16. SULLIVAN’S RINGSIDE
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 237-3055
Address: 5252 Corporate Blvd.
Description: Savvy bar hoppers frequent Sullivan’s Ringside, the jazzy nightspot just inside Sullivan’s Steakhouse, named after the famed bare-knuckle boxer J. L. Sullivan. Order your favorite drink and listen to live contemporary jazz and pop music. The stage, which resembles a boxing ring, is set in the corner of the room with a bar around it. Order a light meal from the bar menu. The Ringside Bar is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. A second bar, called the Main Bar, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Music groups perform live jazz and pop music in both bars.
17. THE VARSITY THEATRE
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 383-7018
Address: 3353 Highland Rd.
Description: With its 300-person capacity, the Varsity Theatre is one of Baton Rouge’s larger clubs. Featured performers have included singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, rising modern-rock band Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and a number of tribute bands. It also features retro, Latin, and other dance nights. The Varsity opens at 8 or 9 p.m. depending on the show. Cover charge.
18. THE WINE LOFT
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 346-8454
Address: 304 Laurel St.
Description: Walk into the Wine Loft on weekends to see and be seen. Situated in the historic Fuqua Buildings, the urban-chic wine bar is popular with young professionals. It features soft lighting and deep red accents against a black background. An extensive wine list gives you a chance to explore new tastes. It also serves a light cuisine.
19. CLICKS
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 925-0806
Address: 5124 Corporate Blvd.
Description: This is an immense pool hall and bar. There’s more than enough room for 14 pool tables, two of which are 9-foot competition tables. Electric guitars decorate the overhang above the large circular bar. There’s a dance floor and stage for nights when Clicks features live bands. This is an 18-and-over club. Most patrons range from their mid-20s to mid-30s. No food is served at Clicks.
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Address: 5246 Corporate Blvd.
21. BELLE OF BATON ROUGE CASINO
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (800) 676-4847
Address: 103 France St.
Description: This three-deck paddlewheel casino is permanently docked on the Mississippi River downtown at the foot of the I-10 Mississippi River bridge. Across from the convention center, it’s open 24 hours daily. Concerts and other live entertainment, including boxing, are booked throughout the year. Food is available on board and in the casino’s landside facilities, including a seafood restaurant and casino buffet. The casino is next to the 10-story Sheraton Baton Rouge Hotel. The gaming area is 28,000 square feet of live poker, slots, table games, and video poker. Valet parking and entry are free.
22. HOLLYWOOD CASINO
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 709-7777
Address: 1717 River Rd. North
Description: Upriver from downtown, Hollywood Casino’s Studio 7 presents music on Fridays and Saturdays. Featured performers have included swamp-pop acts Charles Mann and T. K. Hulin, zydeco favorite Geno Delafose, and Fats Domino tribute act Al “Lil’ Fats” Jackson. Dine in style at the Steakhouse or choose meals at the Take 2 Deli or the Epic Buffet. Gaming activities include more than 1,100 slots. Open daily 24 hours. Easy and convenient parking.
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Address: 4715 Bennington
24. PHIL BRADY’S
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 927-3785
Address: 4848 Government St.
Description: Located in mid-city Baton Rouge, Phil Brady’s is well known for its Thursday night blues jam. It also books local, regional, and sometimes national blues and rock acts during the weekends. Patrons can order from a wide variety of beer and mixed drinks from the bar. Lunch and dinner are served. Ask about lunch specials. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday and 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday.
25. RED DRAGON
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 939-7783
Address: 2401 Florida St.
Description: This listening club is a labor of love for owner Chris Maxwell. The music genre varies from week to week, but the Red Dragon specializes in singer-songwriters, including Jimmy LaFave, Slaid Cleaves, and country and gospel legend Charlie Louvin. Concerts take place in a large street-level room and are scheduled once or twice a month. Admission fees go directly to participating entertainers. No food or drink is served.
26. TEDDY’S JUKE JOINT
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 892-0064, (225) 658-8029
Address: 17001 Old Scenic Hwy
Description: One of the city’s busiest clubs, Teddy’s is an authentic juke joint created by owner and DJ Teddy Johnson. The colorful atmosphere includes Christmas lights everywhere. North of town not far from the airport, Teddy’s has developed an international reputation as an authentic American blues venue. Weekends are often booked with well-known blues performers. A jam is held every Saturday. Try the food from Nancy’s Kitchen. A bass player, Teddy Johnson’s newest album is “Super Cooper” with Teddy’s Sharecroppers.” Among the performers who have appeared at Teddy’s Juke Joint are Kenny Neal Band, Larry Garner, Henry Gray, Greg Wright, and Big Red and the Soul Benders.
27. MELLOW MUSHROOM
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 490-6355
Address: 4250 Burbank Dr.
Description: The Mellow Mushroom dishes up pizza and plenty of fun. The bar features daily drink specials with 100 different beers and 25 on draft. The Mushroom is also a great, casual place to watch your favorite game on one of 12 HD televisions. Tuesday night features open mic night. Wednesday night features Teen Trivia and Karaoke. Thursday and Friday night the action is turned over to some of Baton Rouge’s best local musicians. Open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
28. ROUX HOUSE
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 344-2583
Address: 143 Third St.
Description: The Roux House is in the same location that used to be Swamp Mama’s, and before that it was M’s Mello Cafe. The club is popular with LSU students, and there are live bands every night. Patrons gather in front of the band to dance as couples or singles. Cajun food is served upstairs. The outdoor patio is packed on no-rain nights and is a great spot when breezes are blowing off the Mississippi River. Hours are 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
29. THE TEXAS CLUB
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 928-4655
Address: 456 North Donmoor
Description: The Texas Club, designed to hold a large crowd, is one of Baton Rouge’s largest concert halls. This landmark club in a former Continental Trailways building presents country stars, such as Jason Aldean and Randy Owen, as well as popular Louisiana musicians, including Wayne Toups and Zydecajun. Drop in on a Saturday night for country dancing and “U Call It” happy hour.
30. MANSHIP THEATRE
City: Baton Rouge, LA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (225) 344-0334
Address: 100 Lafayette St.
Description: Situated in the Shaw Center for the Arts, the Manship Theatre’s schedule has ranged from New Orleans music master Dr. John to singer-songwriter Randy Newman. The Manship books some of the world’s top musicians. The small auditorium is perfect for the serious fan. There is no public dancing here.