Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center

This Ninth Ward bar is a treasure. An old building with a dark and cool inviting interior. When…read moreit's slow, the bartenders are funny and attentive. When busy you never have to remind them of your drink order. There is sometimes food, but I can't seem to glean a schedule. Nonetheless, the bbq or gumbo is good when you get it!

I have always loved this authentic Bywater dive bar. Beers are so cheap and the music cover is…read morearound $20. Don't want to pay, or prefer less noise? Then get your drink and hang out on the front porch, the acoustics are great and you can hear the music perfectly. The bands are often local, some of whom have found success outside NOLA but still come back to their local audiences. Don't forget the free rice and beans served around midnight. The local crowds are enthusiastic, you feel like you are at a local house party.

Outdoor

French 75 w/ Cognac

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Lounge

Saturn Bar

4.0(74 reviews)

2.4 mi•St. Claude

Fun vibes. Service is fast & good. I have had good from random vendors while at this bar. Food…read morevendors have always been really good local food. Shawn did a really great job making my pineapple Long Island.

One of my favorite local spots/bars in the bywater!! There's always an event happening here, and…read moreyou're bound to run into atleast one person you know. There's not typically any food here but sometimes on the weekend, there will be a guy smoking meats just outside. Great smoking area outside too (enter through the doors to the left under the inside balcony) . Very cozy and very new orleans. Really cool glory hole in the women's bathroom!! Walking distance to other bars/restaurants in the area. Great addition to your bar hopping for the night.

Art!

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Frozen stardust Paloma

Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits

4.4(1.3k reviews)

1.7 mi•Bywater

Stopped in for a slightly late lunch this past week along with my wife during our coupla days off…read morework. Took an Uber there, as that's probably the best strategy for visiting anything in the Marigny or Bywater neighborhoods. Basically, it's an eclectic old house with a cool backyard dining area with the kinds of chairs you remember from elementary school. Local guitarist was playing a set for diners that afternoon on the stage. Front of the house full of different wines and the guy behind the counter was nice enough to suggest a good pairing with what we ordered to eat. My grilled pork chop with balsamic reduction was excellent. The perfect cut for such a dish. My wife loved her orechiette pasta and appetizer plate of olives. The white wine suggested to us was cold and refreshing. Everything matched well and the umbrella tables were clutch in the sun and heat of early summer. Hope to make it back for my next vacay

Has everything you need - good food and drinks, good music, good people. Now a staple to bring out…read moreof town friends and family here.

Charcuterie

Wine selection upon entry

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Entrance

The Music Box Village

4.9(27 reviews)

1.5 mi•Bywater

I did clown yoga here with my nieces. This is such a cool space. We walked around before clown yoga…read moreto interact with all the art installations. This is definitely a hidden gem. Clown yoga was great. It was a really fun way to introduce my nieces to yoga.

Such a cute venue! We went for a MIT reunion and got to explore the place - it's a bit small but…read morethere are ample structures to explore for about 30 min - 1 hour and it's fun to catch up with people while climbing the treehouses. Live music was great! Downside was that some of the exhibits were broken, about 30% of them, so it felt like we only got a taste of what the place had to offer. The food was okay - I liked the breakfast buffet course they had there but it had a lot of cheese so it upset my stomach.

Cwd

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The Spotted Cat Music Club

4.4(1.1k reviews)

3.2 mi•Marigny

We were hesitant because there were only a few people sitting at the bar when we walked in. It…read moreturned out that was the band, which meant it was just the two of us girls, so we decided we'd just have a drink and see what happens. It was 2 p.m. afterall, so not a lot of people were out in general. Turns out the band was great! Then people started trickling in and there was a good crowd enjoying the music with us. We had a great time, chatted with other patrons and a few of the band members. Good drinks, prices are on the higher end at ~$15, but still affordable. I had a Pimm's cup which was refreshing, they are served in souvenir to go cups that are really cute. Glad we decided to stay! A great time was had.

Before I start, this is my review based on my experience. I've noticed some people complain about…read morethe music, paying the cover charge, seating or the size of the venue. I'm not here to argue any of those points. I will say this: expecting live musicians to perform for free until you decide whether they're worth paying is ridiculous. The cover is usually only $5...$10 max. If that's a dealbreaker, this probably isn't your place. Stay home and stream Spotify. Now... I have some friends in town, and whenever that happens, a Monday night trip to the Spotted Cat is basically mandatory. I've been coming here for years and years. Yes, it's super touristy now, but it still gives me the warm fuzzies every time I walk through those doors. So I'm presenting the "compliment sandwich" review. Never heard of it? You start with a compliment, slip in some constructive-ish criticism, then end with another compliment. Supposedly people receive feedback better that way. Let's see. First, the music. Outstanding. Chris Christy wasn't what I thought I wanted to hear until I actually heard him. I felt completely transported. Man, can that guy play the guitar. It felt kinda like gypsy music. Then came the Frenchmen Street Allstars. The last time I saw them, they had a different lead singer and, honestly, they kind of felt like a completely different band, aside from the phenomenal drummer. This version did not disappoint. It was a great mix of jazz and New Orleans standards. Both bands were great! **Now a note to management.** Great music isn't enough. The bar should be every bit as memorable as the stage. Forgive me, I didn't get the bartenders' names, so I have to describe them by physical traits. The first bartender, the guy with the mountain of curly hair, was friendly enough and made decent drinks. Later, another bartender with a short haircut took over and made the best drinks of the night. Then there was the bartender with the black and hot pink hair. She looked like she'd rather be anywhere else. She rarely smiled, her demeanor felt unwelcoming, and it almost came across as hostile. On top of that, the drinks she made were so weak I genuinely wondered if there was any alcohol in them. Seriously. They were that bad. Here's my philosophy: if you're going to be grumpy, aloof, or have some other off-putting trait, you'd better make a mean drink. Years and years ago there was a bartender named Curtis who wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows, but that man could make a cocktail. I didn't need him to smile because the drink did all the talking. If the drink is mostly soda, though, friendliness becomes a lot more important. Unfriendly and bad bartending is a double whammy. She must be somebody's child or partner because I can't think of any other reason to employ a bad bartender. I hate to belabor the point, but the drinks aren't cheap. Cheap and bad I can take. For another comparison, there's another bartender there, I'm pretty sure her name is Chris. She's been there for years. She's all business. Maybe a little surly. Who am I kidding? A lot surly. But she's a character. More importantly, she makes a great drink. That's the kind of personality that somehow fits the Spotted Cat perfectly. Now let me end with the final piece of "bread" on my compliment sandwich. The doorman deserves his own review. That gravelly-voiced "Welcome to the Spotted Cat!" is part of the experience. Then he absolutely hammers that stamp onto your wrist. Somehow you don't even mind because you know what's waiting on the other side: incredible music, a fun room, and one of the best nights you can have on Frenchmen Street. Just don't let the bartender with the pink and black hair make your drink.

