Fun and entertainment - Louisiana in 2024

Practical information : Going out Louisiana

Timetable

Mostly located in the city, nightclubs are generally open on Fridays and Saturdays - and other nights depending on the club - from 9-10pm to 3am or even later (note that the days and hours of operation are more extensive in New Orleans, especially in the French Quarter). For anything related to activities with friends (movies, billiards, bowling, go-karting, escape games, etc.), the hours vary greatly depending on the type of establishment. There are also several casinos in Louisiana, most of which are open 24 hours a day. For the performing arts (music, dance, theater, etc.), annual programming is concentrated mostly outside of the summer season, in the evening most of the time. That said, since music is at the heart of Louisiana culture, show bars and "fais dodo" have a busy schedule that extends throughout the year and not just in the evening.

Budget & Tips

Going to a club is generally cheaper in Louisiana than in Europe (although not necessarily to the same standard). Admission can be free before a certain time (usually 11pm or midnight) or by joining the guest list (usually reserved for women). Note, however, that more exclusive clubs may require you to reserve bottle service to secure a seat. For movies, discounts are often offered for shows before 4pm or on the weekly discount day (usually Tuesday). This is the case for most AMC and AMC DINE-IN theaters. Entertainment deals: Gametime offers last-minute tickets to shows and sporting events in New Orleans (gametime.co), among other things, and remember that Louisiana is always buzzing with music, so it's easy to see shows for free in bars.
As a general rule, the prices listed are always exclusive of tax. Not only do you have to add sales tax (4.45% + local tax of up to 7%), but you also have to add the 15% service charge when applicable. All methods of payment are accepted, but it may happen that the bar in a theater, for example, only accepts cash and/or debit cards.

To be booked

To ensure a seat, reservations are highly recommended for the more exclusive shows and nightclubs. For some activities, such as go-karting and escape games, reservations are often imperative and a deposit may be required. For all other activities, simply show up on the day.

Night transport

In New Orleans, getting home late is no problem. The streetcar lines run 24 hours a day (except the UPT-Riverfront line), but some stops are not served at night on the Canal Streetcar - City Park/Museum line. As for the buses, it depends on the lines, some of them being in service all night long and others ending in the early evening. As for the ferry connecting downtown to the Algiers Point neighborhood, it ends its service at about 8:30 p.m./8:45 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday and 10:30 p.m./10:45 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Elsewhere in Louisiana, there is no nighttime public transportation service, except for cabs, Uber, Lyft and the like, which offer 24-hour service, but only in certain cities and towns. There is also a paid ride home service in Greater New Orleans and the Shreveport area, offered by Dryver (dryver.com/cities/new-orleans & dryver.com/cities/shreveport).

Age restrictions

In Louisiana (and the rest of the country), the age of majority is 18, but you must be 21 to drink alcohol. Wherever a bar license applies, only people over the age of majority are allowed in. At the entrance of some bars, especially in New Orleans, a bracelet or stamp is provided to people under 21 to let the waiters know that they are underage. However, some places have a different permit (restaurant, craft production...) that allows minors to be present. Please note that all licensed bars or establishments ask for an official photo ID at the entrance and some establishments only accept passports (the French ID card does not mean anything to them). Sometimes you will even be asked for your "ID" at the supermarket if you buy wine or any other bottle of alcohol. On the other hand, during festivals and holidays, nobody will be interested in your age.

What's very local

Many musicians are very famous only in New Orleans and manage to live on their modest fees or tips from the public. Music is everywhere. There is no one place to favor more than another. You have to try them all to understand that music in New Orleans is part of everyday life and that the most important thing is not the quality, but the good atmosphere and the pleasure of playing. Also in the spirit of music, don't miss the dance parties in the dance halls of Cajun country (the famous "fais dodo").
Louisiana is also famous for its casinos, being one of the few states to have made gambling legal, but only in casinos located on the water and on the dock, except for Harrah's casino in New Orleans and those managed by Indian tribes. Thus, one will see many Texas license plates in Lake Charles and Shreveport. Each parish then has the choice of whether or not to allow a casino to be located within its boundaries. Some people spent days spending money, hypnotized by a roulette wheel or a one-armed bandit...

Smokers

Smoking is prohibited in clubs, entertainment venues, activity centers (go-karting, escape games, etc.), etc. While state law does not prohibit smoking in bars (where entertainment may be held) and casinos (on floors with gaming areas only), many cities have imposed local restrictions in this regard, including Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans and Monroe/West Monroe. However, smoking is permitted on patios throughout Louisiana unless otherwise noted.

Tourist traps

Just as with sporting events, the resale of entertainment tickets is ubiquitous online, and sometimes even on the street. While it's true that you can save a few bucks by buying from resellers, it would be a shame to waste your money on fake tickets. So go through the official ticket offices.

Fun and entertainment Louisiana

PRESERVATION HALL

THE SPOTTED CAT MUSIC CLUB

BACCHANAL WINE

CC’S COFFEE HOUSE

PANORAMA MUSIC HOUSE

FRITZEL’S EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB

SNUG HARBOR JAZZ BISTRO

RIVER ROOM

RED STICK SOCIAL

TIN ROOF BREWING CO.

KERMIT'S TREME MOTHER IN LAW LOUNGE

VAUGHAN’S LOUNGE

WHO DAT COFFEE CAFE

THE TCHOUP YARD

FRENCH TRUCK COFFEE

MIEL BREWERY & TAPROOM

PARLEAUX BEER LAB

PAT O’BRIEN’S BAR

CAFE DU MONDE

CAESARS SUPERDOME

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