by Catherine Ebey

Created on: July 19, 2011

New Orleans has so many different nightlife venues to choose from that it offers something for everyone.

Hit the town in your best dress at these classy cocktail bars:

Pat O’s Courtyard:  Check out the snazzy flaming fountain! Sit at cocktail tables scattered amidst lush indigenous tropical foliage. Pat O’s offers a wide variety of indulgent signature-New Orleans cocktails including the famous Pat O’Brian’s Hurricane. Also, you can keep the glass –a ready-made souvenir of your trip. Feeling ambitious? Split the Magnum, a three-gallon hurricane served in a giant four-foot-tall hurricane glass, between a large group of friends.

The Bombay Club: The Bombay Club is filled with cushy leather arm chairs, cozy booths, and a classic, well-stocked martini bar. Take a historical martini journey with martini recipes dating back to the 1860s. Voted “best bar to have deep conversation in” by the Gambit Weekly several years running, this bar is an excellent place to catch up with family or good friends. Dimly lit and elegant, it’s also a great place for a romantic evening.

The Columns Hotel: Sip a mimosa on the Columns Hotel Veranda while watching the streetcar bustle by. The Column Hotel also offers an indoor bar, the Victorian Lounge. This traditional New Orleans venue features a beautiful mahagony bar topped by fifteen foot ceilings decorated in the traditional New Orleans style. Voted the most romantic bar in New Orleans by the Appeals Rating, the Victorian Lounge’s quiet, sensual atmosphere provide a nice backdrop for an excellent cocktail. Try a traditional non-frozen daiquiri or a spicy Bloody Mary.

For a more casual night, head out to these locations:

The Maple Leaf: If you are in the mood for something a little funky, give the Maple Leaf Bar a try. Featuring live folk music shows nightly, the Maple-Leaf is a must-see for music lovers. Hear Papa Grows Funk, a local funk band, on Mondays nights (their saxophonist is amazing). Drinks are cheap; well drinks are four dollars apiece. The service could not be friendlier; sit at the bar and observe locals in their element.

Pirate’s Alley: Tucked away in a little alley next to the St. Louis Cathedral, Pirates Alley truly serves the best Bloody Mary in the entire city (ask the bartender to make it extra spicy if you’re brave). Explore Jackson Square on the way there. This little bar is tiny but full of charm; the solo bartender dresses as a pirate and serves plenty of fun pirate drinks to boot. The twinkle-light bedecked courtyard also features an excellent place to sit after walking through the quarter.

MRB: MRB, or the Mississippi River Bottom, is a laid-back sports pub. They have all the best local beer on tap (be sure to try Nola Blonde) and have pool tables and poker machines in the back. Sports are played from open till close on the large flat screen TVs dotting the bar. The bar also has an outdoor courtyard where you can drink and order excellent, greasy pub food. The Jalapeño poppers com highly recommended. If you want to participate in a Haunted History Tour, they often meet in the MRB courtyard for ghost story time. Go to the Haunted History Tour website for more information.

 Still haven’t found that perfect by? Try walking down Decatur Street as opposed to Bourbon Street. That street is where the locals go. Or check out these articles for more fun places to go.

Learn more about this author, Catherine Ebey.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.