New Orleans Gay Bars

Bourbon Pub and Parade is one of New Orleans' most popular gay bars, located near other gay venues on Bourbon Street. This is a lively place where you can have fun and chat with the locals.

You'll find two bars upstairs and a large video bar downstairs. The drinks are quite pricey here so you may want to go at happy hour - usually begins at 5pm but varies over the week.

Bourbon hosts karaoke events, retro pop dance parties, regular drag shows, and show tune sing-alongs. On show tunes nights, drink specials include The Barbra, The Judy, and The Liza.

Opened in 1982, The Corner Pocket is one of the oldest gay bar in New Orleans, located in the French Quarter, amongst the city's gay nightlife. This bar's main attraction is the scantily-clad men who spend their nights dancing on the bar.

Additionally, TV sports are shown throughout the venue. Look out for the bar's special event nights, including weekly bingo, holiday parties, 80s and 90s nights, and live entertainment.

If you're already in the area, Crossing, a steampunk-themed gay bar, is just on the other end of the block. 

Since 1983, Phoenix Bar has been a home for New Orleans’ gay leather, bear, and fetish communities. The no-frills space is open 24/7, never charges a cover, and has a pool table and patio for hanging out.

Tuesdays bring Mark’s Pool Tournament, with a $5 buy-in and drink specials from 7 pm. On Friday and Saturday nights, Club Socials take over the back patio with local leather, bear, pup, and rugby groups, plus drink specials and Jell-O shots. Sundays belong to Mary’s & Mimosas, with $5 Bloody Marys and $4 Korbel mimosas from 10 am to 5 pm.

Cafe Lafitte in Exile is a Bourbon Street institution with a history stretching back to the end of Prohibition in 1933. Originally opened as Café Lafitte at 941 Bourbon Street, it moved to its current home at 901 Bourbon after the original owner, Tom Caplinger, was forced to leave, adding “in Exile” to the name.

Its history is wonderfully colourful: during one period, patrons had to enter through the back door because the front was barricaded with barbed wire and sandbags to deter police raids. Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote were among its famous guests.

Today, it shares the claim as the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the US with White Horse Inn in Oakland. The bar now spans two floors, with outdoor seating on both and a wraparound balcony overlooking the French Quarter. Inside, photographs, artwork, and memorabilia tell the story, including the bar’s distinctive “eternal flame” sculpture. There’s also a huge outdoor screen for weekend music videos and football games.

Stop by for happy hour, a Hurricane, or one of the bar’s regular events, then return during Mardi Gras or Southern Decadence when Bourbon Street really comes alive.

The Page is the French Quarter’s only Black-owned gay bar. It’s a small neighbourhood bar with a broad mix of patrons, from masculine regulars to pretty boys and everything in between.

The drinks are well-priced, even the top-shelf ones. If you're in the mood for Jell-O shots, they've got a huge selection. Happy hour is a huge draw with great drink deals, so it’s a popular pre-game spot before heading elsewhere in the Quarter.

The staff is friendly and chatty, and solo visitors can easily find themselves talking to people at the bar.

Good Friends is a laid-back gay bar in New Orleans with Victorian-styled interiors. The venue features multiple levels, music videos, balcony seating, and more

The bar occasionally hosts themed nights and events, including Y2K nights, karaoke nights, RuPaul's Drag Race watch parties, and more.

Rawhide Lounge is a popular gay bar in the bustling French Quarter. This down-to-earth space welcomes everyone but is particularly popular with the leather and bear crowd.

The bar features daily happy hours (from 4 pm to 9 pm), outdoor seating areas, karaoke, pool tables, TVs playing adult videos and regular shows.

A decadent New Orleans gay bar, Golden Lantern has been serving the city's LGBT+ community since 1964. It's also the birthplace of Southern Decadence, a multi-day LGBTQ+ festival in NOLA that happens every Labor Day weekend. Until today, the Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Parade starts here.

As a bar, Golden Lantern serves a wide range of draft beers, cocktails, seltzers, and booze free drinks.  The venue also hosts regular special events, live music, and drag shows. 

Crossing Bar has been part of the LGBTQ+ scene in New Orleans’ French Quarter since the 1970s. The steampunk theme runs through the 1800s building, with eight TV screens surrounded by steam-age décor.

Grab a booth, table, or bar seat and enjoy their bar fare alongside your drinks (we heard the butter burgers are extraordinary). Reasonable prices and super friendly and efficient staff. Check their socials for info on when they're doing trivia nights, drag bingo, or live music

The AllWays Lounge is an LGBT-popular nightclub in New Orleans, showcasing live performances, cabaret, comedy, theatre, live music, etc.

The venue has comfy seating and an eclectically decorated interior. If you're looking to catch a play, or a unique burlesque show, then this is the place for you. Live music acts are featured here on a regular basis.

Mag’s 940 is a unique combination of a lively gay bar and a cozy bed and breakfast in Marigny. Known for its vibrant live performances, from drag shows to circus acts and male revues, it's a hotspot for those seeking an energetic and entertaining night out.

The bar is open every day of the week from 10am till late hours.

Big Daddy's is a relaxed neighborhood bar in New Orleans, known for its strong drinks at affordable prices. This LGBTQ-owned dive is a favourite among locals for its laid-back vibe, pool tables, and friendly staff.

Cash is king here, so while you enjoy the low-key atmosphere, remember to bring cash for both the drinks and the arcade games.

Just a few blocks from Bourbon Street, Voodoo Lounge offers a classic dive bar experience with a gay twist. This bar, managed by the owners of Flanagan's Pub, is the perfect spot for those looking to unwind in a traditional, easy-going setting after a night in the quarter.

The venue hosts theme parties and events occasionally, including Friday dance parties and Satuday after parties.

QiQi is Uptown New Orleans' coziest little gay bar. It's a charming spot where daily specials, great company, and witty bartenders come together to create a welcoming and intimate atmosphere.

The venue features happy hours, trivia, and occasional drag hosts and performances.