Nightlife - Nightlife And Entertainment
South Louisiana has a long history of partying after dark, from local residents lighting streets with flares for the earliest Mardi Gras parades to today’s spectacular illuminations. The Creole joie de vivre is infectious. Join locals who know how to embrace the best parts of life. People frequently gather in neighborhood pubs or bars after work for relaxing and socializing. These hangouts are especially popular on game days when you can watch favorite teams on big-screen televisions. Dancing, a practice brought to Louisiana by early settlers, also is a strong tradition. So, you can expect a dance floor in many establishments. Don’t be surprised to see a dad waltzing with his young daughter, or two women joining hands to two-step around the floor.
Through the years nightlife has matured in Baton Rouge, especially for the over-21 crowd. Pubs offering a variety of wines, beers, and cocktails are growing in popularity. Several upscale restaurants feature classy bars that are destinations in themselves, and don’t overlook well-stocked lounges in the hotels. Many are excellent. Young professionals and singles are drawn to places where they can mingle and meet in comfort and style. Sports bars and cozy neighborhood spots continue to have strong appeal to families enjoying a night out.
The downtown entertainment district, centered on Third Street, is booming, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Twentysomethings and thirtysomethings gather inside popular spots and spill out onto the well-lit street to see and be seen. Couples, singles, and groups of friends schmooze, drink, and nibble on bar food and items such as hamburgers and pizza. A number of venues here have been adding live bands as regular entertainment on weekends. Usually there’s a $5 to $10 entertainment cover charge. The scene is reminiscent of Austin’s Sixth Street when music clubs were just beginning to take hold. In keeping with city regulations, bars and nightspots close at 2 a.m.
Other popular areas where you’ll find nightly entertainment include the Perkins Road Overpass area, CitiPlace shopping complex, Towne Centre, and Mall of Louisiana.
Official closing hour in Baton Rouge is 2 a.m.
1. 333 BISTreaux
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 381-9385
Address: 333 Third St.
Description: The 333 Bistro is a lounge and restaurant. Formerly the Avoyelles’ Third Street Bistreaux, the restored downtown building has great atmosphere with wood floors and old brick walls. Take the stairs to the second floor lounge with a long bar and wood floor made for dancing. A balcony at the back offers views of the Mississippi River. A DJ plays pop favorites on Friday and Saturday nights. There’s a cover charge for special events. The first floor bistro has a definite New Orleans atmosphere and serves Louisiana seafood and steaks at lunch and dinner. Try the seafood manicotti. Hours are 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.
2. BOUDREAUX & THIBODEAUX
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 636-2442
Address: 214 Third St.
Description: Boudreaux & Thibodeaux offers two stories of Louisiana fun. If you know something about the goofy Cajun “Boudreaux and Thibodeaux” jokes, then you know how this place acquired its name. Selected best nightclub 2008 by 225 Baton Rouge magazine, this is one hot spot. The Balcony Bar with French Quarter atmosphere offers the best people-watching seat. Step outside for a great view of downtown. The downstairs nightclub, sporting fishing camp décor, features live entertainment three nights a week. There’s great music variety from alternative to Cajun and Zydeco groups, as well as new rock and country acts. Cover fee is $5. Night club closes at 1 a.m.
3. BULLDOG
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 303-9400
Address: 4385 Perkins Rd.
Description: A perfect place to bring your four-footed friend, Bulldog invites customers to park their pets in a special area while enjoying a pint or two. The beer tavern features 50 beers on tap from all over the world as well as an extensive bottle selection. You’ll find lots of warm, dark wood, wooden benches, stools, and a long wood bar. Or choose to sit in the comfy leather couches. The outdoor patio has a great beer-tap fountain, a fire pit, and umbrellas to ward off the sun or raindrops. Let your Labrador or bulldog curl up at your feet and enjoy the outing. The pub grub (sandwiches and salads) is super. So is the Abita root beer. Open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
4. CHELSEA’S CAFE
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 387-3679
Address: 2857 Perkins Rd.
Description: Chelsea’s Cafe is located under the historic Perkins Road overpass. It is a great place to catch live musical acts such as New Orleans’ own Dirty Dozen Brass Band and the legendary bassist from the Funky Meters, George Porter Jr. Music and food are dished out in an intimate, casual atmosphere.
5. THE COVE
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 201-9900
Description: This pirate-themed bar is simply too cool to pass. Walk through a small entrance and enter the long, wide hall with a 65-foot bar. Several large coolers hold a massive beer collection. The Cove offers 400 beers and 200 types of scotch. Check out the back wall with a giant octopus taking down a sailing ship. Open Monday through Saturday. Closes at 2 a.m.
6. FLEMING’S
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 925-2710
Address: 7321 Corporate Blvd.
Description: The wine bar at Fleming’s attracts a mature crowd that enjoys the sophisticated clubhouse atmosphere and opportunity to choose from 100 different wines. Each wine is available by taste, glass, flight, or bottle. Stop by here on your way to a concert or film showing. Stay longer and indulge in a fine steak from this chain restaurant. Open dinner hours Monday through Thursday, 5 to 10 pm.; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m.
