NOLA

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Hit the Quarter numerous times with buddies and girlfriends for 30 years, but given the amount of riff-raff that congregates there now, I'm looking to branch out on my next trip in a few months.

Looking for a good bar off Bourbon or near Frenchman to drink and chill, preferably with a band or musician playing covers.

Dislikes: jazz, super packed clubs, excess cultcha.

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The city is a lot bigger than your parameters, and given your dislikes...

Most of those clubs are going to be jazz or brass band adjacent.

Frenchmen, to me, has gone WAY downhill in the past decade. Once that large building on the corner was abandoned the homeless and drugheads flocked to it. I really don't like going over there anymore.

Bacchanal in Bywater is always great if you want to be in that general vicinity. Probably one of the best places in NOLA and now somewhat legendary in the post Katrina city. The music will be 3 piece band type and its a wine place with a great backyard, but you can get beer and cocktails upstairs. Truly one of the better evenings you will have in NOLA with a couple or group.

Otherwise, I'd consider heading uptown perhaps and ditching the live music aspect. Go to places on Magazine Street like Barrel Proof, Bouligny Tavern, Patron Saint, the Bulldog, etc or perhaps places like The Columns on St Charles. You can typically find more upscale crowds, relaxed atmospheres in those types of places.


Edit: I also realize the irony of suggesting Bacchanal and mentioning an abandoned building on Frenchmen attracting Homeless, given that Bacchanal is across the street from the abandoned Federal Building, but you won't have any problem getting dropped off right in front and ubering back

IMHO, kinda hard to beat Lafitte’s on Bourbon, the bar @ Bourbon House, or Spotted Cat on Frenchman St. Also, MRB just off of Decatur can have a really good vibe…

Appreciate the help!

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given the amount of riff-raff that congregates there now,

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FWIW - Most of the time, the riff-raff hang out in the first few blocks of Bourbon near Canal Street. Also, they usually don't appear until after 11 PM.