Bourbon Street or Frenchmen Street? If you came to New Orleans for live music, go to Frenchmen. If you've never seen Bourbon, walk it once so you can say you did, then head downriver to the Marigny, where the bands are better and the drinks are cheaper per decibel.
We're not neutral on this. Dirty Coast started because we were tired of the crude T-shirts on Bourbon Street. But we'd be lying if we said Bourbon has nothing going for it, so here's a fair look at both from people who've been sending visitors in both directions from our Chartres Street shop for years.
The Case for Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street is a spectacle, and spectacles are fun. Neon, balconies, music pouring out of every door, a crowd of bachelorette parties plus the occasional local who took a wrong turn. You don't come here for nuance. You come for the noise.
It's also older than its reputation. The street was laid out in the early 1700s and named for the French royal house of Bourbon, not the whiskey, which locals will tell you with a little too much enthusiasm. At the quieter, downriver end, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is one of the oldest buildings in the Quarter still serving drinks. And at the busy end, Galatoire's has been holding court for over a century; Friday lunch there is a local institution in its own right.
Go once. Walk it end to end. Get a drink in a go-cup. Then keep walking.
Why Frenchmen Wins for Music
Frenchmen Street runs through the Faubourg Marigny, just across Esplanade from the French Quarter. The music strip is only a few blocks long, and on a good night you can hear four or five different bands just by walking from one end to the other.
The difference is what's on stage. Bourbon leans on cover bands. Frenchmen books working New Orleans musicians playing jazz, brass, funk and blues, often to rooms that hold a hundred people or fewer. A few places worth knowing:
- Blue Nile at 532 Frenchmen books brass bands and funk late into the night. In 2026 the calendar has included the Soul Rebels and Kermit Ruffins.
- Snug Harbor is the sit-down jazz room on the street, with a listening-room crowd and serious players.
Louisiana Music Factory, at 421 Frenchmen, is a record store rather than a club, but it hosts free in-store shows, and it's the best place on the street to buy the album of the band you just heard.
And then there are the corners. Brass bands set up outside, and some of the best music of the night happens on the sidewalk. If you stop and listen, tip. That's the deal. Our Do Watcha Wanna shirt was made in honor of these folks.
Frenchmen Has Changed, and That's Worth Knowing
People used to call Frenchmen "the locals' Bourbon Street." It's still got more locals than Bourbon, but it's gotten a lot more visitors, too. Back in 2013, New Orleans Magazine reported on neighbors worried the street would turn into a second Bourbon, and on a 2004 zoning overlay meant to limit how many music venues could open there.
On weekend nights it can get packed. Go on a Tuesday or Wednesday if you can, and the street feels much more like itself.
Bourbon Street vs Frenchmen Street, Side by Side
The music. Bourbon has plenty of it, mostly covers. Frenchmen has original New Orleans music, every night of the week.
The crowd. Bourbon draws visitors and party groups. Frenchmen draws plenty of visitors too, but you'll stand next to locals and musicians off from their own gigs.
The cost. Many Frenchmen clubs have a small cover or a drink minimum. Bourbon bars are often free to walk into, but the drinks tend to cost more.
The vibe. Bourbon is loud and wide open. Frenchmen is loud too, but in smaller rooms where people actually listen.
How to Do Both in One Night
Start on Bourbon early, while the crowd is still friendly. Walk it end to end and grab a drink to go. Then head downriver, cut over toward Esplanade and cross into the Marigny. By the time you get to Frenchmen, the first sets are starting.
Eat before you go and bring cash for the tip bucket. Don't plan on an early night, either. The good bands often go on after 10.
Go Further Than Both
If you want to hear music the way a lot of locals do, check the WWOZ calendar and head to a neighborhood club. Tipitina's Uptown is the house Professor Longhair's fans built. We covered a few more of our picks in tourist traps locals quietly skip.
And if you want to wear the habit home, our Listen To Your City shirt was made for people who go looking for the good stuff.
Bourbon Street vs Frenchmen Street: FAQ
Is Frenchmen Street better than Bourbon Street?
For live music, most locals would say yes. Frenchmen books working New Orleans musicians in smaller clubs, while Bourbon leans more on party bars and cover bands.
How far is Frenchmen Street from Bourbon Street?
They're close. Frenchmen starts just past Esplanade Avenue at the downriver edge of the French Quarter, and most people walk between them in about 15 minutes.
Do you need tickets for Frenchmen Street clubs?
Usually not. Many clubs charge a small cover or have a drink minimum at the door, though some bigger shows sell tickets in advance.
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