Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street in December was fun, even pregnant, which I wasn't sure about beforehand. It wasn't insanely crowded, thankfully, but it was still a lot. The energy was crazy. But then my friend got us tickets to Preservation Hall, and that was a game-changer. What a cool place! Such a nice, chill vibe compared to the craziness outside. Pat O'Brien's was special; my parents went there on their honeymoon in '69, and Mom still has a glass! It's touristy and pricey, but it meant something to me. We watched people drink giant hand grenade drinks at Tropical Isle - looked like fun. And pizza? Essential pregnancy fuel after all that walking! Honestly, it was a memorable trip. Preservation Hall was a lifesaver, a real highlight since we were able to enjoy jazz music and the veteran musicians brought it to life. And Pat O'Brien's? Pure sentimentality. Bourbon Street is intense, though, so be prepared. It was a good time!

Who doesn't love the sounds, sights, and smells of historic Bourbon Street?! There are numerous bars, restaurants souvenir shops, and yes, strip clubs. Open container laws allow adults to drink alcoholic drinks on the streets of the French Quarter. Pat O'Brien's is a must visit touristy place to get a hurricane and has a nice patio. It is home to the famous dueling pianos and is thought to be the first of its kind. I didn't realize there were two other Pat O'Brien's bar locations - one in Orlando, FL and one in San Antonio, TX.The Old Absinthe House is a must visit also, although, good grief! I can't stand the taste of absinthe!! It is black licorice-y tasting and just downright yucky! I don't know the name of the absinthe drink I tried. It involved sugar, and the bartender igniting something and pouring the various components of the concoction together. It was cool to watch but the resultant cocktail was, for me, a disaster! I like the interior of Old Absinthe House. The walls are virtually covered with business cards and similar items just randomly tacked and taped everywhere. It's cozy inside, too. Trust me - you will see just about everything on Bourbon Street! As others have noted, it is all about excess and yes, it smells. Although the streets are cleaned every night, the smells intensify, especially during the hot humid months. I think Bourbon Street is a must see, for adults, anyway!

You can't visit NOLA without walking through this famous street!Like NOLA isn't already something else, this street within it is a whole different world.Although there are other streets nearby just like it, this one gives off a different vibe. Most of the structure designs are similar, but each had their own personalities. There is an endless number of bars and restaurants on each block. Just like the structures, each bar/restaurant/shop have their own thing going. It is true: it does smell like urine, you walk through with the strong possibility of getting 2nd hand stoned, there are TONS of people with questionable outfits. It really is something else just being here. It's open to traffic during the day, but the shut it down at a certain time at night to give people the chance to walk through without risks of getting plowed down by a car. Be mindful of your belongings. Go in a group, if possible, because safety first! I went during the week during an off-season. It still gets crowded, and it is still very much alive. I can only imagine how this place is on the weekends, summer and Mardi Gras. Plan accordingly, and if you do, you'll have great times!

Bourbon Street is just one of those places you have to walk through while in NOLA, but once is more than enough. It is like a mini Vegas strip. Loud, crazy, drunk, smells like pee, and expensive. There are so many amazing places in NOLA that aren't on Bourbon Street. We stayed one block over from Bourbon so we were within walking distance to everything. But lord, I wouldn't stay on Bourbon Street. The noise would drive you nuts!

Such a good time! Let the good times roll!So many great eating and drinking places!Live music and shenanigans!

When in New Orleans I guess you have to come to Bourbon Street. It's a looong road with rows and rows of bars, jazz/dance clubs, restaurants, etc. It just wasn't my vibe, but make sure you get a grenade while you're here. It was pretty busy and bustling even on a Wednesday night, so I can't even imagine the crowds on the weekend. It's kinda dirty, kinda smelly, and there's lots of voodoo and tarot card reading going on. Not sure I'd feel safe walking here alone. Worth checking out at least once for the experience, but once was enough for me.

A must-walk-through local flavor street in NOLA. Lots of bars and nightlife options on Bourbon Street.

There is such a mix of good and bad here... It's party central at night which can be good and bad... it's amazing if youre into partying (we're not), but it's amazing for people watching (which we love). Love seeing all the crowds and neon lights and funky drinks all over the place but it can also be seedy and obnoxious and lately the scams you usually see over by Washington Artillery Park are now all over the place along Bourbon Street (hint hint, "love your shoes, but I could guess...."). Day time is cool but I'd still rather walk along Royal Street, Magazine Street and Frenchmen corridor

I figured as much. There are a few nice jazz spots, but overall, this street is not for me. Throughout most of my time walking down this street I had two thoughts. 1. The music was too loud. I need to preserve what's left of my hearing. And I can only take so much Rock and Roll. 2. Try your best to avoid the smokers. I may not be the healthiest person in earth but I still want to avoid second hand smoke.Then there was a creepy dude with a beard that that was just standing in the middle of the street swaying back and forth. He didn't say anything to us. Thank goodness. But he looked at us and was swaying back and forth looking drugged up. Like I said, creepy. That basically ruined my visit to Bourbon Street. Ok. I'll be fair. It was bad, but not as bad as San Fran. Here the homeless people are friendly and polite at least.Lastly, there were a lot of potholes in that area. I get it. Many metropolitan cities in the US have potholes in the street. There are especially a lot of potholes around there.I appreciated that there was a Rouses Market nearby. That was the saving grace of visiting Bourbon St. Sorry, but I don't plan on coming back.Recommendation: go to all the locally owned restaurants around New Orleans. Avoid Bourbon Street.

Not my scene, but I'm glad I went. My girls and I did a girls' trip in September to NOLA and we visited Bourbon Street twice. Coming from the Bay Area, it was great witnessing such a lively night life. It reminded me of Vegas and New York-- neon lights, street acts, Fat Tuesdays, crowds of people dressed in whatever they want (skimpy, modest floral dresses, silk pajamas, jeans, etc.), and the smell of sewage. Fun fact: I learned at the Voodoo museum that dancing with a snake was a big part of Voodoo rituals, and that explains why there are snake handlers offering snakes to people on Bourbon. Don't do it though-- super unsanitary. As an introvert, one night jumping from club to club was enough for me. None of the clubs had a cover fee (girls' trip), but some didn't allow outside drinks so you would have to finish your drink before stepping in (RIP if you had a Fat Tuesday in your hand... instant brain freeze). Some establishments I enjoyed: - Bourbon Live: Great r&b throwbacks, sometimes Mama Mia. Has a selfie GIF camera with a QR code at the end. Stage for any one to dance on (So many skilled club-goers, very entertaining)- Boot Scootin Rodeo: Went here mainly for the Bull Ride. Very fun, and not too intense (I fell off 2/3 times still). Watching others is so fun, but definitely consider trying it out yourself! Downstairs has a a beer pong table. - Cats Meow: 2 locations. I think we went to the one further back, which was less crowded. Still had fun. Karaoke in front of strangers and get a pair of light-up cat ears after you perform! On our last night, we did a tarot card reading. I think it was $25 dollars. Super worth. She had the prettiest set up with crystals, lamps, and even a headset, haha. So fun and would do it again.If you're more interested in a more chill night out in NOLA, try visiting the French Quarters. Pockets of clubs with R&B but also bars with Live Music and Jazz. Have fun in NOLA!