Don’t Miss These Fun Things to Do at Night in New Orleans

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New Orleans isn’t called ‘The Big Easy’ for nothing. When prohibition banned the production and sale of alcohol across the United States, New Orleans adopted a more relaxed approach. Whereas elsewhere in the U.S., drinking continued behind closed doors giving rise to the famous speakeasys of New York, New Orleans maintained its active nightlife scene, which is why there are so many great things to do at night in New Orleans.

The historians among us may be chomping at the bit to point out that the opening of The Big Easy Dance Hall in 1911 is what gave New Orleans its nickname. You wouldn’t be wrong, but it’s that characteristic New Orleans relaxed, anything-goes approach to nightlife that has kept it prevalent to this day.

Of course, there’s far more than nightlife alone which makes New Orleans one of the most visited cities in the U.S. There’s centuries of history, some of the best food in North America, and it’s the gateway to the Louisiana Bayou. But when you visit the Big Easy, plan for some late nights. New Orleans is very much a city which comes alive after dark, and the party never seems to stop.

The 5 best things to do at night in New Orleans

1. Take a Jazz cruise

New Orleans has always been a melting pot of cultures, and music has been a mainstay of city life since its foundation. Music is an international language; you don’t need to speak it to understand it. With dwellers from so many backgrounds – French, Spanish, African and Irish to name a few – music was one of the few things which could bring people together.

Jazz has long been synonymous with the Big Easy; in fact, it came around decades before that nickname. In 1895, Charles “Buddy” Bolen formed a jazz group in the city which quickly rose to fame. Fast forward 20 years and the Original Dixieland Jazz Band was born.

Surrounded on three sides by water, native New Orleanians have always been a seafaring people. Experiencing traditional Jazz whilst cruising along the mighty Mississippi River is one of my favorite things to do at night in New Orleans.

Hop aboard the Natchez, a typical steamboat built as a replica of the vessels which plied the river in the early 20th century. Natchez‘s two-hour evening jazz cruises depart every night with live music performed by the Dukes of Dixieland. All sailings have the option of adding dinner onboard. You’ll find the menu is a smorgasbord of Creole classics and a great introduction to New Orleans’s cuisine.

2. Grab some late night beignets

When the French settled Louisiana in the 18th century, they soon made New Orleans their capital. Ever since, French cuisine and New Orleans have gone hand in hand. Beignets, although invented in France, are commonly considered The Big Easy’s favorite food.

Established in 1862, Café du Monde on Decatur Street has long been considered the top spot for beignets in New Orleans. It’s open from early morning until late in the evening, but their fame (and delicious beignets) means they’re almost always busy.

Avoiding the crowds means grabbing some beignets from Café du Monde, and it really is a highlight of the things to do at night in New Orleans. For the ultimate experience, the right way to do it is to take a seat on their patio and gorge on fresh beignets whilst sipping a chicory-blended café au lait.

3. Go wild on Bourbon Street

Named after France’s ruling family, the House of Bourbon, when the French founded New Orleans in 1718, Bourbon Street runs through the heart of the historic French Quarter. During the day, it’s a great place to learn a little about the city’s history. After dark, it’s a whole different story.

New Orleans’s answer to the Las Vegas Strip (if such an alternative exists), Bourbon Street is the hub of the city’s nightlife industry. Upper Bourbon Street is home to so many things to do at night in New Orleans.

Home to countless bars, restaurants and clubs, whether you want to party the night away or just soak up the atmosphere and browse the shops, a visit to Bourbon Street after dark is essential on any New Orleans trip.

For the ultimate Bourbon Street party, kick off your night at the Old Absinthe House. Serving since 1807, having a drink in this classic old time saloon feels as if you’ve traveled through time. When the night gets old, round off your Bourbon Street experience at The Garage Music Club. On the weekend, the music goes on long into the small hours.

4. Discover the spooky side of New Orleans

Long associated with poltergeists, vampires and voodoo, exploring the city’s dark side is one of the unmissable things to do at night in New Orleans. The centuries-old buildings of the French Quarter hide some ghoulish history.

Kick off your ghostly night in New Orleans with a visit to Voodoo Authentica. Even if you don’t plan to buy any dolls, browsing this quirky store is an experience like no other.

With your curiosity for the supernatural enflamed, join a tour to delve deep into The Big Easy’s spooky side. We love this two-hour ghost and cemetery bus tour which takes you by the city’s most haunted spots.

A highlight is exploring the famous St Louis Cemetery No. 3, a purportedly haunted burial ground built to cope with the influx of bodies during a yellow fever epidemic in the 19th century. You’ll also get the chance to pay your tributes to the more recently departed at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial.

If you’re still thirsty for more, and a drink or two along the way, tag along on this haunted pub crawl. You’ll hear ghost stories from a local guide as you bar-hop your way through the French Quarter to Bourbon Street. The final stop, and without doubt the best, is Lalaurie Mansion, the most haunted location in New Orleans.

5. Explore the French Quarter

The oldest district in New Orleans, the city as we know it today was built up around the French Quarter. Home to endless French colonial buildings, The Quarter is a designated National Historic Landmark.

Travel tip: To get your bearings, we recommend taking a guided walking tour of the French Quarter in the late afternoon. Then, as darkness falls, set out to explore this historic district at your own pace.

Start your night in The French Quarter at Jackson Square. Take a moment to look up at the stunning architecture all around you. Make sure you leave time to take in a street performance or two. If you time it right, you might catch a brass band, but whenever you come, you can expect to be treated to some jazz and blues.

Round off your evening in the French Quarter with a visit to St Louis Cathedral. Built in honor of Saint Louis, King of France, the original cathedral burnt to the ground in 1788. Today, you’ll find a newer building which still dates back to 1850. A mix of French Neo Classical and Renaissance Spanish Colonial styles, the cathedral looks even better, and a lot more eerie, after dark.

The best Creole restaurants in Jackson Square

A highlight of an evening in the French Quarter is the chance to try some traditional Creole cuisine. Unquestionably, exploring Creole cuisine is one of the best things to do at night in New Orleans.

For a true taste of New Orleans, head to Gumbo Shop, just off Jackson Square. Their multi-award winning gumbo is the best around. Alongside the classic meat-heavy New Orleans style of gumbo, they do a delicious seafood gumbo and plenty more Creole favorites.

Muriel’s, on the other side of Jackson Square, is the place to go for a more formal dinner. They serve all the Creole staples including Shrimp & Grits, Redfish and turtle soup in a beautiful 19th-century building with a resident ghost to keep you company.

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