What are the Best Gay Bars in New Orleans?

New Orleans has one of the densest and most historic gay bar scenes in the country, with many venues open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most are clustered in the lower French Quarter and Faubourg Marigny.

French Quarter

• Cafe Lafitte In Exile (901 Bourbon St) — One of the oldest continuously operating gay bars in the United States; a gay bar since 1933, at this location since 1953. A 24/7 tavern with dance parties, karaoke, and bottomless brunch events
• Oz New Orleans (800 Bourbon St) — Award-winning gay dance club with the longest-running drag cast in New Orleans. High-energy shows and DJ nights
• Bourbon Pub Parade (801 Bourbon St) — Two levels of bars, dance floors, and a balcony overlooking Bourbon Street. A staple of the Bourbon Street gay strip
• Good Friends Bar & Queens Head Pub (740 Dauphine St) — A classic neighborhood bar with mahogany bar and fireplace downstairs, plus the Queens Head Pub upstairs with pool tables
• Golden Lantern (1239 Royal St) — Serving the community since 1964, open 24/7. Famous as the traditional starting point of the Southern Decadence parade
• Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar (941 Bourbon St) — Historic bar in one of the oldest structures in the French Quarter, popular with a mixed crowd

Marigny & Bywater

• The Friendly Bar (2301 Chartres St) — A Marigny favorite with gritty charm, well-priced drinks, and famous pudding shots
• Phoenix Bar (941 Elysian Fields Ave) — New Orleans' leather, bear, and fetish bar. Home base of Pridefest, the street festival held around the Phoenix
• The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret (2240 St. Claude Ave) — Live cabaret, comedy, theater, and drag performances in a welcoming queer space
• Mag's 940 (940 Elysian Fields Ave) — Neighborhood bar across from the Phoenix with a relaxed patio vibe

Other Neighborhoods

• The Page Bar — The top Black-owned gay bar in New Orleans with strong drinks and daily happy hours
• QiQi — A cozy gay dive bar located Uptown, one of the only gay bars outside the French Quarter, with craft beers and daily happy hour

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