9 CAN’T-MISS BARS IN NOLA

It’s unlikely you’ll ever visit another place quite like New Orleans. French and Spanish influences with a dash of Southern charm and a sprinkle of African voodoo combine to create America’s most intriguing city. NOLA is a special place. Hard times make people come together and you’ll be welcomed by the locals whose joie de vivre is contagious. So relax, be easy, and soak in the revelry at these 9 best bars in New Orleans.

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Bourbon Street at dusk — There’s more to New Orleans than Bourbon Street.

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Several drinks were invented within these city limits, including one of the oldest American cocktails that gained popularity in the mid-1800s, the Sazerac. Sip the official whiskey cocktail of The Big Easy in a classy setting.

On the other hand, don’t forget the Hurricane. A potent drink infamous for its ability to encourage bad decision-making and illegitimate children. Limit your intake and beware of sexy strangers. On that note, let’s get to it, here are our top recommendations on where to imbibe in New Orleans.

Maple Leaf Bar

mapleleafbar.com
8316 Oak St, New Orleans, LA 70118

Opened in 1974, this unassuming venue hosts live music seven nights a week. Go here on any Tuesday night and see a live Brass Band. For many years the Grammy-award-winning Rebirth Brass Band played here every week. Grab a cold beer and dance the night away with locals and college students from Tulane and Loyola University.

There is a $12-20 cover. However, this is the quintessential New Orleans experience. Try to get upfront for the second set to really feel the horns. It’ll be a night to remember!

Carousel Bar

hotelmonteleone.com/carousel-bar
214 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA

Come and sit at this bedazzled revolving bar inside the luxurious Hotel Monteleone. Yes, you heard that right, revolving bar. This iconic Merry-Go-Round has been rotating for 60 years! They’ve got a comprehensive list of craft cocktails, including two their bartenders created.

This is one of the most popular bars in New Orleans, so be ready to wait! Food & Wine ranked this one of the best bars in the world. Hey, you might even spot a celeb sitting across from you. Is that you Brad Pitt?

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop

lafittesblacksmithshop.com
941 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Built between 1722 and 1732, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is older than the Declaration of Independence. Nobody knows for sure, but it’s probably the oldest building in the United States to be used as a bar.

In true NOLA fashion, it’s believed to be haunted and it wouldn’t be surprising if it was. That’s probably why it’s included on the haunted pub crawl. It’s got some mystery hidden in those dusty brick walls.

It’s believed that New Orleans’ most infamous pirate, Jean Lafitte, may have used it as a safe place to transfer smuggled goods. His brother Pierre Lafitte was a blacksmith in this building. There’s a sing-along piano bar in the back, which would feel cheesy almost anywhere else, but it works here.

It’s one of the few establishments on Bourbon Street worth revisiting. Sample their pre-made Voodoo Daiquiri or wide Abita beer selection.

Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House

oldabsinthehouse
240 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA

It’s easy to walk by this centuries-old establishment along Bourbon Street without even realizing it’s cultural significance to New Orleans. Adorned with dusty football memorabilia you’d never know it’s considered one of the city’s most haunted buildings.

Jean Lafitte is rumored to still haunt this place. The legend says that he met Andrew Jackson here to arrange a pardon for his smugglers in exchange for fighting to fend off the British in the Battle of New Orleans, the final battle of the War of 1812.

The likes of Oscar Wilde, Walt Whitman, P.T. Barnum, Mark Twain, FDR, and Frank Sinatra have all knocked back a drink here. Why wouldn’t you do the same? Try one of their unique absinthe cocktails.

Spotted Cat Music Club

spottedcatmusicclub.com
623 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70116

The tourists go to Bourbon, the locals go to Frenchmen. So we were told and this is definitely one of the best bars in New Orleans. There are loads of fun bars on Frenchmen Street but “The Cat”, seems to have the best music.

While most of the clubs end their music at 2:30 am this bar can continue past 3 depending on the size of the crowd. Featuring eclectic artists, it’s a small intimate venue that became our favorite on Frenchmen.

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Club Bamboula’s

bamboulasnola.com
516 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70116

A live band plays at Bamboula's on Frenchmen street in NOLA — Live music under the lights at Bamboula’s on Frenchmen Street.

This brick-walled bar has live local jazz and blues music. It feels like you’re in a 1920s wine cellar, so get a table under the chandeliers and have a ball. Music starts around 9 or 10 pm and typically ends at 2:30 am.

We saw @bonbonvivant perform and the energy was magnetic! Their kitchen offers casual Caribbean Creole cuisine, and we liked the crab cakes but the main reason you go is for the drinks and the tunes.

R Bar & Royal Street Inn

royalstreetinn.com
1431 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 701

R Bar and Royal St Inn New Orleans, LA — R Bar & Royal St Inn. Photo of New Orleans [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

This place feels like something out of a movie! The bar is excellent, but the real highlight is the rooms upstairs and it’s likely one of the best places to stay in New Orleans. Close to all of the action on Frenchmen Street.

PJ and Jackie were the bartenders when we strolled in at 3 am, and we had some great conversations with them. Ya know the kind of conversation that only happens in the gin-soaked hours of the morning. PJ has lived in New Orleans for fifteen years and he gave us several recommendations on where to eat. They also offer free haircuts on Mondays!

Pat O’Brien’s

patobriens.com
718 St Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116

Pat O’Brien’s is home to the famous “Hurricane”, a rum cocktail made with passion fruit, orange, and maraschino cherries. It gets its name from the hurricane lamp glass it comes in.

The bar is set in a historical building, built in 1791, that has a lavish green courtyard. They host dueling piano shows that typically run Monday-Thursday from 6:00 pm to close and Friday-Sunday 2:00 pm to close. Although we wouldn’t say hurricanes are our favorite libations, Pat O’Brien’s is a New Orleans classic.

Tropical Isle

tropicalisle.com
610 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130

This tacky tourist bar is not one of the best bars in New Orleans by any means, but its claim to fame is having the city’s most powerful drink, “The Hand Grenade”. It’s a trademarked neon green melon-flavored concoction poured into a plastic yard glass featuring a cartoon grenade-like man.

We shared one and felt a nice buzz. Safe to say you shouldn’t have one at the end of the night. It’s very Bourbon Street, but the live music and kitschy decor make it a fun and goofy thing to do. Order their “Shark Attack”, another comical cocktail, and watch what happens next…