High seats by the door

Spotted Cat

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Old Point Bar

4.4(93 reviews)

2.7 mi•Algiers Point

A great atmosphere to catch up with friends. They had a good selection of on tap beer. A lot of…read morehistory in this place.

The Old Point Bar is the epitome of an old school dive bar…read more There are daily drink specials, pot luck food during Saints games, and live music in the evenings. Our bartender was beyond friendly and provided guidance regarding their specials. Our pours were heavy and priced very reasonably. We got a kick out of the old school urinal trough filled with ice cubes in the men's room. This a great last stop before you walk back to the ferry.

Pool table and dart board

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The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret

4.4(186 reviews)

3.1 mi•Marigny

Amazing show and even better memories! Would recommend for a girls trip…read more The food was also tasty!

I've been to some of the best burlesque and drag shows in the country. I've seen gravity defying,…read moresultry, sophisticated shows in New York. While this is not that . . . it's perfect for New Orleans and the south and has it's own flavor. I loved the show here! Madame Kennedy was the perfect emcee (and also put on a wicked black light bubble show). Some acts were sexy and seductive. Some acts were acrobatic and martial arts based, as Madame Kennedy said, "I'm sure someone is missing their anime character somewhere." There were hula hoops, feathers, and grinders! One act was a woman who put a grinder against a metal plate on her belt and sparks flew everywhere! I also saw my first (as far as I can remember) burlesque by a transgender man. It was so much fun! We did the reserved tickets, so we got a table right up front. There isn't a bad seat in the house, but I really prefer being in the center of the action. Doors open at 6:30 for a 7 PM show, but ours was running late (we didn't mind). They have a basic bar with decent prices. They also do dance classes, varying show themes, comedy routines, and more. So you'll always be able to see something different.

3.8 mi•Central Business District

Bayou Blues Burlesque

The theater space before the 1/28 show

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Smokeshow

Mahogany Jazz Hall

4.6(277 reviews)

We were looking for a place to grab a cocktail before out dinner reservation elsewhere and we…read morestopped in here. Getting here right after they opened for the evening, before the live jazz started, we were able to chat with the staff (which we love to do) and they were very engaging and chatty. I also noticed they do a proper absinth service here and they offered one of the largest Absinth menus I've ever seen, so I had to try something interesting and different and went with the Texas made Opal Absinthe. Before selecting it, I asked the young lady who was handling the bar and she gave me her description, which I have to say was spot-on to what I ended up drinking. Another drink we got was great as well, and made with fresh juices. The vibe and venue is great here... I love jazz and I would love to return sometime to listen to the live jazz while enjoying their amazing adult beverages!

Heard this is the best jazz bar in town, so we decided to enjoy our first drink here in town…read more I got both the Absinthe red and green, which is very strong and unique flavor that I never had before. Both bands performed that night were talented, lightened our first night in town.

4.5 mi•Lower Garden District

Local band

Mahogany Hall Swingers featuring Roderick Paulin

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Framed artwork in ladies bathroom

The Saint

3.8(122 reviews)

Would have loved to go to this place bc I've heard good things but the door guy is an absolute jerk…read moreso I left. He checked my ID in front of the solid closed door then handed it back and let me sit outside while I waited for permission to walk in. After several minutes I asked "are yall at capacity or is there a cover? Can I go in now? " his response was " I didn't say you couldn't go in , did I?" Asshole. I sat outside for no reason, trying to be courteous to this man and he just let me sit there. ...I wont be back.

Definitely a unique experience. Always something different to see every time you visit. Friendly…read morestaff.

Outside

Shitty bouncers

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Ins

Preservation Hall

4.4(949 reviews)

3.6 mi•French Quarter

This is a historic spot. It's small inside- not fancy- it's real. No big lights, no big speakers,…read moreno mixers or autotune. Think- sitting in the living room. Old church style benches. Get your tickets early. The musicians were great- music was great. I loved it.

I was lucky enough to have visited Preservation Hall twenty eight years ago so I knew I had to come…read moreback since we'd be on vacation in New Orleans the first week of May. We made our reservations two weeks prior to our visit, since I believe that's the earliest you are able to. We were in line not long before they opened the doors. We had purchased front row seats and that was a wonderful treat! Being in that intimate setting to see and hear the incredible music performed is such a magical experience. I am thrilled I was able to share it with my fiancé who loved every minute of it!