Bourbon Street: The Oldest & Best
“On Bourbon Street, time doesn’t tick—it swings to a jazz beat.”
-Coast & Cottage
Sipping History: The Three Oldest Bars on Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street isn’t just New Orleans’ pulse; it’s a living chronicle of music, revelry, and tales that blur the line between legend and reality. Amid the neon lights and jazz echoes lie bars whose walls have witnessed over a century of laughter, mischief, and secret stories. These three watering holes have endured time, each carrying its own distinctive spirit and the kind of tall tales that define the city’s soul.
Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar
Address: 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA
Founded: Circa 1720s
Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar is more than a bar—it is a living time capsule. Housed in one of the oldest buildings in the French Quarter, its thick brick walls and shadowy nooks whisper of centuries past. Originally a blacksmith shop, the building is said to have sheltered the legendary pirate Jean Lafitte himself.
The air inside is heavy with stories. Patrons swear they sometimes hear the faint echo of horses’ hooves on the wooden floorboards, a ghostly reminder of a bygone era. The bar has hosted duels, clandestine meetings, and whispered deals, and even today, bartenders share these tales with a mischievous glint in their eyes. Visiting here is not just about drinking—it’s about stepping into history.
Fun Fact: Legend has it that Lafitte kept barrels of his private stash hidden in the rafters, and some say the ghosts of his crew still wander the dark corners of the bar, keeping a watchful eye on the rum.
Tropical Isle
Address: 600 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA
Founded: 1980s (in a building dating to the early 1800s)
Tropical Isle is a more recent chapter in Bourbon Street lore, but the building it occupies is steeped in history. Once home to various saloons and speakeasies, it carries echoes of a Prohibition-era past. Today, the bar is famous for its frozen daiquiris, especially the legendary “Hand Grenade,” a neon-green concoction that has achieved near-mythical status among locals and tourists alike.
Stories abound of musicians playing jazz in the hidden basement speakeasy, dodging lawmen and keeping spirits high long into the night. Patrons often claim that the Hand Grenade inspires dance moves and confessions alike, adding a playful, almost magical element to every visit. It is a bar that balances history and revelry with effortless charm.
Fun Fact: During Prohibition, the bar’s basement was rumored to have secret tunnels for smuggling liquor. Locals still joke that if you follow the right beat, you might just find the entrance.
Pat O’Brien’s
Address: 718 St. Peter Street, New Orleans, LA
Founded: 1933
