Bourbon Street Bucket List
Bourbon Street tile by Cheryl Gerber
The 13-block of Bourbon Street stretches from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue and is packed with bars, clubs and restaurants. There’s more to the most visited street in the French Quarter than neon signs and brightly colored drinks in gigantic souvenir cups.
Bourbon Street is home to some of the oldest bars and best restaurants in New Orleans. And after the 2019 renovation of the eight blocks of the Upper Bourbon (from Canal St. to Dumaine St.), it is shinier and more walkable than ever. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, here are some suggestions for your bucket list.
Photo courtesy of Bourbon House on Facebook
EATING
Oysters and Other Gulf Seafood
Bourbon Street’s culinary offerings are a mix of high and low, with some local flair thrown in. The two seafood restaurants run by the Brennan family that are located on Bourbon Street would be solid choices for all things Gulf seafood and oysters in particular.
Red Fish Grill on the first block off Canal Street offers good happy hour deals and is child-friendly. Signature dishes include BBQ oysters, alligator sausage and seafood gumbo; and double chocolate bread pudding. Bourbon House (on the same block) has an oyster bar and a large selection of small-batch and single-barrel bourbons.
Want more oysters? The stylish Desire Oyster Bar inside The Royal Sonesta (300 Bourbon Street) has an oyster bar and the classic New Orleans menu of po-boys, gumbo, and fresh seafood from the Gulf.
24/7 Breakfast
For the pub grub and fast food, anything on the breakfast menu plus those famous little square burgers on steamed buns at the fast-food chain Krystal (116 Bourbon Street) would serve you well. The retro diner Clover Grill (900 Bourbon Street) has a huge breakfast menu and only-in-the-Quarter ambiance. Both are open 24/7.
French Quarter Balcony Dining
For balcony dining with a view of the French Quarter, head to Cornet (700 Bourbon Street) or Pier 424 Seafood Market Restaurant (424 Bourbon Street). Both restaurants serve traditional Cajun and Creole fare and have samplers that include gumbo, crawfish etouffee, and other local favorites.
Galatoire’s: Old-World Upscale Creole
If you’re going to try just one restaurant on Bourbon Street, make it Galatoire’s (209 Bourbon Street). This fine-dining institution should be on everyone’s New Orleans bucket list. Since its opening in 1905 generations of New Orleanians have been lining up for the Creole classics like crab Maison, duck crepes, foie gras, and turtle soup. Galatoire’s old-world, decadent ambiance is something to experience.
Tropical Isle by Cheryl Gerber
DRINKING
Absinthe
The Old Absinthe House (240 Bourbon Street) dates to 1807 and has hosted its share of famous patrons, including Oscar Wilde and Franklin Roosevelt. Sidle up to the classic copper bar and have one of the potent signature absinthe cocktails. Enjoy the old-fashioned yet quirky saloon ambiance.
Hurricane and Hand Grenade
Having one of those is pretty much a must if you’re hanging out on Bourbon Street, so do it right by going to the source. Sip your Hurricane in Pat O’Brien’s courtyard (624 Bourbon Street), and make sure your Hand Grenade comes from one of the Tropical Isle locations on Bourbon Street (435, 600, 610, 721, 727 Bourbon Street). The Bourbon & Orleans location has one of the largest balconies with a view of St. Louis Cathedral (you may have seen it on TV because it’s often used for live broadcasts).
One of the Oldest Bars in America
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop (941 Bourbon Street) is a must-stop, period. Housed in a Creole cottage on the corner of Bourbon and St. Philip streets, it was built between 1722 and 1732, making it one of the oldest structures used as a bar in the U.S. Legends swirled for centuries that this location was used by the infamous Lafitte Brothers, Jean and Pierre, as a base for their privateer operation in Barataria. The bar has a unique ambiance and is popular with locals and visitors alike. If you’re feeling brave, try the signature drink called Purple Drank, a frozen daiquiri concoction.
The Jazz Playhouse by Cheryl Gerber
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
Jazz
If you want straight-up jazz, The Jazz Playhouse at 300 Bourbon Street (inside The Royal Sonesta) is a reliable choice. Musical Legends Park (311 Bourbon Street) also hosts live music shows among its life-size bronze statues of local musical legends like Louis Prima, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Fats Domino, and others. While you’re at it, have some beignets and cafe au lait at the outside seating at Cafe Beignet inside the park.
Maison Bourbon (641 Bourbon Street) is an old-school jazz club “dedicated to the preservation of jazz” (the outdoor sign says). Take in the gleaming bar, the brick walls and beamed ceilings. It also has a courtyard and a big balcony.
Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub (733 Bourbon Street) is another great spot for live jazz and Dixieland. It’s been around since 1969, as reflected in the memorabilia and the black-and-white photos lining the walls. Seating is limited because the space is intimate, but there’s more seating outside in the back where you won’t be able to see the action but still hear it pretty well. Fritzel’s has both day and night shows. Day shows seem to be less packed.
The Bourbon Pub & Parade Disco by Cheryl Gerber
LGBTQIA+
Once you walk past St. Ann Street you’ll start seeing the rainbow flags. The LGBTQIA+ section of Bourbon Street has two popular dance clubs across from one another, Oz (800 Bourbon Street) and Bourbon Pub Parade (801 Bourbon Street). Both are open late, with several dance floors, drag shows, DJs, and wraparound balconies for people-watching. The Pub serves as the annual headquarters of Southern Decadence.
Just down the block, Lafitte’s (901 Bourbon Street) is open 24/7 and hosts disco parties and karaoke nights. It’s been around since the 50s, which makes it one of the oldest continuously operating gay bars in the country.
Cat’s Meow by Cheryl Gerber
Karaoke and Riding the Bull
Speaking of karaoke, The World Famous Cat’s Meow (701 Bourbon Street) is the karaoke spot to be if you must indulge and don’t mind the rowdy crowd. The party atmosphere is helped by drink specials. Riding the mechanical bull is another one of the favorite pastimes on Bourbon Street, and you can try your luck at Boot Scootin Rodeo (522 Bourbon Street). Need liquid courage? The signature drink, called Boot, is full of spiked sweet tea.
Psychic Readings
See what the stars have in store for you at Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo (628 Bourbon Street). Psychic and spiritual readings are available daily starting at noon.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Things to Do in New Orleans This February
Photo by David Fary
Mardi Gras comes on March 4, 2025, and there is a steady stream of events and entertainment leading up to it. February is not only packed with Carnival-related festivities though — let’s not forget the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day — plus there are a few low-key local annual events you might enjoy. Here are some upcoming highlights to make the most of this short but event-packed month.
