107 Best Bars in New Orleans, Louisiana

One of the most famous bars in Louisiana, this Art Deco gem and slinger of fine libations has a pedigree that dates back to the mid-19th century. Drawn to the signature Sazerac cocktail and Ramos gin fizz, a famous and intriguing clientele has graced this hotel bar over the years, including Governor Huey P. Long, who in the 1930s built a 90-mile highway between New Orleans and the state capital, just so, many believe, he could get directly to the hotel lounge for his signature drink.

If you want the focus of your night to be games instead of (or in addition to) drinks, then this massive Mid-City bar is the place for you. There are 23 pool tables, 4 Ping-Pong cages, 7 dart boards, 2 mini--bowling lanes, foosball, air hockey, shuffle board, Skee-Ball, a punching bag, as well as basketball, soccer, and football games. This is a solid place to watch sports, to catch an inexpensive happy hour, eat some greasy bar food, and to get competitive with your travel companions. Take a taxi or a rideshare car, as the surrounding neighborhood can be intimidating at night.

This neighborhood brewery produces great beer, welcomes delicious food pop-ups, and hosts events like trivia and local music nights. With both indoor and outdoor seating, Skeet Hawk makes for a relaxing stop during a walk or a bike ride on the Greenway.

At this uniquely New Orleanian dive bar with a painted beer advertisement in the front, drinks are cheap and red Christmas lights are strewn year-round. The crowd mostly consists of upperclassmen college students and young professionals, as well as a friendly bar dog or two.

This intimate club with a sometimes-steep cover charge ($25--$35) is one of the city's best rooms to soak up local and touring jazz. It is the home base of such esteemed talent as vocalist Charmaine Neville, who plays most Mondays. The dining room serves good local food but is best known for its burgers.

A young, Uptown professional crowd packs this narrow bar known for its blueberry mojitos and religious-themed decor. The narrow front bar has more crosses than a Catholic church; the back patio, strung with Chinese lanterns and decorated with statues of Asian deities, is a "Caribbean Zen temple," in the owner's words.

Each July, the annual Tales of the Cocktail, billed as "the most spirited event of the summer," brings thousands of experts and enthusiasts together for an internationally acclaimed, five-day celebration dedicated to the artistry and science of making drinks. In addition to enjoying some of "the best cocktails ever made," attendees participate in dinners, demonstrations, tastings, competitions, seminars, book signings, tours, and parties.

The best of the Lower Garden District takes place in charming, tucked-away spots like this one, where knowledgeable staff guide you through a beguiling selection of bottles from around the world, with an emphasis on natural and minimal-intervention methods. Sit on the patio, and come early if you want quiet, since DJs spin later at night---but even when there's a crowd, you will be able to find a comfortable chair or a romantic corner to sip and people-watch

Formerly known as One Eyed Jack's, local music entrepreneurs are now at the helm of this revived historic theater (with an excellent bar in front), and it continues to be counted among the most beloved independent venues in the city. The black and red standing room hosts eighties nights, dance parties, tribute shows and jam sessions, and local legends like Quintron, Big Freedia, and Tank and the Bangas. Shows aren't as frequent as they once were, but a night here still promises a good time.

This neighborhood joint might be off the beaten path, but it's worth the trip for its unlikely combination of an innovative cocktail menu, tasty pop-up food concepts, and weekly events that range from vinyl record-fueled dance parties to Taylor Swift trivia to karaoke extravaganzas. Cocktail aficionados will come for some of the best in the city, but compared to other excellent cocktail bars, Twelve Mile Limit offers something a little more relaxed, and prices reflect that down-home vibe.

Legendary Thursday night live music sets are the big draw at this ramshackle place in the Bywater's farthest reaches. At other times, the place is an exceptionally friendly neighborhood dive that is also a great place to watch the Saints' football games.

Amid the city's drab business district hides another entry in the growing list of craft cocktail bars. Named for Daniel Victory, one of the city's best mixologists (and an owner), it draws a young professional crowd to its dimly lit, vaguely industrial space for drinks that push the boundaries of traditional cocktails. A cozy room in the back is available for private parties and intimate sipping. At Drink Lab (343 Barrone St.), cocktail novices can take mixology classes from Victory's experts.

In addition to a wide range of beers and alcoholic seltzers, Zony Mash has an active event calendar that includes food pop-ups, themed karaoke, movie-watching clubs, dance parties, and several nights of live music each week. During Carnival season, it's also the site of King Cake Hub, which sells dozens of varieties of New Orleans' iconic purple, green, and gold Mardi Gras sweet.

For a real taste of New Orleans, drop by on a Thursday night, when Kermit Ruffins is playing. Not just the soul of the city, but the soul food, too, emerges as Kermit and friends serve up their famous barbecue and fixin's in between sets. Featured in the HBO series Treme, Bullet's has become something of a New Orleans hot spot, but remember that if the neighborhood around the bar looks a little scary, that's because it is a little scary. Use caution when traveling here, but be prepared for a warm and welcoming musical experience when you arrive.

This small, old-school joint draws a crowd on Monday for jazz by Corey Henry and Friends (and free red beans and rice), and local brass bands most other nights of the week. Uncle Lionel Batiste, a club fixture of legendary proportions, has sadly passed away, but the lively music and local atmosphere are still the same. We recommend taking a cab out here.

This former Toulouse Street theater hosts rock bands, as well as local up-and-comers, '80s nights, and even the occasional female arm-wrestling competition. The 19th-century saloon interior provides an appropriately decadent backdrop for Fleur de Tease, the resident burlesque troupe.