Top Things to do in Louisiana
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9 Gay Clubs & Bars in Louisiana That You Shouldn't Miss
Louisiana tourism is centered on New Orleans and the North Shore region in the southeastern corner of the state near the Florida border. West of New Orleans is the Great River Road, with the I-10 running to the Mississippi River port capital city of Baton Rogue. West of New Orleans along the Gulf of Mexico, the I-10 cuts through Lafayette and Lake Charles on its way past Abbeville to Texas. Central Louisiana is Lake Country, and home to cities like Alexandria and Natchitoches. In northern Louisiana, the I-20 runs west from Monroe to Bossier City, Shreveport, and East Texas. Unless Louisiana is very familiar and frequent territory, New Orleans will be the top choice for a Louisiana vacation. Though Mardi Gras, music, and the winning ways of the New Orleans Saints football team get the spotlight, there is much more to explore in New Orleans. Within New Orleans choose among Bourbon Street, Royal Street, the Upper and Lower French Quarters, the Warehouse and Central Business District, the Garden District and Uptown, and Mid-City. With street car lines linking the French Quarter to the Garden District, Convention Center, and everywhere else, it is easy for the whole family to get around. If long walks are your exercise, explore the scenic city on foot. An easy two-hour drive from New Orleans brings you to Baton Rogue, Natchitoches and Lake Country. Explore old Beauregard Town in downtown Baton Rogue, the historic homes of the Baton Rogue Garden District, and tour one or several working plantations. Walk the 33-block Historic Landmark District and tour the historic homes and churches of Natchitoches. Relive Spanish Empire history in Louisiana at Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site. Heading west from New Orleans is Cajun Country and Lafayette with its mix of French, French Canadian (Acadian), Spanish, and Caribbean cultures. Besides Cajun and Creole cookery, explore the Civil War heritage at the Lafayette Museum. Stop by Abbeville to view the courthouse designed by Hayes Town, St. Mary Magdalen Church, and have a seafood meal. With 75 annual festivals Lake Charles is Louisiana's Festival City, and home to the Creole Nature Trail Scenic Byway. Shreveport and Bossier City in northwest Louisiana are casino and entertainment centers. Shreveport is renowned for hosting the Louisiana State Fair in the fall. Plus floral centers, art galleries, and museums. Monroe in the northeast also has notable gardens.
Restaurants in Louisiana
1. Cafe Lafitte in Exile
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 83 reviews
Cafe Lafitte's is the oldest gay bar in the United States. They have a upstairs "Balcony Bar" that is open on the weekends and great for entertaining. Also the Balcony Bar is great for private parties.
Reviewed By Pisceanstud81 - Clovis, United States
I had read a couple positive reviews about this place before coming and I found the bar to be very welcoming and laid back. I really felt at home here although I was clearly a tourist. All kinds can be found here and the drink prices are great. Nicholas was my favorite bartender though; he was very charming.
2. Good Friends Bar & Queens Head Pub
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 78 reviews
Good Friend's bar is your neighborhood, always great for a casual time. There is a pool table & shuffle Board. Good Friends is the best place to watch all the Saints games. Queens Head Pub is open Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. Good Times, Good Drinks, Good Friends!!
Reviewed By 921clinth
I love this bar! Please put this on you list of bars to visit while in New Orleans. You will love the experience here, drinks, hot men and the separater please order with a shot of vanilla vodka on top!
3. Golden Lantern
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 83 reviews
Reviewed By jezzeetoms - Ferndale, United States
My friends and I stopped in to Golden Lantern on Halloween night and had an amazing time! Everyone was so nice, beers were cheap, and great music was playing. They also did a costume contest (our group actually won first!) and a little drag show which was one the best I have seen in a while. We had an absolute blast! So glad we found this hidden gem. We also stopped by the following afternoon for a Bloody Mary and they were delicious. Cash Only.
4. Rawhide 2010
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Rawhide 2010 is the only Leather/Levi bar in the French Quarter. Rawhide is a "man's" bar located just off the world famous Bourbon Street. It is well known for it's late night parties every weekend that go well in the the morning hours.
Reviewed By wilsongirl - Stanford-Le-Hope, United Kingdom
Dropped in for a pre lunch drink. Perfect timing as it turned out to be happy hour. Daniel, the barman was such a sweetie. Chatted and made us feel welcome There were very few other patrons so we got chatting we had good fun. I think they were worried we didn't know it was a gay bar. We told them we had been drinking in gay bars since before they were born. To us it was just a bar with air con and great service. Highly recommend this place.
5. Bolt Nightclub
6. The Bourbon Pub Parade
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By AuthorCMelanson - Kitchener, Canada
I really wanted to go to Bourbon Pub & Parade when I was planning my vacation, I travelled to Mardi Gras solo, and where is the safest place for a female travelling alone? Definitely a gay bar. My best friends in life have always been gay men. I'm straight but that didn't matter. Everyone was welcome. The bar was decorated for Mardi Gras season, and they were playing great music videos. Songs I absolutely love. The bartender had a great sense of humour and made me a fantastic drink. I asked for something coconutty and told him to surprise me. He made me a very delicious drink. I was having fun just sitting there, but then four men came in. There were three empty stools to the left of me and an empty one to my right, so I moved down so they could all sit together. This sparked a conversation between us, and I ended up meeting four of the nicest guys in the universe! We talked all evening, and they ended up buying me drinks all night no matter how much I protested. They would only let me tip the bartender. The guy sitting beside me left his sunglasses on when he went to the bathroom, so the bartender put them on. When he came back, he didn't even notice! It was so funny because the bartender even asked him if he liked his sunglasses and he just said yes. We were all laughing and joking constantly. Another bartender came on later. He had such a dry wit. He had us laughing every time he opened his mouth. I kept to my coconut drink, but the guys bought us all a shot called a Green Tea, It was really delicious, not one of those shots that burns all the way down. It was a Monday night, and they had karaoke. The singers were fantastic, and the waitress sang a song. She had such a beautiful voice. I can't believe she doesn't have a record deal! All the guys danced with me. I haven't danced in several years. It was so much fun! They even got me to sing a karaoke song, Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. My new best buddy sang with me and danced. It was just so much fun to open up and do something that I wouldn't usually do. They made me feel comfortable putting myself out there. Unusual for a Monday night (maybe not on Bourbon Street, lol) a guy came in and literally fell off his stool onto the floor. It was a good thing those guys were there. They found his brother and helped to get him up (he could NOT stand) and called the ambulance, as he likely had alcohol poisoning. They even asked a fortune teller if they could borrow one of his chairs and set him up in it. Really good people in there. I hated to say goodbye to them. It really was the most fun I had my entire vacation. I will definitely stop in the next time I visit NOLA.
7. Napoleon's Itch
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By catchb_travels
Popped in for a walking break while strolling the French Quarter last Saturday, and this bar was playing the best music we heard on Bourbon St– think old school soul. We grabbed some ginger ale (and yeah... maybe a couple shots) just to relax for a bit until our next activity. I didn’t get the bartender’s name, but he was super friendly!
8. Oz New Orleans
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By Pmsxm - Lehigh Acres, United States
We were not charged a cover charge at the entrance (arrived before 10pm, I believe). Good DJ, great music, great ambiance, great dance floor. A lot of fun, and when want to relax, just hike up to the balcony overlooking Bourbon Street and watch the "street show". Not disappointed and highly recommended