Attend the Super Bowl
New Orleans is proud to host the 2025 Super Bowl, which will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Caesars Superdome, home of the Saints. The NFL, Roc Nation and Apple Music announced that 17-time Grammy award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar will be this year’s halftime performer (maybe with special guests?). Even if you don’t attend the game itself, expect to find yourself part of one huge, citywide party.
Go See the Mardi Gras Parades
One of the best parties in the world is here! The Carnival season kicked off on January 6, known as Twelfth Night, or the Epiphany, with three parades, and will culminate as usual on Mardi Gras Day. A ton of parades will roll in February in the French Quarter, Marigny, Bywater, and Uptown. Do consider venturing outside the city too, if you can, as parts of the metro New Orleans, like Metairie, Covington, Slidell, and the West Bank have some of the most fascinating, fun parades of the Carnival season. You can’t catch them all, but you can try! See the full parade schedule here and read our Mardi Gras weekend guide to get the rundown of the Carnival festivities.
Eat King Cake
For those who aren’t aware, King Cake is a traditional cake typically served during Mardi Gras festivities. It’s socially acceptable to stuff your face with it anytime between January 6, when the Carnival season starts, and until Ash Wednesday. Also, per tradition, whoever finds a plastic baby in their slice has to throw the next party, or at least buy the next King Cake.
King Cake comes with many fillings although the traditionalists insist on the old-school rendition without any. It also comes in the Carnival colors of purple, gold and green, but then again you might see the “Who Dat?” versions in black and gold during the football season, honoring the Saints.
King Cake is a beloved Mardi Gras staple, and New Orleanians tend to have strong opinions about who makes the best King Cake in the city. One thing is for sure: Everywhere you go during Mardi Gras, from a grocery store to a parade party to a dive bar, King Cake will be there for the eating.
Take in the Art at First Saturdays
Head downtown to the Arts District to discover some of the city’s best galleries during this free event. First Saturday Gallery Openings are held every first Saturday of the month, down and around Julia Street, 6 to 9 p.m.
Celebrate Vietnamese New Year at Tet Fest
Tet Fest is held over the weekend at the Mary Queen of Vietnam Church at 14011 Dwyer Blvd. in New Orleans East. It’s a free celebration of Vietnamese New Year with live music, traditional dance performances, fireworks, kid-friendly activities, and an amazing variety of authentic Vietnamese food. The date changes annually, falling anywhere between mid-January and late February.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day in One of the Most Romantic Cities
To be fair, this is a worldwide holiday. But Valentine’s Day (Friday, February 14, 2025) in New Orleans — with her wrought-iron balconies, historical buildings, and the possibility of music on every corner — is a special kind of unique. Check out our guide to “How to Spend Valentine’s Day in the French Quarter” for some ideas.
Celebrate Black History Month
Every year, citywide events of all kinds, including performances, are happening during February in celebration of Black History Month. Check the local listing as February approaches.
Explore the French Quarter
Whether you’re here with your sweetheart to celebrate Valentine’s Day or visiting with family or friends (or alone) for any other reason, Carnival season is one of the best times to explore the French Quarter. The spirit of revelry permeates the streets, and there are parades and block parties to stumble upon. Not to mention that many of the French Quarter’s facades, porches and balconies are decked in dazzling decorations, sporting purple, green and gold.
Plus, the winter temps are usually mild here, and pleasant enough to stroll down Royal Street to visit the galleries and the antique shops, for example. You can also take in a brass band performance at Jackson Square; visit the French Market to get a po-boy and some oysters; or scarf down some beignets at Cafe Du Monde. Take a tour, or just walk around and stare.
Are you planning to visit New Orleans this winter? We’ve got a fabulous lineup of events that celebrate the Crescent City’s unique culture. Visit FrenchQuarter.com/hotels to find your perfect historic French Quarter hotel that will put you right in the center of all of the action and within walking distance of many of New Orleans’ bars, restaurants and entertainment spots.
Happy February! Happy Mardi Gras!
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Where to Get the Best Gumbo in the French Quarter
Photo courtesy of Antoine’s Restaurant on Facebook
When it comes to gumbo, surely you’ve heard, “First, you make a roux” as a conversation starter. Roux is a traditional base for gumbo — flour and fat, browned together with seasonings. Just like gumbo is a blend of cultures and influences, including French, African, Caribbean, and Native American, the word “gumbo” comes from the Choctaw Indian “kombo” — filé, or powdered sassafras — and the African word “kingumbo,” which means okra. Both filé and okra are used as thickeners in gumbo.
From roux, dozens of variations of gumbo could spring: with smoked meats like duck, rabbit, and Andouille sausage in a darker roux; with tomato or no tomato; with okra or without; with lighter roux; and with seafood like shrimp and crabmeat. Often the “holy trinity” of local cooking is used too: bell pepper, celery and onion. Gumbo z’herbes (“green gumbo”) may or may not come with meat, but its vegetarian version, though not found often in New Orleans restaurants, holds its own with various greens like collards, mustard or turnip greens, spinach, chard, and kale.
A bowl of steaming gumbo served over rice is perfection anytime, but the fall, in particular, belongs to gumbo, when okra is in season and the heat lets up. In New Orleans, excellent gumbo is easy to find. The chefs tend not to deviate too much from the classic Cajun and Creole recipes. The difference is whether you like your gumbo laden with meat or seafood; with dark roux or a lighter roux; with an Abita draft or a crafted cocktail; and among chandeliers and gilded mirrors or in a dive bar.
Most restaurants include at least two versions on the menu, the meat and the seafood. You can get a cup alone, or a cup with half of a po-boy, if you don’t want to commit to a bowl. With our picks for the French Quarter you would want to, though. From fine dining to casual, these restaurants feature different kinds of gumbo, at different price points. Most have gumbo recipes on their websites, so you can try to recreate your own.
Acme Oyster House
724 Iberville St.
This popular chain often has a line out the door at its Iberville St. location, but that’s because Acme’s Creole/Cajun classic menu of oysters, po-boys and gumbo is that good. Try a cup of the seafood gumbo with shrimp and crab, or the chicken and Andouille version. Or get the New Orleans Medley, to sample gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and grilled smoked sausage all at once. Acme also serves up half of po-boy and a cup of gumbo combos. Chase yours with an oyster shooter of vodka or an oyster-topped Bloody Mary.
Antoine’s
713 St. Louis St.
You can’t go wrong with a classic Creole seafood gumbo served on the dinner and Sunday jazz brunch menus at this legendary restaurant. Try it with Oysters Rockefeller, Antoine’s signature dish created in 1889. Established in 1840, Antoine’s is the country’s oldest family-run restaurant, with 14 dining rooms, some of which bear names of Carnival krewes, and a who’s who roster of distinguished guests.
