Pal's Lounge in Mid-City is the pin-up themed neighbourhood dive on Rendon, around since 2002 in a building that's been a bar since the 1920s, with a jukebox and an open back patio.
Tip: Open 15:00 to 03:00 every day. Play the jukebox; the back patio is dog friendly and runs popup pizza most weekends.
Address: 949 North Rendon Street, New Orleans, LA 70119
Twelve Mile Limit on Telemachus runs a Mid-City corner dive where the cocktails come out at proper craft level, the back room hosts trivia and karaoke, and the kitchen rotates pop-ups.
Tip: Trivia Tuesdays from 20:00; food pop-ups posted on Instagram. Cash and card; the Telemachus side patio is the quieter seat.
Twelve Mile Limit on Telemachus runs a Mid-City corner dive where the cocktails come out at proper craft level, the back room hosts trivia and karaoke, and the kitchen rotates pop-ups.
Tip: Trivia Tuesdays from 20:00; food pop-ups posted on Instagram. Cash and card; the Telemachus side patio is the quieter seat.
Kajun's Pub on St Claude runs karaoke open to close every day of the week, a state-of-the-art light and sound rig, and a back patio that bleeds into the Marigny dive-bar circuit.
Tip: Karaoke from open until close. Friday and Saturday run to 03:00; cash bar, no cover, 21+ after 20:00.
Vaughan's Lounge sits on a Bywater residential corner, a 60-year neighbourhood dive that ran Kermit Ruffins' Thursday residency for two decades and still books brass and funk Thursdays.
Tip: Side-door buzzer entry. Thursday brass sets start around 20:30 with a second set near 23:00; free red beans and rice on Thursday nights.
Republic NOLA in the Warehouse District is a converted brick warehouse with wooden beams, two stocked bars and a 5,000 square foot main room that runs touring electronic and hip-hop bookings.
Tip: Most weekends sell tickets via the venue calendar; the stage doubles as a concert room earlier in the evening before the DJ takes over.
The Metropolitan in the Warehouse District is the two-story EDM and top-40 club with eleven bar stations, sixteen VIP sections and a Saturday-only schedule running until 04:00.
Tip: Saturdays only. Cover runs $20 to $30, cocktails $10 to $15. Reserve a VIP section in advance if you want a guaranteed table on a busy holiday weekend.
The Rabbit Hole on Oretha Castle Haley runs DJ sets and live shows under custom murals and a Void Acoustics rig, with weekend parties built around resident hip-hop and house selectors.
Tip: Tickets via the venue calendar; the main room runs late on Friday and Saturday with rotating themed nights and a cover charge at the door.