107 Best Bars in New Orleans, Louisiana

At the helm of this tavern's cocktail program is the legendary Chris Hannah, a veteran New Orleans bartender and James Beard Award (among many other awards) winner.  The seasonal menu showcases classics, like the city's oft forgotten Brandy Crusta and an amped-up Sazerac, along with inventions of rare spirits and fat-washed rums and vodkas, vermouth, and amari infused with local fruit—basically all the best bells and whistles in the biz. Pleasing small plates and a historic courtyard add to the allure, making this a true hidden gem.

Local personality and jazz legend Kermit Ruffins reigns at this brightly painted club that once belonged to R&B singer Ernie K-Doe. The club is a jewel of the Tremé neighborhood, hosting the best of local talent in jazz and blues nightly. The kitchen serves popular New Orleans cuisine. Look forward to the frequent cameos from Kermit himself, who plays a set here with his band, the BBQ Swingers, most Thursday nights. The neighborhood's a bit dodgy, so take a cab.

This well-worn favorite has a pool table, a jukebox stocked with the Pogues and Flogging Molly, and, of course, Guinness on draft. A small stage at the back hosts Irish musicians, singer-songwriters, and R&B or jazz musicians nightly with no cover charge. It's one of the last venues for Irish music in the Quarter.

Deep-red walls and a velvet Elvis lend this Uptown spot a touch of kitsch, but the friendly atmosphere, jukebox stocked with vintage soul and modern rock, and young, fun crowd keep people coming back nightly. It's the host of frequent Saturday night outdoor concerts, and a favorite place to cheer on the city's beloved Saints.

In voodoo tradition, loa are the divine spirits, and this bar just off the lobby of the chic International House Hotel certainly strives for an extraordinary experience with its modern, upscale decor. Well-heeled downtown professionals mingle with an international crowd gathering for the evening to sip on inventive, high-end cocktails created by the friendly bartenders. The aperitif hour from 4 to 6 pm every day includes special cocktails and snacks.

This friendly gay bar hosts special events ranging from country western line-dance lessons to burlesque and drag shows. There's a big-screen TV for games and a large selection of fruity drinks, vodkas, and top-shelf bourbons. The owner also runs a small guesthouse above the bar.

This historic building—with a sprawling three-story floor plan, interior balconies, and a solid kitchen, plus multiple bars, stages, and dance floors—has become one of Frenchmen Street's most popular destinations. Live music every night but Wednesday (normally with no cover) make it inviting, and the managers skillfully weave local and touring DJs into their lineup of parties and events. The New Orleans Mixology class takes place here every Friday and Saturday at 5 pm.

The embodiment of a blue-collar New Orleans neighborhood bar, Markey's has plenty of beer on tap, sports playing on flat screens, and outside tables. During baseball season, games are broadcast via satellite. The drinks are potent and the pool table is free.

In a city as reliant on the service industry as New Orleans, 24/7 dive bars like Miss Mae's are essential for giving late-shift workers a place to unwind with a drink. With very cheap drinks (cash only) and plenty of bar games, you'll find something going on at Miss Mae's at any hour of the day or night. If you're looking for fun interactions and people-watching on a budget, give it a try.

Grab a perch almost any time of day at one of the best-known and most popular bars along the far stretch of Decatur Street, where you'll find perfect pints of Guinness, generously poured cocktails, and gregarious bartenders. From a window seat, you can watch the crowds of shop-goers, sightseers, and all-day revelers. Everyone from politicians to punk rockers eventually drifts through these doors.

Across the street from the convention center, this large venue seats 400, and the dance floor quickly fills with couples twirling and two-stepping to authentic Cajun bands from the countryside. Regulars love to drag first-timers to the floor for impromptu lessons. The home-style Cajun cuisine is acceptable, but what matters is the nightly music.

The only gay bar in New Orleans that's also attached to a large hotel, this narrow space is in the heart of St.-Ann-and-Bourbon gay central; it's a must-visit during the annual Southern Decadence festival. The comfy sofas and handsome bartenders are a plus, and the crowd tends to be a bit dressier than at similar venues.

Visitors to this Oak Street establishment can enjoy two bars in one: on one side, a sleek, modern lounge invites wine-sipping, and on the other, a publike vibe makes for a perfect place to enjoy a beer. The two venues share a courtyard and an expansive menu. Depending on what you're drinking, you might want seared mortadella and ham on focaccia, or a plate of wings and Honduran-style tacos. There is weekly trivia on Monday evening.

In its 200-year history, this low-key oasis with its famous marble absinthe fountain has served guests including Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Franklin Roosevelt, and Frank Sinatra. It's now mostly frequented by tourists and casual local characters who appreciate a good brewski or cocktail to go. Thousands of business cards stapled to the wall serve as interesting wallpaper. Walk through the courtyard next door to find Belle Époque, a speakeasy-style lounge and sophisticated extension of Old Absinthe House.