Arnaud’s
813 Bienville St.
Staying true to the classic Creole cuisine since its inception in 1918, Arnaud’s offers two gumbos (with chicken and Andouille sausage, or seafood) on both its dinner and jazz brunch menus. You can eat in one of the elegant dining rooms, or dine in the Jazz Bistro while you listen to live Dixieland jazz presented by The Gumbo Trio (Thursday through Saturday evenings and at the jazz brunch on Sunday).
Coop’s Place
1109 Decatur St.
If you want a quick, inexpensive meal with some local color thrown in, Coop’s Place is unbeatable. Located on the always-busy stretch of Decatur Street, Coop’s is a no-frills bar and restaurant with a surprisingly extensive menu. One of the standouts is the dark-roux seafood gumbo. It comes with Coop’s own dark roux, okra, filé powder, shrimp, oysters, and crab claws. (You can ask for extra seafood.) Follow the gumbo with Coop’s excellent rabbit and sausage jambalaya. Coop’s is popular with locals and tourists, so it can get busy and loud. Please also note that it’s 21 and older only, even the restaurant seating area, because of the video poker machines on the premises.
Galatoire’s
209 Bourbon St.
This beloved institution serves two classic Creole gumbos for under $15 per bowl. The seafood okra gumbo is packed with shrimp and oysters plus okra, made with shellfish stock and light roux. The shredded duck and Andouille sausage gumbo is made with a dark roux, duck stock, and the “trinity” — celery, bell pepper and onion.
Gumbo Shop
630 St. Peter St.
It wouldn’t be right not to include Gumbo Shop. After all, the name says it all. Gumbo Shop serves up two gumbos: seafood okra, and chicken and Andouille. Sadly, its gumbo z’herbes is no longer on the menu. Gumbo z’herbes isn’t a common sight on the New Orleans restaurant menus anyway. It’s made with green stock and is laden with various greens, such as mustard or collard, turnips, and spinach. Not to worry, Gumbo Shop offers lots of other Creole and Cajun staples and has a lovely courtyard.
Kingfish
337 Chartres St.
Kingfish pays tribute to the Huey P. Long era with a contemporary spin on the Southern classics and signature cocktails. The restaurant’s gumbo is made with duck and Andouille sausage and is served with steamed white rice. Pair it with a Sazerac or Pimm’s Cup during Governor Hours (happy hour).
Mr. B’s Bistro
201 Royal St.
The award-winning Mr. B’s Bistro is the city’s mainstay for high-end Creole dining, run by the Brennan family. There are two gumbos on Mr. B’s lunch, jazz brunch, and dinner menus. The seafood gumbo is a classic with shrimp, crabmeat and okra. Gumbo Ya-Ya, a house specialty, is a Cajun country-style gumbo made with dark roux, lots of Creole spices, chicken, and Andouille sausage.
Restaurant R’evolution
777 Bienville S.
R’evolution’s seafood gumbo, made with scallion rice, is a solid choice, but it’s “Death by Gumbo” you’ll want. And, at $22, it’s totally worth it. This dish is much talked about and documented on social media, and it keeps receiving accolades from national food and travel magazines and websites. Death by Gumbo is Cajun style, with a dark roux, presented with a whole semi-boneless quail set in the middle of the bowl, plus Andouille sausage, filé, rice, and poached oysters.
Vacherie
827 Toulouse St.
We recommend Vacherie’s chicken and Andouille gumbo, served with grilled French bread with an option to add boudin balls or potato salad. Vacherie Restaurant & Bar is located inside Hotel St. Marie and focuses on homestyle Cajun and regional fare using local ingredients.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Best Muffulettas in the French Quarter and Nearby
One of New Orleans’ most celebrated creations is a tall, bready Sicilian-Cajun invention that reflects the city’s diverse cultural and culinary heritage. The muffuletta goes back to the 19th century, when the French Quarter was sometimes referred to as “Little Palermo,” and its Sicilian working-class population consisted of laborers, dockworkers, fishermen, and farmers. A few of the immigrants opened grocery stores and bakeries and catered to the Sicilians who lived and worked in the Quarter and parts of Treme.
What’s in a muffuletta?
“Muffuletta” (pronounced “muffuLOTta” and sometimes also spelled as “muffaletta”) comes from the bread known in Sicily under that name. Traditionally, the sandwich is made with the sesame-crusted wheel of bread, Italian salami and ham, cheese (usually provolone and Swiss), and olive salad. The olive salad consists of finely chopped green and black olives, celery, cauliflower, carrots, sweet peppers, pepperoncini, onions, capers, vinegar, and garlic. Spices and herbs are also added (parsley, oregano, etc.).
Where does it come from?
The invention of this oversized sandwich is credited to Salvatore Lupo, the proprietor of Central Grocery & Deli on Decatur Street in the French Quarter. The “Home of the Original Muffuletta” opened in 1906 and has been selling the sandwich for over a century. Legend has it that the Italian farmers and laborers would buy what became the ingredients for the muffuletta for lunch from Lupo’s store (and other vendors in the French Quarter), and eat them separately. Lupo decided to assemble them into a sandwich, tweaked a few components — and muffuletta was born.
The variations outside tradition
Like with most signature New Orleans creations, opinions run strong when it comes to any deviation from the tradition. Some maintain that muffuletta is a cold-cut sandwich, period. Others had been serving it hot, like the James Beard Award-winning chef Donald Link, owner of Cochon Butcher. Yet others offer it hot and cold (Verti Marte).
Liuzza’s Restaurant & Bar in Mid-City also popularized the “Frenchuletta,” a muffuletta version served on French bread. PIZZA domenica, with three locations in New Orleans, used to offer muffuletta pizza with provolone, cured meats and olive salad (we hope it comes back).
There are seafood versions, like the one that was at some point offered at Parran’s Po-Boys & Restaurant, which has locations in Metairie and Kenner. Parran’s original seafood muffuletta comes with fried oysters, shrimp and catfish, dressed with housemade Cajun mayo. Then there was the muffuletta King Cake from Cartozzo’s Bakery in Kenner, with grated Romano cheese dyed in Mardi Gras colors and sprinkled on top of the savory King Cake ring.
Some call the non-traditional versions blasphemy; others say they’re not muffulettas but “something else.”
Who does it best?
Central Grocery
The original cold-cut version.
Central Grocery’s made-to-order muffulettas have the visitors and the locals lining up ever since Salvatore Lupo stuffed his first sandwich. Today’s muffuletta at Central Grocery keeps it traditional: Genoa salami, Holland ham, mortadella (bologna), the secret-recipe olive salad, and Swiss and provolone cheese — served on an 8-inch round bread.
