2020-07-31 20:56:01
Recently named the second "Most Welcoming City" and "Best Festival Destination" by GayCities, New Orleans welcomes LGBTQ visitors with open arms. You’ll create countless stories while here; here’s our top 10 list to get you started. The Corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets Known as the dance and party center for both local and visiting LGBTQs, Bourbon at St. Ann offers a vibrant club scene. The Bourbon Pub & Parade and Oz are both multi-level bars with dance floors, wraparound balconies and drag shows. The Country Club The renovated Country Club is an oasis in the Bywater neighborhood. Guests have all-day access to the outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi, with bars conveniently located by the pool and indoors. EAT Locals love this cozy French Quarter eatery, EAT, for its friendly neighborhood vibe and delicious comfort food, like the often raved about blue cheese and fig torte. And the large picture window is perfect for people-watching during weekend brunch. Alto On the roof of the Ace Hotel, Alto serves up delicious food and cocktails, and it’s all poolside. With a beautiful view of Downtown high rises all around you, Alto has pretty much everything you need for a relaxing afternoon in the sun. Betty's Bar Betty’s Bar is the newest establishment in NOLA’s gay bar scene. Betty's took over the location of the old 700 Club and has a fresh look, but still remains a favorite among locals. Bike Esplanade Avenue to City Park A great daytime activity is to bike to City Park from the French Quarter via the picturesque Esplanade Avenue. There are several conveniently located bike rental shops near the foot of Esplanade, like A Bicycle Named Desire and Bicycle Michael’s. Magazine Street Art Galleries and Shops New Orleans is a fantastic place to discover fine art and antiques, and with over six miles of local shops, Magazine Street is perfect just for that. The art galleries carry a wide range of different art styles, from classical fine art to eclectic modern art to rare local finds. The AllWays Lounge & Theatre The AllWays Lounge is home to weekly performances by some of the best burlesque, cabaret and drag performers in the city. AllWays is also the de facto home venue of the New Orleans Drag Workshop, run by storied drag performer and musician Vinsantos. LGBTQ History Tour With its rich history, there are no shortage of tours in New Orleans. Some companies have been offering LGBTQ specific tours as well, such as New Orleans Secrets and NOLA Drag Tours. The Café Lafitte in Exile Our final pick for LGBTQ must-dos is America’s oldest gay bar, rich with LGBTQ history. The Café Lafitte in Exile dates back to 1933 (the end of Prohibition) and boasts famous, frequent patronage of icons like Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote throughout the years. Visit NewOrleans.com for more information on these businesses and their current post- Covid19 status. #NOLAforAll For a listing of businesses who have taken the pledge to be inclusive and welcoming to all please visit: neworleans.com/welcoming
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