Nightlife in New Orleans, Louisiana

If you think New Orleans is exciting during the day, what until the city comes alive after dark! The Crescent City is certainly one of the liveliest nightlife spots on earth, filled with bars, dance clubs, jazz clubs, burlesque theaters, and so much more. Truly, there’s a little something for everybody, whether you’re seeking a calm atmosphere with mellow live music or a raucous party that doesn’t end until the wee hours of the morning.

Jazz Clubs

This is quintessential New Orleans at its finest. Jazz is the heartbeat of this city and hearing it played here is like hearing it nowhere else. This is what live music is all about. There are dozens of jazz clubs in the city. You’ll find most of them in the French Quarter – mostly on Bourbon Street – but there are plenty in the Downtown Central Business District and the Garden District as well. Some are restaurants; others are just bars. Many are just a hole-in-the-wall with room for just a handful of guests. Some of the those are the best.

Notable jazz clubs include the House of Blues, which lists an impressive collection of artists who have played there; and – of course – the venerable Preservation Hall, the spot that supposedly has kept traditional New Orleans jazz alive. You can also hop aboard the Steamboat Natchez for some real jazz and a trip down the Mississippi.

Dance Clubs

There are a few dozen of these in the city as well, some pretty gritty, others a little more calm and sophisticated. Again, you’ll find them all over town but most are in the French Quarter or Garden District.

Which nightclub/dance club you choose will depend largely on your age and your taste in music. You’ll find all sorts of live music in these clubs, from classic New Orleans funk and Zydeco to blues, techno, reggae, and salsa.

The Chris Owens Club in the French Quarter, for example, presents a very proper show featuring Latin music. It’s a classic floor show that takes place every night at 10 pm. On the other hand, the Maple Leaf Bar (Garden District) keeps their funk and blues going until sunrise and the Dungeon Club (French Quarter) is still serving three-for-one drinks at 4 am. 

A good way to determine where you want to spend the night is to scope out the possibilities during the day or check with your hotel desk staff as to what’s available.

Burlesque

Burlesque is not dead in New Orleans! Once the center for this kind of entertainment, you can still find some sexy dance shows in the French Quarter. They’re reminiscent of days-gone-by and many visitors find them very entertaining.

Burlesque/Cabaret Clubs in the city include the sophisticated Le Chat Noir on St. Charles Street, the hip One Eyed Jacks on Toulouse, and the not-so-sophisticated Tarantula Arms on rowdy Bourbon Street.

Other Options

There are a variety of other nightlife spots to visit within the city. You’ll find bars and clubs that offer dueling pianos, comedians, darts and pool, karaoke, and much more. There are wine bars, sports bars, and even an oxygen bar! The possibilities are endless and you’re sure to find a nightlife spot to fit your personality.

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