But five days of fancy infusions, garnishes, and artisanal bitters can get exhausting. Here are three service-industry haunts that won't do anything fancier than twist the cap off of your Hi-Life or pour that bourbon chaser into a plastic go-cup.
The Saint Bar & Lounge (961 St. Mary Street, 504.523-0050)
The Saint is a grungy, beat-up little hole of a place. The kind of place you wouldn't want your mama to see. If you ran into your boss here, you'd have to pretend it never happened. It is not for the faint of heart, the clean freak, or the socially reserved. It’s the kind of place to make new friends over bummed cigarettes on the back patio, to sweat it out on the bounce-fueled dance floor, or just down a series of tallboys on a rickety stool while making fun of whatever is on TV. It's the kind of place where you're lucky if there's a door on the bathroom stall, and you might catch a guy peeing in the sink. It's also the kind of place where social anxieties and divisions are suspended in a hot drunk haze. The Saint is why I moved to New Orleans.
How to get there: by cab, or the St. Charles Avenue streetcar + 4.5 block walk southeast on St. Mary
Molly's At The Market (1107 Decatur Street, 504.525.5169)
I won't lie: the French Quarter at night freaks me out. If I wanted to be surrounded by rowdy Midwesterners, I'd head to Chicago for the Cubs/Sox series. It's always a real pleasure to find an island of sanity among the strip clubs, tourist t-shirt shops, and horse buggies. Molly's is an Irish bar that's got a crowded TGIF-style decor, but don't be fooled: this is a real neighborhood hangout with friendly folks, tasty bar snacks, and, get this: frozen Irish coffee. The clientele is a gumbo of locals and tourists, so it's a good place to regroup and run into friends, develop crushes, and make acquaintances.
How to get there: by cab or an easy walk through the French Quarter
The Club Miss Mae's (4336 Magazine Street 504.218.8035)
In other cities, the terms "closing time" and "last call" carry some weight. In New Orleans, we have "'til...". As in: "Open from 5 p.m. - 'til..." 'Til... means the bartender will kick you out when she damn well wants, whether it's because the place is dead or she's tired of looking at your face. At Miss Mae's, there is no 'til... because Miss Mae's is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Need an after work relaxer? Mae's got you, baby. A 4 a.m. pick me up? Check! Gin and tonic breakfast? No problem. Mae's is a place for professional drinkers: they raised a citywide stir last year when they switched management and upped the price of well drinks from one dollar to two. See you there. I'll be there from 5 p.m. - 'til...
How to get there: by cab, or take the St. Charles Avenue streetcar to Napoleon Avenue + 7 block walk southeast on Napoleon to Magazine Street.
One final piece of free advice: if you're still going at 3 a.m. and want to up the stakes, jump into a cab and say three words: "Snake and Jake's." I cannot legally be held accountable for what happens next.
