My Top 5 New Orleans Go-To Bars

Even though New Orleans is a fabulous place to visit anytime; June, July, August, and September can be humid and hot. How hot? Frying eggs on the sidewalk kind of hot. You will want to stay hydrated so aside from walking around with a bottle of water, you may want to chill in some favorite watering holes with a local flavor where you can cool off while enjoying our magical city.


1. Igor’s Bar Gameroom and Laundromat

A streetcar ride down St. Charles Avenue through the Garden District is a must. If you get off of the streetcar at 2133 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans’ Lower Garden District, you will find yourself in front of one of the most unique bars you will ever stumble across. I mean where else can you do your laundry while you sip on a cold brew or a Bloody Mary?

Open 24/7, Igor’s serves a great burger any time of the day or night.  You can sit at one of their outdoor tables and relax while you take in the sights and sounds of the Avenue, or you can enjoy a game of pool or video poker to an eclectic blend of music from the jukebox while you’re waiting for those clothes to dry. No laundry, no problem! Have fun anyway. I've always found it a great place to get together with friends.

Igor’s has been one of my favorite hangouts since 1999, and finding your picture in the collages on the wall in more than one location could be an indication you may have been there a little too often.

Photo by Karen M

​2. The Napoleon House

Located at 500 Chartres Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter, The Napoleon House is the home of the famous cocktail, the Pimm’s Cup. Born in London and reengineered in New Orleans, the Pimm’s Cup is the signature drink of this iconic estabishment.

Built in 1797, the Napoleon House was originally the home of New Orleans Mayor Nicholas Girod. Girod offered his home to the emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1821 as a refuge during his exile. Napoleon never made it to New Orleans, but the name stuck.  The Napoleon House has been a favorite hangout for artists and writers since the early twentieth century.

Owned by the Impastato family since 1914 and purchased by Ralph Brennan in 2015, the Napoleon House is a perfect place to enjoy lunch on a hot summer day. Their signature muffuletta is always a treat. When you step into the two-hundred-year-old building, the classical music and ambiance make you feel as if you are stepping back in time.

Many ghosts are rumored to haunt the Napoleon House including an old lady who sweeps the floors late at night. Hmm. A ghost who sweeps. I wonder how I could get her to come to my house.

​​​3. The Hermes Bar at Antoine's

I usually find myself stopping in at 725 St. Louis Street after walking the French Quarter. It’s a perfect place to relax and the the establishment is said to be haunted.`

4. Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop

5. Potions

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