Bourbon Street

You’ve heard about Bourbon Street. You’ve probably seen it in movies, on TV, and in more than a few Mardi Gras photos. And while its anything-goes nightlife is certainly part of the story, there’s more to New Orleans’ most famous street than bars and neon.

Our advice? Come see it for yourself. Walk the street, take in the balconies and historic architecture, listen for live music and stop somewhere good to eat along the way. Families are welcome on Bourbon Street, too–just be aware that some stretches are geared toward adult nightlife, particularly later in the day, and simply keep moving past the places that aren’t for you.

There are plenty of stops we recommend. Cafe Beignet offers beignets, café au lait, and a courtyard devoted to New Orleans music. Hard Rock Cafe is an easy stop for families, while Olde Nola Cookery and Mambo’s serve up Louisiana favorites right in the middle of the action. For one of the city’s classic dining experiences, there’s Galatoire’s, a Bourbon Street institution dating to 1905. 

And don’t miss Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, one of the oldest and most atmospheric buildings on Bourbon Street. Housed in a Creole cottage dating to the 1700s, it’s the kind of place that instantly reminds you just how much history is hiding in plain sight in the French Quarter.

At Bourbon Heat, you can grab lunch or dinner in a historic building and courtyard before the venue takes on more of its late-night personality. And while Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar is technically around the corner on Iberville, it has been part of the French Quarter oyster tradition since the 1940s. 

Just off Bourbon, we’d also send you to Acme Oyster House for oysters and New Orleans seafood, or Oceana Grill at Bourbon and Conti for Creole and Louisiana dishes. 

Don’t Stop at Bourbon

One of the best things about the French Quarter is how quickly the personality changes from one street to the next. When you’ve had your fill of Bourbon, walk a block over to Royal Street.

The volume drops, and the shopping begins. Royal is known for street performers, antique stores, galleries, historic buildings, and one-of-a-kind shops, and it’s one of our favorite streets for simply wandering. 

Make time for Moss Antiques, a longtime Royal Street shop whose family has been in the antique business for more than a century. You’ll find everything from jewelry and decorative pieces to the kind of unusual antiques that make browsing half the fun. 

A Little Bourbon Street History

Bourbon Street has been part of New Orleans from almost the beginning. When French engineer Adrien de Pauger laid out the city’s streets in 1721, he named Rue Bourbon for France’s ruling royal family—not for the whiskey. The street runs through the heart of the French Quarter from Canal Street toward Esplanade Avenue and has evolved over the centuries from a residential street into one of the best-known entertainment districts in the world. 

Along the way, Bourbon became home to historic restaurants, hotels, music venues and some famously colorful nightlife. Look beyond the neon, and you’ll still see the bones of old New Orleans: Creole townhouses, courtyards, balconies and buildings that have been here far longer than the souvenir shops below them.

Why We Love It: Bourbon Street is loud, colorful, historic, a little outrageous, and completely unlike anywhere else. Is it where locals spend every Saturday night? Not necessarily. But it’s still part of the city we love, and there’s something undeniably fun about walking a few blocks, hearing music spill out of the doorways and watching the whole crazy scene unfold. See it, enjoy it, then wander over to Royal Street and discover a completely different side of the French Quarter.

Learn about Royal Street