Nightlife in New Orleans

Nightlife in New Orleans

1. 
   SeeHistoric siteFrench Quarter

   Jackson Square

   The old town square, often live music is going on here, as well as street corner painters and tarot readers. Around the square are:.

   Wheelchair accessible
2. 
   DoTheatreFrench Quarter

   Preservation Hall

   Established in 1961 to preserve Traditional New Orleans jazz. Talk about atmosphere! Listen to real jazz and nothing else (no booze, no bathrooms). You'll have to stand in line, and most people will stand through the set (accommodations will be made for those who can't stand that long; call +1 504-522-2841, or email [email protected] in advance). Sets each night from 5PM, Sa and Su from 2:30PM. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the set starts.

   Mo-Su 17:00-22:00 · 45-minute set: front row $50, seated $40, standing room $25 for advance online purchase seats (cash purchase at the door is no longer available)
3. 
   DrinkBarFrench Quarter

   Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop

   Piano bar towards the end of the touristy part of Bourbon Street, lit entirely by candlelight. Supposedly once the in-town headquarters of pirate & smuggler Jean Lafitte, many colorful stories are told about this location. They pour great Hurricanes.

   Mo-Su 10:00-02:00 · Limited wheelchair access
4. 
   SeeHistory museumCentral Business District

   National World War II Museum

   Formerly the "D-Day Museum". Exhibits on the United States in World War II on the battlefronts and the home front. It has a restaurant, the "Victory Theater" presenting multi-media historical presentation, and the "Stage Door Canteen" featuring live music shows in the style of World War II-era USO shows.

   Mo-Su 09:00-17:00
5. EatRestaurantFrench Quarter

   Court of Two Sisters

   A place for daily brunch (with a live jazz combo) and post-night out hangover cures; beautiful courtyard.

   9AM-3PM and 5:30-10PM daily · Wheelchair accessible

6. DoJazz barFrench Quarter

   Palm Court Jazz Cafe

   Those who prefer their old style New Orleans jazz in a somewhat more upscale atmosphere where dinner and drinks are served should be sure to visit this place in the lower Quarter. Some of the same musicians who play Preservation Hall play here on other nights, along with other top local classic style jazz greats. The owner's husband runs the Jazzology record company, featuring the world's largest independent label catalogue of trad jazz, so you can pick up CDs by your favorites from Bunk Johnson to current Dixielanders while you're here.

   Wed-Sun 7-11PM · Wheelchair accessible

7. EatRestaurantBywater

   Country Club

   Upscale and stylish American cuisine at great prices, with dining in a beautiful old dining room or on the veranda overlooking the pool. It's a great brunch place. Gay and straight friendly private club and pool in rear, where you can sip cocktails in the jacuzzi into the night (note that it becomes clothing optional).

   Restaurant: Sun-Thu 11AM-9PM, Fri Sat 11AM-10PM, Sun 11AM-3PM · $10-25

8. DrinkBarBywater

   Saturn Bar

   This is a strange old bohemian dive with some of the city's funkiest and most bizarre decor-soaked in neon and covered in old-school sci-fi posters (sadly, the old jukebox that only played Frank Sinatra's Witchcraft regardless of what you picked is defunct). Drink cheap beer, whiskey, or Southern Comfort. Don't expect them to know how to make fancy-pants mixed drinks. Occasional live music. Rumored to be the favorite of Nick Cage.

   Mon-Sat 5PM-late, Sun 6PM-late

9. DrinkBarFrench Quarter

   Tropical Isle

   Home of the Hand Grenade, "New Orleans's Most Powerful Drink", is a staple of Bourbon Street decadence. Definitely a must-try.

   Wheelchair accessible

10. DoLive music venueMid-City and Esplanade Ridge

    Chickie Wah Wah

    Eclectic schedule of local artists. Music venue in a comfortable bar, easy parking as well as right on the Canal Streetcar line. The kitchen serves a limited menu significantly better than average bar food. +1 504 304-4714.

11. DoJazz barFrench Quarter

    Maison Bourbon

    Sometimes has decent bands (though as often doesn't), as many good local Dixieland players lacking a better gig for the moment often wind up here. As the doors are open to the street, you can listen a bit from outside, judge for yourself whether they have a band you'd enjoy, and walk on by or go on in as appropriate.

12. DrinkBarFaubourg Marigny

    The Maison

    The place to go for dinner + jazz (pretty energetic jazz), with the largest dining room on the street, and three stages for music.

13. DrinkNightclubFaubourg Marigny

    Blue Nile

    A staple of the Frenchmen Street set of music venues, Blue Nile serves up funk, blues, jazz, and New Orleans-style brass bands. A plus is the big dance floor. Unlike most places in Marigny, though, it often charges a cover, so be sure to sample the music from outside before making the decision to go in.

14. DoLive music venueCentral Business District

    Howlin' Wolf

    They host a good variety of local and visiting acts; definitely get a hold of their schedule in The Gambit, a weekly paper. (If you visited here before Katrina, they are now a block up the street from their former location.)

15. DrinkBarFaubourg Marigny

    d.b.a.

    New York style bar on Frenchmen, if you need a bit of sophistication when you drink. Great selection of beers, and frequent live music.

16. DrinkBarFrench Quarter

    Carousel Bar

    Renowned for generations for the slowly rotating "Carousel" section; also has non-rotating seating.

17. DoTremé

    Candlelight Lounge

    This is one of New Orleans' truly great neighborhood bars/jazz clubs. The famous Tremé Brass Band play here virtually every Wednesday, and it's quite the party! Any night with live music will be great here, though, and there are fewer non-locals when it's not Wednesday. Ignore people who tell you the neighborhood is not safe (taxi drivers) and go roll with the good times.

