New Orleans is of the few places in the US to allow drinking on the streets. No glass allowed, but open alcohol in cups is no problem. So get yourself a to-go daiquiri or Hurricane and enjoy the walk! Here is a list of the best bars on Bourbon Street.
Let’s Pack for This…
Pretty much all you need is a band aid for your liver and a healthy dose of Vitamin B for that hangover!
Bourbon St. itself is a mecca of watering holes and plastic cups. At just one square mile, the French Quarter has a dynamic array of choices in and around the area to imbibe. Here are a few of the coolest bars in New Orleans to get you started!
Here’s our 6 Best bars on Bourbon Street.
Sitting on the edge of the French Quarter you’ll find Bar Tonique. with daily specials of $5 drinks, and a fantastic happy hour lasting from noon to 5 pm on weekdays… Bar Tonique is a popular destination for tourists. Their $5 specials are high-end drinks such as the Whiskey “Old Fashioned”, Pimm’s Cup, Sazerac, Dark and Stormy, and the Moscow Mule… no bottom shelf watered down well drinks. Open noon-2am every day, you’ll want to hit this place more than once to take advantage of their daily specials! Get There!
So you’ve arrived in New Orleans… and you’re ready to get your motor running! Why not join the masses on Bourbon St. and see what the drink of choice is in everyone’s hand? How about a Hand Grenade? Sounds ominous
Fun and flirty, it will entice you served up in a tall green plastic glass with a floating plastic grenade in it! One is perfect, 3 is too many… 2 might be a stretch but you could share your second! Don’t bother trying to get their recipe… it’s a top-secret mission only the bar staff are privy to! Some guess it to begin, melon liqueur, rum
Their claim to fame is “Having fun since 1933”… now it’s time for YOU to be a part of it! Unassuming from the entrance, it’s easy to miss. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this place though! As you enter, you can choose to hang out in the main bar, the piano lounge or my favorite… make your way through the carriageway to the 4,000 sq foot courtyard out back. Dotted with tables surrounding a massive fountain, lined with trees and coach lamps… makes this patio one of the best you’ll find!
Their menu is full of delicious options such as the Mint Julep, the Cat-5 Margarita, the Rainstorm to name a few… however, a Hurricane at Pat O’Briens is a must. They offer them up in a variety of sizes. Some big enough for the entire table to share! Again… they are not shy about their pours… be wary and know your limit! They are STRONG! (beside Preservation Hall) Get There!
4-JEAN LAFITTE’S OLD ABSINTHE HOUSE…
In this old watering hole, it’s easy to step back in time as you sit by the fireplace and look around. History tells us of a tale of General Andrew Jackson and the Pirate Jean Lafitte meeting here to partner together to combat and defeat British Forces. The Old Absinthe House remains almost just as it did back then, aside from the thousands of photographs plastered all over the walls to look at as you roam around the room.
It may be on Bourbon St, but don’t be fooled by its location amongst the glitz of its more modern neighbors. The old wooden fixtures and brick and mortar offer this place an authentic feel. It remains fairly cool in here during the hot weather too, so pop in for a cold one and take a step back in time! Try the Old Absinthe Frappe! Get there!
A little further down Bourbon St. we find yet another homage to Jean Lafitte. Lafitte’s Blacksmith shop is a dark, slightly musty, and cool shack. It has earned the right to be that way as it is listed as the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States, built in 1722! They have a multitude of offerings, yet their claim to fame is their “Voodoo Daiquiri”… a frozen, slushy cup of goodness. Don’t ask, just try one and sit back and enjoy the Piano man or take a seat in their patio section outside. Get There!
Yes… it is actually a revolving carousel! Inside the Hotel Monteleone, you will find this colorful gem. It has swapped out the horses for bar stools (unfortunately in my opinion!),
Let’s Unpack This…
You will set out on your course for the day and by the time you are done, you may have hit at least one of the above-listed watering holes or all of them. One thing is for sure… you will soon have a list of your own! NOLA has no shortage of electrifying bars on Bourbon Street. Now if your in the mood for some food check out this article.