The sprawling, old-fashioned grocery store is still run by the same Lupo family, selling imported Italian delicacies and the housemade olive salad by the jar. You can eat in at the counter, or take your muffuletta to go (the Woldenberg Park by the river is a great spot for a picnic). The visitors of the city have been known to pack their muffulettas for a flight or a drive home, but you don’t have to — Central Grocery ships nationwide.
Cochon Butcher
Melted cheese, meats are cured in-house.
Another New Orleans joint that serves its muffulettas hot (unless you request yours cold) is Cochon Butcher in the Warehouse District, chef Donald Link’s companion to Cochon. The much-praised Cochon muffuletta comes on a Sicilian roll, with housemade giardiniera. All the meats are cured in-house.
Frank’s Restaurant
Baked, with melted cheese and toasted bread.
“The home of the other muffuletta,” Frank’s has been around for over 50 years, serving a different kind of muffuletta to scores of its loyal fans just down the block from Central Grocery. The crucial difference is that Frank’s “World Famous Original Muffuletta” is baked and served with toasted bread and melted cheese. Frank’s is also known for its po-boys and classic Italian fare. The downstairs looks like a deli with a to-go counter, but the second-floor dining room is spacious and has balcony seating if you want to dine in with a view of the French Quarter.
Napoleon House
Big enough to share, house specialty.
Muffuletta is one of the specialties at Napoleon House, which is housed in a historic landmark on Chartres Street that dates back to the 1700s and has the unique ambiance of old-world New Orleans. The traditional muffuletta is served warm, and is big enough for two people (you can also get it in half and quarter sizes). Wash it down with the restaurant’s signature drink, the Pimm’s Cup.
Verti Marte
Overstuffed, generous on meat, served in the original and the spicier version.
The tiny, beloved Verti Marte on Royal Street is open 24/7 for takeout or delivery. Verti Marte gets a lot of love for its long breakfast menu and epic po-boys, but don’t discount its much-praised specialty muffuletta (offered as a half) and the spicy muffuletta, “The Bam-Bam (also sold in half). It’s the same as the original, but with added spices, and also served on Verti Marte’s specialty sesame seed bread.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Things to Do in New Orleans in January
When the rest of the country is settling in after ringing in the new year, New Orleans is just getting started. Twelfth Night (January 6 every year) kicks off the Carnival season with three parades, paving the way for a multitude of festivals and other events stretching well into the spring.
Also, January is one of the coolest months in New Orleans, with the temperatures pleasantly hovering around the low to mid-60s. All you need is a light jacket and your stamina.
Here are the highlights of what’s happening in New Orleans this January.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
When: Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Where: Caesars Superdome
What: The popular college football tradition has continued for over eight decades. The Fan Jam tailgate party is held at the Champions Square at the Superdome. The annual Sugar Bowl Parade rolls through the French Quarter the day before the game. (Unfortunately, the 2025 game is sold out, but you can still attend its satellite events, like the parade.)
Twelfth Night
When: January 6; times of parades vary
Where: French Quarter, Uptown
What: The first day of the carnival season, known as Twelfth Night, or the Epiphany, kicks off with three annual parades. Phunny Phorty Phellows rides the streetcar from Uptown to Canal Street and back starting at 7 p.m. The beloved walking Krewe of Joan of Arc parade rolls at 7 p.m. from JAX Brewery in the French Quarter, and the Société Des Champs Elysée parade takes place starting at 7:30 p.m. on N. Rampart Street and Esplanade, going to the CBD. Like in previous years, it follows the N. Rampart/St. Claude streetcar route.
Commemoration of the Battle of New Orleans
When: January 8 every year, time TBA
Where: The Monument at Chalmette Battlefield (8606 West St. Bernard Highway, Chalmette)
What: This annual wreath-laying ceremony honors the troops of the Battle of New Orleans, plus there are crafts and cooking demos. Park staff and volunteers are dressed in period clothing to represent American and British soldiers and civilians, and there are military drills and period weapons firing.
Pardi-Gras
When: Thursday, January 16 – Sunday, January 19, 2025
Where: French Quarter
What: Pardi-Gras kicked off in 1997 and has been attracting Jimmy Buffet fans, known as “Parrot Heads,” plus other revelers who love a good “trop-rock” party ever since. In its third decade, “The Ultimate French Quarter Party” packs a few happy hours, a pub crawl, and lots of live music performances at several venues on Bourbon Street.
There is a second line on Friday, starting on the corner of Bourbon and Orleans streets and preceded by the Bourbon Street pub crawl. There’s also a street party on the 700 block of Bourbon Street on Saturday. Pardi-Gras is open to anyone, as long as you don’t mind hanging with the Hawaiian shirt-wearing, Margarita-sipping crowd.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
When: Monday, January 20, 2025
Where: Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard and Al Davis Park
What: On this day, the city of New Orleans throws a block party and a parade at the historic Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, and hosts a celebration program at Al Davis Park.
If you’re planning to visit New Orleans in January, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels!
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French Quarter Tours du Jour
While the French Quarter is a fascinating place to simply sit and watch the world go by, it becomes ever more so when you learn a bit about its history, quirks, and secrets. Dozens of guided tours are available to address all manner of subjects specific to the French Quarter and a knowledgeable, enthusiastic tour guide can peel back the wrappings and allow you to see what’s really inside. French Quarter tours are quick crash courses that take the form of everything from polite, informative walking tours to pub crawls, paddlewheeler sojourns, horse-drawn carriage rides, and nocturnal romps in search of ghosts and vampires.
Some tour guides work independently and offer their services almost as a “friend in New Orleans” — for hire. Some of them are highly specialized and offer a microscopic look at one area of interest. Others touch on a little bit of everything, like City Sightseeing New Orleans — New Orleans’ Hop-On Hop-Off tour that traverses four distinct neighborhoods in classic red open-top double-decker buses.
At the other end of the spectrum is Gray Line Tours, a comprehensive one-stop shopping service on the tourism front with numerous tour options available. The company offers investigative tours of the French Quarter and Garden District as well as a sweeping look at the entire city. Specialty tours include cocktail tours, swamp and bayou tours, plantation tours, seasonal tours (Thanksgiving, Christmas), and ghosts and spirits tours.
Highlighted below are a few of the many tours available. Some are noted for their outstanding reputations, and others for the unique nature of their offerings.
Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
For French Quarter tours and beyond, a tour that offers a few days of sightseeing is a great option for exploring. City Sightseeing New Orleans is New Orleans’ most flexible tour, with options for one-day, two-day, and three-day unlimited Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing. Visitors can view New Orleans from a red, open-top double-decker bus while enjoying live narration from a guide. These tours also include walking tours throughout the city for those who want to Hop-Off and enjoy its many attractions.
