If you love a dive bar, this is a must! We stopped in because my fiancé wanted to have absinthe as is, not in a drink. So I saw for the first time how they light a sugar cube on fire, then pour it in to make the drink. It's cool. The bar has old football helmets hanging from the ceiling and the walls are lined with business cards. read more

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I'm disappointed that I'm disappointed. Maybe it's what is to expect from NOLA and the Bourbon St. experience because I found several missed opportunities . This is an old, full of history building and business. And is very dive bar feeling- until you walk into the back bar- which is old saloon vibes but dead quiet and empty. But the chairs score a million stars for comfort. Absinthe has this feeling behind it- not cold beer and well drinks for cheap let's see how drunk we can get and party... it's an experience. And that experience is lost. Which is really disappointing. I imagined something more than we got. The back bar doesn't serve all the drinks and mainly does the traditional absinthe experience- great- but there's nothing that says that and there's tables and chairs but no one to educate you or offer suggestions. There's the back bartender. It's all very confusing. The back area would be sick with a piano player or acoustic guitar player or even a small jazz band and someone to invite you to experience "absinthe" and more so, traditionally. If you're spending $60+ make it worth it. Inviting. Educating. Alluring. An experience. This wasn't the experience I thought we might get at such a unique, historic spot. read more

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Stopped in here for a quick drink as it's been years since I've had absinthe! The wait staff was very attentive and offered us a drink not on the usual menu. The building is historic, lots of dark, older wood adorned with stickers and business cards added over time. Back in the 1800s Andrew Jackson and Jean LaFitte were said to have met here to plan a defense. Absinthe (anywhere) is pricey, so be ready, they also have non-absinthe drinks. read more

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Fun bar on Bourbon Street. Dont think they have food, but we both got the absinthe margarita. It was a fun drink. One was enough. Worth stopping by this historic bar. Bartenders were prompt read more

Old Absinthe House - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Typically, we skip Bourbon but this time out, we wanted to check out Old Absinthe House, which we'd somehow not yet done. We were in fairly early in the day, on a Sunday, & there were about half a dozen open seats. The initial impression was definitely dive bar. The gal behind the counter wasn't the most friendly to start with. After a few minutes, it was clear why. Pro tip: if you don't like Absinthe, don't go to an Absinthe focused bar & complain about Absinthe. We sat for a few moments and I told my hubby that I was gonna poke the bear. He told me not to. He said she was gonna kick us out. I agreed that was a possibility so we should wrap up the 1st drink before I opened my mouth. I waited for a quiet moment to minimize the interruption of service before blurting out "Do you have any Absinthe that doesn't taste like black licorice?" & braced for impact. When her soul returned to her body & her head stopped spinning, she made eye contact and clearly read my smirking facial expression (while my husband was shaking his head & smacking my arm)... then she laughed. It was a beautiful thing to witness. No more tension. It seems that many, many, MANY customers come in not aware of what they're in for or with a genuine dislike of Absinthe and expecting to suddenly love it. Anywho, the rough start turned into a much more pleasant experience. We have some off menu drinks, including an intriguing take on the B52, using - you guessed it - Absinthe. It was dangerous! About 5 minutes later, she unleashed hellfire kicking out a guy who she cut-off as he was clearly at his cut-off point. He didn't take it well. I imagine that game gets exhausting. In short, this isn't a place that's going to bend over backwards to win you over, flash smiles and coddle you for tips. It isn't classy or pretentious. It is, however, a nice slice of history & a great selection of Absinthe. Staff understand their products & how to combine ingredients. They are excited to talk about Absinthe & make a drink you like. Tho redundant mentions of black licorice or star anise are likely to result in an unpleasant experience. Bonus: drinks at the bar were in real glasses, not plastic cups (unless you wanted a go-cup) read more

One of our friends and colleague passed away some time ago, but always said to stop at the Old Absinthe House for a frappe. So that's what we decided to do. It's dark and kind of old but with much character from the walls and the patrons. We ordered the absinthe frappes...and dang...these were potent! We sipped and laughed...and met some people. I leaned over and thanked the woman who had put all these Prince songs on the jukebox... She: My husband is so mad at me right now. There's 24 credits left in the machine...go pick some songs you like! She wasn't kidding! Played a lot from the 80s! We just sang, laughed and sipped those frappes...LOL! After we finished, we decided to walk and took a stroll down Bourbon...laughing, singing, and talking to strangers.... read more

