![blacksmiths gay bar new orleans blacksmiths gay bar new orleans](https://gaycities-article-images-production.s3.amazonaws.com/originals/201810290653-rockylive2.jpg)
![blacksmiths gay bar new orleans blacksmiths gay bar new orleans](https://fastly.4sqi.net/img/general/200x200/675869_LryWPQCAshx1of7bO8DOyEih3iK-ouzH3c_lo1dtUlk.jpg)
If you want to stick to the French Quarter, but want something besides just Bourbon Street the following bars are some great choices:Ĭhart Room – This is a great bar to kick back and relax a bit. Let’s be honest, a lot of tourists don’t venture beyond Bourbon to do their drinking in New Orleans. There are several gay bars on Bourbon you will pass by in order to get to the Blacksmith Shop, but if you are interested in them I unfortunately can’t tell you which may be your best bet. It is also worth noting that this bar is in the gay part of the French Quarter, but it is not a gay bar itself. It’s laid back (though can get crowded) and drinks are cheaper here than on the main drag of Bourbon Street. This bar was once his blacksmith shop (duh). You may have heard his name before as he helped Andrew Jackson win the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop – Jean Lafitte was a rather famous pirate/privateer who called Louisiana home during the early 19th Century. Its walls are covered in business cards and if you have a business card you should add yours to the collection and become a part of New Orleans history. If you aren’t interested in the famous drink favored by poets and artists I would still check out the bar. Old Absinthe House – As the name implies this bar does absinthe, so if you are looking for it while on Bourbon, this is your spot. I’m pretty sure it is a requirement to drink one of these as a tourist spending time on Bourbon Street. It comes in a fun commemorative plastic cup that is very tall and looks like a grenade at the bottom. It is sweet, very strong and I have no idea what is in it. There are a bunch of them up and down Bourbon and they all serve several drinks, but the Hand-Grenade is the one you will be ordering. That is all you need to know about this place. Tropical Isle – Here you will find the Hand-Grenade. It is a sweet and strong rum-based drink, so if sweet drinks aren’t your thing, steer clear. The drink that put Pat O’s on the map is the Hurricane. It’s been around for quite some time, has a dueling piano bar and has a great courtyard with a fountain that is on fire. This is one of the places you should check out. Pat O’Brien’s - If you are doing all your drinking on Bourbon are really only a couple of places and a couple of drinks you need to be worried about. Because as I said, there are a lot of places to drink in New Orleans. That’s not to say you can’t experience that otherwise of course. If you stick with my suggestions you should have no problem experiencing a fun, drunken New Orleans weekend. Finding a spot to drink will not be at all difficult. Here is the thing about New Orleans: there are a lot of bars. Event of the Year: EVƎ, Gay Easter Parade, Glamarama, Hit It! (Underwear Party), Krewe of Petronius Bal Masque, Lords of Leather Bal Masque: Forbidden, Mad Angel Entertainment, New Orleans Pride, Southern Decadence, The Oracle Ball, Winter Wonderlandįly Fashion Glamour Award: Aubrey Synclaire, Chi Chi Rodrigue, Connie Hung, Dominique Delorean, Felicia Phillips, Ilaynnah Eve, Ivy Dripp, Jessica Champagne, Karli LaCorre, Mercedes E.Check out the first installment of NOLACuse's Guide to New Orleans here.