New Orleans Nightlife Tips by acemj

Old Absinthe House: Historic Bar Absinthe House Review

This bar has been around since 1807, but it was in 1874 that it became legendary. That was the year that bartender Cayetano Ferrer created what would become the bar's most famous concoction, the Absinthe Frappe. "What is absinthe?" you ask. Well, here's an excerpt from gumbopages.com: "Absinthe is a strong herbal liqueur distilled with a great number of flavorful herbs like anise, licorice, hyssop, veronica, fennel, lemon balm, angelica and wormwood (the flavor of anise and/or licorice, at least in contemporary forms of the liquor, tends to predominate). Wormwood, the one that's gained the most notoriety, is Artemisia absinthum, an herb that grows wild in Europe and has been cultivated in the United States as well. Much of the liquor's legendary effect is due to its extremely high alcohol content, ranging from 50% to 75% (usually around 60%), plus the contribution of the various herbs. It has been assumed by many that the so-called "active ingredient" in absinthe is wormwood, although that is apparently not really the case."

Dress Code: Come as you are. I stopped in for an Absinthe Frappe and ended up staying too long talking with the bartender and a guy from Maryland and being entertained by the occasional disturbance caused by a homeless guy who kept coming in for a drink. The place is very open to Bourbon Street with multiple doors that are always flung open to the street. I loved it because you don't feel like you're missing out on the action outside while you're having a drink inside.

Address: 240 Bourbon Street

Directions: French Quarter

Phone: 504-523-3181

Theme: Other

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar: Another drinking hole Lafitte's Blacksmith Bar Review

This building dates to 1772 and legend has it that it was once owned by the pirate, Jean Laffite. The rumor is that he and his cronies ran a blacksmith shop out of the building as a front for other illegal operations. Today, it's simply a good drinking hole with a lot of history,

Dress Code: Come as you are.

Address: 941 Bourbon Street

Directions: French Quarter

Theme: Other

Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre: Historic Theater Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre Review

This is the oldest continually operating theater company in the States. Check out the website for current productions, times and ticket information.

Address: 616 St. Peter

Directions: French Quarter (Vieux Carre')

Phone: 504-522-2081

Theme: Theater

Website: http://www.lepetittheatre.com

Bulldogs: What a beer selection! Bulldogs Review

If you're on Magazine Street, this place has one of the best beer selections in town. TONS of different beers on tap.

Dress Code: Come as you are.

Directions: Magazine St. near Jackson

Theme: Other

Preservation Hall: It's all about the music Preservation Hall Review

This place is dedicated to preserving the art of jazz. They take their music seriously. There is no food or drink served in the hall, which is really just an old horse stable that has been renovated into a performance hall. You walk in and drop $5 into a collection bowl and then around 8:30 the music starts. Sets last around a half hour with brief intermissions in between. If you want to step away from the insanity of the Quarter and into a place as pure as they come, this is it.

Dress Code: Come as you are.

Address: 726 St. Peter Street

Directions: French Quarter

Other Contact: open nightly, 8pm-midnight

Phone: 504-522-2841

Theme: Live Music

Website: http://www.preservationhall.com

House of Blues: Great Music House of Blues Review

Well, as the name implies, this is a great place to listen to some blues music. They also have a restaurant and on Sunday mornings, they feature a Gospel Brunch with uplifting gospel music and a southern style brunch.

Dress Code: Come as you are.

Address: 225 Decatur Street

Directions: French Quarter

Phone: 504-529-2624

Theme: Live Music

Website: http://www.hob.com/venues/clubvenues/neworleans/

Pat O'Brien's: Hurricane Central Pat O'Brien's Review

What a great place to hang out. Pat O's as the locals call it, has six different areas to have fun. They have two entrances (off Bourbon and St. Peter's) that lead to the courtyard, main bar, patio, piano bar, restaurant bar and the Briar's Suite. When you come in, it kind of feels like a bunch of different bars. They are world famous for their Hurricane drink, which is rum with a bunch of other tropical juices.

Dress Code: Come as you are.

Address: 718 St. Peter Street

Directions: French Quarter

Phone: 504-525-4823

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.patobriens.com