Old Absinthe House - Absinthe frappe - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Absinthe house is worth stopping in to have a nightcap. They have other drinks and the bartender will make you whatever if absinthe isn't your thing. Historical place , open door atmosphere. Leave a card ! Definitely dive bar atmosphere. read more

Old Absinthe House - Walls - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

When we visit NOLA, we usually avoid Bourbon St but...... The Old Absinthe House is a must-stop for us. The Absinthe has been around since 1806 (according to their website) and began as a grocery store. Some of the absinthe cocktails have a strong black licorice flavor, and others are milder. The knowledgeable bartenders will guide you, even when they are slammed. Be aware that these cocktails have a very high alcohol content, so buyer beware. There is a reason that you get water with your drink. Do check out the memorabilia that adorns the dusty walls. Some have been there for decades. The men's room was rather sporty to the point where I was scuffing the soles of my shoes on my way back to the bar. Hey, it's the ambiance of this iconic bar. Not an absinthe fan? They have a full bar and beer. Pro tip: Everyone seems to congregate by the entrances, so work your way to the rear area for quicker service. read more

Old Absinthe House - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Great bar! My group of 10 were serviced quickly and kindly. Due to our initial great experience this was a spot we'd find ourselves back at. Love the interior and the round bar. Definitely recommend! read more

Old Absinthe House - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Worse than a dive bar. I love a good dive bar and have absolutely no objections to one, but this was horrific. Maybe after visiting the Sazerac House and the Roosevelt's Sazerac Bar, disappointment was inevitable, but Absinthe completely missed the mark. This place could be a jewel if any effort had been put into it. Unfortunately, it felt like an extremely run down. A low rate bar which I'm sure is frequented only because it's riding on the New Orleans name and is on Bourbon St However it delivers neither charm nor quality. Certainly not worth the time. read more

(10/06/2025) I stopped in on a whim. The bartender was very knowledgeable and friendly; she provided recommendations, and offered to sweeten my drink of it wasn't to my liking, so superb service the other gentleman behind the bar was friendly and helpful as well. The atmosphere is quirky; with such a historic pedigree and "refined" spirit, I would have expected a completely different vibe, but it feels very dive-bar adjacent, with business cards tacked to the walls, & a touchtunes machine on the wall (a mix of hip-hop and Dad rock was consistently coming through the speakers). The cocktails & pours were a touch pricey, but it is Bourbon Street. Overall, a positive experience, and I'd return. read more

Old Absinthe House - Menu - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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My friend Sarah T. and I went to New Orleans for a conference and kind of stayed on California time for partying purposes. We closed down our hotel bar at around 12:30 on a Thursday night (technically Friday morning), then walked over to Bourbon Street to see what was happening. Not much, as it turned out. I guess the city's tourist area is a little empty during hurricane season, and we were drinking on a school night (the street was much busier when we went back on the Saturday). The Old Absinthe House was open, though, and we walked in, attracted to the sign, which indicated that the place had been around since 1807. The building is in fact that old, with construction starting in 1798. It first opened as a grocery in 1806, and the first floor became a bar in 1836. As far as I can tell, it's been a bar ever since, though it was almost torn down during Prohibition. You can tell it's an old bar. It's divey in the best way, dense with eclectic decor and the sort of layered character that can only be earned with age. The most modern layer involves football helmets and televisions, so I guess the place can serve as a sports bar if that suits your needs. We were just there to drink. There were two bartenders on duty and they were both great. We stayed for three rounds, at least one of them ill advised. We closed the place out at 3:00, by which time we were the only remaining customers, and we definitely involved the bartenders in some drunken conversation. It was good drinking, too. We started with a round from the absinthe menu, the Butterfly Classic from Switzerland and the Mata Hari from Austria. They were very different styles but both excellent, prepared traditionally with the flaming sugar cube and a drizzle of water. I had a nice Sazerac for round two, and a pour of Woodford Reserve for round three. We stumbled out and somehow made it back to our hotel, where I deposited my very tall, slender but tree-like friend in her room after a failed attempt, going up and down the wrong elevator. I then passed out until late morning and was amazed that I escaped without a meaningful hangover. I'm calling our Old Absinthe House outing an undignified but spectacular success. read more

