Top 10 Beer Spots in New Orleans
Navigating the New Orleans beer scene can be overwhelming. Luckily, we've narrowed it down to 10 of the most essential and interesting bars that you can find in city.
Whether you're in the mood for a laid-back dive, a lively patio scene, or a classic pub with history, you'll find the perfect spot on this list.
1. Avenue Pub
1732 St. Charles Ave., (504) 586-9243
theavenuepub.com
Avenue Pub's location on historic St. Charles Avenue has long made it a go‑to for beer enthusiasts, building its reputation on variety. The Watts family opened the tavern in 1987, and Polly Watts turned it into a 24‑hour haven for bartenders and restaurant workers looking to unwind.
Today, more than 40 beers are on tap, and the selections are constantly rotating, with choices ranging from Louisiana craft brews to hard‑to‑find imports. Earlier this year, the owners of Blue Oak BBQ purchased the bar but pledged to keep the staff and personality intact. Avenue Pub remains a neighborhood fixture and an essential stop for anyone who appreciates diverse beer selections.
2. Wrong Iron on the Greenway
3532 Toulouse St., (504) 302-0528
wrongiron.com
Wrong Iron on the Greenway sits alongside the Lafitte Greenway in Mid‑City and bills itself as a beer garden. The venue serves 50 beers, 10 wines, five cocktails, and four frozen drinks on tap, plus additional wine and cocktail options. Dogs are welcome (except during LSU or Saints games), the bar supplies 60 bike‑parking spots, and the age limit is 21 and up.
Weekly events such as Pint Night draw a crowd, staying open into the evening with weekday hours starting at 3 p.m. and weekend hours at 11 a.m. The venue encourages patrons to ride in on bicycles or with pets and invites food‑truck operators to set up outside, making it feel more like a community park than a traditional bar.
3. The Bulldog
Multiple Locations
thebulldog.bar
Since opening its Uptown location in 1994, The Bulldog has grown into a mini‑chain with bars in Mid‑City, Baton Rouge, and Jackson, MS. The Uptown original offers 48 draft lines, mostly devoted to craft beers, and more than 60 bottled options.
Its dog‑friendly patio, complete with a beer‑tap fountain and large TVs, has become a meeting place for neighborhood residents and their four‑legged companions. The founders wanted a tavern focused on draft beer, and they maintain quality by using nitrogen to pump every craft and import beer and high‑temperature glass washers to keep pints pristine.
4. The Jimani
141 Chartres St., (504) 524-0493
thejimani.com
Family‑owned since 1971, The Jimani is a dimly lit French Quarter watering hole where hospitality workers and night owls congregate. The bar advertises more than 100 beers and large TVs tuned to sports. Open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 a.m., the lounge stays busy thanks to a copper bar counter, satellite sports broadcasts, and a kitchen that serves hamburgers, crawfish pasta, and other late‑night staples until closing.
The second floor features a memorial to the 1973 UpStairs Lounge fire. Some visitors and ghost‑tour guides even claim the building is haunted. The Jimani remains focused on hospitality and sports, making it one of the city's most dependable late‑night beer bars.
5. Bayou Beer Garden
326 N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy., (504) 302-9357
bayoubeergarden.com
Bayou Beer Garden opened in 2009 when Dean DiSalvo and Fiona Delargy converted an old double shotgun house near Bayou St. John into a bar with both indoor and outdoor spaces. Inside, the long bar leads to back rooms with dartboards and arcade games.
The venue has more than 40 beers on tap, with selections ranging from Guinness and Belgian ales to local brews such as NOLA Hopitoulas IPA, served in English‑style pint glasses. Bayou Beer Garden's tropical touches, including banana trees and a thatched bar, make it feel like a Mid‑City oasis.
6. MRB Bar & Kitchen
515 St. Philip St., (504) 524-2558
mrbnola.com
Tucked into the French Quarter, MRB offers multiple courtyards and a casual kitchen that serves New Orleans staples. The bar operates from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m., with the kitchen open until 11 p.m., and features live music most nights.
MRB's a hidden gem with a huge courtyard and five big‑screen TVs, that offers hundreds of beers along with tropical cocktails and comfort food such as gumbo and crawfish mac and cheese. With its courtyard seating, seafood, and an extensive beer list, MRB provides an under‑the‑radar alternative to more crowded French Quarter spots.
7. Black Penny
700 N. Rampart St., (504) 304-4779
blackpenny.shop
Black Penny on North Rampart Street is a relaxed dive bar that features a curated craft‑beer selection. Its menu features local brews such as Great Raft Commotion and NOLA Muses Belgian‑style pale ale, along with imports such as Hitachino Yuzu Lager and Boddington's Pub Ale.
The bar's own site describes it as "a vibrant gem" with dark wood and brick interiors and an atmosphere ideal for unwinding after exploring the city.
8. Le Bon Temps Roule
4801 Magazine St., (504) 895-8117
lbtrnola.com
Le Bon Temps Roule is a classic Uptown New Orleans bar open 24 hours a day. Since 1979, it has hosted local bands and countless games of pool under its historic, well-worn roof.
The building still contains its original bargeboard walls and flooring, and it remains a favorite for parties and private events. Le Bon Temps Roule is for anyone looking to celebrate away from the large French Quarter crowds.
9. Barrel Proof
1201 Magazine St., (504) 299-1888
barrelproofnola.com
Barrel Proof is a whiskey‑focused bar in the Lower Garden District that also caters to beer lovers. The bar boasts more than 350 whiskeys and a rotating selection of craft beers from across the United States and abroad.
Its interior features polished woods, cowhide rugs, and a long, low‑ceilinged room. The venue frequently hosts pop‑up kitchens serving everything from vegan dumplings to fried chicken.
10. Stein's Market & Deli
2207 Magazine St., (504) 527-0771
steinsdeli.com
Stein's is a Jewish-style deli, but it has also become one of Uptown's most reliable spots for beer. Owner Dan Stein stocks a constantly rotating selection of domestic craft and imported bottles. The deli operates daytime hours Tuesday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The back "beer room" and front coolers carry hundreds of bottles and cans, ranging from fresh local IPAs to barrel-aged stouts, saisons, and limited releases; most can be purchased as singles, with discounts on six or more.
Top 10 NOLA Beer Spots
From historic pubs to modern beer gardens, this list has covered the essential places to grab a drink. Each spot offers its own mix of atmosphere, selection, and character that makes it worth the visit.
