For Visiting Comics
Thinking about coming through New Orleans to do some comedy? Hell yeah! It's always a good time here. In fact, there's so much to do here that we put together a list of the places us locals like to go and places we like to tell visitors to go check out. Also, please, try to find someone to stay with here. Most of us have space to put up a couple comics. Please do not use AirBNB in New Orleans. It's a long story, but basically, it's killing the ability for anyone to afford housing and is ruining our neighborhoods. We'll find you a couch or a bed or an air mattress that won't fuck up our economy.
Looking for bookings? Check out this list to see who to contact for shows!
All
Eat
Drink
See
Neighborhood:
Drink
Bar
3 Legged Dog
400 Burgundy St. (bur-GUN-dee)
in
French Quarter
Open 24hrs, and featuring 2-for-1 drink specials ALL DAY. And nightly crawfish boils during crawfish season (spring time)
In this Neighborhood: Comedy Fuck Yeah • I'm Listening • Comedy Cabaret • Crescent Fresh Open Mic • All Jokes Aside Comedy Hour •
Drink
Beer Bar
Avenue Pub
1732 St. Charles Ave
in
Lower Garden District
Avenue Pub is routinely rated one fo the top 100 beer bars in the country and for good reason. Over 50 rotating taps of craft beer from around the world with staff that knows their shit. Great selection of whiskeys as well, and a kitchen that serves up better than normal bar food. They've got a back patio and also a second floor balcony that overlooks the St. Charles streetcar line and the oaks. Pricey, but for NOLA standards, not by anyone else's.
In this Neighborhood: Why So Serious? Comedy Open Mic • Open Mic at the Quisby • Open Mic at The Quisby •
Drink
Wine Bar
Bacchanal
600 Poland Ave
in
Bywater
Walk in and purchase a couple bottles of wine from the front store, then head out back to the outside seating and enjoy some wine, cheese, and music.
In this Neighborhood: The Spontaneous Show • The XX Comedy Show • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • A Night of LGBTQ Comedy • Chocolate Sundaes • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Double Six Comedy Open Mic •
See
Bayou
Bayou St. John
Bayou St. John
in
MidCity
Bayou St. John is the only bayou in the city limits. It runs through the Lake Vista, Filmore, Fairgrounds, and MidCity neighborhoods. Great place to have a picnic or just relax. You can also rent a kayak or a paddle board and go out on the bayou itself.
Eat
Restaurant
Bearcat Cafe
2521 Jena St. (JEE-nuh)
in
Freret
Legit brunch spot. They have two menus: Good Cat (vegan healthy stuff) and Bad Cat (twists on classic brunch food with meat and shit). Everything is delicious. Coffee, too.
In this Neighborhood: All Jokes on Me •
Drink
Bar
Black Penny
700 N Rampart St.
in
French Quarter
Right on the edge of the Quarter near Armstrong Park. Tons of craft beer selections, reasonably priced, with a knowledgable staff. On the same block as Voodoo Lounge if you're there for I'm Listening.
In this Neighborhood: Comedy Fuck Yeah • I'm Listening • Comedy Cabaret • Crescent Fresh Open Mic • All Jokes Aside Comedy Hour •
Drink
Dive Bar
Boondock Saint
731 St. Peter St.
in
French Quarter
Full disclosure: two cops own this bar, but it's fine. It's a dive bar named after the movie (which they play on loop 24hrs a day). Drink's are fairly cheap considering it's 1 block off Bourbon St. When someone drags me to Bourbon St., this is a nice little oasis from the bullshit.
In this Neighborhood: Comedy Fuck Yeah • I'm Listening • Comedy Cabaret • Crescent Fresh Open Mic • All Jokes Aside Comedy Hour •
Drink
Brewery
Brieux Carre (BROO car-AY)
2115 Decatur St.
in
French Quarter
Relatively new nano-brewery. They kinda go experimental with their beers. Beers are crisp and tasty. Every other Saturday, catch All Jokes Aside.
In this Neighborhood: Comedy Fuck Yeah • I'm Listening • Comedy Cabaret • Crescent Fresh Open Mic • All Jokes Aside Comedy Hour •
Eat
Restaurant
Bud's Broiler
500 City Park Ave
in
MidCity
Bud's is a local institution. They're 24 hours, but if you're eating Bud's when the sun's up, then you fucked up. There's a bunch of options on how to get your burger (the have hot dogs, but fuck that). I go for the #4 with sauce and onions. There's two camps: the sauce or the chili. You can get chili anywhere, get the damn sauce. Bonus level: sauce cheese fries
Drink
Bar
Catahoula Hotel Rooftop Bar
914 Union St.
in
Central Business District
Located on the roof of the small Catahoula Hotel. Cocktails are super good and perfect for hot NOLA summers. Cool view of downtown from the roof.