    8PM-very late

18. DrinkBarFaubourg Marigny

    Apple Barrel

    Sometimes has live music too. Local characters, low prices, no attitude.

19. DoJazz barFrench Quarter

    Fritzels

    Good house bands in the evenings, and is often a venue for out-of-town and international musicians versed in the New Orleans style.

20. DrinkBarFaubourg Marigny

    Buffa's Lounge

    Small bar room in the front; the big room in the back (also accessible from the side door on Burgundy Street) hosts live music and other events, including a popular jazz brunch on Sundays.

21. Drink7th, 8th, and Upper 9th Wards

    No Dice

    Local bar with more of a Marigny than 7th Ward vibe; also has live music and other events some evenings.

22. DrinkDive bar7th, 8th, and Upper 9th Wards

    Bullet's Sports Bar

    Not quite as rough as the name might suggest. Sometimes hosts live jazz combos, including local favorite Kermit Ruffins - this is a more intimate venue than the more famous jazz halls visitors are likely to catch him at.

23. DrinkFaubourg Marigny

    Mimi's in the Marigny

    The toniest bar in the Marigny (but hardly pretentious), with billiards, Galaga, occasional live music, and tapas served from the restaurant upstairs. Good selection of beers and specialty drinks. Hip Hop and Funk DJs Friday and Saturday nights. Lots of singles on the weekends.

24. DoLive music venueCentral Business District

    Caesars New Orleans

    The state's only land-based casino (there are riverboat gambling venues in the suburbs).

25. EatRegional restaurantTremé

    Lil Dizzy's

    Another Creole soul food restaurant in the neighborhood (surprise surprise!), run by members of the Baquet family, locally famous for great chefs and jazz musicians for generations. Since Dooky Chase and Willie Mae's are closed for breakfast, this is undisputedly the best place to go.

    Tue-Fri 11AM–3PM · Limited wheelchair access

26. DoParkFrench Quarter

    New Orleans Jazz Park

    Actually in "Dutch Alley", the French Market pedestrian alley on the river side of Decatur between Dumaine and St. Philip Streets. Often has free live music weekend afternoons and sometimes other times.

    Free, some park programs have a fee

27. DrinkPubFrench Quarter

    Fritzels

    Best known as a trad jazz venue, but also has a bar with good draft German beer even when there isn't live music.

    Tu-Sa 11:00-02:00; Su 11:00-00:00; Mo 16:00-00:00

28. DoMid-City and Esplanade Ridge

    Banks Street Bar & Grill

    Local less well known live music acts, ranging from rock to all types of jazz, often at no cover; if they're good (often they are) put a buck or so in the tip jar.

29. 
    DrinkNightclubFaubourg Marigny

    Snug Harbor

    Perhaps the city's foremost modern jazz venue.

    Su-Th 05:00-22:45; Fr-Sa 17:00-23:45
30. DrinkUptown

    Cure

    Upscale cocktail bar in an out-of the way neighborhood; also serves gourmet small plates. Not cheap, but obsessively high quality.

    Sun-Thu 5PM-midnight, Fri Sat 5PM-2AM

31. SeeFrench Quarter

    Old U.S. Mint

    Coins haven't been minted in New Orleans for decades, so the building is now a museum, with the minting process downstairs and the world's top exhibit on New Orleans jazz upstairs.

    Tue-Sun 10AM-4:30PM · $6 adults, $5 students/seniors/military, free for children 12 and under

32. DoTremé

    Tour Tremé

    Walking tour of Tremé. Explore this vibrant neighborhood with an informative and entertaining, licensed guide. See where Jazz was born. View film locations from HBO's Tremé. Reservations required.

    Sat Sun Mon 10AM

33. Do7th, 8th, and Upper 9th Wards

    Sweet Lorraine's Jazz Club

    Noted neighborhood jazz venue, just a few blocks from the Frenchmen Street music strip in Marigny. Local modern jazz; they also serve dinners of Creole and soul food 5PM-10PM.

34. DrinkPubFrench Quarter

    Parade

    Bourbon Pub

    New Orleans' largest gay nightclub since 1974.

    24/7 · Limited wheelchair access

35. DrinkBywater

    BJ's Lounge

    Friendly neighborhood dive with a colorful cast of characters. Beer and booze bar-you're not gonna get an apple martini here. Cookoffs and potlucks are fairly frequent, occasional live music. If you are at Vaughan's Lounge, hop on in and get a bit stronger dose of Bywater.

    Lunchtime-very late

36. SeeTremé

    Louis Armstrong Park and the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

    Includes historic Congo Square, and statues of early jazz greats Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Buddy Bolden. A visitor for the national historic park is located at 916 N Peters St in the French Quarter, but within Armstrong Park are 3 important buildings:.

37. DrinkCarrollton

    Maple Leaf Bar

    One of the city's greatest neighborhood live music venues (see "Live Music" section above for more) -- hey, it's also a good bar. The main bar is up front; when things are hopping during live music they also open up the back bar. There's a lovely patio and courtyard in back. Relaxed atmosphere when there's no event going on; chill with a drink, or play a game of pool or chess. Poetry readings every Sunday at 2PM.

38. SeeFrench Quarter

    New Orleans Jazz Park Visitor's Center & Headquarters

    Often has live music, lectures, and gives music history related walking tours. Many events are free; those that aren't are a bargain.

39. DoUptown

    The Columns

    Old mansion converted into a small hotel. One side of the downstairs front has a bar, the other side a live music venue. Cool jazz and gypsy swing in an elegant setting.

40. DrinkUptown

    The Columns

    Very classy (but not high-hat)! Has nice patio overlooking St. Charles Avenue. Free food during Friday happy hour from 5PM-7PM. Small combos play live music many evenings.

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to New Orleans (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.