If you spend any time in New Orleans, it doesn’t take
long to realize there’s no shortage of great drinking establishments throughout
the city, from the bars that accompany fine dining restaurants and high-end
hotels to neighborhood dive bars open 24 hours, seven days a week. In fact, when it comes to bars open 24/7/365,
the Big Easy may have mastered the concept.
And of all the bars that never close in NOLA, one of my
favorites stands out for its choice location and variety of libations – the Avenue Pub.
Located at the corner of St. Charles and Polymnia in the
Lower Garden District, the Avenue Pub is a relatively short streetcar ride from
the French Quarter and the Central Business District. According to the establishment’s website, the
building dates back to as early as 1845, and between the blue shutters and
wrought iron balcony it’s rather hard to miss.
Punky and I made our initial pilgrimage to the Avenue Pub
after hearing about a special craft beer tasting and featuring beers from
Burial Brewing Company in Asheville, N.C., collaborating with other local and
regional brewers. So, we were already
aware of the pub’s stellar reputation with craft beer aficionados. And, as the sign says, the fact that they
only close for trips to Belgium reinforces their dedication to the product.
It only takes one look behind the main bar to realize how
serious they really are about the craft of craft beer. The place boasts 40 beers on tap – three
fourths of them rotate on a regular basis, ensuring something new every time
even regulars stop by – and roughly 60 more varieties in bottles. With that kind of selection, it shouldn’t be
hard to follow their motto, “Drink what you love.” But you may not know where to start. Fortunately, we found the bartenders quite
personable and accommodating with helping make our drinking decisions.
If you come before 5 p.m., it’s likely that only the
downstairs will be open; however, there’s an entire room beyond the bar with
plenty of seating.
That said, the upstairs is worth checking out, even if
you just decide to wander around. The
murals that adorn the stairway are eye-catching, to say the least.
The same goes for the wall art in the upstairs hallway,
which takes you to the second-floor bar.
There are fewer beers on tap up here, but they make up for
it by showcasing a stellar whiskey selection, which happens to be the upstairs bar’s
specialty. Punky and I tend to love all
things whiskey, so this was a nice bonus to go along with the special beer
tasting taking place on the second level.
You may have also noticed a distinct lack of seating at
the upstairs bar, but who needs it when you can walk right out onto one of the largest
balconies on St. Charles Avenue? It’s
this view that makes the Avenue Pub a prime Mardi Gras parade location during
Carnival season.
And most other times, as was the case when we visited, it’s
the perfect spot for kicking your feet back, soak in the atmosphere and savor
your beverage.
One more noteworthy item about the Avenue Pub: They do serve food, and by most accounts,
their “pub fare” food is well above your standard bar menu in both selection
and quality. And while their small plates
focus on vegetarian dishes, their pub burger is reportedly one of the best in
town.
Between the vast selection of beers and whiskey, probably
the best balcony on the streetcar line and a fun neighborhood bar atmosphere
that literally never stops, the Avenue Pub is one 24/7 bar that’s worth
visiting any time of day or night. When
you’re in New Orleans, put a stop at the Avenue Pub on your to-do list.
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