Walking Tours
This is the very best way to familiarize yourself with the French Quarter. Get a comfortable pair of shoes, some sunscreen, and a hat for the walk.
Friends of the Cabildo French Quarter Walking Tours — Two hours long and led by highly trained volunteers with the Louisiana State Museum system who educate on architecture and historical facts. The tour visits the 1850 House Museum.
NOLA Tour Guy — Offers a free “pay what you feel” tour experience of the French Quarter, the cemeteries, and the Garden District. There are also voodoo and ghost tours available, plus cocktail and jazz tours. NOLA Tour Guy is well-known and respected by both locals and repeat visitors to the city and has been in operation since 2012.
City Sightseeing New Orleans — The company boasts several walking tours along its route. Learn about the French Quarter’s history and see some of its most popular attractions, then hop back on the tour bus to explore beyond the French Quarter!
Gray Line French Quarter Walking Tours — These tours include food and drinks tours and haunted city and cemetery tours. There are also specialty holiday tours like the Christmas Eve bonfire tour.
This is just the tip of the iceberg! For all walking tours New Orleans has to offer please check out this guide from the New Orleans Tourism Office.
Carriage Tours
Every day from about 8 a.m. to midnight, mule-drawn carriages line up on Decatur Street in front of Jackson Square. These tours are a staple in New Orleans tourism. Some carriages hold four people, others hold six. They roll through the French Quarter, rain or shine, pointing out all of the expected sites. For something more substantial than the standard nickel tour, carriage drivers can be engaged for private tours of the city.
Riverboat Tours
See the city from the body of water that made it all possible.
Steamboat Natchez Cruises — Riding the last steamboat on the Mississippi River recalls an era when steamboats were the main source of transportation, communication, and commerce. It cruises downriver to Chalmette (7.5 miles) and back twice daily, and once in the evening for a Dinner Jazz Cruise. During the day there is live jazz and optional food and beverage in addition to the historic and port narration. Special seasonal tours are also available, like Sailing With Santa and Christmas Eve cruise.
Creole Queen Cruises — This beautiful paddlewheeler straight out of Mark Twain’s era offers jazz dinner cruises, historical and weekend jazz brunch tours, plus a slew of specialty holiday tours: Thanksgiving cruise with a traditional feast, Cajun Holiday Tea With Papa Noel, Christmas and New Year’s Eve tours, and more.
Cemetery, Voodoo, Vampire, and Haunted Places Tours
These tours range from highly educational and informative, such as those offered by the reputable Save our Cemeteries, to absolutely ridiculous to the point of insult. Due to their popularity, there are so many vampire, voodoo and whatnot tours currently available that over-competitive guides have been known to engage in battle over customers in Jackson Square. Note that due to vandalism issues, only approved docents who are registered with the Archdiocese of New Orleans can lead tours into St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.
Gray Line Ghost & Spirits Walking Tour — This tour includes several ghost tour operators, which means no two tours are exactly alike. While the sites you visit will vary, expect to take in destinations including haunted hotels.
Voodoo/Treme/Storyville Walking Tour — The guides at the Historic New Orleans Walking Tours have a talent for sprinkling just enough intrigue and mystery over the facts to keep them compelling.
Save Our Cemeteries — This outstanding non-profit group works to preserve the city’s fragile, crumbling burial places. The tours are led by Save Our Cemeteries-trained volunteers who unveil the mysteries of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (temporarily closed for maintenance and repairs) in the Garden District as well as St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, which is adjacent to the French Quarter. The folks at Save Our Cemeteries are wise to the reality that these places are compelling enough without the mythical embellishments some others place on the Cities of the Dead.
Bike Tours
Flat, warm New Orleans is a perfect city for casual cycling.
Confederacy of Cruisers — The original godfathers of the local cycling tour scene, the folks at Confederacy Cruisers offer several wryly funny tours of the city’s iconic neighborhoods (including the Quarter). Some rides take in the city’s distinctive architecture, and some focus on Creole culture – any way you slice it, you’ll bike away happy.
FreeWheelin’ Bike Tours & Rentals — Established in 2010 and highly rated since, FreeWheelin’ Bike Tours & Rentals is a veteran- and family-owned company that specializes in guided and self-guided bike tours. It also does electric and pedal bike, and scooter rentals.
Music Tours
Learn serious facts about the history of jazz or bang your head at a nightclub. The offerings are diverse.
New Orleans Music Tour — Offered by NOLA Historic Tours, the New Orleans Music Tour is an all-ages daytime walking tour that will take you around the French Quarter and nearby and will cover many of the greatest musical and historical moments, from Storyville to the Old French Opera House, and much more.
New Orleans Music & Heritage Tour — Brought to you by Abel Tours and with Keith Abel as your tour guide (Abel has spent decades in the music business so you’ll be in very capable, knowledgeable hands), this walking tour begins at the Louisiana Music Factory on the cusp of the Marigny (421 Frenchmen Street) and proceeds to visit the boyhood home of Danny Barker, Preservation Jazz Hall, Bourbon Street to hear Pete Fountain, and J&M Studios. The tour also makes a stop at Armstrong Park’s legendary Congo Square, and touches upon over three centuries of music that helped share New Orleans.
Photo courtesy of Pearl River Swamp Tours on Facebook
Swamp Tours
Though there are days when the French Quarter may feel like a swamp, to really see one you have to leave the neighborhood. Several of the numerous swamp tour companies distinguish themselves for their quality while others merely ride along on bits of pseudo-Cajun folklore and pantomimed accents, which people seem to eat up.
The Louisiana bayous and swampland are stunning, majestic and mysterious. In summer, when the heat can be brutal, a morning tour is recommended. Insect repellent and sunscreen are a must. Reservations are required. These tours offer transport from many French Quarter hotels.
Pearl River Swamp Tours — While swamp tours may be numerous, this one, located 45-50 minutes from downtown New Orleans, distinguishes itself in a number of ways. The folkloric approach is avoided in favor of a learning adventure that is richly informative and exciting in its own right. The tour, which heads deep into the Honey Island Swamp, has become a favorite for its intelligent focus and quality experience. The company’s motto alone should persuade you to book a tour: “We work in the swamp, we live in the swamp, we play in the swamp… We are the swamp!
Gray Line Swamp & Bayou Tour — After a short motorcoach ride across the Mississippi River, take a fascinating boat trip into the Louisiana swamps and bayous. Experience the timeless beauty of South Louisiana in a custom-built, all-weather swamp boat. Local guides will reveal the mysteries of the swamps and bayous and the Cajun joie de vivre. Hear how the Cajuns turned soup into gumbo, the washboard into a musical instrument, and the swamps of Louisiana into a paradise. Alligators! Observe the nesting grounds of alligators, egrets, raccoons, nutria, and many species of snakes. Some wildlife are more numerous during the warmer months of the year. Also, you will be treated to a Bayou Nature Wildlife Show by a local naturalist. Snakes, alligator snapping turtles, raccoons, and nutria will be among the animal guests.
