New Orleans Nightlife

All you have to do is stroll along this strip and use your ears: jazz and blues music seeps through the cracks and windows of its street side clubs, allowing passersby to follow the groovy tune to the corresponding venue. Snug Harbor is a favorite for live music, with classic jazz by internationally renowned artists.

Before it became a performance venue, Preservation Hall did time as a tavern, an inn, a photo studio, and an art gallery. With the introduction of modern jazz and rock and roll, the establishment quickly became a sanctuary for traditional New Orleans jazz. Now the organization is famous worldwide thanks to the seven-member Preservation Hall Jazz Band and its eponymous record label.

This R&B mecca is dedicated to legendary musician Henry Roeland Byrd, also known as Professor Longhair. In 1977, Tipitina’s, named after one of Longhair’s songs, began in a defunct juice bar in the Uptown neighborhood. To this day, the club still hops with music workshops, storytelling nights, and performances (a French Quarter location keeps the vibe alive at 233 N. Peters St.).

Though the exterior might appear derelict, candlelight, wooden benches, and a rustic ambiance make this quiet and historical tavern perfect for a conversational break from the revelry.

Get away from the nighttime hustle of The French Quarter and Frenchmen Street by escaping to the Warehouse district to see premier jazz and blues acts in a venue boasting a bar relocated from Al Capone’s Chicago hotel.

Popular with locals and college students, this watering hole features big-name blues and funk bands (impromptu jam sessions are common) in a long, narrow “shotgun” corridor separate from the bar. For a fresh air break, step out back to the back patio. One of the great things about this place is that it’s not in the French Quarter, lending it a bit more authenticity.

This Bourbon Street mainstay has an illustrious history dating back to 1807. Originally an importing firm and corner grocer, the Old Absinthe House now throws open its big green doors to cocktail-seeking business types and sports fans. Past patrons include Mark Twain, P.T. Barnum, General Robert E. Lee, and Franklin Roosevelt. Sip an Absinthe House Frappe made from flavorful Anisette liquor.