Magazine St Barber Shop

Short answer: this barber shop is excellent
I was able to book an appointment 2 days from when I called in, which in my opinion is great. The atmosphere is very classic and masculine. Gideon really took care of me– he listened to what I wanted and actually did exactly what I asked. (As opposed to some barbers who just chop all of your hair off). It was easy to get along with these guys and chat like we’ve been friends. What more can you ask for… Oh and I was offered a beer before anything… Hot damn! They’ve definitely made a regular of me… Thanks Gideon–
–Colby

Great place to enjoy a beer while one of NOLA’s best barbers prepares you for world domination (or at least makes sure your hair looks the part).
Fantastic banter from Cesar & Gideon. No conversational subject off-​limits nor free of a fresh opinion.
Vintage chairs allow the barbers to do their work with an ageless quality and attention to detail.
Don’t be a Fred — call ahead. Walk-​ins leave disappointed more often then not.
Not «a» Magazine Street barber shop, but «The» Magazine Street Barber Shop.

I have been a customer of Cesar’s for going on five years now. I can honestly say without any hesitation that he has created the most enjoyable hair cutting experience that I have ever encountered. First and foremost, he is the only person I have ever visited that made a pompadour sound like the easiest haircut ever, I grew very tired of trying to explain it to twenty-​something bimbos. Second, he is a constant professional about his work, something often lacking in the aptly named «Big Easy». You will notice that the only negatives anyone can post about his shop are things that show him setting rules, and keeping those rules. How is that bad? Yes, he will dismiss you if you can’t follow simple things like showing up for appointments, and actually knowing what haircut you want. Don’t know his hours? Call ahead, don’t whine when you didn’t do your part. Oh yeah, and he has free beer. Do I need to say more?

They close for lunch from 12 until 1:00. No haircuts. I understand lunch is important, but if I had a customer walk in and 11:50 I would probably cut their hair. I guess they view that differently.

After moving to the city and hearing about Gideon and Magazine St. Barber I had to try it out. And gideon did not disappoint. He was courteous, had great conversations, and I had the best haircut. I don’t usually write reviews, but this time I had to. I made my appointment with gideon and like most guys just wanted a haircut. He had never cut my hair before so I didn’t expect much. But, man was I wrong. My hair looked better than it had in a while. He did an amazing job!

I’ve been coming here for more than two years, and can honestly say that this place is beyond the best barbershop I’ve been to – this is one of my favorite spots in NOLA. I just wish my hair grew faster so I could come here more.
I’ve had my hair cut several times by Gideon. His service is impeccably professional, everything runs like clockwork, and you leave feeling and looking like a man and a half. Gideon is a no-​bullshit (but of course very friendly) guy, and is the type of barber that takes your haircut as seriously as you do – a rare but important quality in a barber. The conversation and atmosphere here are a huge part of the experience – as it should be at a barber shop – and Gideon is as sure (and entertaining) with his opinions as he is with his clippers.
Gideon and Cesar both manage to make you feel relaxed, well taken care of, and get your hair looking sharp while still making the place feel decidedly like a barber shop, never a salon. If you’re lucky, you’ll book your cut on a sunny day and can enjoy all the beautiful… traffic walking by on the sidewalk. If you are looking for atmosphere and men who know the craft, you won’t find anything close to Gideon and Cesar’s work anywhere else.

I only had my beard trimmed, just wanted to check out the shop based on the positive online reviews. I walked in right when they opened, made an appointment for later in the afternoon. Service was polite and professional, timely. Overall, I could have done the same trim at home, just wanted to see what a barbershop beard-​trim was about.
I’ll definitely keep trying new shops before going back.

First time to a barber shop in a lonnng time. Had a 1:00 appointment. Only 3 chairs in the shop and all filled up. Was offered an Abita amber which I graciously accepted. Conversations were fun, and I learned that if the Saints pick up Hester, they will win the Super Bowl 3 years in a row. Hester and Steve Smith, 4 in a row. Gideon was pretty certain.

Great service, friendly barbers, and a very clean shop. You can get in, get out, get on with your day for a competitive price. I’ve been to salons that were cheaper it would always take an hour! I was early for my appointment at Magazine Barber Shop but was only in the chair about twenty minutes and got a great cut!
Will definitely go back!

WORST customer service of all time. I called to make an app and «receptionist» was so rude. Once at the app we were 15 min late and the guy refused to cut hair saying he only gives his customers a 10 minute window and even though the place was empty he made no exceptions. I never write reviews but felt it necessary for these people to learn they need attitude adjustments…

The old school look of a barbershop, you gotta love it. Felt like I was gonna see someone get their throat slit while getting a shave. Great company as well, good conversations. Nice mixed crowd, black n white. Def will recommend this spot, it’s a manly mans place. They even had a guy sitting in the chair drinking a beer from a glass whole getting cut. Very upscale look.

The guy cutting my hair was spending way too much time looking at the girls outside, and telling everyone in the shop about them, and far too little time looking at my hair while he was cutting… and it shows.

Babba Boey… you do belong in Super Cuts… Just so you know.
Hands down is the best place to get a haircut/​shave/​excellent attention.
Cheap is always cheap… also just so you know.
BTW…there is a Super cuts on Carrollton and St.Charles.
Leave Magazine Street Barber Shop for those who really appreciate quality.
Kuddos to Cesar, Guideon and NV

These guys are trying way too hard to come across as a classy barbershop, so much so that pretentious is the best way to describe this place. The suits wouldn’t make them look that foolish if it wasn’t for their attitudes. But maybe their attitudes are appropriate for people who have the nerve to charge $ 28 for a haircut in a barbershop.

