Pirates, Jazz Legends & French Royalty All Left Their Mark In This Legendary New Orleans Street

Bourbon Street, New Orleans

Bourbon Street is New Orleans with its gloves off. From jazz joints to neon signs, this 13-block stretch has been the heart of the French Quarter’s party scene since 1798.

Sure, locals will tell you it’s for tourists now, but that doesn’t make the music less sweet or the drinks less strong. Here’s are some of its highlights.

PS.

In case you didn’t know, the “Bourbon” doesn’t refer to the whiskey, but the French royal family the street was built for.

The French Built Bourbon Street In 1718

Dating back to 1718, Bourbon Street has loads of historic buildings that show off traditional Spanish Colonial and French Creole with hidden courtyards.

Adrien de Pauger designed the street grid in 1721 for the royal family. The iconic wrought-iron balconies appeared in the 1850s after fires led to rebuilding.

Pirates Owned The Oldest Watering Hole

Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop on the corner of Bourbon and St. Phillip streets ranks as one of the oldest bars in the United States.

Built in the early 1700s, this quieter Bourbon Street spot was home to the Lafitte brothers’ smuggling operations from 1772 to 1791.

The building made it through two major fires in 1788 and 1794 that wiped out much of the French Quarter, though they use candles even today.

Absinthe House Tells Tales of American War History

The Old Absinthe House building dates to 1806. You’ll still see the fancy marble fountain that drips water over sugar cubes from 1830.

The building hosted a meeting between General Andrew Jackson and pirate Jean Lafitte to plan the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.

During Prohibition (1920-1933), workers took apart the original bar and hid it in a warehouse to save it from destruction.

Galatoire’s Restaurant Has Served Since 1905

Jean Galatoire created one of New Orleans’ oldest and most beloved dining spots that specializes in French Creole cooking.

Locals have passed down their love for this place, coming back for classic dishes like crab Maison, duck crepes, and turtle soup for more than a century.

The main floor doesn’t take reservations, so everyone waits in line together. The menu has stayed almost the same since opening day.

Pat O’Brien’s Created a Drink During WWII

Pat O’Brien’s, known for its signature Hurricane cocktail, originally began in 1933 during the Prohibition era as a secret bar.

The Hurricane cocktail was created in 1941 when alcohol suppliers required bar owners to purchase 50 cases of rum with each scotch order.

The secret bar started the dueling piano concept in 1954 with two copper-topped baby grand pianos facing each other.

Tennessee Williams Visited The Oldest Gay Bar

The area where Bourbon Street meets St. Ann Street serves as the center of New Orleans’ LGBTQ+ community near the French Quarter.

Lafitte-In-Exile (from 1933), the oldest gay bar in the country, even welcomed famous writer Tennessee Williams during his time in the city.

The area was also known as the “Lavender Line” in the 1950s. You’ll find Café Lafitte in Exile hosting the oldest ongoing drag show in America, since 1961.

Clover Grill Still Makes Burgers Like it Did in 1940s

The Clover Grill offers 24-hour dining attracting both late-night partiers and early risers looking for breakfast with its old neon sign.

Started in 1939, the Clover Grill still prepares the Hubcap Burger using the hood of a Buick and the original 1950s Wurlitzer jukebox still works.

Bourbon Bandstand Has Played Music Since 1948

Spots like Bourbon Bandstand scream nightlife in New Orleans, offering three different performance areas across two floors.

Started in 1948, the main stage has live music every day at 11 am. Happy hour deals run daily from 3-7 pm featuring 2-for-1 hurricane cocktails.

The balcony that overlooks Bourbon Street can fit up to 75 people. You might see local bands playing traditional New Orleans R&B on a good day.

Happy hour runs daily from 3 to 7 pm featuring 2-for-1 hurricane cocktails.

Harry Connick Jr. Started At Maison Bourbon

Maison Bourbon is an iconic spot where famous Jazz artists, including Harry Connick Jr., learned their craft while playing here.

The club opened in 1961 in a historic building at 641 Bourbon Street. Instead of charging cover, guests buy at least one drink during each music set.

With room for only about 100 people, everyone gets close to the music, and performers often chat with the crowd between songs.

Royal Sonesta Offers Fancy Artwork & Jazz Shows

The Royal Sonesta Hotel (opened in 1969), looks like a row of typical 1830s houses, matching the New Orleans style.

The marble entrance area displays original artwork worth over $2 million. A beautiful central courtyard features a traditional French Quarter fountain.

Today, the property maintains about 483 rooms for guests. The Jazz Playhouse hosts nightly shows by top local musicians, starting at 8 p.m.

Century-Old Restaurants Serve Food & Drinks

Arnaud’s (started in 1918) serves classic Creole meals in beautiful 19th-century rooms while Antoine’s Restaurant invented the Rockefeller dish.

Don’t forget to drop by Tujague’s (operating since 1856). It’s the second-oldest restaurant here and they created the Grasshopper cocktail.

Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House is popular for hosting whiskey events and tastings alongside master Distillers from Jim Beam & Jack Daniel’s.

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