Bourbon Street in New Orleans is notorious for its nightlife. Bourbon, as we’ll call it, isn’t for the faint of heart. The drinks are strong, the music is loud, and the party doesn’t stop until 3 a.m. You will have a blast bar hopping down Bourbon, but it’s even more fun if you know where to go.
In this guide, we’ll cover the 6 best bars on Bourbon Street. None of these bars made the list because of their elegant cocktail program or beautiful interiors. They are celebrated for being dive-y, fun, and laid back. The bars that made the list are the top places to go to have a good time.
This guide takes you down Bourbon Street starting at the intersection of Bourbon and St. Philip Street. and leads you all the way down to Canal Street.
Let’s get this party started.
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar
The first bar on our Bourbon Street tour also claims to be one of the first bars in America. Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar (Lafitte’s) is said to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States. It has a laid-back vibe, which is a nice warm-up for your journey down Bourbon Street.
Lafitte’s specialty drink is the Voodoo Drink which is a grape-flavored slushie. If you don’t care for grape-flavored soda or candy, you’re better off ordering a beer on draft.
Late at night Lafitte’s becomes a piano bar, but quite frankly, the musicians aren’t that good. If you’re looking for live music head further down Bourbon or turn around and go to Frenchmen St.
Cats Meow
Sing your heart out at the Cats Meow, a karaoke bar. The Cats Meow features a semi-circle stage for patrons to perform on. On busy nights, it can take hours for you to be called up on stage, so add your song to the list as soon as you arrive.
The Cats Meow has two stories. On the top floor, you can watch people sing from above or go out on the outdoor balcony and throw beads to people down below. The Cats Meow is more of a late-night spot — it doesn’t open ’til 5 p.m.
That Planner Friend Tip: Many bars with balconies will try to sell you beads to throw. To avoid paying, go on the street and collect beads from other people throwing them off the balcony, and then go up and re-throw them. If you’re visiting during Mardi Gras, bring the beads that you caught at the parades.
Tropical Isle
Tropical Isle wins the award for the most fun drinks in New Orleans. It serves Hand Grenades, Shark Attacks, and Horny Gators…I’ll explain. The strongest and most notorious of the three is the Hand Grenade. It’s a green tropical drink with melon, pineapple, and a whole lot of alcohol. Every person walking down Bourbon with a hand grenade in hand ordered at one of the three Tropical Isle locations on Bourbon Street.
When you order a Shark Attack, the bartender will put on a show for you and the whole bar. They’ll ring the bell, flicker the lights, and blow a whistle as a shark toy makes a nosedive into your drink. The drink itself is reminiscent of a vodka soda with grenadine.
Finally, the Horny Gator is like a less strong version of the Hand Grenade that comes in a cup shaped like an alligator.
That Planner Friend Tip: If you want to try multiple drinks without getting a sugar rush or hangover, split novelty drinks with friends.
Tropical Isle’s vibe is just what you’d expect from a bar with that name. It has tropical and tiki memorabilia and plays laid-back music. Sometimes, there’s even live music.
The Tropical Isle on the intersection of Bourbon and Orleans St. has an upstairs known as Top of the Trop. Here, there’s a balcony with chairs and tables, plus games like a pool table inside.
Pat O’Brien’s
My favorite bar in New Orleans is Pat O’Brien’s. It’s famous for the Hurricane, a drink that’s like a fruit punch spiked with rum. It’s dangerously easy to drink and it was invented here.
Pat O’Brien’s boasts a large patio that’s great for hanging out and day drinking. The main patio area has open seating where a waiter can take your order. If you want to grab a bite to eat, you’ll need to see a hostess. Pat O’Brien’s food is surprisingly delicious. Make sure you try the jambalaya.
You can enter Pat O’Brien’s on Bourbon Street. or through its main entrance on St. Peter Street.
Razzoo Bar & Patio
Razzoo is where you go to dance. You look past the sticky floors and tacky tourist crowd because the drinks are cheap and the music is good. It plays the right amount of throwbacks and hits to keep you dancing all night long.
There’s an elevated stage where MCs invite girls to come up and dance. If you need a break from the dancefloor, there’s an outdoor patio to catch some air.
Beach on Bourbon
Nothing about Beach on Bourbon is reminiscent of a beach, except maybe that you’ll get hot and sweaty. The Beach is known to have a younger leaning crowd and for dancing.
It has two dance floors, one inside and one outside. The outside dance floor is on a massive patio. It’s like an outdoor club with light displays and fog machines. If you’re looking to relive your college days, this is the spot for you.
Other bars on Bourbon
Two honorable mentions for their fun novelty drinks are Fat Tuesday and Prohibition Bar. Fat Tuesday is a slushy destination with frozen drinks in every flavor you can imagine. Prohibition Bar, also known as Huge Ass Beers, serves….huge ass beers (shocker). Those beers are served in a giant souvenir beer bottle and you drink the beer out of a straw.
Bars off Bourbon
New Orleans is home to many cocktail bars and lounges that are more upscale than what you’ll find on Bourbon. In the French Quarter, I recommend Fives and Manolito. You can read more about these bars in this New Orleans 3-Day Weekend Itinerary.
Things to note
New Orleans does not have a law against open containers, meaning you can get a drink and sip on it while you wander down Bourbon. Be mindful that bars will not let you in with a drink from another establishment.
Keep your belongings close on Bourbon Street, especially when you’ve been drinking at night. I know multiple people who have had their phones stolen during Mardi Gras.
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