Bartender was super friendly and informative. She explained the different types of absinthe drinks available. I didn't know so many existed! I tried the simplest one based on her recommendation, and it was an experience. It had a very strong and sharp licorice flavor. Was it like ouzo? Not sure, because I had tasted ouzo once (and only once) over 30 years ago and this drink brought that gasping memory. I couldn't finish my drink. The bar was dark and moody, but that's perf for New Orleans. I'd return if I had a guest who wanted to try absinthe. I personally would never order this powerful tasting drink ever again. The moment satified the broody 18th century novelist inside of me. read more

Old Absinthe House - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

An eclectic dive bar on bourbon with reasonably priced drinks and an interesting crowd to people watch (esp the day drinkers who were trying absinthe for the first time lol). Was going to just grab a drink to go but ended up sitting at the bar for 2 rounds before moving on. Would return. read more

Old Absinthe House - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Old Absinthe House is one of those "rite of passage" spots you check out in NOLA in the Quarter when you don't have to worry about parents or family members who live in the area judging you for even thinking about going there. I had never been there, and there was time to kill in the Quarter before cooking class, so I hopped over to the establishment on the corner of Bourbon and Bienville. Walking inside, it has the thrills and decor of most of the divey bars you can enter on Bourbon Street -- cards and other weather-worn swag littering the walls, battered bar counters, and aged but sturdy bar stools. It was nice to enjoy two pours of absinthe served traditionally (at least originally for the second; for the first, I added water, lemon, and lime). I gained a good buzz from the second one. But the lack of additional help behind the counter and distinction from the other bars (outside of just the absinthe) made it a spot to try once and move on. It would have helped if the bartender had at least another to help on hand and not just a bar back that looked like they kept returning for a bone fix. read more

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Stopped into the Old Absinthe House on a whim, and honestly? Totally worth it. The bartenders were insanely friendly -- the kind of people who make you feel like you've been a regular for years even if you just walked in off Bourbon Street. The vibe in here is different in the best way: dim, historic, a little weird, and completely its own thing. You can feel the age in the walls, but in a cool, lived-in, New Orleans sort of way. Drinks were great, the atmosphere was unique, and the whole experience just hit right. Definitely a spot I'm glad we didn't skip. Would 100% stop by again. read more

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Good spot for absinthe lovers and trying the original absinthe frappe. Not a fan of absinthe so it wasn't for me. The vibe of the place is ok. Service could definitely be improved. Wasn't acknowledged for at least 5 minutes while everyone else that came in after me was already getting their drinks. read more

Old Absinthe House - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I love this place so much. Is it on Bourbon St and over hyped/priced? Sure. But the opportunity to try different absinthe has been a game changer! Ambiance is typical Bourbon with some pretty incredible history. This building is filled with stories. Definitely check it out and get yourself an absinthe! read more

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Ambiance as one of if not the oldest bar in New Orleans, was awesome! Must see when in the French Quarter!

Okay, the absinthe options were cool. The local "red" absinthe was awesome. The French one I tried tasted like dust, not their fault, our server did try to warn me. Our sever was very helpful, another server there was kind of rude and abrupt and the evening had just started. The drinks were decent, but I make a better sazarac at home. The profound "no" for this establishment is because of the bathrooms! They weren't messy. They were filthy. I went in and didn't use it because of the condition of the room. We were there at about 5pm in early January. There was no excuse for it. Great historical building, management better step in to save it! read more

I haven't been to this place in over 40 years. It looks exactly the same as I remember it! Dark and cozy. The bartender mixed a wonderful absinthe cocktail. The only downside for us was the music was very loud and not what we were hoping to hear. It was hard rock. read more

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Yikes. We heard this place was a "must go" because it's been around 200 years but it was dark and dirty and the drinks were disgusting, mens restroom is nightmare fuel--I've seen truck stops cleaner. Service wasn't great either. I asked for a local whiskey on the rocks and I'm not even sure what the bartender served me, I couldn't hear what she was saying. The bartenders don't really care about you either, they ignore you until it's convenient for them. They got plenty of customers coming in and out leaving big tips so why offer any kind of service when you don't have to? We went with the Toulouse green absinth shot. It was an interesting show making the drink, fire and sugar and all that. I had no idea that's what we were in for so it was a nice surprise. However, it was completely disgusting for $23 ($28 each with a tip)....so two $30 drinks and a $20 shot of mystery whiskey...fastest $80 I've spent in awhile. One visit here in a lifetime is enough. read more

