People who love active nightlife flock to Louisiana. With hot live music, bustling casinos and popular nightclubs, this is the place to be at night. No matter what nightlife means to you, you'll find it here.
Music after dark
The official language of Louisiana is music - jazz, blues, zydeco, swamp pop, you name it. And no matter where you are across the state, there's music in the air. Check out Grant Street Dance Hall in Lafayette for the best in live local cajun and zydeco music, as well as frequent national acts. In New Orleans, stop by world-famous Tipitina's, where you'll find everything from local brass bands to national rock bands. And don't miss the Cajun Fais Do Do with the Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band every Sunday evening. For a more traditional vibe, head down to Bourbon Street to Fritzel's Jazz Pub, where music lovers are treated to international and local favorites playing traditional and Dixieland jazz. Music lovers traveling to Monroe must visit Enoch's Irish Pub, a venerable restaurant, watering hole and musical venue that has achieved legendary status since opening in 1980, having hosted performances by the likes of Jerry Jeff Walker, Leon Russell and Zachary Richard.
Casinos never close
From Shreveport-Bossier City, south to Lake Charles, east to Baton Rouge, all the way down to New Orleans, Louisiana is a top gaming destination. And the twin cities offer a bustling nightlife, too. With three dockside riverboat casinos in Shreveport-Bossier, the entertainment never stops. Casino Magic Riverboat was voted best casino in Shreveport Bossier. Horseshoe Riverboat Casino is the largest riverboat casino in the area, and Hollywood Casino is Shreveport's newest resort. In Baton Rouge, the popular Argosy Casino and Casino Rouge - both with about 30,000 square feet of gaming space - keep gaming enthusiasts entertained around the clock. And in New Orleans, Harrah's Casino offers musical performances, stand up comedy, award-winning restaurants and a huge gaming floor, including the south's largest poker room.
Party into the night
Night owls should feel right at home in New Orleans, a true 24-hour city, where the party never stops. Be sure to stroll down Bourbon Street, home to dozens of nightclubs of various types - from chic, multilevel dance clubs to small, local watering holes. For more of a local feel, head over to Frenchmen Street, sometimes described as Bourbon Street for the locals, with its many music venues, ethnic restaurants and shops. In Shreveport, the Red River Entertainment District offers unique restaurants, shops and nightlife daily from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. where downtown meets the river. And beer enthusiasts would be wise to visit Finnegans Wake in Alexandria. Located on 3rd Street, which is becoming an entertainment hotspot in Alexandria, Finnegans Wake is home to a great beer selection, even better bartenders, and frequent live Irish music.
Unique Nightlife
If you're looking for a more adventurous way to spend your evening, go for a night time airboat tour of the majestic south Louisiana swamp with Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours - the first and only U.S. Coast Guard-approved nighttime tour - located just 25 minutes from New Orleans. Or stay in the city and discover the mysteries of the most haunted neighborhood in North America. Yes, ghost and spirits still haunt the legendary French Quarter, and you can learn all about them on the famous New Orleans Haunted History Ghost Tour. Tours depart nightly from Rev. Zombie's Voodoo Shop at 723 St. Peter Street in the French Quarter.
Terrance Simien's Louisiana
No matter where you travel, no tip is more valuable than the insider's tip. It's the people living in a place who know it best. Residents know the spots that don't appear in travel guides. The 'round-the-way cafés, the neighborhood festivals, the hidden gems. So what better way to learn where the locals go than from true Louisiana natives? More
There is so much to see and do in Louisiana. Here are a few ideas to get you started.