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Address: 2943 Perkins Rd.
8. THE GRAPE
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 763-2288
Address: 10111 Perkins Rd.
Description: This chic wine bar and bistro in Perkins Row Shopping Center attracts wine lovers, as well as neophytes to wine drinking. The bistro removes all the worry about selecting wines by listing a “suggested” wine to go with each item on the menu. The first section of the menu is devoted to wines, grouped from one to ten and varying in price. Wine can be ordered by glass, half glass, or bottle. The menu’s second section is devoted to food. The Grape’s cuisine is created to be paired with wines. If in doubt, ask for a splash, a tiny tasting of a wine that you can try.
9. HAPPY’S IRISH PUB
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 389-1282
Address: 136 Third St.
Description: All this pub needs to make you really feel like you’re in Ireland is a TV in the corner showing thoroughbred races. Happy’s has a true pub setting with dark woods, Tiffany-style stained-glass fixtures, and simulated stained-glass panels in the ceiling. Some 16 beers on draft, including Guinness and Bass, are served from taps at the long bar. Get there early on St. Patrick’s Day if you want to get inside. Hours are 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
10. IVAR’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 388-0021
Address: 2954 Perkins Rd.
Description: This small, funky bar and grill is a favorite of Baton Rouge’s twentysomethings. The bar’s motto? “Where Beautiful People Come to Get Ugly.” There’s a definite Irish sense of humor in play here where people love to hang out before and after the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Tucked under the I-10 Overpass on Perkins Road, Ivar’s is always busy. Beers on tap include Abita Amber, Bass, Guinness, Newcastle, Blue Moon, and Dos Equis. Menu items have sporty names: Sugar Ray Rings, Maravich Mushrooms, the Daily Double Spud. Happy hour is Monday through Friday, 2 to 7 p.m. with special prices on beers and cocktails. Hours are 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday; 11 am. to 2 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday; and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday.
11. KINGFISH LOUNGE
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 344-5866
Address: 201 Lafayette St.
Description: Located downtown inside the Historic Capitol House Hilton Hotel, the Kingfish is a stylish, small, intimate lounge just off the hotel’s lobby. It’s patronized by hotel guests and the upscale crowd. Bar snacks and comfortable chairs entice you to settle down and relax. Expect excellent bar service with half-price martinis on Tuesdays. The Kingfish Restaurant next door serves American cuisine with Louisiana specialties daily.
12. NORTH GATE TAVERN
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 346-6784
Address: 136 West Chimes
Description: Just across the street from the LSU campus, North Gate Tavern started as Joe’s Library. A number of other bars followed. Now spruced up under current owners, the nightspot books aspiring rock acts from throughout the nation and local bands that may one day appear on the nearby Varsity Theatre’s larger stage. North Gate offers drink specials and is open nightly Monday to Saturday.
13. SCHLITZ AND GIGGLES
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 248-6846
Address: 301 Third St.
Description: Getting hunger pains during a night out downtown? Head to this lighthearted beer and pizza hangout located across the street from the landmark Coca-Cola sign. Order a great pizza or panini and watch at the counter while they make it for you, or grab a seat at the bar or at tables located both downstairs and upstairs. Beer is available in cans or on draft. Name your cocktail and watch the bartender work his or her magic. There’s a bright, shiny newness here with chrome and aluminum appointments. You can’t miss the place, because the outside overhang is illuminated with hundreds of red, green, and yellow lights. Schlitz and Giggles sponsors the Red Stick Roller Derby. Happy hour is 3 to 6 p.m. with $10 buckets of beer. Open until 2 a.m.
14. SPANISH MOON
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225)383-6666
Address: 1109 Highland Rd.
Description: Located between LSU and downtown, Spanish Moon attracts patrons with modern rock, hip-hop, and dance nights. The first floor is a dance hall with a seating area. The second floor is more like a pool hall. It’s known for its friendly bartenders. National touring bands, such as Isis and the Manchester Orchestra, as well as regional and local groups, appear at Spanish Moon.
15. THE STATION SPORTS BAR AND GRILL
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 926-0631
Address: 4608 Bennington
Description: If you’re an avid LSU Tigers sports fan, The Station is not to be missed. The place is made up of old railroad cars turned into a nightspot. Every space on the walls and ceilings is filled with neon beer signs, framed covers of vintage magazines, and the lead pages of sports sections. Hundreds of photographs of sports and movie celebrities—many of which are signed—are everywhere. The sports memorabilia include football and basketball jerseys. One room is set up with a bar—lighted with zany jellyfish lamps—a dance floor, and a band stand. A second intimate bar is located in a smaller room. Local cover bands perform popular ‘80s and ‘90s music Thursday through Saturday. Wednesday is Above Ground comedy night at 8 p.m.