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Stopped in for a drink while checking out Bourbon Street. The decor was cool and the vibe was eclectic. I was only there for one drink so it was a short visit. read more

Old Absinthe House - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Really cool old bar - Drinks only - Nice bartenders - Great environment This is a really old bar and a great place to stop for a beverage while wandering through the French Quarters. The bartender gave us some great suggestions on things to do while we were there. Leave your business card in the wall. Not sure what that gets you.. read more

Old Absinthe House - Decor - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Stepping into Old Absinthe House felt like walking into a piece of history with a rebellious edge. Business cards covered the walls, telling stories of past visitors, and the playlist set the perfect vibe. It was my first time trying absinthe, and now I can't wait to explore more types. I went with the St. George Absinthe Vert, which was slightly sweet, deeply herbaceous, and incredibly smooth. From the moment it touched my tongue to the last sip, it was an experience. Then there was the presentation...so fire. Literally. Watching the bartender prepare it with such skill made the moment even better. Speaking of the bartender, saying she was impressive is an understatement. Attentive, engaging, and effortlessly handling a full bar without missing a beat. That kind of service sticks with you. I wasn't there long, but it only took one visit to make this a new favorite. Next time, I'm trying the hibiscus absinthe! read more

Great bar, bit dark and divey, but pretty clean for Bourbon Street. Lots of vintage stuff on the walls and the old football helmets hanging from the ceiling was very cool. Our bartender was super attentive even though she was extremely busy. She took the time to explain and recommend three Absinthe's: Lucid, Grande Absente and Pernod. The wife went with the Grande and I went with Pernod. The bartender did her prep in front of us with the sugar cube on the absinthe spoon and lighting the sugar cube on fire to let it caramelize. If your into more black licorice/anise flavor go with the Grande Absente. The Pernod was milder on the licorice/anise flavor, but still tasty. We sipped and relaxed while chatting with some fellow Eagles fans. They had some college games on TV's around the bar. I really recommend a stop here for a well prepared and tasty Absinthe experience. Thanks guys!! read more

Ambiance was cool, located in the middle of everything. Drinks were good. Service was mid. read more

Old Absinthe House - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This place absolutely sucks. Worst bar ever. Drinks are decent but the music is horrible. Bathrooms are the most disgusting things ever. My husband said the men's had vomit all over the seat and this is was at 1pm. Can you imagine what it's like at night after people have been drinking all day. It's pretty much a health hazard. The manager or owner or whatever he is was a complete slob. Maybe instead of sitting there smoking pot in his sweatpants he could get off his lazy butt and do some cleaning. The bartender was a sweetheart but that doesn't make up for the filth in the bathroom. DO BETTER!!! The bartender was working hard while the lazy old guy sat there. Oh and maybe you should concentrate more on keeping the establishment clean than you are with putting your hateful political stickers all over the bar. read more

We came back for another visit to show my son and I've grown to like it!! It grows on ya! The bartender remembered us and even remembered what My husband got on our last visit. Me and my son got the Planters Punch. The Planters punch is pretty good and you will feel it. What really took it to another level was She allowed a few of us at the bar to follow her to their secret speakeasy. Everyone was awed! One man said he had been coming there for 17 years and never knew it was there. Supposedly it was a real speakeasy back in the day. They do open it on a certain day in the Evening. Unfortunately I can't remember the day ask the female bartender she'll tell ya :) It's a great place to socialize. We are not really social drinkers but always find ourselves talking up a storm here. Lol Could it be the drinks are strong? Couldn't tell ya or maybe We come there half drunk anyways lol Regardless at first sight I know it seems a certain way especially if you frequent more fancier bars like I do BUT give it a chance. I'm glad that I did and fully intend to go back in July :) Thanx to the Bartenders for giving us a peek inside the speakeasy. I know everyone from the pics taken to the Wows I heard loved it! It really made our day !! read more

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Good vibes but we learned we don't really like absinthe lol nice little show though. We had absinthe (w hibiscus) sugar cube was set on fire then dissolved w water. Good experience overall read more

Stopped by here after a haunted ghost tour in NoLa -- Had an INCREDIBLE and authentic Sazerac cocktail. Highly recommend stopping in just to see the decor and ambiance. Truly is a huge part of New Orleans history. Great spot. read more

Old Absinthe House - Authentic Sazerac Cocktail - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Our hotel is just a few steps from the bar. Every time we went in, we met some really great people, the bartenders were awesome. It's the perfect location right on the corner, you can watch all the people go by. Bourbon Street's best kept secret. read more