A spacious dance club that mainly attracts young gay men also draws straight men and women, largely because of the scarcity of good dance floors in the French Quarter. It's open around the clock and tends to peak very late.

Tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood, this hipster hangout---and a favorite among the neighborhood's residents---has the kind of carefully designed run-down vibe that might make Tom Waits smile. All the details are there, down to the soft-core porn on the restroom walls. The bar regularly hosts beloved pop-up restaurants serving Thai, Mexican, and Cajun food.

Banjo player Danny Barker immortalized this restaurant in his song "Palm Court Strut." Traditional New Orleans jazz is presented in a timeless setting with tile floors, exposed-brick walls, and a handsome mahogany bar. Regional cuisine is served, and you can sit at the bar and rub elbows with local musicians. A wide selection of records and CDs are available for sale.

High-energy disco is the rule at this dance club above the Bourbon Pub. If it gets to be too much, a quieter back bar and a balcony offer respite. The crowd is mostly male and young, but women are welcome.

Roast beef po'boy devotees genuflect at the mention of this friendly hole-in-the-wall, which for more than 60 years has served the sloppy sandwiches along with Guinness on tap. The annual St. Patrick's Day block party at Parasol's spills out into the surrounding lower Garden District neighborhood; it's grown so large that police have had to erect barricades to keep traffic out—or to keep the revelers in.

Sure, it's touristy, but there are reasons Pat O's has been a must-stop on the New Orleans drinking trail since Prohibition. Friendly staff, an easy camaraderie among patrons, and a signature drink—the pink, fruity, and extremely potent Hurricane, which comes with a souvenir glass—all make this French Quarter stalwart a pleasant afternoon diversion. There's plenty of room to spread out, from the elegant side bar and piano bar that flank the carriageway entrance to the lush (and in winter, heated) patio. Expect a line on weekend nights, and if you don't want your glass, return it for the deposit.

Dapper Patrick Van Hoorebeek holds court over his wine bar in a clubby atmosphere of dark wood and red upholstery. Wines by the glass are the specialty, but there's also an excellent selection of cocktails and beers, including Van Hoorebeek's own Belgian brew. Major oenophiles can rent personal wine lockers. Only a few steps from Bourbon Street, Bar Vin feels like another world. It opens at noon on Friday to catch the lunch crowd.

A moody destination bar, bistro, and music venue at the Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, the Peacock Room oozes sultry style with crushed velvet, blue leather, and sparkling chandeliers. The lounge is an ideal setting to sip classic cocktails, nibble shared plates, and listen to the sounds of live jazz on Thursday night.

This "dog friendly, people tolerant" neighborhood dive bar draws a canine-loving crowd for potent cocktails, food pop-ups, and convivial conversation, inside and out on the sidewalk. Named for the owner's black lab, the bar's walls are covered with photos of visiting pooches.

This LGBTQ+ lounge bills itself as a "Leather/Levi Neighborhood Alternative Bar," and that's a pretty apt description. The downstairs bar is a popular Marigny nightspot, with a calendar of special events and themed parties, including the International Mr. Leather Contest. The upstairs bar, called The Eagle, is notorious for its "anything goes" atmosphere.

Behind the tinted windows of this dog-friendly corner bar, find a red-vinyl-clad neighborhood hangout and stylish social hub with a throwback ambience. In addition to crawfish boils on Friday afternoons (in season), the place runs offbeat specials—on Monday night, for example, 10 bucks gets you a shot and a haircut—and it's prime real estate on holidays like Mardi Gras and Halloween.

As the name indicates, this is a rowdy—and sexually charged—leather-and-Levi's gay bar. It's two blocks from Bourbon Street and is open around the clock.

This rock club retains the rough-timbered feel of the cotton-and-grain warehouse it used to be. The club books touring hip-hop stars and rock bands as well as local acts, and DJs take over the sound system late at night for popular dance parties.

Down-home Louisiana music, rockabilly, R&B, and New Orleans swing in a bowling alley? Go ahead, try not to have fun. This iconic venue has a terrific lineup of music Wednesday through Saturday. Thursday often features Cajun, Zydeco, and Swamp Pop, as some of the best musicians from rural Louisiana take the stage. The alley's restaurant throws a strike with pizza, burgers, hot sausage, chicken wings, hummus, and—if you're particularly hungry—a platter of 20 boudin balls.

Nestled in between the overhead highway and a series of converted 18th-century warehouses, this discreet neighborhood bar can be difficult to find. With lively crowds, a great selection of scotches, a gorgeous dog-friendly patio, and Sidecar Oyster Bar next door for eats, it's worth the trek to get here.