New Orleans: Frenchmen Street Live Music & VIP Pub Crawl

4.70

(579 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“Don’t bother with Bourbon tonight — trust me, Frenchmen’s where the soul is,” our guide, Marcus, grinned as he handed out neon wristbands outside Bar Stellar. He knew everyone — I mean, really knew them. Some folks waved from across the street like we were regulars already. The air had that sticky-sweet smell of spilled rum and rain on old pavement. I’d barely finished my first sip of a Hurricane before Marcus was already telling us about some jazz legend who once played right here, in this same room. It felt like the walls might remember.

I didn’t expect to feel so swept up by the music — it was everywhere, pouring out of clubs and even from a sax player just leaning against a lamppost. We skipped lines (felt a bit smug about that) and ducked into places like The Spotted Cat and Maison; every band was different but all ridiculously good. At Snug Harbor, someone handed me an Esplanade Lemonade and I tried not to spill it while clapping along. There was this moment where the whole crowd went quiet for a trumpet solo — honestly gave me goosebumps. It’s loud but somehow you can still catch these tiny silences between notes.

We wandered through the Frenchmen Art Market at some point — hard to keep track of time when you’re in that kind of groove. Someone offered to put glitter on my face (I said yes; why not?) and I ended up chatting with a jeweler about her favorite local bands. The night got blurrier after our group tried dancing — Marcus cheered us on like we were pros, though I’m pretty sure I looked ridiculous. Still think about that bead necklace I won for “most enthusiastic” moves. Anyway, if you want to really feel New Orleans on your first night, this is it.