Whitney Plantation by Michael McCarthy
Plantation Tours
Gray Line’s Whitney Plantation Tour — Gray Line’s bus will provide round-trip transportation to the Whitney Plantation. The ticket price also includes an admission fee, but this is a self-guided tour. Besides being a fine example of Creole architecture, Whitney Plantation is one of the few plantation museums in the state that focuses on the history of slavery.
Laura Plantation Tour — This guided tour is unique in a way that it includes the tour of the slave cabins, and also because the plantation was owned by several generations of Creoles. The grounds have a beautiful garden, and the tour is informative and honest about presenting the stories of enslaved people in Creole Louisiana.
Are You Visiting New Orleans Soon?
We’d love for you to stay at one of our Valentino hotels! And if you do, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
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Reveillon Dinners: Awakening the Holiday Spirit One Feast at a Time
Every Reveillon dinner is a feast to reawaken the senses and celebrate the joys of the season
It’s hard to picture a city that takes culinary tradition more seriously than New Orleans, where old dining customs and iconic dishes contribute so much to the distinctive local cuisine. But even here traditions are open to change and evolve.
One delicious example is the Reveillon dinner, the reincarnation of an old New Orleans holiday custom updated for modern tastes and lifestyles. What began as a family tradition enjoyed at home is now an extravaganza of good food and festive spirits available for anyone to partake in at dozens of local restaurants.
The History of Reveillon Dinners
Derived from the French word for “awakening,” Reveillon originally was a meal served after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Early New Orleans was almost entirely Catholic, and virtually the entire community would participate in these ceremonies. Families would return from the late-night service famished and set upon a feast prepared in advance and laid out on the table or sideboard.
A typical early Reveillon menu looked very much like breakfast — with egg dishes, breads and puddings, but could also include turtle soup, oysters, and grillades of veal. Naturally, families accompanied these rich repasts with wines, cordials and other fortified drinks. The dinners could last for many hours, and by some accounts even until dawn.
Through the 19th century, American holiday conventions like Christmas trees, gifts for children and shopping frenzies began gradually to establish themselves in New Orleans. By the turn of the century, Reveillon dinners could be found only in very traditional homes, and by the 1940s the custom was all but extinct.
Reawakening the Reveillon
In the 1990s, however, the Reveillon tradition was “reawakened” and transformed. The organization French Quarter Festivals Inc., interested in attracting travelers to New Orleans during the perennial holiday season lull in convention bookings, approached local restaurants with an idea to offer and promote special holiday menus. Restaurants eagerly embraced the idea, and soon so did their local regulars and out-of-town visitors.
Modern Reveillon Dinners
The restaurants offering Reveillon menus every holiday season run the gamut from old-line Creole to the most contemporary and modern. For instance, Tujague’s Restaurant (429 Decatur St.), established in 1856, typically sets out a Reveillon of its traditional specialties like oysters and Gulf fish Almandine.
Other Reveillon menus are accentuated by dining rooms that seem to invoke holiday traditions at this time of year. The old-world ambiance of The Bombay Club (830 Conti St.), in the Prince Conti Hotel, with its dark wood wainscoting, walls lined with bookshelves, and thickly-padded furniture, fits perfectly with a Reveillon menu.
Some New Orleanians look upon Reveillon dinners as an opportunity to sample restaurants they may not often visit, while another appeal of these dinners is the remarkable bargain many of them offer. The menus are prix fixe and give diners three or more courses at some of the city’s finest restaurants for prices that would not be possible if ordering à la carte from their regular menus.
We highly recommend considering checking out Galatoire’s (209 Bourbon St.) and Muriel’s Jackson Square (801 Chartres St.), located next door to Place d’Armes Hotel. For a complete list of this year’s Reveillon dinners, including menus and dates on which the meals will be available, please visit HolidayNewOrleans.com.
While couples or travelers visiting New Orleans solo can have memorable Reveillon dinner experiences, the tradition is best enjoyed with a group of family or friends gathered around a large table or taking over one of those small private dining rooms found in many old French Quarter restaurants. The format of the Reveillon dinner may be different from the early days, but the resultant feelings of togetherness and holiday cheer is much the same.
Many of the restaurants that participate in these promos are located in the French Quarter or downtown, within walking distance from many historic hotels. So, book a hotel, make a reservation, and get out there and enjoy the culinary gems New Orleans has to offer!
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Things to Do in New Orleans This March
With March upon us, expect a good slate of early-spring activities in the Crescent City. Also, the weather is warmer — hopefully just pleasantly warmer — the kind of spring sunshine that equals t-shirts and jeans, if not shorts.
Mainly, we consider this time of year an awesome window when the Carnival wraps up (or, depending on the year, is over) and the festival season is yet to begin. This is that rare time when the city settles for a very slight breather between its biggest parties and still means there’s a ton of stuff to do. Here are the highlights.
Mardi Gras Weekend
Saturday-Tuesday, March 1-4, 2025
Mardi Gras Day falls on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, but a few days preceding the main event are also filled to the brim with parades and parties. Check out our guide to the Mardi Gras weekend parades and the activities on the big day itself. Also, check out our recommendations on How to Experience New Orleans Mardi Gras Like a Local, How to Dress for Mardi Gras, and Parade Rules and Tips.
Wednesday at the Square
Wednesdays, March 19 and 26, 2025
Unwind with a cold beverage on any given Wednesday at the Square, a free concert music series held in the spring in Lafayette Park (located one block off of Poydras Street, between St. Charles Avenue and Camp Street in the heart of the Central Business District) every Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. From March through May (March 19 – May 7, 2025) these outdoor concerts feature a variety of jazz, rock, swam pop, brass, Latin rhythms, and more.
Bring a chair or a blanket, or head to the front of the stage to partake in some dancing. You can bring your dog, and there are vendor booths surrounding the park where you can buy food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (no outside food or beverages, please).
Danny Barker Banjo & Guitar Festival
Wednesday-Sunday, March 19-23, 2025
The Danny Barker Banjo + Guitar Festival pays homage to New Orleanian musician, writer, instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, and lyricist Danny Barker. The five-day festival features a mixture of programming including live music performances, panel discussions and workshops, special events and outings, second lines, and more. It will be held at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
New Orleans Entrepreneur Week
Monday-Saturday, March 24-29, 2025
The New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) kicks off six days of speeches, speaker sessions and networking events on March 24, 2025. New this year, Loyola University’s College of Business will co-produce this annual event with The Idea Village. Idea Village’s annual IDEApitch competition, which showcases growth-stage companies competing for an investment prize, is also back this year. NOEW is now in its 14th year and has attracted 5,400 attendees in 2024. For this year’s keynote speakers and more info, check out the event’s website.