Eat
Restaurant
Cochon Butcher (CO-shawn)
930 Tchoupitoulas St. (CHOP-uh-too-lus)
in
Warehouse District
Slice and cure their own meats, and pickle everything pickled in house. Amazingly good meats and sandwiches. The brussels sprouts are fantastic. Super good value for the high quality food. Also, right around the corner from the Howlin' Wolf, so you'll be close to Comedy Gumbeaux on Thursdays and Comedy Beast on Tuesdays.
Drink
Brewery
Courtyard Brewery
1020 Erato St.
in
Lower Garden District
Nano-brewery with usually half a dozen or so of their own beers on tap, plus about 15 or so more local and national craft beers on tap too. They specialize in west coast style IPAs, but there's something for everyone. They always have a food truck parked out front in the evenings, too if you're hungry. Tell Scott, the owner, I sent you.
In this Neighborhood: Why So Serious? Comedy Open Mic • Open Mic at the Quisby • Open Mic at The Quisby •
See
Park
Crescent Park
1008 N Peters St
in
Marigny
1.4 mile long park that runs along the Mississippi River. Great view, and if you're a runner, good place to do that.
See
Art
Frenchmen Art Market
619 Frenchmen St.
in
Marigny
Art market featuring local artists of all kinds. Opens at 7pm, so stop by before or after Crescent Fresh open mic on Thursdays or Comedy Fuck Yeah on Fridays, both at the Dragon's Den a couple blocks away.
Eat
Restaurant
Gene's
1040 Elysian Fields Ave
in
Marigny
Gene's makes a decent poboy. It's walking distance from HiHo, Siberia, and Allways so if you're in a bind for some food late at night, here's your spot. I think they're still cash only. And don't forget to grab a frozen daiquiri!
Eat
Restaurant
Horn's
1940 Dauphine St.
in
Marigny
Southern-style breakfast, with chicken and waffles being a favorite.
Eat
Bar/Restaurant
Junction
3021 St. Claude Ave.
in
Bywater
The burgers here are incredible. They use all grassfed cows or someshit, or they use one whole cow? Anyway, foods awesome and they've got a killer craft beer line up too and their staff knows their shit about the beers, too. They're open until 2am and they're pretty close to where most shows happen.
In this Neighborhood: The Spontaneous Show • The XX Comedy Show • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • A Night of LGBTQ Comedy • Chocolate Sundaes • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Double Six Comedy Open Mic •
Eat
Restaurant
Kebab
2315 St. Claude
in
Marigny
A favorite amongst comics, partly because of its proximity to Siberia, HiHo, and Allways. Gyro-style kebab sandwiches. Also a few pinball machines.
Eat
Restaurant
Killer Poboys
811 Conti St.
in
French Quarter
Tucked into the back of the bar Erin Rose in the Quarter, they serve up some unique and delicious poboys. Glazed pork belly, Jameson grilled cheese, plus classics like fried shrimp.
In this Neighborhood: Comedy Fuck Yeah • I'm Listening • Comedy Cabaret • Crescent Fresh Open Mic • All Jokes Aside Comedy Hour •
Eat
Bar/Restaurant
Lost Love Lounge
2529 Dauphine St.
in
Marigny
This bar is neighborhood as shit and just so happens to have killer Vietnamese food in the back kitchen, serving kinda late, too I think. And, bonus, Tuesday nights around 10pm is Cassidy Henehan's Comedy Catastrophe.
Drink
Dive Bar
Markey's
640 Louisa St.
in
Bywater
It's not a great bar and it's usually really crowded, but, if you've been out drinking in the area and need some late night bar food, Markey's will do.
In this Neighborhood: The Spontaneous Show • The XX Comedy Show • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • A Night of LGBTQ Comedy • Chocolate Sundaes • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Double Six Comedy Open Mic •
Drink
Dive Bar
Mick's Irish Pub
4801 Bienville Ave
in
MidCity
Mick's is your typical hole-in-the-wall neighborhood bar. It's nothing special, just one of the places in the neighborhood that isn't full of shit. There's pool tables, shuffleboard, darts, and a bunch of board games and a couple pinball/arcade games too. Sometimes there's free food, especially during Saints games.
Eat
Dive Bar, Restaurant
Mimi's
2601 Royal St.
in
Marigny
They serve tapas-style food pretty late. The bar's alright. They've got a balcony that makes for a decent hang. Mostly we come here after we're already fucked up and wanna sit down and eat a little something and continue to get fucked up.
