Old Absinthe House
French Quarter, New Orleans
Bar in New Orleans, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
Old Absinthe House is worth using as an easy Bourbon Street group stop, especially when the plan needs flexibility more than ceremony. It is less suited to a quiet date or a polished cocktail-focused night; compare it with New Orleans hotel-bar peers if ambiance matters more than location.
About Old Absinthe House
Old Absinthe House in New Orleans is best treated as a casual, flexible stop when the main planning details you need are hours and dress code. The dress code is casual, the posted schedule runs late every day of the week.
Use it as a casual New Orleans stop, not a fully specified dining plan
The clearest reason to consider Old Absinthe House is timing. It opens at 9 AM daily and stays open until 2 AM Monday through Wednesday, 3 AM Thursday and Sunday, 4 AM Friday and Saturday.
The casual dress code also makes it easy to fit into a relaxed New Orleans itinerary. If you need more details before deciding, compare it with other New Orleans options such as Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone, The Carousel Bar, The French 75 Bar, or Hermes Bar.
Where it fits in New Orleans planning
This is a practical option when late hours and a casual dress code are the deciding factors. Readers building a fuller trip can cross-check it against Our full New Orleans guide, then branch into Our full New Orleans restaurants guide or Our full New Orleans hotels guide if the evening needs a stronger anchor.
For broader planning, keep the decision grounded in the essentials: Old Absinthe House is in New Orleans, has a casual dress code, keeps late hours throughout the week. For anything more specific, such as menu, seating, reservations, or special services, confirm directly with the venue before you go.
Quick reference: choose it when casual dress and late New Orleans hours fit the plan; compare other New Orleans options when atmosphere, food, or service details need to be confirmed in advance.
Planning details
- Location
- 240 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70112
- Website
- ruebourbon.com/old-absinthe-house
- Phone
- +1 504 524 0113
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Old Absinthe House reads like a living artifact of the French Quarter: pressed-tin ceilings, a marble bar and walls papered in decades of pinned business cards give the room a weathered intimacy. It isn’t atmospheric because a designer shaped it; atmosphere has accreted here over centuries. The place feels cozy and quietly charming rather than polished or trendy. Rather than a showcase for contemporary cocktail theater, the bar trades on continuity — the reassuring sense that this room has witnessed New Orleans’ drinking history for generations.
Best For
This is a stop for people who come to the Quarter to soak in history as much as to drink. The Old Absinthe House suits late-night visitors and casual hangouts who want a pause from Bourbon Street’s spectacle — and solo explorers who appreciate an authentic, storied room. It’s not aimed at the modern craft-cocktail crowd; instead it rewards anyone interested in a place that embodies New Orleans’ layered drinking traditions and the atmosphere that builds when a bar simply endures.
Ordering Tips
The bar’s name and history point toward absinthe and classic New Orleans drinks rather than experimental contemporary cocktails. Expect to encounter references to absinthe-era traditions and the city’s long relationship with brandy punches and Sazeracs; don’t come expecting a high-concept mixology menu. Order something tied to the city’s cocktail heritage or ask the bartender about house specialties, and spend more time taking in the room than chasing the latest trends.
Venue details
Ambiance
Old-school decor with dark, atmospheric lighting evoking 19th-century New Orleans, vibrant and inviting historic charm.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Cocktail Bar
- Late Night
- Open Until 4am
- Music
- Live Jazz
- Live Music
- Yes
Signature Pours
- Absinthe House Frappe
- Sazerac
- Absinthe Cocktail
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- The French 75 Bar, Notable alternative
- Bourbon St, Notable alternative
- Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone, Notable alternative
- The Carousel Bar, Notable alternative
- Hermes Bar, Notable alternative
Bar context
How it compares with nearby New Orleans bar options
The French 75 Bar is the stronger pick when the priority is a more composed cocktail setting. Old Absinthe House is easier to use for a loose Bourbon Street group plan, while French 75 makes more sense for smaller parties that want the bar itself to be the point of the evening.
Bourbon St is the broader location play, useful if the night is intentionally built around movement rather than one venue. Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone and The Carousel Bar are better choices when atmosphere carries the night, though they are less of a quick in-and-out Bourbon Street fallback.
Hermes Bar is the cross-shop for someone who wants a more restaurant-adjacent stop rather than a Bourbon Street crawl point. For groups of four or more, Old Absinthe House wins on simplicity and centrality; for a date or polished drinks plan, start with the hotel-bar options instead.
Explore New Orleans
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Old Absinthe House guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Old Absinthe House
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Old Absinthe House | New Orleans | No published awards |
| The French 75 Bar | New Orleans | Tales Spirited Awards 2026 - Best U.S. Restaurant Bar - Best U.S. Restaurant Bar (Top Four Finalist)Tales Spirited Awards 2026 - Best U.S. Restaurant Bar - Best U.S. Restaurant Bar (Top 10 Nominee)Top 500 Bars 2025 · #298 |
| Bourbon St | New Orleans | No published awards |
| Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone | New Orleans | No published awards |
| The Carousel Bar | New Orleans | 2026 Food & Wine Top 10 US Hotel Bars · #3Tales Spirited Awards 2026 - Best U.S. Hotel Bar - Best U.S. Hotel Bar (Top 10 Nominee)Tales Spirited Awards 2026 - Best U.S. Hotel Bar - Best U.S. Hotel Bar (Top Four Finalist)Top 500 Bars 2025 · #280 |
| Hermes Bar | New Orleans | No published awards |
How Old Absinthe House New Orleans compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the food good at Old Absinthe House?
The details provided for Old Absinthe House do not include a cuisine type, menu, or food-service specifics. If food is important to your plan, confirm current offerings directly with the venue or plan dining elsewhere in New Orleans.
What's the best time to go to Old Absinthe House?
Use the posted hours to plan: Old Absinthe House opens at 9 AM daily and closes at 2 AM Monday through Wednesday, 3 AM Thursday and Sunday, 4 AM Friday and Saturday.
Is Old Absinthe House open late?
Yes. Old Absinthe House is open until 2 AM Monday through Wednesday, until 3 AM Thursday and Sunday, until 4 AM Friday and Saturday.
Is Old Absinthe House good for a date?
It may work for a casual date if the hours and dress code fit your plans. If you want more details before deciding, compare it with The French 75 Bar, Hermes Bar, The Carousel Bar, or Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone.
What's the crowd like at Old Absinthe House?
The details provided here do not include crowd information. The planning basics are that Old Absinthe House is in New Orleans, has a casual dress code, keeps late hours every day.
