10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in New Orleans

New Orleans is famous for its variety of unique nightlife like burlesque or ghost tours for fun after dinner. You can choose between kitschy bars and smoky jazz clubs, theaters and performances, live music, spooky tours, and more. Whether you want to search for legendary vampires on shadowy streets, watch a tease show from a famous burlesque dancer, or pick up some souvenir glasses on renowned Bourbon Street, New Orleans has endless nightlife experiences for a memorable trip. Find out the 10 best things to do after dinner in New Orleans.

1. Frenchmen Street

Listen to live music

Good for: Nightlife

Frenchmen Street is the hub of New Orleans musical nightlife and the perfect place to end your night. Located in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, the thoroughfare is home to many live-music venues that host DJs and local bands. Some of the best clubs include the Blue Nile and the Spotted Cat Music Club. Another fun experience on Frenchmen Street is the outdoor art market, which features local artists and street performers. You’ll also have food trucks for late-night snacks if you’re still hungry after dinner.

2. The World Famous Cats Meow

Sing your heart out

Good for: Nightlife

The World Famous Cat’s Meow is an exciting karaoke club for some fun with friends after dinner. Located on Bourbon Street, the club serves cocktails and offers an extensive list of karaoke songs, ranging from the classics to retro rock to urban to classic country. One of the unique features of the World Famous Cat’s Meow is that you can opt to stream your performance live via the club’s webcams for your 15 minutes of fame. If you choose the Head of the Line H.O.T. Line Package, you’ll get several drinks of your choice, jello shots, souvenir tee shirts, a video of your performance, and more.

Location: 701 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA

Open: Daily from 5 pm to 2 am

Phone: +1 504-523-2788

3. Prytania Theatre

Watch a movie with the VIP experience

Good for: Nightlife

The Prytania Theatre is a historic single-screen movie theatre that shows the classics, children’s movies, and independent films. The theatre has locations in both Uptown and Canal Place with state-of-the-art theaters, onsite bars, and more. You also have the option to book VIP private screenings for up to 15 people to see any movie showing at the theater. When you book a private experience, you’ll be alone with your group in the theater and treated to luxurious recliners, a concessions menu, and a full-service bar. Read more

Location: 5339 Prytania St, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA

Open: Hours vary

Phone: +1 504-891-2787

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4. Ghost Tours

Learn about New Orleans’ haunted history

Good for: Nightlife

Ghost tours are a popular way to experience New Orleans’ haunted history and lore after dark. You’ll have an array of different tour options to choose from that take you to some of the city’s most purportedly haunted locations, such as the Hotel Monteleone and Pirates Alley. You can book variations on the ghost tour, as well, that focus on different aspects of New Orleans’ famous mysticism and folklore. Some examples include tours of locations from modern true crime stories, tours of locations used in “American Horror Story: Coven,” and vampire tours.

Open: Hours and locations vary

5. Rook Cafe

Play table games

Good for: Nightlife

The Rook Cafe provides a quiet night out for more introverted types to play games or read. Located in the ultra-trendy Freret neighborhood, the Rook Cafe has a selection of coffees and other drinks to enjoy while you cozy up in a booth to read or work on your laptop. If you prefer games, the Rook Cafe has a wide selection of tabletop games ranging from classics like Scrabble to time-honored games like chess. You’ll also find some friends to have a thrilling game of Dungeons and Dragons or Warhammer.

Location: 4516 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA

Open: Daily from 8 am to 5 pm

Phone: +1 504-354-8114

6. Bourbon Street

Party on a famous street

Good for: Nightlife

Bourbon Street is the quintessential New Orleans nightlife experience and home to some of the liveliest bars and clubs in the city. The street is known throughout the world as the place to go for fun after dark and the location of Mardi Gras. Designed for tourists, Bourbon Street offers late-night dance clubs, quirky bars, adult clubs, and more, all with souvenir glasses and merchandise to remember your trip. The best part of Bourbon Street is that you can wander in and out of bars and clubs to take in the full experience.

7. Bayou Wine Garden

Sample delicious wines

Good for: Nightlife

The Bayou Wine Garden is a popular wine bar that’s ideal for connoisseurs. The bar features a long list of local and global wine varieties and wine on tap, so you’ll have plenty to choose from. Located on North Rendon, the bar has a courtyard that’s shared with the Bayou Beer Garden, so you can get there right after dinner and grab a good spot to watch the city pass by. On warm nights, it’s a beautiful spot to see the stars and listen to the sounds of the city.

Location: 315 N Rendon, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA

Open: Monday-Thursday from 4 pm to 11 pm, Friday from 3 pm to 11 pm, Saturday from 12 pm to 11 pm, Sunday from 12 pm to 10 pm

Phone: +1 504-826-2925

8. Burlesque Shows

Experience the glamour of the Jazz Age

Good for: Nightlife

Burlesque shows are a cultural mainstay in New Orleans that originated during the jazz days and a must-see on your trip. During the early 20th century, New Orleans was a hub of a thriving burlesque scene that grew along with jazz music. The burlesque scene is still alive in the city today and features prominent performers and local troupes. You’ll find many burlesque clubs in New Orleans that offer sexy, glamorous burlesque shows with creative twists, elaborate costumes, and unique performances.

9. Steamboat Cruise

See the city from the water

Good for: Nightlife

A steamboat cruise is a fun way to see the views of the city at night. Several tour operators offer night cruises on the Mississippi River that take you past some of the most iconic sights in New Orleans. When you book a cruise, you’ll be on a glamorous riverboat to enjoy hours on the water. Tour operators offer several packages and options, including dinner cruises, cocktail cruises, jazz shows, and more, so you can have the perfect night on the water.

10. Double Dealer

Unwind in a speakeasy

Good for: Nightlife

Double Dealer is a unique speakeasy housed in a 1920s vaudeville theater. Located beneath the Orpheum Theater, Double Dealer celebrates the 1920s with creative, era-appropriate cocktails and live entertainment in the form of period musicians, sword swallowers, fan dancers, and magicians. The staff and atmosphere of the Double Dealer are designed to get you in the spirit of the era, complete with “house rules” on the walls, warm lighting, art-deco styling, and reminders to toast to the club’s resident ghost, Barry.

Location: 129 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA

Phone: +1 504-300-0212

This article includes opinions of the Go Guides editorial team. Hotels.com compensates authors for their writing appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.