Drink
Dive Bar
Molly's at the Market
1107 Decatur St.
in
French Quarter
A go-to spot for a lot of us, especially after Comedy Fuck Yeah at the Dragon's Den. Decent drinks, decently priced. They have a back bar that is technically in a courtyard thanks to a retracting roof, so it's the only bar you can kinda smoke in. Get a frozen Irish coffee. Great way to beat the heat
In this Neighborhood: Comedy Fuck Yeah • I'm Listening • Comedy Cabaret • Crescent Fresh Open Mic • All Jokes Aside Comedy Hour •
See
Art
Music Box Village
4557 N Rampart St.
in
Bywater
This place is pretty rad. It's an interactive musical art installation and there's performances and stuff too.
In this Neighborhood: The Spontaneous Show • The XX Comedy Show • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • A Night of LGBTQ Comedy • Chocolate Sundaes • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Double Six Comedy Open Mic •
Drink
Brewery
NOLA Brewing
3001 Tchoupitoulas Ave. (CHOP-uh-too-lus)
in
Irish Channel
First production brewery to open in the city limits after Katrina. They're the big dogs around here (fuck Abita). Good beers, with lots of sours and other specialty brews on tap at the tap room. There's also Mclure's BBQ in here too, and it's solid BBQ.
Eat
Restaurant
Neyow's Creole Cafe
3340 Bienville St.
in
MidCity
Southern and creole fare. Chargrilled oysters are a popular starter, and the red beans too.
Drink
Distillery
Old New Orleans Rum
2815 Frenchmen St.
in
7th Ward
Good local rums. The tour is fun and interesting as well. Their Gingeroo ginger drink is legit.
In this Neighborhood:
Eat
Restaurant
Pagoda
1430 N. Dorgenois St. (DOR-jen-wah)
in
7th Ward
Coffee's good here and the breakfast tacos are perfect hangover food. Benjamin Hoffman works here, so he'll probably get you a discount fi you're not a dick about it.
In this Neighborhood:
Eat
Restaurant
Parkway Bakery
538 Hagan Ave
in
MidCity
Everyone has their favorite poboy shop, some have favorites for certain sandwiches. Parkway's one of the tops. The classic roast beef is super good, and their half-and-half fried shrimp/fried oyser is really good (they use cornmeal on their oysters which is the superior, correct way to fry oysters). One special sandwich is the Surf N Turf -- a shrimp poboy with roast beef debris (debris is the gravy and meat parts that fall off the roast beef into the gravy). In New Orleans, a sandwich is "dressed" if it has lettuce, mayo, tomato, and pickles on it. They'll ask you if you want it dressed. Just say yes and don't be a nerd about it.
Drink
Brewery
Parleaux Beer Lab (PAR-low)
634 Lesseps St.
in
Bywater
Small batch craft brewery. About a dozen or so rotating taps of their own beers.
In this Neighborhood: The Spontaneous Show • The XX Comedy Show • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • A Night of LGBTQ Comedy • Chocolate Sundaes • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Double Six Comedy Open Mic •
See
Museum
Pharmacy Museum
514 Chartres St. (CHART-urz)
in
French Quarter
This place is weird and interesting. It's got a bunch of old medical equipment and explainations of old shcool medicine. You can walk through yourself or there's a guided tour at 1pm. Benjamin didn't specifically recommend being high here, but it'd probably be tight. Admission: $5. Hours: Tues - Sat, 10am - 4pm. No guided tour Saturdays.
In this Neighborhood: Comedy Fuck Yeah • I'm Listening • Comedy Cabaret • Crescent Fresh Open Mic • All Jokes Aside Comedy Hour •
Drink
Dive Bar
Phoenix Bar
941 Elysian Fields Ave
in
Marigny
Staple of the queer community in New Orleans, just outside of the French Quarter. 16 beers on tap. Also features an upstairs bar with a strict no cellphone policy, and an in-house leather, kink, and fetish shop.
Drink
Bar
Pirate's Alley
622 Pirate's Alley
in
French Quarter
Grab you some absinthe and catch a view of the Cabildo and St. Louis Cathedral
In this Neighborhood: Comedy Fuck Yeah • I'm Listening • Comedy Cabaret • Crescent Fresh Open Mic • All Jokes Aside Comedy Hour •
Eat
Restaurant
Red's Chinese
3048 St. Claude
in
Bywater
This is some solid American Chinese food. It's like if you gave Chinese food a tall bicycle and a moustache, but it tasted good. Big portions. Cocktails are pretty good too.
