Gay Guide
Listing and event details can change quickly. Please verify with the venue directly before visiting. Lavender Atlas is not responsible for third-party accuracy.
About LGBTQ+ New Orleans
New Orleans concentrates its LGBTQ+ nightlife at the quieter, downriver end of the French Quarter, around the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann, an area long nicknamed the Lavender Line. The city is known for round-the-clock bars, a deep drag and cabaret tradition, and a come-as-you-are spirit. Its signature LGBTQ+ event is Southern Decadence over Labor Day weekend, often called the gay Mardi Gras, alongside a strong queer presence at Carnival itself. Music, food, and a famously late nightlife define the scene year-round.
Upcoming Events
Welcome to the Blue60 Guesthouse. Gay owned and operated, the Blue60 is the ideal accommodation for LGBT+ travelers. Our 5 uniquely decorated suites include private outdoor entrances and patio with hot tub.
The Pierre Coulon House is an excellent example of New Orleans Creole architecture. Just a short walk to the French Quarter, with lots of cafes, bars and restaurants just blocks away.
Located in New Orleans historic Faubourg Marigny just two blocks from the French Quarter and four blocks from Frenchman Street. Within easy walking distance of many sites, restaurants, bars, and music.
A cozy b&b in the Big Easy, in walking distance to French Quarter and gay and lesbian bars/venues. Featured amenities: parlor, courtyard, whirlpool. Clothing optional in sunbathing area.
Conveniently located on the edge of the French Quarter. Full grand New Orleans style breakfast, period rooms furnished in antiques and luxury linens. All rooms have private baths.
Sunburst Inn features a historic home with a private entrance leading to a beautiful double parlor living room/bedroom suite with adjacent private bath. Sleeps up to four.
La Dauphine is a quiet, small New Orleans gay B&B with a 3-night minimum. 3 guest rooms in a 100+ year-old Victorian camelback shotgun house. Free WiFi. Superb location: walk to French Quarter.
A premier dance club on Bourbon Street known for its balcony views; go-go dancers; and late-night drag performances.
The oldest continuously operating gay bar in the United States; a historic anchor of the French Quarter.
One of New Orleans' most iconic gay bars, anchoring the corner of Bourbon and St Ann for decades. The Bourbon Pub downstairs keeps the dance floor going around the clock while the Parade upstairs hosts DJs, drag shows, and themed nights.
New Orleans independent bookstore on Frenchmen Street with LGBTQ+ literature, art books, and community-focused events.
LGBTQ+ bar in New Orleans with a local queer crowd and regular social nightlife activity.
New Orleans French Quarter long-running LGBTQ+ bar, host of the Southern Decadence kickoff.
New Orleans Bywater LGBTQ+-popular restaurant and clothing-optional pool/courtyard.
New Orleans French Quarter long-running gay neighborhood bar with showtune nights.
New Orleans French Quarter historic LGBTQ+-popular guesthouse.
A beloved New Orleans cabaret and bar at the edge of the Marigny, featuring live performances, drag shows, comedy, and indie acts most nights of the week. AllWays draws a mixed, queer-friendly crowd with some of the city's most eclectic and intimate entertainment.
A laid-back gay sports bar in the French Quarter with pool tables, a friendly staff, and a mixed crowd. Corner Pocket is a neighborhood standby for locals away from the louder Bourbon Street scene.
A leather and cruise bar in the Marigny anchoring New Orleans' leather community since the 1970s. The Phoenix offers a darkroom, back patio, and regular leather/kink events, drawing a loyal local crowd alongside visiting leather men.
French Quarter leather and bear gay bar at 740 Burgundy Street, formerly known as Rawhide 2010, with daily happy hours, karaoke, pool tables, and a famously seedy come-as-you-are atmosphere.
A cozy gay bar on St Louis Street in the French Quarter, a quieter alternative to the Bourbon Street strip. The Crossing has a neighborhood pub feel with a pool table and a mixed crowd of locals and visitors.
The historic French Quarter is the heart of New Orleans' LGBTQ+ nightlife, with a dense concentration of gay bars and clubs along Bourbon Street between St Ann and Dumaine. The neighbourhood has been openly queer-welcoming for decades, anchored by iconic spots like Oz and the Bourbon Pub.
A down-to-earth gay bar on Elysian Fields Avenue in the Marigny, with a pool table, video poker, and a regular crowd of locals. Mag's 940 is a no-frills neighborhood bar a short walk from the French Quarter's busier scene.
Boutique cottage-style lodging in the French Quarter, popular with LGBTQ+ travelers seeking privacy and central access.