Cafe Lafitte In Exile:
901 Bourbon St. (504)522-8397. Billed as the oldest gay bar in the country, Cafe Lafitte In Exile was a favorite haunt of Tennessee Williams during his time in New Orleans. This is a two-story bar with a balcony on Bourbon Street that is open, like many bars in the city, 24 hours a day. Karaoke night is Wednesday. Visit the
website.
Cowpokes:
2240 St. Claude Ave. (504)947-0505. A country and western bar that offers dance lessons. Open from 11AM-2AM, Cowpokes has been voted Show Bar of the Year, Neighborhood Bar of the Year, and has won the 2007 Gay Appreciation Award.
The Phoenix/Eagle:
941 Elysian Fields Ave. (504)945-9264. The Phoenix/Eagle is a leather/levi bar, home of the Lords of Leather and the Cavaliers Motorcycle Club, among others. The Phoenix is the downstairs bar that has a competitive pool table in the main bar and a courtyard where barbecues are held. Upstairs the Eagle has music and a "heavy cruising" atmosphere. It is open 24 hours a day.
Oz:
800 Bourbon Street. (504)593-9491. Oz is a gay dance club, voted Dance Club of the Year by Ambush Magazine. On weekends, 16 male dancers strut their stuff on the bar. There are events nearly every night, such as Dingo, the Boy Next Door contest, and Show Night. Oz is a major site for Southern Decadence.
Starlight By The Park:
834 N. Rampart St.(504)561-8939. A Jazz and Blues club, Starlight has new shows every two weeks. Catch the drag shows, like the Queen of Rampart Street Pageant and the Starlight Showcase. Sundays has BYOM--Bring your own meat, a barbecue. More food is available, of course.
700 Club:
700 Burgundy St. (504)561-1095. The 700 Club is a video lounge that shows customer favorites on request (think "Madonna Mondays"). It also has pool tables, great cocktails, nightly specials and Happy Hour from Noon-9PM.
The Double Play:
439 Dauphine St. (504)523-4517. This is a mixed gay/lesbian bar, with pool tables and lots of beer.
Ninth Circle at Congo Square :
700 N. Rampart. (504)524-7654. Exotic neighborhood bar catering to the late night service industry crowd. Cheap drinks and a relaxed crowd. Happy Hour is daily from 4AM-8AM and 4PM-8PM.
The Bourbon Pub/Parade:
This is one of the oldest Gay bars in New Orleans and is usually the home base for
Southern Decadence, the Gay Mardi Gras. It's located on the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets in the French Quarter.
