Nightlife · New Orleans · United States
New Orleans nightlife
Where the evenings happen in New Orleans, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Music drives New Orleans nightlife: jazz, brass bands, funk, blues and bounce play every night of the week. There is no legal closing time, so some bars stay open around the clock, and drinks can be carried in plastic go-cups. The main areas are Frenchmen Street, Bourbon Street, Uptown, Bywater and St. Claude Avenue and Warehouse District and CBD.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 5
- Stay near the action
- French Quarter
- Local drink
- Sazerac
Where to go out
Frenchmen Street
The best concentration of live-music clubs, with jazz, brass and funk from late afternoon into the small hours.
Bourbon Street
Neon, cover bands, daiquiris and balcony parties, busiest at weekends and during festivals.
Uptown
Tipitina's, a legendary music club, and the Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Street host local funk and brass bands.
Bywater and St. Claude Avenue
Backyard wine bars, dive bars and small venues with a creative local crowd.
Warehouse District and CBD
Hotel cocktail bars and rooftop terraces, including the Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt.
Nightlife tips
- Check WWOZ radio's online live-music calendar to see who is playing where each night.
- Carry cash for tip buckets and one-drink minimums in music clubs.
- Take a taxi or ride-hailing between neighbourhoods late at night rather than walking through quiet blocks.
Evening sights
Religious site · French Quarter
St. Louis Cathedral
Walk round to St. Anthony's Garden behind the cathedral on Royal Street after dark, when the floodlit statue of Christ casts a giant shadow on the back wall.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Iconic
- After dark
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Street · French Quarter
Bourbon Street
See it once early in the evening, then head to Frenchmen Street for better live music.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Free
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Street · Faubourg Marigny
Frenchmen Street
Carry small bills for the band's tip bucket and a one-drink minimum, wander between clubs and stay where the music grabs you.
- Time needed
- An evening
- Cost
- Free
- After dark
- Free
- Iconic
Experience · French Quarter
Preservation Hall
Stand near the front for the closest view of the band; sets are about 45 minutes, so it fits before a late dinner.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- After dark
- Iconic
- History
- Couples
What to drink
- Sazerac — Rye whiskey, sugar and Peychaud's bitters stirred in a glass rinsed with absinthe or Herbsaint and finished with a lemon twist; designated the official cocktail of New Orleans.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 24°C (75°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:22 | 7°C (45°F) | 9 |
| April | About 19:27 | 15°C (59°F) | 7 |
| July | About 20:03 | 24°C (75°F) | 15 |
| October | About 18:30 | 17°C (63°F) | 7 |
Getting home late
- Tram — Buy fares and passes in the Le Pass app; cash fares need exact change.
- Walking — The French Quarter, Marigny, Tremé and Warehouse District are all walkable, and a riverside path runs from the Quarter towards Crescent Park.
- Bus — RTA buses run along Magazine Street and to neighbourhoods the streetcars don't reach, using the same passes.
- Ferry — The Canal Street ferry crosses the Mississippi to Algiers Point, a quiet historic neighbourhood with views back to the skyline.
- Taxi — Taxis from the airport charge a set fare to the central business district and French Quarter.
Late-night bites
- Beignets — Café du Monde at the French Market, serving them since 1862, and Café Beignet on Royal and Bourbon streets.
- Po'boy — Parkway Bakery & Tavern in Mid-City, Domilise's Uptown and Johnny's Po-Boys in the French Quarter.
Staying safe at night
Stick to busy, well-lit streets at night and use a taxi or ride-hailing between neighbourhoods after dark rather than walking through quiet blocks. Pickpocketing and street hustles happen in crowded parts of the French Quarter. Summer heat and humidity are serious, and hurricane season runs from June to November, so watch forecasts and follow local advice.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, couples and culture
French Quarter
The original city, laid out by the French in 1718, is a grid of about 80 blocks along the Mississippi. Most of its buildings date from the Spanish period after the fires of 1788 and 1794, hence the courtyards and cast-iron galleries. Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral sit at its centre, Royal Street holds antique shops and galleries, and Bourbon Street's bars run all night. Frenchmen Street and the Warehouse District are both a short walk away.
- Good
- Walk to most sights and music venues; Historic hotels with courtyards; Lively at any hour
- Watch out
- Noisy near Bourbon Street; Rates soar during Mardi Gras and festivals; Parking is scarce and expensive
- Nearby
- Jackson Square, Bourbon Street, Royal Street, French Market
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in New Orleans?
Frenchmen Street, Bourbon Street and Uptown. The best concentration of live-music clubs, with jazz, brass and funk from late afternoon into the small hours.
+Which area of New Orleans is best for nightlife?
French Quarter: Cast-iron balconies, Jackson Square, Royal Street galleries and Bourbon Street's bars.