New Orleans · New Orleans at night
Things to Do in New Orleans at Night for Grown-Ups
New Orleans is a night city, but the grown-up version is a block or two away from Bourbon Street: a sunset jazz cruise on a paddle-wheeler, a plain wooden hall of traditional jazz, Frenchmen Street's clubs, a revolving hotel bar and a backyard wine shop with a band. Here is how to spend your evenings.
- Sunset
- Steamboat Natchez jazz cruise, or Hot Tin rooftop
- Early evening
- Preservation Hall, then a hotel bar
- Late
- Frenchmen Street: Snug Harbor, The Spotted Cat, d.b.a.
- Bring
- Cash for the bands, the tip jar and small clubs
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Start at sunset
The Steamboat Natchez evening cruise is two hours on a paddle-wheeler with live jazz and an optional Creole buffet: corny in the best way, and lovely as the sun goes down over the river. If you'd rather stay on land, Hot Tin on the Pontchartrain Hotel's 11th floor has a wide view of downtown and the river, first come, first served.
Steamboat Natchez evening jazz cruise
Toulouse Street Wharf, French Quarter
A two-hour evening cruise on a paddle-wheeler, with live jazz from the Dukes of Dixieland and an optional Creole buffet dinner. Corny in the best way, and lovely at sunset.
Hot Tin
Pontchartrain Hotel, St. Charles Ave
A rooftop bar on the Pontchartrain Hotel's 11th floor, styled like a 1940s artist's loft, with a wide view of downtown and the river. First come, first served from 2 p.m.
Traditional jazz in the French Quarter
Preservation Hall is the small, plain room that has kept traditional New Orleans jazz alive since the 1960s. Several short concerts run each evening; reserve a seat online if you can, or buy at the box office in the afternoon. It makes a perfect early-evening hour before dinner.
Preservation Hall
726 St. Peter St, French Quarter
The small, plain room that has kept traditional New Orleans jazz alive since the 1960s. Several short concerts run each evening with a rotating line-up of the Preservation All Stars and other house bands.
Tip: A limited number of seats can be reserved online; the rest are sold at the box office in the afternoon.
Historic bars
New Orleans has the best old bars in the country. The Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone turns once every 15 minutes, with live music in the lounge nightly. Arnaud's French 75 Bar is a wood-panelled room from the late 1800s. The Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt is Art Deco walnut and murals; order its namesake. Jewel of the South pours classic New Orleans cocktails in an 1830s Creole cottage.
Carousel Bar & Lounge
Hotel Monteleone, Royal St
The city's only revolving bar: a 25-seat carousel that turns once every 15 minutes, in the hotel where Faulkner, Capote and Tennessee Williams drank. Live music plays in the lounge nightly.
Tip: Seats on the carousel are first come; the lounge tables are easier and closer to the music.
Arnaud's French 75 Bar
813 Bienville St, French Quarter
A wood-panelled bar from the late 1800s inside Arnaud's, home to a James Beard Award-winning bar program. Order the namesake French 75, made with cognac here.
The Sazerac Bar
The Roosevelt Hotel, CBD
An Art Deco bar from 1938 with walnut panelling and Paul Ninas murals, once Huey Long's hangout. Order a Sazerac or a Ramos Gin Fizz.
Jewel of the South
1026 St. Louis St, French Quarter
A tavern in an 1830s Creole cottage from bartender Chris Hannah, ranked #6 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026. Classic New Orleans cocktails such as the Brandy Crusta, with a serious food menu to match.
Frenchmen Street after dinner
Frenchmen Street in the Marigny is where locals go for live music every night. Snug Harbor is the seated listening room, with modern and traditional jazz sets. The Spotted Cat is small, crowded and full of dancers; nobody minds if you just listen. d.b.a. has a deep drinks list and bands from brass to blues. Our New Orleans jazz and live music guide tells you which room suits which sound.
Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro
Frenchmen St
Frenchmen Street's seated listening room: modern and traditional jazz sets in a proper concert setting, with Creole cooking in the restaurant downstairs. Come to listen, not to talk.
The Spotted Cat Music Club
623 Frenchmen St
A small, crowded jazz club on Frenchmen Street with traditional and swing bands from late afternoon until late. People dance; nobody minds if you just listen.
Tip: Bring cash for the band and the bar.
d.b.a.
618 Frenchmen St
A comfortable bar with a deep beer and spirits list and live bands from brass to blues. Big local names play here as well as rising acts.
Off the tourist map
Bacchanal Wine in the Bywater is a wine shop with a big backyard: pick a bottle, order small plates and settle in under the lights while a band plays. Uptown, the Maple Leaf Bar has live bands every night; on Tuesdays the Rebirth Brass Band plays a late, sweaty, joyous set, as it has since 1990.
Bacchanal Wine
600 Poland Ave, Bywater
A wine shop with a big backyard: pick a bottle, add cheese or small plates and settle in under the lights while a band plays. Live music every night.
Maple Leaf Bar
8316 Oak St, Carrollton
A 1974 music club with live bands every night. On Tuesdays the Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band has played here since 1990, starting late: a sweaty, joyous local night out.
Our advice
- Keep each night in one area: the French Quarter for Preservation Hall and the hotel bars, then a short walk or ride to Frenchmen Street.
- Take a taxi or rideshare to the Bywater, Uptown and back to your hotel late at night, rather than walking long dark stretches.
- Bring cash: many bands pass a tip jar and some small clubs prefer it.
- Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 reopens on October 1, 2026 by daytime guided tour only, and ghost tours aren't allowed inside it.
- Check current hours and set times before you go; line-ups change nightly.
Everything here was checked in September 2026. Music line-ups, hours and prices change often in New Orleans, so confirm before you go and bring cash for the bands.
Questions people ask
What is there to do in New Orleans at night besides Bourbon Street?
Take the Steamboat Natchez evening jazz cruise, hear traditional jazz at Preservation Hall, drink at the Carousel Bar, French 75 or the Sazerac Bar, then go to Frenchmen Street for Snug Harbor, The Spotted Cat and d.b.a., or to Bacchanal's backyard in the Bywater.
Where do locals go at night in New Orleans?
Frenchmen Street in the Marigny, Bacchanal Wine in the Bywater and the Maple Leaf Bar Uptown, where the Rebirth Brass Band plays on Tuesdays.
Is New Orleans nightlife good for couples?
Yes: a sunset jazz cruise, a seat at Preservation Hall, a cocktail on the revolving Carousel Bar and a set at Snug Harbor make a classic night for two.
Do you need cash for New Orleans music clubs?
Bring some. Many bands pass a tip jar, and small clubs like The Spotted Cat recommend cash for the band and the bar.