Great local barber in the New Orleans area. Every time I get a great haircut, and then wash it down with an ice cold Abita.

I just want to start out by saying I’ve never written a review for anything, but this place truly deserves a 5-​star rating.
These guys consistently take their time and provide outstanding haircuts. I think what makes all the difference is that they take pride in their work and really enjoy what they do, and the results speak for themselves. I highly recommend this place. As a side note, I’ve found that my experiences have gotten better and better as I’ve gotten to know Cesar and co. — I honestly look forward to getting haircuts now. Drinks too, if you’re lucky. What more could you ask for?
In summary, if you’re looking for a high-​quality haircut that you will be satisfied with and a great experience (atmosphere, conversation, etc.) as well, look no further.

Edit to review below:
I went back to Magazine St. Barber Shop to give them another shot and this time I requested Cesar, the owner. His cut was better than Gideon and he was way more friendly. It was easy to keep light conversation going with Cesar. Gideon was around, but not cutting hair this time. Gideon joined in on some of our conversation and was pleasant. I wonder if he was in a better mood because was not cutting hair.
Now that I have found Cesar, I will keep Magazine St. Barber Shop in my standard rotation. Great haircut with fun atmosphere (gawking at women passing on Magazine St). Cesar makes all the difference.
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I want to like this place but it is hard for me. My barber was Gideon and he was pretty rude. He started by snapping at me when I stepped on the step on his barber chair. Instead of telling me calmly not to step there he yelled WOAH WOAH WOAH. Come on man. Not a good way to start my maiden voyage with you guys. He was also curt to 2 other people who came in. One guy didn’t have an appointment and was rudely turned away. He also was a jerk to the person who was after me. When Gideon asked if the guy had an appointment the next patron got up to come to the counter and Gideon said «Hold up man. No need to step to me. Getting all aggressive and stuff.» The next patron was a little taken aback, but I could now tell Gideon was just a jerk for fun and this was par for the course.
My haircut was nothing special. When I came in he asked what I wanted. A haircut I replied and showed him a picture of my last cut and how I wanted it. He laughed at me when I pulled out a picture. I thought I was helping him. I had to keep coming up with things to talk about so it would feel less awkward. When I asked to go shorter he said it would not work with my hair even though I showed him a picture of my hair cut shorter than he did it. I know this was his first time cutting my hair and all, but it is not my first time getting a haircut. I know what my hair can do and what my last barber did with no complaints.
I think I am going to give them one more shot. They have a Hispanic barber that looked way nicer. He kept the light conversation going with his customer the whole time.

You pay for what you get, everything is quality. Cesar, Gideon and Invy have a standard that is above the rest. If you are looking for a cheap Supercuts trim, head elsewhere. These guys combined have over 3 decades of experience in barbering and they know their craft.
For the girl that got pissy because she got booted out of here, guess what? Women DON’T belong in a barber shop!!! (this coming from a woman) It’s not sexist, it is a common reality. This is a place for men to be, well men. Let them have their time and drop your boyfriend off at the door and head down the street to go shoe shopping or something.

Went in 2009 and this place was great. Went recently and it sucked. Just a terrible haircut. Too rush, too sloppy, incomplete. It looked like I hadn’t even had a cut, and less than 4 weeks later, I needed another one. I should have complained at the time, but haircuts are one of those things that you just don’t really know will be good until you’ve had to go home and get ready for work a couple of days in a row. Then you notice all the things that are awry, like random shafts of hair uncut, a big section sticking out behind the ear, untrimmed sideburns, etc.
The thing I hated the most was that the guy kept bending my ears backwards, harshly. I get that he’s trying to avoid cutting me, but breaking my ear in the process is not a viable solution. I’ve had enough haircuts to know that it doesn’t have to be done that way.
$ 28 for a Bo-​ricsy haircut doesn’t cut it.

Aidan Gill can blow me. With a hairdryer.
Are you a man? Do you want your hair cut? Well then get your ass to Magazine Street like it’s Mars and your name is Douglas Quaid, (after an appointment of course, (for your haircut not a spaceflight that may or may not have actually happened*)), and don’t you dare put all your weight onto Cesar’s beloved antique barber chairs as you sit your ass down. Sit yo’ ass down proper! Cesar or Gideon will take care of you. Don’t you worry.
What’s this? You’ve followed my advice already? Shit, you’re fast. Can that work with Taco Bell too? I want a Crunchwrap Supreme. No? Fuck. Okay, go ahead and put down that porn you were «reading» while you were waiting, and wrap your hands around that complimentary cold beer instead. Drink up because Gideon wants you drunk so he can steal all your money on the next game. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Also say hello to Milo towards the back. He’s a friendly pooch and will observe silently as your hair falls to the floor during conversations most likely involving women (especially those that walk past the front window), or sports, or movies, etc. because this is a barber shop damn it, and these are the things that need to be talked about.
Oh, looks like you’re all done. Congratulations on fixing up that Bieber-​grade mop of yours you handsome son of a bitch! You are now a respectable member of the human race again. Go ahead and leave a nice tip and come back when your hair needs more scissor wizardry or because you owe Gideon money. I told you not to make that bet. Sucker.
*Spoiler Alert: Quaid’s flight to Mars I mentioned earlier… yeah it never actually happened. His running California as Governator for 7 pre-​Judgment Day years… yeah that totally happened.