The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane
Thursday-Saturday, March 27-29, 2025
The New Orleans Book Festival features both fiction and non-fiction and readings, panel discussions, symposia, and keynote speeches. It also provides an opportunity for outlets, authors and readers to interact with each other. Saturday is Family Day, so bring your kids to the Tulane campus for some fun. Previous year’s notable authors and speakers on the impressive roster included Andy Borowitz, Richard Campanella, Maureen Dowd, and many more — so expect A-list greatness this year as well. The festival is free and open to the public.
St. Patrick’s Day
Monday, March 17, 2025
It often comes as a surprise to first-time visitors to New Orleans that this city has a deep Irish heritage, which traces back to its history as a Catholic port of call that was one of the main entry points for the USA. There’s an entire neighborhood in this town called the Irish Channel, plus a plethora of fantastic pubs that eschew cheesy emerald-green Irish stereotypes for rough-hewn hospitality (Finn McCool’s and Erin Rose come to mind, plus a selection of our favorite Irish pubs in the French Quarter).
As such, there are plenty of Irish in this town, and thus, the weekend closest to St. Patrick’s Day is an important one for the city of New Orleans. Numerous parades kick off, including the massive Irish Channel parade (on Saturday, March 15, 2025), where float riders pass cabbages to the screaming crowds.
The Downtown Irish Club Parade rolls on Sunday, March 16, 2025, from the Bywater to the French Quarter, making several pit stops on its way to Bourbon Street.
How much you enjoy all of the above is linked to your tolerance for public drinking and green beer. St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans is not quite as kid-friendly as the Carnival — you’ll still see families, but these parades are more aimed at adults.
Super Sunday
Sunday, March 16, 2025
The annual gathering of the Mardi Gras Indian tribes is perhaps the most open means of accessing this unique element of New Orleans backstreet culture. The tribes will be out in large numbers on Super Sunday, which usually falls on the third Sunday of March.
While the Mardi Gras Indians have their set routes and parade areas, no one event packs the tribes into one public space like Super Sunday. In this case, said public spaces are A.L. Davis Park, at the corner of Washington and LaSalle streets; and Bayou St. John in Mid-City, at the intersection of Orleans and Moss streets, on the bayou’s banks and the Orleans Street bridge. The Indian procession usually leaves the gathering spot around 1 p.m.
We can’t stress this enough: Be respectful if you go. Take pictures at a distance, and don’t get in the way of marching Indians or their friends, family and attached bands. Super Sunday has been overrun with spectators in the past years, so please do your part to enjoy this amazing cultural event responsibly.
Some background: The Mardi Gras Indians are the most vibrant, visible and conversely mysterious expressions of African-American New Orleans culture. To distill them into an extremely simplistic sentence: Mardi Gras Indians are African-American New Orleanians who dress up (or in local lingo, ”mask”) as stylized Native Americans.
They take to the streets in fantastic costumes made of beads, feathers, and sequins that cost thousands of dollars, weigh hundreds of pounds, and require hundreds of days of painstaking labor; no element of costume creation is automated.
On Mardi Gras Day, Super Sunday, St. Joseph’s Day, and a select few other special occasions, the “chiefs” and their tribes parade through the city, chanting, shouting and challenging each other to determine who is “the prettiest.”
There’s a ton more background on this fascinating subject at the Backstreet Cultural Museum in the historic Tremé neighborhood.
Tennessee Williams Literary Festival
Wednesday-Sunday, March 26-30, 2025
Writers have always been drawn to New Orleans. Few cities in America (or the world, really), can match this town for its atmosphere, sense of place, or penchant for fun and pathos (all good elements of a writing life).
The Tennessee Williams Literary Festival celebrates this city’s love affair with the written word, as well as writers’ love affair with New Orleans. Notable authors will be in attendance, hosting seminars, workshops, and lectures.
Plus, this being the Tennessee Williams Festival, there is, of course, a “Stella” shouting contest, which involves folks screaming out the iconic scene from A Streetcar Named Desire to appreciative crowds on Jackson Square. The program will also include a scholar conference, walking tours, masterclasses, theater, and more.
Note that on Friday-Sunday, March 28-30, 2025, the city will also host the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival, an alternative literary event that celebrates LGBTQ+ authors. The three-day festival will include panel discussions and a fair amount of networking opportunities between authors, editors, and publishers.
Congo Square Rhythms Festival
Saturday-Sunday, 2025 dates TBA
The musical heritage of New Orleans follows a line that can be traced all the way back to Africa, where the black diaspora begins. The music of that continent evolved here and in the Caribbean, influenced by Europe and indigenous music, into the forms and traditions that are the core of today’s New Orleans sound.
This vital legacy is celebrated in Armstrong Park, on the grounds of Congo Square, where local slaves were once permitted to practice the musical traditions of Africa and the Caribbean. Congo Square Rhythms Festival is a celebration of global and local music, and offers both amazing food and a fantastic lineup of music. The festival kickoff concert is held typically on Friday.
Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the festival features Mardi Gras Indians, African dance, brass bands, soul-funk, as well as indigenous music of Honduras, and highlife from West Africa. The large art market and a Soul Food Court complete the experience.
Don’t miss one of the fest’s highlights, the Mardi Gras Indian “battle” — when the tribes gather in the center of the square, plus the festival’s largest to date assemblage of New Orleans-based African dance troupes (they typically perform on Sunday).
Are you visiting New Orleans this spring?
We’d love for you to stay at one of our Valentino hotels! And if you do, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
Happy Spring!
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Holiday Cocktails in the French Quarter and Nearby
New Orleans is rife with culinary traditions — over 300 years’ worth of them. One of those wonderful traditions is Reveillon. For a few years now an increasing number of restaurants is participating in bringing special Reveillon menus to the table.
Alongside the turtle soups, the oysters, and the foie gras some of the best restaurants in the city are also happily serving festive cocktails. Each year local bartenders create both classic and original cocktails to celebrate the Reveillon with holiday-themed sippers. Some of those are offered as lagniappe on the Reveillon menus, others can be enjoyed as a standalone. The annual extravaganza is called Reveillon on the Rocks.
Here are the highlights of the most enticing concoctions for the holiday season in and around the French Quarter.
Holiday sippers for Reveillon
A handful of local restaurants that offer a multi-course, prix fixe Reveillon menu throw in a holiday-themed specialty cocktail as lagniappe. Those typically include holiday favorites like Poinsettia, a sparkling wine cranberry cocktail, or café brûlot, the always exciting crowd-pleaser.
