The “Big Easy” is home to one of the most legendary nightlife scenes in the United States. Whether you are walking Bourbon Street or looking for a neighbourhood watering hole, there are tons of options. These best dive bars in New Orleans, however, are where to go.
Dive bars were once considered the haunting ground of old barflies, swaying on the sticky floors, but people have rediscovered the charm of a great dive bar again
This might be the city’s most beloved dive bar around. There’s retro Christmas decorations year-round inside the beer shack, and a great jukebox. They’re open late every night of the week at 7pm and stay open even later–especially on Christmas.
This old school dive is cash-only. They’re open late in the French Quarter and have a jukebox loaded with favourites. The drinks are cold and the bar gets busy, so be patient and have cash on hand.
This toilet-themed dive named after an outhouse has everything bar-goers could want. There’s good bar food, cold beer and games like darts, pool and ping pong. Most importantly, their air conditioning runs strong when things heat up in the summer months.
This neighbourhood bar always has a game on and serves more than 20 draft beers. You’ll find pool and a friendly crowd here most nights of the week. Go for a cold nightcap and stay for the great bartenders.
Pal’s is a little more polished than your average dive, but it still has the grit we all love. They make killer specialty cocktails and have a good selection of beer. There are also weekly pop-ups serving excellent bar bites. Go on Mondays for handmade, fresh pasta.
This low-key, no-frills divey joint is a long-standing favourite. Doubling as a sports bar and St. Patrick’s Day go-to, this bar really is a base for the community. The bar food is excellent and is mostly Cajun seafood options. Keep an eye out for events here like building holiday gingerbread houses over a drink.
This French Quarter hang is always bustling. There’s a steady regular crowd, and the bar is a friendly atmosphere for an afternoon drink. They pour good drinks at good prices, so you really can’t go wrong.
