A trip to New Orleans isn't complete without a visit to world-famous Bourbon Street. The heart of the French Quarter, Bourbon Street is only seven blocks long, but a party that never ends. Rue Bourbon is host to a large collection of bars, restaurants, music venues, hotels and souvenir shops. It's also the place to be for New Years and Mardi Gras.
Bourbon Street is the place to go for New Year's Eve, JazzFest, Blues Fest, St. Patrick's Day and Mardi Gras. During these prime tourism peaks, the action on Bourbon Street never stops. Many of the parades and Mardi Gras krewes travel the same route through the Quarter focusing on making their way down Bourbon Street. Finding a balcony to view the festivities can be difficult, but this is the best place to go to catch beads and take part in the celebration.
There are plenty of options in bars, dives and clubs along Bourbon Street. Three notable places to spend a lengthy amount of time indulging in drinks and fun are the Cats Meow, Pat O'Brien's and Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop. The Cat's Meow was dubbed by Pioneer the world's best karaoke bar and attracts singing enthusiasts from all over the country. Pat O'Brien's is the home of the Hurricane, New Orleans' signature drink. The bar is actually three bars in one where visitors can relax with drinks in the garden, dance and sing or watch dueling pianos. There's also Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop which is the oldest bar in the city built around 1772. Lafitte's is a darker bar toward the end of Bourbon Street for those looking for a quieter experience.
Cat's Meow
701 Bourbon St.
New Orleans, LA 70116
504-523-3492
catskaraoke.com
Pat O'Brien's
718 St. Peter
New Orleans, LA 70116
504-525-4823
patobriens.com
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar
941 Bourbon St.
New Orleans, LA 70116
504-593-9761
lafittesblacksmithshop.com
Besides finding a stool in a piano bar, music lovers have plenty of opportunities to tune in to live, authentic jazz on Bourbon. Fritzel's is one of the oldest operated traditional jazz clubs in the city. Performances by locals and international musicians take place every Friday through Sunday with no cover charges. Preservation Hall has held performances by several jazz greats including Fats Domino and Harry Connick Jr. The all-ages venue offers live nightly jazz.
Fritzel's European Jazz Pub
733 Bourbon St.
New Orleans, LA 70116
504-586-4800
fritzelsjazz.net
Preservation Hall
726 St. Peter
New Orleans, LA 70116
504-522-2841
preservationhall.com
Serving authentic French Creole cuisine, Galatoire's is a fine dining establishment requiring jackets and upscale dress. Galatoire's has received several awards such as Gambit Weekly's Best French Quarter Restaurant and Zagat Survey's Most Popular Restaurant in New Orleans. Begue's at the Royal Sonesta Hotel is known for its rich, contemporary French Creole fare also and is an eight-time recipient of the AAA Four-Diamond Award.
Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St.
New Orleans, LA 70112
504-525-2021
galatoires.com
Begue's Restaurant at the Royal Sonesta New Orleans
300 Bourbon St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
504-553-2278
beguesneworleans.com
