Snake and Jake's Christmas Club Lounge

Snake and Jake's Christmas Club Lounge: Pearl Verdict

Snake and Jake's is one of New Orleans' most reliably strange bars, and that's a compliment. Located at 7612 Oak St in the Carrollton neighbourhood, this dive operates year-round with Christmas decorations permanently strung from wall to ceiling — dim red and green lights, tinsel, and a darkness so complete you'll need a moment to find the bar. It is not a place that needs to try hard to have a personality, and it doesn't. If you want craft cocktails with table service and a curated spirits list, this is the wrong address. If you want cheap drinks, a genuinely local crowd, and a bar that has outlasted every trend that has passed through this city, you're in the right place. Book this: yes, with full understanding of what it is.

What to Expect

This is a cash-friendly, no-frills neighbourhood bar that draws a mix of Tulane and Loyola students, Oak Street regulars, and visitors who've been tipped off by someone who actually lives here. The format is direct: walk in, get a beer or a basic mixed drink, find a spot. There's no food program to speak of, no tasting menu, no signature cocktail that arrived via a bar consulting firm. The draw is the atmosphere, which is genuinely unlike most bars in a city that is already good at bars. The Christmas lights never come down. The jukebox works. The hours run late — this is the kind of place that gets more comfortable as the night gets older. For value-seekers, the price point here is among the lowest you'll find in New Orleans' bar scene, which makes it a practical stop before or after a visit to somewhere like Cure or Jewel of the South, both of which charge significantly more per drink for a different kind of experience.

Outdoor Space

Snake and Jake's does have an outdoor area, which matters more than it might at other bars because the interior runs genuinely dark and close. The outdoor space gives you room to have a conversation without competing with the jukebox, and in a city where the weather cooperates for much of the year, it's a useful overflow option. Don't expect a designed terrace or string-lit courtyard, this is Oak Street, not the French Quarter. What you get is space to breathe, which on a busy night is worth more than it sounds. For a proper outdoor bar experience in New Orleans, Cane & Table has a more considered setup. Snake and Jake's outdoor area is functional rather than a destination in itself.

Booking and Logistics

No reservation required or expected. Walk in. Booking difficulty is as low as it gets in New Orleans. The bar is on Oak Street in Carrollton, which puts it further from the French Quarter than most tourist-facing venues, factor in travel time if you're coming from downtown. Cash is the practical choice here, though cards are generally accepted at New Orleans bars. Hours run late; this is not an early-evening stop. Come after 10 PM and the place is more itself. If you're building a night out across the city, check our full New Orleans bars guide for a broader view of how Snake and Jake's fits into an itinerary alongside higher-intensity craft bar stops. For restaurants before you arrive, our full New Orleans restaurants guide covers the neighbourhood and beyond. Hotels, if you're planning further ahead, are in our full New Orleans hotels guide.

Who This Is For

Snake and Jake's works well for: locals who already know it, visitors who want to spend an evening away from Bourbon Street, and anyone who finds a permanently Christmas-decorated dive bar more appealing than a curated cocktail lounge. It is a poor fit for groups expecting table service, anyone who needs a food option on-site, or first-time visitors who want something more polished for a first night out. For a bar that bridges the gap between dive accessibility and craft quality, Cure on Freret Street is the better call. For something in a similar spirit of neighbourhood authenticity in another city, Julep in Houston or Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu show how a strong local identity translates across markets, though both operate at a higher price point and craft level than Snake and Jake's. Also worth noting for New Orleans nights: 2 Phat Vegans if your group has dietary needs, and Kumiko in Chicago as a reference point for what a design-forward bar at the opposite end of the spectrum looks like. For broader New Orleans planning, our full New Orleans experiences guide and wineries guide round out the picture.