But the street really achieved a critical mass of popularity post-Katrina, and in the past few years, Frenchmen is tourist central come the evening, especially on weekends. But so what? On Frenchmen Street, certain things are just guaranteed: proximity to good music, good food, interesting culture, and an unbeatable street scene. Claude Avenue. Keep in mind music sets usually pop off around 6 pm, 9 pm, and 11 pm, although there is always room for variation. Of course, the weirdness gets a start right at the beginning of iconic Frenchmen. This may look like a rough punk music bar and it still is, in a lot of ways from the outside, but management attracts a pretty wide range of clientele. This Checkpoint Charlie feels pretty divey, but once inside, the music is almost always wonderful. An added bonus: Checkpoint sells amazing cheeseburgers throughout the evening.
FRENCHMEN STREET EXPERIENCES
Esplanade & Decatur
Neon blinks, a trombone slides and a crowd gathers for another impromptu curbside concert on Frenchmen Street. Frenchmen -- crowded, buzzing and vibrant -- might just be the most consistently musical stretch of asphalt in New Orleans. Its venues offer an array of live performances ranging from traditional jazz to blues to reggae and rock and are, themselves, famous, attracting audiences from all over the world. With one trip around the clubs on Frenchmen, you are likely to hear all kinds of music, as it is what the street is known for. Grab some friends and dance the night away on this bumping thoroughfare. Most clubs are 21 and older, but a few allow children until 10pm! Meeting Planners.
Esplanade & Decatur Part 2
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If you're looking for great music, this 2 block long neighborhood is the real deal. The Bourbon Street bars are trying to outdo one another with the loudest music and the most scantily clad girls offering drinks in test tubes, but the clubs on Frenchmen are much better venues for music and the people are actually there to listen and dance to it! Most of the people were 20s or 30s, and local. Especially liked The Spotted Cat and Maison. Maison also serves food though I don't think I'd eat there and has some couches at the back if you want to get a little farther back from the music; the sign at the host podium reads, "If you are going to take someone home tonight you should eat something first". Most of the clubs don't seem to charge a cover; they just ask you to have at least one drink. Outside in the street, more musicians played for tips I agree, Frenchman Street is the best. How is this for one night, drinks at the Spotted Cat where we caught the Panaroma Jazz Club, followed by great beers at the d. To cap the night off, great late night burgers at the Snug Harbour.