In this Neighborhood: The Spontaneous Show • The XX Comedy Show • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • A Night of LGBTQ Comedy • Chocolate Sundaes • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Double Six Comedy Open Mic •
See
Park
Scultpure Garden in City Park
1 Palm Dr
in
MidCity
The sculptures here are pretty great, and the park itself is beautiful. It's a nice leasurely walk type of place. Benjamin Hoffman recommends being high for this. Admission: FREE. Summer Hours: (April 1 – September 30) 10 am – 6 pm, Winter Hours: (October 1 – March 31) 10 am – 5 pm
Drink
Brewery
Second Line Brewing
433 N. Bernadotte
in
MidCity
They've only got 4 year-round beers, but they have other stuff in the taproom. Cool MidCity vibe. During Crawfish season (spring time) they have boils every Friday
Drink
Wine Bar
Second Vine Wine
1027 Touro St.
in
Marigny
Right on the edge of the 7th Ward and Marigny. Unique selection of wines and a very knowledgable staff.
Drink
Distillery
Seven Three Distilling
301 N Claiborne Ave
in
Treme
New distillery, about a year old. Currently they have a gin, vodka, and a cucumber flavored vodka.
In this Neighborhood:
See
Museum
Southern Food and Beverage Museum
1504 OC Haley Blvd
in
Central City
Pretty chill museum about food and cocktails and stuff from the region. Admission: $10.50. Hours: Wed - Mon, 11am - 5:30pm. Closed Tuesdays.
In this Neighborhood:
Eat
Restaurant
St. James Cheese Company
641 Tchoupitoulas Ave. (CHOP-uh-too-lus) / 5004 Prytania St. (PRIH-tan-ya)
in
Central Business District / Uptown
Food is dope. Sandwiches, etc. But the cheese is the star. Name a cheese, it's there. And they'll help you pick it out and whatnot. There's like 4 comics that work here, so they'll probably hook you up.
Drink
Bar/Restaurant
St. Lawrence
219 N. Peters St.
in
French Quarter
Food's good here, and so are all the cocktails, but the star is the Pimm's Cup daiquiri. It's just a frozen Pimm's Cup and it's perfect for a New Orleans summer and walking the Quarter. Cash only.
In this Neighborhood: Comedy Fuck Yeah • I'm Listening • Comedy Cabaret • Crescent Fresh Open Mic • All Jokes Aside Comedy Hour •
Eat
Restaurant
Stein's Market and Deli
2207 Magazine St.
in
Garden District
Closest thing to a NYC-style deli we have (it's not close, just the closest we have). Standard Jewish deli fare, and delicious as hell. Staff more or less doesn't give a shit and that's how it should be. Walk past the lunch counter out the back door and go in the back room too buy whatever craft beer bottles you want. They're usually the first to get limited releases of stuff.
See
Art
Studio Be
2941 Royal St
in
Bywater
Studio Be is a 35,000sqft warehouse featuring the art of Brandon Odums. Beautiful work.
In this Neighborhood: The Spontaneous Show • The XX Comedy Show • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • A Night of LGBTQ Comedy • Chocolate Sundaes • Two Friends Improv Theater presents: a night of comedy • Double Six Comedy Open Mic •
See
Art
The Art Garage
2231 St. Claude Ave
in
Marigny
Run by the folks who used to run the Frenchmen Art Market. Lots of local artists in this former auto shop, nextdoor to Siberia and HiHo, and across the street from Allways Lounge.
Eat
Restaurant
Turkey and the Wolf
739 Jackson Ave
in
Garden District
Currently rated the best new restaurant in the US. Everything is insanely good. I recommend the fried balogna sandwich with Duke's mayo and potato chips on top. Cocktail game is strong here too.
Drink
Brewery
Urban South Brewery
1645 Tchoupitoulas Ave. (CHOP-uh-too-lus)
in
Lower Garden District
Huge fan of almost all their beers and they've got some of the best designed cans in the state.
In this Neighborhood: Why So Serious? Comedy Open Mic • Open Mic at the Quisby • Open Mic at The Quisby •
Eat
Deli/Grocery
Verti Marte
1201 Royal St
in
French Quarter
If you're in the area and drunk and need food, this is the spot. You might have to wait a bit, but it's worth it. Eat that shit on the sidewalk outside with the other drunk idiots. They don't fuck around in here though, so just order your food and move on.
In this Neighborhood: Comedy Fuck Yeah • I'm Listening • Comedy Cabaret • Crescent Fresh Open Mic • All Jokes Aside Comedy Hour •
Eat
Restaurant
Vieux Carre Pizza (VOO car-AY)
733 St. Louis St.
in
French Quarter
It's adequate pizza. Sold by the slice, too. Perfect for stumbling through the Quarter and needing some grease to sop up all the poison you poured in yourself.
In this Neighborhood: Comedy Fuck Yeah • I'm Listening • Comedy Cabaret • Crescent Fresh Open Mic • All Jokes Aside Comedy Hour •
Drink
Brewery
Wayward Owl Brewing
3940 Thalia St.
in
Broadmoor
Some Seattle folks moved down here and opened this brewery a couple years ago. Solid IPA, plus a few other year-round brews, specialties, and collaborations.