36 Best Bars in New Orleans, Louisiana

A favorite New Orleans drinking destination since 1949, this revolving bar has served the likes of Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, and Ernest Hemingway. If the famed carousel bar is too crowded, there's a second (stationary) bar and a stage that hosts free shows by local musicians Wednesday through Saturday.

Perhaps the most photographed building in the Quarter after St. Louis Cathedral, this 18th-century blacksmith shop was once a front for the eponymous pirate's less legitimate business ventures—or so says local legend. Today, it's an atmospheric piano bar with a rustic, candlelit interior and a small outdoor patio shaded by banana trees. Despite the addition of a few flat-screen TVs, a drink here just after sundown, under the soft glow of candles, lets you slip back in time for an hour or so. It's also known as the oldest bar in New Orleans as well as one of the most haunted.

An evening at this dimly lit venue begins with an aperitif hour and ends with burlesque, a jazz trio, or other entertainment appropriate for a place that is part intimate library and part Parisian club. The food here is fittingly European, with grazing options like almonds, olives, and anchovies; seared scallops in white miso dressing and a satisfying pub burger are among more substantial choices. If you're looking for atmosphere and romance served alongside your expertly crafted cocktails, this is your spot.

This dimly lit whiskey bar is popular with the local service industry crowd. The bar boasts more than 250 types of the spirit, several cocktails on tap, and rotating nightly food pop-ups that pair well with imbibing.

This pint-size, colorful microbrewery is making a name for itself as having some of the best local beer in the area. There are around 10 beers on tap at any given time, often exotic varieties with locally inspired names. A large beer garden and outdoor patio in the back is the brewery's best feature.

This divey neighborhood spot has been popular for live music and festive vibes since 1939. The food can be uneven but the Bloody Marys and other drinks are solid. There is live music in Buffa's backroom each night and a fun traditional jazz brunch on Sundays.

This Bourbon Street stalwart claims to be the oldest operating gay bar in the United States, attracting a somewhat older and very casual group of gay men. The second floor has a pool table, pinball machine, and wraparound balcony with a bird's-eye view of the lively street scene below. Sunday afternoon, when the oldies spin and the paper-napkin confetti flies, is especially popular.

Unpretentious even by New Orleans standards, this little dive not far from Canal Street draws a good number of locals from the Quarter and beyond for inexpensive drinks and wide-open doorways that offer table seating just off the sidewalk. Note that it's cash only.

This rambling tavern across from the Mississippi River levee boasts 400 different bottled beers and 45 on tap. That, along with the excellent food, an oyster bar, and enough televisions to show nearly every game during a busy football weekend, makes it a favorite haunt of students from nearby Tulane and Loyola universities, as well as nostalgic alums and Uptown locals.

Filmmaker John Waters reportedly counts the Pocket as a New Orleans favorite, and with skinny, tattooed strippers on the bar and an inebriated drag queen emcee, it's easy to see why. Sleazy fun on a good night, but keep your wits about you.

Few tourists make their way to this hip neighborhood hangout, in a far corner of the Lower Quarter. A short flight of stairs leads to a darts and billiards room. Quirky wagon wheel–shape ceiling fans, ample windows, and a friendly vibe make it a low-key place to wind down. Food options include pizzas, burgers, and Cosimo's famous fried green beans.

From the same owner of the well-loved Twelve Mile Limit bar in Mid-City, The Domino offers a similarly refined dive atmosphere, with checker-board table tops, board games to borrow, a generous happy hour, and wide horseshoe bar. Picnic tables out front let you people-watch on St. Claude while sipping your wine spritzer, and there are occasional food pop ups.

Ernst has been operating as a bar since the first years of the 20th century, and the classic interior and upstairs balcony provide a welcome respite for conventioneers, lawyers from nearby firms, and service-industry folks winding down from shifts at area hotels. The classic menu includes local staples like red beans, po'boys, jambalaya, and burgers.

For college kids and grown-ups reliving their youth, an all-nighter in New Orleans isn't complete until you've danced on top of a pool table at this classic hangout. There's a loud jukebox, a popular photo booth, and a late-night kitchen (it fires up around 7 pm and keeps serving until early morning) that turns out legendary cheese fries. The party really gets going around 1 am, but the tropical-theme patio can actually be peaceful at times. You'll need to get here by car or taxi.

This intimate bar is considered the most sophisticated (albeit pricey) place to get a drink on Jackson Square, where patrons can also get quality raw oysters from the Gulf and East Coasts. The crowd around the large marble horseshoe bar is always lively and stylish, and drinks are served with flair: the Columns Martini comes with its own crystal-bowlful of pickled vegetables.

This beloved dive bar draws an eclectic local following, thanks to strong, cheap drinks and a crowd that lives up to the bar’s name. There’s a pool table and room for dancing to the juke box. It becomes a busy spot during Mardi Gras parades.

The Lower Quarter has become a lot more upscale since this neighborhood gay haunt's heyday, but (the officially named) Tubby's Golden Lantern soldiers on. The bartender's whim determines the music, the drinks are strong, and happy hour runs from noon to 8 pm Monday and Tuesday, and from 8 am to 8 pm every other day. The bar is best known as ground zero for the annual Southern Decadence drag parade, when a crowd gathers out front for the kick-off. It's cash only.

With its tasteful decor and reasonable volume level, this is a slightly more upscale, sedate alternative to the blasting disco bars down the street. The Queen's Head Pub on the second floor, open weekends, has darts, a wraparound balcony, and respectable martinis. Brush up on your show tunes at the popular Sunday afternoon piano sing-along.

This is one of those neighborhood haunts that is just the right amount of dive bar. The drinks are cheap, the selection is big, and the beer is local. There is an event almost every night, from funk performances and karaoke to live jazz and dance parties.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.