The 10 Best Bars In New Orleans, Louisiana

Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge

Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge is the essential dive bar. It’s a little grungier than most dive bars by virtue of its ‘trailer’ format. There’s Christmas lights hanging in the bar year-round, which gives a certain ambiance. Smoking indoors is allowed, and there’s a surplus of cheap drinks and live entertainment.

Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge, 7612 Oak St, New Orleans, LA, USA, +1 504-861-2802

Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge | © Will Gurley/Flickr

America’s oldest bar, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop was built in the 1700s. It’s been known to be haunted. Lafitte’s has been in operation for more than three centuries. Therefore, Lafitte’s is a practiced bar and knows how to make drinks. It’s been rumored that Lafitte’s is haunted by a ghost from over the three centuries. It’s a historic bar on the very historic Bourbon Street.

Crown and Anchor is located in Algiers Point – a smaller city connected to New Orleans by bridge. Following in New Orlean’s European influence, Crown and Anchor is as close to an authentic English pub as America can get.

Located in the French Quarter, Port of Call is a middle-aged dive bar that welcomes tourists but also locals. Aside from serving reasonable drinks, Port of Call is known for the best burgers around. It’s a little dive with run-down walls, vintage decorations, and a full bar. This is one of the best watering holes in the French Quarter.

Parasol’s functions as both bar and po’ boy/Creole restaurant. Mostly focused on the bar part of this combination, Parasol’s expertly serves reasonable drinks with high-standard service. The food is just as good, though (especially the po’ boys). Located in the Lower Garden District, Parasol’s is a locally known dive bar operation.

Another ancient bar, Old Absinthe House has been in operation since 1807. Just like any old and weathered bar in New Orleans, there are ghost rumors surrounding Old Absinthe. Ghosts aside, this old-timey bar is located in the French Quarter, and it’s a bit of a tourist attraction. But the drinks are reasonable for the area, and it does have a good blend of natives and tourists.

Cure

Cure is an important bar to the New Orleans area for inspiring the cocktail sensation. It’s been the forerunner for the cocktail craze within the city, and it still maintains a reputation of serving quality drinks. It’s a more upscale bar within the area – aside from the century-old dive bars around. With dim lighting, the ambiance has been mastered. It’s an ideal bar for a stylish outing.

Cure, 4905 Freret St, New Orleans, LA, USA, +1 504-302-2357

Vieux Carre, Cure | © Kevin O’Mara/Flickr

The Other Bar is a classic dive bar located on Freret Street. It has all the essentials of a dive bar: beer, the more important liquors, and good music. There’s also an abundance of bar games and board games to accompany any type of drinking. Drinks are reasonable, and the Other Bar is located right across from the renowned Dat Dog.

A rowdy bar on Freret Street, Publiq House is a warehouse bar. It’s trendy with the brick-walled aesthetic, and it serves quality beer and cocktails. Being set in a warehouse, there’s ample space for a massive bar and the live music stage. The Publiq House is an upscale comfort bar with the promise of a lively time.