Page 194 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

192  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

(see p172). It also has a lush
courtyard with a flaming
fountain and free piano music.
The attractively shabby
Napoleon House (see p61)
is the kind of place where
you could see aspiring
novelists write their story as
they nurse a drink in one of
the dim corners. Lafitte’s
Blacksmith Shop (see p80),
in a crumbling 18th-century
building, sends waiters out
to passing horse-drawn
carriages to take drink orders. Gathering around Pat O’Brien’s famous fire fountain
New Orleans can do sleek
and upscale, too, as you’ll Serious drinkers will find Cooter dance clubs are the Bourbon
find at the Polo Lounge at Brown’s Tavern an impressive Pub & Parade Disco and
the Windsor Court Hotel, site, with its selection of more Oz, both on Bourbon Street.
Whiskey Blue at Le Méridien than 400 beers. The Bulldog, Nearby is Café Lafitte in
New Orleans, and the Swizzle also in the Uptown area, has a Exile, the town’s oldest gay
Stick Bar in Loews Hotel. In a huge beer selection as well, bar, with a balcony for
class of its own, however, is the but is better known as a college watching the street scene.
Hotel Monteleone’s Carousel pick-up bar than for its drinks. Good Friends is a relaxed spot
Bar, where the bar slowly Bacchanal Fine Wines in where conversation is easy.
revolves while the bartenders Bywater is a laid-back wine The Golden Lantern is a
at the center dispense brandy shop that holds more-or-less historic landmark, the place
Alexanders and other cock tails. continual wine tastings. where Southern Decadence
The sleek Loa at International Neighborhood bars first began more than
House are both distinctive are mostly friendly, 30 years ago, while The
and full of personality – welcoming places, Friendly Bar has the
and personalities! even if you feel of a neigh borhood
Irish bars are a reliable accidentally sit on a joint, with pool tables,
source of good fun. On Decatur stool that is “owned” cook outs, and regulars
Street, Kerry Irish Pub has by a regular punter. who truly embody the
Guinness on tap and live Vaughan’s Lounge, bar’s name.
music. Molly’s at the Market in Bywater, is a gritty
is more New Orleans Irish than spot that has live Theater,
authentic Irish, but it is a center music on Thursdays
Dance, and
of Celticism, holding its own and a bohemian Classical Music
St. Patrick’s Day parade every working-class esprit de Flamboyant parade
year. Uptown is Parasol’s Bar, corps every night. costume Jazz and contemporary
perhaps the most famous Finally, the F & M Patio music may dominate
Irish bar of them all. It is a Bar is known for attracting big the arts scene in New Orleans,
neighborhood hangout that crowds after Mardi Gras balls but there are also many gems
turns green on St. Patrick’s and debutante parties, when to be found among the classical
Day, with a huge street party people flock here to drink on performing arts. The city has a
that extends several blocks the patio, dance, and play pool. long and affectionate history
around the bar. with opera. The New Orleans
Opera Association is a small
Gay and Lesbian but valiant outfit bringing in
Bars and Clubs
recognized stars to headline its
The gay community four annual productions. The
in New Orleans is company, which has staged
large and visible. such beloved classics as La
During Mardi Gras Traviata, Faust, and Carmen,
(see p42) and Southern usually performs at the
Decadence (“the gay Mahalia Jackson Theater of
Mardi Gras”) (see p43), the Performing Arts (see p82).
the streets of the Lower The Mahalia Jackson Theater
French Quarter are full of the Performing Arts
of wild humor and underwent a massive
The brightly lit and slowly revolving Carousel Bar in outrageous costumes. renovation to reverse the
the Hotel Monteleone The two most popular damage done by the levee

190-195_EW_New_Orl.indd 192 05/08/16 3:50 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm