Cafe Lafitte in Exile
Cafe Lafitte in Exile
4
About
Cafe Lafitte's is the oldest gay bar in the United States. They have a upstairs "Balcony Bar" that is open on the weekends and great for entertaining. Also the Balcony Bar is great for private parties.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: French Quarter
A small and teeming network of laissez-faire living lounged out on the balmy banks of the Mighty Mississippi, the French Quarter has long been a port of call for folks in search of a good time and a great story. Perpetually inebriated Bourbon Street runs across its midriff like a strand of cheap ribbon tied around an otherwise rather pretty and impressively well-kept vintage dress. Throughout the rest of the Quarter, brightly colored Victorian homes and businesses, famously done up with wrought-iron features, provide a distinct and immediately recognizable backdrop for all varieties of fun. At any given moment in this historic riverside setting, some of America’s finest meals are being cooked, most potent cocktails are being mixed, and most engaging music is being performed.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
87 reviews
Excellent
51
Very good
22
Average
4
Poor
3
Terrible
7
Mastashen
Chicago, IL66 contributions
Jan 2020
We found this place while wandering around the Quarter. Staff and patrons were nice. They had karaoke going but were shutting it down when we got there, around 11, so we didn't get to sing, but it was a nice place to grab a drink anyway. I'd go back.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Danny Proctor
Nashville, TN57 contributions
Sep 2022
This corner bar in the French Quarter has become a must-stop-and-drink destination for me. The bartenders at both bars, upstairs and down, could not have been better! Quick, friendly, quirky, and attentive service! We went every day for five days and they always remembered us. Balcony viewing of Bourbon St. is hard to come by but we always found a place to stand and sometimes sit to enjoy our strong drinks and the matchless view. Brice and Nick downstairs and Daddy Roger and Kennedy upstairs were all charmers, despite the packed bar for Southern Decadence weekend. A bar owner down the street told us that Lafitte has the best Hurricane cocktail in the Quarter and I can attest to that! Look forward to many more visits!
Written September 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BJ70117
New Orleans, LA3 contributions
One of the few bars in town that has a "pour system". All drinks being equal has erased some of the New Orleans charm from this bar. Wasn't the reason people liked coming to New Orleans due to the strong drinks? One block away, the bars still free pour so don't panic.
Written November 7, 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GTH
Bristol, UK8 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
Not sure why but we had a Bud and a Vodka red bull and it came to $27. Two blocks down at Oz same order was $14. May be the oldest bar but nothing special when compared to what New Orleans has to offer.
Music videos best part.
Music videos best part.
Written November 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lsharp1064
Valparaiso, IN60 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
The first bar we went to. We had driven 14 hours & just checked in to hotel; we were anxious to get out and start having some fun. Bartender seemed friendly enough... We both love Bloody Mary's. SneakyBartenderBob, of course said, we make a great BM! Do you like cucumber? Never referring to the type of HIGH PREMIUM vodka...we thought naively, yes, ok, it was a garnish. 1 beer, 1 hurricane, and 2 BM's later...almost $50 tab?! Get this, the next morning we went there and nonsneakybartendertony; made 2 BM's(because they were good)...$7.50 total. **BEWARE OF PICKPOCKET BARTENDERS TOO!
Written June 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RedbeardTraveler
Pittsburgh, PA133 contributions
Oct 2014 • Friends
Cafe Lafitte in Exile is one of my favorite bars, ever.
It *is* a gay bar, so it is not necessarily for everyone. However, the staff at Cafe Lafitte's makes sure that everyone feels welcome.
The bartenders are friendly and very happy to see you. And those times that you wake up at 5:00 AM and are craving a really well-made Bloody Mary, Cafe Lafitte's is just the ticket. The bar is open 24 hours a day.
It is a bar on Bourbon Street, New Orleans, USA, so yes, the chance of you running into someone who might have been overserved during their walk down Bourbon Street is certainly possible. The staff at Cafe Lafitte's knows how to handle these people with as much respectful force as needed. They really want their patrons to feel safe and comfortable.
Give it a try when you are visiting Bourbon Street. If it is not for you, there are plenty of other options right down the street.
It *is* a gay bar, so it is not necessarily for everyone. However, the staff at Cafe Lafitte's makes sure that everyone feels welcome.
The bartenders are friendly and very happy to see you. And those times that you wake up at 5:00 AM and are craving a really well-made Bloody Mary, Cafe Lafitte's is just the ticket. The bar is open 24 hours a day.
It is a bar on Bourbon Street, New Orleans, USA, so yes, the chance of you running into someone who might have been overserved during their walk down Bourbon Street is certainly possible. The staff at Cafe Lafitte's knows how to handle these people with as much respectful force as needed. They really want their patrons to feel safe and comfortable.
Give it a try when you are visiting Bourbon Street. If it is not for you, there are plenty of other options right down the street.
Written November 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HueyandEarl
New Orleans, LA43 contributions
This place is awesome for its simplicity. Unlike most gay bars which cater to a specific crowd or have a theme, Lafitte's is a down to earth place that has the feel of a neighborhood bar. My partner and I stopped in on our way to dinner and felt so welcome we skipped dinner. It seemed like the crowd was mostly local but they were very visitor friendly. And the mix of people was incredible! Older, younger, black, white, brown, yellow, white collar, blue collar, you name it. And none of all that difference mattered. Everyone was easy to talk to and several locals even bought us drinks. By far this place is the most un-clique-ish gay bar in New Orleans. And the bartenders were awesome, especially Jeffrey and Cory. And even though they use a measured pour system, we still got blithering idiot drunk. And it didn't cost a fortune. Not a lot of bells and whistles, but a down to earth, no non-sense bar with cheap drinks and no pretense. And super friendly.
Written March 25, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Todkimbro
DeBary, FL59 contributions
Apr 2017
Great bar! Love the balcony upstairs; got a table with a great view of the street below. Drinks were overpriced but service was friendly!
Written April 14, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake T
19 contributions
Mar 2017 • Friends
Bartender handed he a handful of napkins as soon as the music love is in the air played everyone went wild and threw the napkins in the air. Amazing scene. People are hugging, kissing, singing, laughing. Best place to belong!!!
Written March 28, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
danity50
New York135 contributions
Jan 2017
Well I was a bit turned off when I discovered the bartenders (John Green)don't wash their hands when they used the restroom. I brought this to the manager's (Foster) attention, and he became very aggressive with me, stating "he stands behind his bartenders"! Needless to say I wont ever be back and neither will my friends. Cleanliness is very important to me.
Written January 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Cafe Lafitte in Exile
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- Restaurants near Cafe Lafitte in Exile:
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Cafe Lafitte in Exile Information
Excellent Reviews | 51 |
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Very Good Reviews | 22 |
Cafe Lafitte in Exile Photos | 14 |