New Orleans is a vibrant city for nightlife. Whether you’re going for a wild bachelorette weekend, or a solo traveler exploring a new city on your own like me, there is something there for everyone and it’s not hard to have a good time. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
As a solo traveler who likes to take part in some nightlife, my senses are always on high alert when I go out at night during a trip, and New Orleans was no different. What struck me about New Orleans though was the solidarity and protection that I found in other patrons. With the French Quarter being New Orleans’ primary tourist district, 95% of the people I encountered were fellow visitors, and all of the female visitors that I met sitting at bars looked out for me when they realized I was there all by myself. One girl sitting next to me at a bar checked on me to see if I was okay after I got hit on by a handsy drunk, and I ended up getting adopted for the night into her family from Dayton, OH and hung out with them for the rest of the evening! Be safe and be smart going out alone, and look out for your fellow sisters!
Bourbon Street
Naturally if you’ve never been to New Orleans, Bourbon Street is going to be one of the first places you want to hit. Within minutes of checking into my hostel and dropping my bags, I was out to wander Bourbon Street and take it all in. The main part of Bourbon Street spans 13 blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue. From smooth jazz to lively nightclubs, there’s a little bit of everything on Bourbon Street and you’re sure to have fun in whatever bars you end up in, but here are some of my favorite spots I went to.
Pat O’ Briens
A Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s is a must – it’s their signature drink, created during World War II, when the need for more manufacturing replaced distilleries and made whiskey scarce. Obtaining a case of whiskey required purchasing 50 cases of rum, so this overabundance of rum inspired Pat O’Brien’s to create the Hurricane, and to this day it’s still made following the original recipe. Just be careful – they taste good and there’s much more alcohol in there than it seems!
Spirits on Bourbon
This fun spot is where I ended up with my Dayton family after meeting them in Pat O’Brien’s. The signature drink here, Resurrection, is served in a flashing skull mug. I thought the mugs were cool but after a Pat O’Briens Hurricane, Resurrection sounded like something that would put me under. Thankfully we were able to purchase them filled with WATER (hydration is key!) and just grab a beer on the side. The bar often has dueling pianos, and you can sit in Edward’s barber chair – the original owner Edward DeBoire was a barber who died young at 33, and it’s said that his spirit is still present in the bar and prompted the current proprietors to keep the barber chair.
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop sits up the far end of Bourbon Street, past most of the main bustle, but it’s worth a special trip. This bar occupies what is reported to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States, having been built between 1722 and 1732. The property carries some history, as it is believed to have been used by brothers Jean and Pierre Lafitte as a base for their smuggling operation in the Battle of New Orleans. It’s also rumored to be haunted, so of course I had to stop in for a beer!
Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House
Another bar with historic ties to Jean Lafitte, the Old Absinthe House sits on the corner of Bourbon and Bienville, and it’s said that the second floor was the site of a meeting between Jean Lafitte and Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812. I sat at the bar here for a bit and ordered the Absinthe Frappe, a cocktail invented in this very bar in 1874. Since I was in the mood for wandering, I took the cocktail to go after a little while and it was a perfect sipping beverage as I sauntered down Bourbon Street.
Maison Bourbon
After wandering for a bit with my Absinthe Frappe, I decided I was in the mood for some jazz, and found some at the Maison Bourbon, one of Bourbon Street’s oldest live jazz clubs and one of only two remaining on Bourbon. There is always live jazz to be found here if that’s what you’re in the mood for – it’s an authentic New Orleans experience that you have to do!
Krazy Korner
When the jazz band at Maison Bourbon finished their set and went on break, I decided to wander some more, and my ears were pulled across the street to Krazy Korner. They had a rock cover band playing and the 80s hair metal was right up my alley! I had a great time hanging out in here for a bit.
Bourbon Street Drinkery
Bourbon Street is definitely a cocktail-heavy atmosphere, with just about every bar having a signature cocktail and daquiri machines practically every few feet. But my craft beer-loving self rejoiced when I decided to check out Bourbon Street Drinkery. They had an entire wall menu of craft beer, including a great selection of local brews. I sat in here for a bit and listened to some great live music with a local beer in hand.
Off-Bourbon
Unless you’re a college student or someone who can still hang like one, a night or two on Bourbon Street will likely be enough for you. I hit a wall after 2 nights where I just wanted to hang out in some chill bars away from the craziness of Bourbon Street.
May Baily’s Place
May Baily’s Place at the Dauphine Hotel was on my list of places to check out after seeing the hotel featured on Ghost Adventures, and it did not disappoint. I didn’t experience anything spooky, but the bar was exactly the kind of vibe I was looking for, with swanky Victorian decor and a jazz quartet playing. I stayed and had a few beers here and was also tempted into trying a Pimm’s Cup, a favorite New Orleans cocktail, after watching the bartender prepare one for someone else. This cocktail was so refreshing and drank like an ice tea – dangerously good!
Carousel Bar
The Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone deserves a visit just because it is so unique. The bar is an actual rotating carousel. Obviously it’s popular among tourists and usually pretty crowded, so I didn’t get a seat at the carousel, but hung out to snap a few cool pictures.
Cajun Mike’s
I came to this bar for dinner in search of some boudin balls (more on my New Orleans food adventures here), and discovered a great hangout. Cajun Mike’s, located on Baronne Street just off Canal, is a place with the feel of your favorite neighborhood dive bar that has great food and is enjoyed by a lot of locals and service industry workers. Even if dive bars aren’t your vibe, at least get some food from here – it was some of the best I had while I was in town!
The nightlife in New Orleans was so much fun, even for a solo traveler like me. These bars were just some of my favorites that I visited, but there are so many great options and you are sure to have fun wherever you end up!
C to Shining C 