Cafe Wha? on MacDougal Street
Cafe Wha? is the basement club at 115 MacDougal Street where the Beat, folk and rock generations of the 1950s and 1960s played. Bob Dylan played here soon after arriving in January 1961, and Jimi Hendrix played here in 1966 as Jimmy James. It is still open.
Address115 MacDougal Street
DylanJanuary 1961
Hendrix1966, as Jimmy James
StatusStill open
The Comedy Cellar is next door at 117 MacDougal and Caffe Reggio at 119. The Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” (2024) recreated the club. The rock and roll walk stops here, and the themed walks page sets it beside the ghost walk.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Cafe Wha?
115 MacDougal Street, in a basement, in Greenwich Village.
Did Bob Dylan play at Cafe Wha?
Yes, soon after arriving in New York in January 1961. Jimi Hendrix played there in 1966 as Jimmy James.
Which tour visits Cafe Wha?
The rock and roll history walk, which continues to Washington Square Park and the White Horse Tavern.