New Orleans

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

Carousel Bar

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

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

Apple Barrel

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

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.

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.

No Dice

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

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.

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.

Caesars New Orleans

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

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

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

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

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.

Snug Harbor

Perhaps the city's foremost modern jazz venue.

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

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