New Orleans
New Orleans Gay Bars Guide: Bourbon Street, the Marigny and the Bywater
· findlucid
Gay bars in New Orleans: Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Oz and the Bourbon Pub on Bourbon Street, the Phoenix in the Marigny, and the Country Club pool in the Bywater.
New Orleans does everything with more soul, more sweat, and more joy than anywhere else in America, and the gay bars are no exception. The scene centers on the French Quarter and spills into the Marigny and the Bywater, with bars that never close, drag brunches, and a clothing optional pool party.
Most of the Quarter bars charge no cover and pour around the clock, so the crawl plans itself. Start with the history, end with the dance floor, and pace yourself: this city is still partying when you wake up.
Cafe Lafitte in Exile: the pilgrimage stop
Billed as the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the United States, Cafe Lafitte in Exile at 901 Bourbon Street has been pouring for generations. It is open 24 hours a day, every day, and it still anchors the gay end of Bourbon Street.
This is pilgrimage territory. Order a drink, soak in the history, and tip your bartender like you mean it. The upstairs balcony is one of the best people watching perches in the Quarter.
Oz and the Bourbon Pub: the dance floor giants
Oz is the big, loud, sparkly center of Quarter nightlife: an award winning Bourbon Street dance club with go-go dancers, drag shows, and a dance floor that fills up fast on weekends. The drag shows are top tier and the energy never really dips.
The Bourbon Pub and Parade, the largest gay bar in New Orleans, spans two floors a short walk away, with drag shows, go-go boys, and a video bar upstairs. When Oz is packed, the Pub absorbs the overflow without missing a beat.
Good Friends, the Golden Lantern and the Corner Pocket
Good Friends Bar is the Victorian styled neighborhood bar of the Quarter, with the upstairs Queen's Room for a slightly calmer round. Calm is relative in New Orleans: it is still plenty lively, just easier to hold a conversation.
The Golden Lantern has been a gay dive bar since 1964 and serves as the official starting point of the Southern Decadence parade, open 24 hours. The Corner Pocket has featured nightly all-male go-go dancers since 1982: sticky floors, strong drinks, zero pretense.
Napoleon's Itch, the Crossing and Rawhide 2010
Napoleon's Itch is the Quarter bar with a name as memorable as its pours, a classic stop on any Bourbon Street crawl. The Crossing NOLA at 439 Dauphine Street is the newer favorite that earned its reputation fast, with a loyal local crowd.
Rawhide 2010 on Burgundy Street is the French Quarter leather and Levi's bar. It brings the leather scene right into the heart of the tourist district, which is very New Orleans.
The Marigny: the Phoenix and AllWays
Just downriver from the Quarter, the Marigny is where the locals play. The Phoenix has been the neighborhood leather and bear bar for decades, open late every night, with a loyal crowd of bears, leather men, and the people who love them.
The AllWays Lounge and Cabaret on St. Claude Avenue is the Marigny queer cabaret: burlesque, drag, and comedy in an intimate room. The programming is adventurous and the vibe is artsy, weird, and wonderful.
The Country Club: the Bywater pool party
The Country Club in the Bywater is the gay hideaway with a clothing optional saltwater pool, a restaurant, and a drag brunch that is essential New Orleans. It is equal parts resort, restaurant, and queer utopia.
The pool charges a day rate and brunch books up, so reserve ahead on weekends. Bring sunscreen and an open mind.
A New Orleans night out: the plan
- Best nights: every night. Weekends are wildest, but a Tuesday on Bourbon Street still beats a Saturday in most cities.
- Money: most Quarter bars charge no cover. The big dance clubs may charge 10 to 20 dollars on peak nights, and the Country Club charges for pool access and brunch.
- Southern Decadence: Labor Day weekend is the gay Mardi Gras and transforms the whole city. Book hotels far ahead, seriously.
- Getting around: the Quarter, the Marigny, and the Bywater are walkable or a short rideshare apart. The streetcar runs along St. Charles Avenue if you venture uptown.
- Respect the rooms: buy a round, chat with strangers, tip the drag queens, and watch your drink.
Meeting people before the music starts
Start early at Good Friends or on the Lafitte balcony while you can still talk, and show up twice to become a familiar face. Planning the West Coast next? Our San Francisco guide is at https://findlucid.com/articles/san-francisco-gay-bars-guide.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the oldest gay bar in New Orleans?
Cafe Lafitte in Exile at 901 Bourbon Street, billed as the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the United States. It pours 24 hours a day in the French Quarter.
Where does Southern Decadence start?
The Southern Decadence parade officially starts at the Golden Lantern, a gay dive bar open since 1964 in the French Quarter. The festival takes over the city every Labor Day weekend, so book hotels far ahead.
Do New Orleans gay bars charge cover?
Most French Quarter bars charge no cover at all. The big dance clubs like Oz may charge 10 to 20 dollars on peak nights, and the Country Club in the Bywater charges for pool access and its drag brunch.
What is the Country Club in the Bywater?
A gay hideaway with a clothing optional saltwater pool, a restaurant, and drag brunch. It charges a day rate for the pool and brunch reservations are smart on weekends.
How do I meet people before a New Orleans club night?
Start early while you can still talk, at Good Friends Bar or on the Cafe Lafitte balcony, and show up twice to become a familiar face. On FindLucid.com, an inclusive dating app for everyone, you can sign up free at https://findlucid.com/signup and use free date safety plans and check ins when you meet.
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