If possible, New Orleans is an even more vibrant city at night than during the day. Live jazz pours out of every bar and restaurant on Frenchman street, and the tourists crowd onto Bourbon street for a taste of the raunchy nightlife.
Having been to the red light district in Amsterdam, I wasn’t too scandalized by the benign strip clubs and jello shots that Bourbon street had to offer. But that really is where the party happens. If you walk one street over it’s completely silent.
We started our evening off at Killer Poboys, an incredible, and literal, hole-in-the-wall restaurant. The hidden foodie paradise is tucked into the back of Erin Rose bar. You have to enter the bar and walk all the way through to get to the good stuff. You’ll find yourself in space about half the size of a dorm room, where you can order off a menu of five sandwich options.
This is the only sandwich I’ve ever been carded in order to eat, but it was so worth it. Above is the “Dark and Stormy” pork belly poboy with rum ginger glaze and lime slaw. It was delicious.
Pro tip for anyone heading to NOLA, the dress code for going out is nonexistent. The tourists behind me in waist-tied sweatshirts and crocs fit in just as much as I did in my LBD.
We went to a few different jazz clubs over the course of our trip, but Vaso was my favorite. It’s a huge bar with lots of dancing and some great live music. I was really into the jazz bar scene, it’s so much more fun than the over-hyped, over-sexualized clubs in most cities.
I also recommend BMC for a more casual, drink-and-listen atmosphere. It’s a neighborhood kind of place so you can bypass most of the tourists there.
A big thank you to everyone who gave us restaurant/bar suggestions, you really made this trip great!
Photos are mine.
I am so excited you took my advice!