, which is helpful (and safe) and we had a security guard standing outside the whole time watching people get to their cars. As a woman, I appreciate this most.

A nice little niche place to hear great music, poetry and the performing arts. I came here for the first time when they hosted a tribute for the late great Dr. Maya Angelou. The poetry and performances were very moving. I will be back.

No respect for the neighborhood. Patrons hang out in the parking lot screaming, yelling, playing car stereos at full blast, blowing car horns until 3 – 4 in the morning on any given night and management could care less.
Neighbors have asked many times for this to stop and we have made it known that the music/​shows inside are not the problem. We get continually told it will be handled in what just turns out to be a way to get us to move along.

This place is beautiful! The best venue in NOLA weather you’er looking to hear music, see an independent film, or see an outstanding drag show. Great sound system, elegant atmosphere, and not a bad seat in the house. Keep an eye on events at Café Istanbul and check out Michaela Harrison Thursday nights.

The Veggie Fest was having a party here when we stopped by. The live band was really awesome. There was going to be a burlesque show later that night, but we couldnt stay to enjoy it. The space is very cozy and there were some people dancing to the side. They had a bar and pretty dimmed lighting. I just wish we could have seen the burlesque show!

Classy, elegant place to see performances or independent films. Check out Michaela Harrison on Thursday nights or the weekly happy hour events early Friday (~5−7pm).

What a great venue inside the Healing Center on St. Claude!
I never would have known this was inside that building if it weren’t for my friend D’s performance here last weekend, but it’s a venue with lots of room and a large stage. There was a piano on one side of the stage, a drum set that was pushed back, a DJ with his equipment, and after all that, there was still plenty of room for performers.
The performance I was at was on the smaller, more intimate side, and the staff used their furniture strategically (more tables and chairs closer to the stage during the performance and moved them back to create room for dancing later on). There is also a balcony and there was art up there. My lazy self did not go up to explore, but their website says that they display works of local painters and photographers.
The show I went to was a poetry/​music performance by various artists, but I can definitely see this venue being used for theatrical productions, dance performances, film screenings, etc. It’s most definitely a multipurpose performance venue.
There is a bar inside for your beverage needs. Check out their calendar and pay a visit to this venue for an event that intrigues you!