Top 10 Gay and Away: New Orleans
The minute you step into the Crescent City you know instantly it’s a place like no other on the planet. Unique music, food and diversity (including a thriving gay and lesbian community), you’ll find it all in New Orleans.
10) Jackson Square
This historic park is a great place to spy classic NOLA architecture, converse with other tourists and buy unique wares from local artists. From performance artists and painters to fortune tellers, one visit won’t be enough.
9) French Market
Gay New Orleans is a melting pot of cultures and experiences and you’ll find a true cross section of this diversity at French Market. This six block stretch of the lower French Quarter is where you’ll find one of a kind shops, restaurants and galleries. A must-visit if you’re venturing to The Crescent City for the first time.
8) Any Streetcar You Desire
NOLA’s streetcars are an iconic part of the city landscape and they’re also a great way to get around. Whether you’re heading to the French Quarter, Magazine Street or Uptown, there’s a streetcar that will take you there.
7) Haunted History Tour
This city’s colorful past is one of its major selling points and for you ‘mos that love a good scare, you’ll want to take part in a Haunted History Tour. At night, guides offer theatrical retellings of ghoulish tales from New Orleans’ past. If you’re a fan of “True Blood” and other homo-erotica, you’ll want to check it out.
6) Lower Ninth Ward
The area most-devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is undergoing a renaissance thanks to Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation and other non-profits. Where a decimated wasteland once stood is now the location of state-of-the-art, solar-powered homes and interactive parks for community children.
5) Bywater District
Travel just a few minutes outside of the French Quarter and you’ll find a quaint, unique gay-friendly community known as the Bywater District. Following Hurricane Katrina, several LGBT entrepreneurs moved in and revitalized the area, opening hotels, shops and restaurants, serving authentic local fare.
4) Café du Monde
After a night of partying in NOLA, you’ll want to start the day off with a beignet and a great cup of coffee. Head down to the French Quarter and grab a chair at the legendary Café du Monde. A great spot for any gay and lesbian traveler who wants to experience the city like a local.
3) Clover Grill
A staple of gay life in the French Quarter, Clover Grill is open all day and all night and serves up breakfast and diner eats with panache. Where else can you get a burger cooked under a hub cap? Yum!
2) The Country Club
If you crave a big ‘ol gay pool and hot tub party, get wet at the Country Club. Every Friday night, dive in and enjoy the “New Meat” contest, where locals and out of towners strip down for a cash prize.
1) Where Bourbon meets St. Ann (a.k.a The Gayborhood)
A majority of NOLA’s gay nightlife can be found in the French Quarter where Bourbon Street intersects with St. Ann Street. The city’s two most popular gay bars, Bourbon Pub and Parade and Oz are located here. Whether you want to dance, play pool in a dive bar, see strippers bare all or play drag bingo, there’s a venue and vice for every taste.
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