Standalone standouts
These holiday cocktails aren’t part of the Reveillon menu and can all be enjoyed as a standalone treat. Stop by anytime at The Bombay Club for its classic and delicious brandy milk punch. Galatoire’s 33 Bar and Steak’s past years’ offering called Juniper Tree cannot get more refreshingly festive with gin, grenadine, orange bitters, and lime juice.
Another special, called Wreath of Holly, is a delicious concoction of brandy, milk punch and crème de menthe. To fight the chill, such as it is in New Orleans, the traditional aged Creole eggnog is just the thing.
Many of the restaurants and bars that participate in these promos are located in the French Quarter or downtown, within walking distance from many historic hotels. So, book a hotel, make a reservation, and get out there and enjoy the culinary gems New Orleans has to offer!
Happy holiday sipping!
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How to Spend St. Patrick’s Day in the Quarter
Photo courtesy of Erin Rose
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering New Orleans’ deep Irish heritage, that the weekend of St. Patrick’s Day (Monday, March 17, 2025) is one of the biggest parades and party times in the city (outside of the Carnival and Halloween). The city’s connection traces back to its history as a Catholic port of call that was one of the main entry points for the country. There’s an entire neighborhood called the Irish Channel, which, as the name implies, was originally settled largely by immigrants from Ireland in the early 19th century. To this day, many locals have roots on the Emerald Isle.
Thanks to this connection the weekend closest to St. Patrick’s Day is filled with parades, pub crawls, and block parties. While the biggest event, the Irish Channel Parade, plus the most massive block parties, are happening Uptown, there’s plenty to see, do, and drink in the French Quarter. There are some fantastic Irish pubs we recommend, many of which will be hosting their own St. Patrick’s Day parties, plus a parade that rolls through the Quarter.
Here’s how you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day — all without leaving the French Quarter.
The Parade
Downtown Irish Club Parade
Sunday, March 16, 2025, 7 p.m.
This parade rolls from the Bywater to the French Quarter, making several pit stops on its way to Bourbon Street. It begins on the corner of Burgundy and Piety streets in the Bywater, proceeds up Royal Street, across Esplanade Avenue to Decatur Street, and up Canal Street to Bourbon Street. The parade makes several stops at the various bars in the Marigny and the French Quarter on its way to Bourbon Street.
The Bars
These are all fair game during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, whether you want a relatively quiet stopover for some Guinness and a game of pool or an epic party with live music and an Irish buffet. Several of these bars serve as the stops for the parades, so we can assure you — they’ll be partying.
Erin Rose
811 Conti St.
Just a few doors away from Bourbon Street, Erin Rose is a low-key watering hole favored by the locals. On St. Patrick’s Day (or make that the weekend), you can head to Erin Rose in confidence — there’s going to be a party there. While you mingle, check the memorabilia galore and try the bar’s excellent frozen Irish coffee or a Bloody Mary (made with the house secret recipe). Of course, there’s Guinness on tap plus a selection of local brews. The bar is also home to the popular Killer Poboys (look for the takeout window in the back). Everything on the small but mighty menu is delicious.
Fahy’s Irish Pub
540 Burgundy St.
Fahy’s keeps it pretty traditional as far as Irish pubs go, with inexpensive drinks, a horseshoe-shaped bar, pool tables, darts, framed photos, and a laid-back ambiance. There are some Irish beers on tap, but you should try the bar’s specialty called Mind Eraser. It’s made with vodka and Kahlua, and it’s meant to be shared with friends by everyone sticking straws into the drink at the same time and racing to the bottom. For St. Patrick’s Day, Fahy’s has been known to put out an Irish buffet with traditional offerings like corned beef and cabbage.
Finnegan’s Easy
717 St. Peter St.
Another low-key Irish bar on the same block as the Boondock Saints, Finnegan’s Easy is long, narrow, and more crowded, but with ample capacity to handle it thanks to its spacious courtyard. You could tell it caters more to the visitors as it serves as a stop on some of the walking tours in the French Quarter. Finnegan’s features sports on TV and cheerfully serves Irish grub along with more American fare like wings. The drink menu also varies from the local beer on tap to Mai Tais and Hurricanes.
Kerry Irish Pub
331 Decatur St.
Kerry packs the house for St. Patrick’s every year with live bands performing back to back, with the doors opening as early as 8 a.m. in the years past. You may not find green beer at Kerry but you are guaranteed a proper pint of Guinness.
Molly’s Irish Pub
732 Toulouse St.
Not to be mistaken for Molly’s at the Market, this Molly’s is close to Bourbon Street geographically but might as well be miles away for its understated charm and low-key vibe. Housed in an old Creole cottage, Molly’s is all brick and dark wood. You won’t find an epic party there (although things will definitely liven up during the St. Patrick’s weekend), but if you want a bar with Guinness on tap, a pool table and a great jukebox, this local favorite is it.
Pat O’Brien’s
718 St. Peter St.
As you might have guessed from its name, this iconic French Quarter bar was founded by an Irishman. What’s more, the invention of one of New Orleans’ most famous cocktails, the Hurricane, is credited to him too. Every year on St. Patrick’s Day weekend the bar participates in the festivities with drink and food specials and live music. Also, check out the flaming fountain on the bar’s patio (it’s a water fountain with fire emerging from its center, as crazy as it sounds).
Ryan’s Irish Pub
241 Decatur St.
Just down the street from the Kerry and next to House of Blues, Ryan’s is another stop for the St. Patrick’s Day parades/pub crawls that go through the Quarter. Cozy booths, a beautiful antique bar, and plenty of local brews on tap draw a mix of local regulars and visitors.
The Boondock Saint
731 St. Peter St.
Tucked into a brick hideaway between Royal and Bourbon streets across from Preservation Hall, this intimate Irish pub was named after a movie that runs on the loop on the TV inside the bar (don’t worry, there’s a good jukebox too). The famously friendly bartenders serve Guinness and local beer on tap, as well as Irish car bombs. The prices are very, very good — so think of Boondock Saint as your perfect getaway from the 24/7 party happening just steps away on Bourbon Street.
Balcony Viewing Parties
For some traditional French Quarter-style partying, be on the lookout for balcony bashes at the bars located all up and down Bourbon Street. A balcony bash is pretty much that — you’ll pay a cover and be allowed to plant yourself on a wrought-iron balcony overlooking the street below. Since the parade that rolls in the French Quarter hits Bourbon Street, prepare for much (green) bead tossing and catching.
Are you visiting New Orleans this spring?
We’d love for you to stay at one of our Valentino hotels! And if you do, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
