New Orleans New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl

It’s the start of a new year, 2023, and you’ve decided to go all out with New Orleans’ famous New Year’s Eve bar crawl. Visitors to the area are guaranteed to have an epic night, as this culturally vibrant city knows how to throw a party. We’ll break down all the tips, tricks and info you need to have an unforgettable festive night of bar-hopping and revelry.

Popular Bars and Clubs

New Orleans is home to many unique bars, serving up tasty drinks and vibrant atmosphere. Whether you’re looking for an upscale speakeasy or hip dive, there’s sure to be something that satisfies your tastes. Here are some popular hotspots:

• Preservation Hall – An iconic jazz venue dating back to 1961, Preservation Hall is a standout amongst New Orleans bars. Found in the French Quarter, musicians from around the world flock to this venue for some of the best live music in the city.
• Frenchmen Street – This is where it’s at for music lovers, this historic street has several jazz spots and lively bars.
• Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits – A bar even the locals love, Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits has plenty of incredible cocktails, beer and wine. Enjoy soulful music and a relaxed atmosphere.
• 12 Mile Limit – Hip dive bar perfect for any activity from pool and darts in the day to rock and jam nights at night.
• Branch – Upscale speakeasy that serves handcrafted cocktails. The venue also offers jazz and soul acts.
• Beach on Bourbon – Get yourself onto the dancefloor at this long-standing club.

Where To Eat Before the Pub Crawl

If you plan on partying the night away it’s always a good idea to grab a bite to eat. We’ve gathered some excellent eateries that are perfect for pre-party fuel:

• Commander’s Palace – This award-winning restaurant has a reputation for its exceptional Creole cuisine. The dress code is “festive casual”, so be sure to bring your best!
• Café du Monde – This classic coffee and beignet joint serves up tasty sweet treats.
• GW Fins – Try some fresh Gulf seafood cooked with only the finest ingredients for maximum deliciousness.
• Jacques-Imo’s Cafe – Feel like you’re in New Orleans with hearty Creole favourites. Jacques-Imo’s Café also offers nightly live music.

Setting an Itinerary

When setting up an itinerary for a pub crawl, it’s important to plan ahead and have a loose structure of where you want to go. Nobody wants to get stuck in a single spot when there’s so much delicious fun to experience. Start off at a bar early in the night, allowing plenty of time for lively conversation, drinks and casual games. When it’s close to midnight, prepare for ‘reveillon’ – which so conveniently occurs during pub crawls!

Reveillon celebrates the start of the New Year with fireworks, complimentary champagne toast and special with meals from select restaurants. After this, people typically relocate venues such as lively jazz & blues clubs, dance clubs and pubs.

Popular stops on New Year’s Eve include Standard Hall Bar & Grill, The Old Point Bar, All Ways Lounge (um, it really is!), Pascal’s Manale Restaurant (more decent eats) and The Rusty Nail (not what you think). Traditional options like Jackson Square and Bourbon Street are always classic choices for celebrations.

It’s also worth noting that there’s lots of events throughout the city such as concerts and performances that may be on during the night too – usually located in the French Quarter. These can add extra fun and flair to your evening festivities – worth looking into before you set out!

Safety Tips

Safety always comes first when planning any pub crawl, especially when you’re in a new city with unfamiliar regulations, surroundings and rules. Here are a few pointers for staying safe during your tour:

• Travel in groups. This means registered recognised groups but also invite your friends or find like minded people at each bar or pub on your tour.
• Know your limits on alcohol consumption or other substances so that you stay in control of yourself.
• Move around in groups so as not to get lost or left behind.
• Utilise licensed transportation services such as local Uber/Lyft drivers or taxi services if needed.
• Understand city regulations – New Orleans has many regulations when it comes to open container laws and age restrictions so be sure to look into these before heading out.

Experience a Unique True Crime Pub Crawl

Want an extra special New Year’s Eve? Why not join an Adults Only True Crime Pub Crawl organised by GetYourGuide? This tour takes you around some of the city’s classic bars as well as some lesser known locations. Spend an evening hearing about New Orleans’ illicit history from hard-hitting gangsters to modern day con men – all while discovering some of the very best craft beer spots around town! With GetYourGuide on hand to offer insight into some truly unique breweries, this tour is perfect for those wanting a fun and informative night out in New Orleans. All the details of this special excursion can be found here.

Conclusion

For many people, New Year’s Eve is a night not just for celebrating but for exploration – it’s one of the best nights of the year for discovering new places and enjoying secret experiences. It’s our favourite night to explore every hidden corner in this vibrant city! With our guide you’ll have everything you need for a safe but wild evening hitting up all your favourite bars in the Big Easy. Have an unforgettable New Year’s Eve in 2023!