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Security guard is a complete meat head and told me twice to move my stool when the place was completely crowded. I'm slightly bigger than him and think it was an intimidation factor. Bartenders were awesome and lots of cool patrons. Had a blast. Will be back. read more

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I would give 0 stars if I could. The french quarter is known for staff being rude and entitled but this c&&&$ was rude. She said wait a minute so i figured she was busy and said we can order from the other bartender if you are busy. She was a rude snappy girl and just put me on my defensive. Im not patronizing your establishment if you are rude to me. Im a great tipper especially with great service. She couldn't have said oh just wait a minute hon with a little southern finesse. Come to find out she is the manager. If you own the bar she doesn't give a crap about your business!!!! read more

Went here to see what it was all about and grab a drink with some friends. Sat at the bar where I ordered a bottle of beer and my girlfriend orders a water, total came out to $8 for the beer. Hand the bartender $8 cash and she smacks the receipt down in front of me saying here's the receipt paid in full. No problem it, there were other people who needed help so I just assumed she was rushing. Comes back a couple minutes later while I'm talking with some friends we can with and she tell my girlfriend and myself that we can't sit at the bar, as the bar is for "tipping customers only, and since you did not tip I need you to get up." First of all, there were still empty chairs on the other side of the bar so it wasn't that the bar is packed. Second, I personally am a large advocate of tipping is for exceptional service or effort. Neither of which was performed in the task of reach in a fridge and getting a single beer. Overall ruined my trip to this bar as we were only there 15 minutes. Decided to just call it a night early due to this. read more

While touring New Orleans with friends, one of my buddies pulled our group into this bar because for some reason he knew I liked Absinthe and history. Well this is the place where those two things meet in a very cool way. At first, you get into this place and it is dark, dirty, and you immediately want to turn around and walk right back out. But after weaving through the crowds, you find a back room that has curio cabinets filled with old bottles of absinthe and seating areas filled with leather couches and comfy chairs. This place is the better of the two, quieter and more relaxing to take a seat at. We sampled some food and drinks from the menu. The food was good, everyone enjoyed the stuff we tried. Once again, since I am an absinthe fan, I thought the cocktails were thoughtful and well balanced. The cocktails here give a welcome respite from the more sugar and syrup forward drinks you usually find on Bourbon. The man behind the bar really looked and played the part - hipster with a touch of alchemist. Our server could have used a little more training as he had no idea what anything was on the menu but we managed to piece together certain drinks on the menu to what we were seeing other people drink so that we ordered what we wanted to try. We had a great time and just finished up before the whole room was crashed by a large group of loud bachelorettes and a wedding party. By that time, were done and on our way to explore more areas of town. read more

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We love dive bars. This one is rich in history and the cocktails are tasty. That's what made me give this place 4 stars. This was our first stop of our 5 day "laissez les bons temps rouler" stay. We started with beer and aside from my Planter's Punch x 2? I don't recall what we had. But it was a great start to our night! Beware of the Planters Punch. It's really good and sneaks up on you! read more

Old Absinthe House - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I love visiting New Orleans, and I always seem to get to the Old Absinthe House whenever I got around to it, meaning I'd generally be rushed on my way to somewhere else. This visit, we came here first to ensure I could just absorb the ambiance a while, as well as get a picture of Absinthe in the Old Absinthe House next to my Absinthe tattoo from Vintage Karma back home. (We also had time to come back as one of the last places to visit on our trip and put up our cards). Yes, it's old and dark, but that's part of the point. The bartenders are constantly working their tails off, and they'd probably need at least 5 at a time, minimum, on busy nights, but they are friendly, interesting, and know their stuff. read more

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Definitely one of the best places to go! Didn't try the food, but the service and atmosphere of the bar were top notch.

a bit of a grimy place but of course we had to try it while visiting. i've never had real absinthe before and we probably sat there for too long as i was having a heck of a time getting the drink down. but i think it was worth going to! the bar seemed understaffed as there was only one girl working the whole thing and one bouncer playing on his phone the whole time. so she wasn't super attentive but she was very nice when her attention was toward us. all i really remember is that her manicure matched her pedicure haha. we each got frappes and paid ~20 for each drink, which was fine. one was enough and then we left for another bar. read more

Old Absinthe House - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana