It may not look like much from the outside, situated in a typical ramshackle shotgun house, But inside, there's a nice bar, a window to order food and then — wait for it — a door to a multi-level patio that is one of the best places to watch the game, hang with friends and nibble on some very good grub. There are fans and heaters - in use depending on the weather, and live music is often featured outside. Besides the usual burgers and wraps, there's something called disco fries, fresh fried potatoes covered in gracy and roast beef debris, which must be experienced.
Recommended for Pubs because: A great beer list and patio seating make this Mid-City pub a win-win.
Beth's expert tip: The beer list is available online so check in out in advance if you are looking for something special.
Carnaval Lounge is an alt music venue that rises to the top of the dive bar heap in a city that may just have invented the genre. Like most things New Orleans, Carnaval has multiple personalities. Mondays you'll usually find a combo of comedy and burlesque for all kinds of fun. The bar is also a live rock and roll music venue, well not really it's a Goth heavy metal venue. Ok, forget that. You can catch a Cajun band for sure. Or if you're lucky, a somber Balkans folk trio that inspires what looks like Greek dancing. There's a convivial live and let live attitude here that is one of the best things about this town when it really comes together.
Recommended for Pubs because: This is a quirky spot where you're guaranteed an interesting conversation, decent beer and great Polish food.
Beth's expert tip: Order from the kitchen, Cozinha de Carnaval, at the bar, from a menu of Brazilian Street Food - get the garlic shrimp on a skewer!
Tracey's was the original bar in the Irish Channel, opened in 1949 with new fangled comforts like air conditioning - a rarity back in the day. Also the first in the 'hood with color TV, Tracey's having opened in 1949. Its current location is on Magazine Street, and although it had been shuttered for some time, Jeffery Carreras reopened in 2010, bringing his famous recipe for roast beef po'boys to the bar along with a great beer list. Great drink specials and 20 TVs to watch the game makes Tracey's a top stop for visitors to catch their home team while on the road for business or pleasure.
Recommended for Pubs because: Tracey's is an Irish Channel original, the quintessential neighborhood pub.
Beth's expert tip: This is the perfect place to seek refuge while your significant other is shopping on Magazine Street.
You can't miss The Bulldog, what with their giant beer tap fountain facing Magazine Street passersby. The Garden District watering hole is a favorite among beer enthusiasts, with more than 50 beers on tap and 100 different bottled selections. The Bulldog also does bar food extremely well, with their burgers receiving high praise. Have your dog with you? The Bulldog is pet friendly, so bring Sparky along and grab your favorite pint of beer that you've likely never heard of. If you know you're going to be in town on your birthday, register online to become a Bulldog member online and receive a free beer on your special day.
Recommended for Pubs because: The Bulldog is situated on busy Magazine street in the heart of the retail action.
Beth's expert tip: Don't even think of ordering a Bud light at this beer-manic pub.
Gordon Biersch is a large restaurant/sports bar on Poydras Street in the heart of the New Orleans CBD. Sit indoors or out, with TVs tuned to the game offering a hubbub of activity and a sporty soundtrack. Enjoy up close views of the brewery where the beer making goes down. You can really make a day out of Biersch's by planning a brewery tour for before or after the sporting event you plan to watch. The place can accommodate a crowd of up to 375, so it's also a top spot for convention groups, with private dining available. The food is a cut above the usual pub, with dishes like veggie sliders, goat cheese and spinach salad and gruyere flatbread on the menu.
Recommended for Pubs because: This multi-location chain brews beer onsite and offers some New Orleans-centric dishes on its menu.
Beth's expert tip: Gordon Biersch is within walking distance to the Superdome, making it the premier destination for pre-game shenanigans.
Cooter Brown's is without a doubt the place to go for sports in Uptown New Orleans, and could be the number one spot for those who like to get a little rowdy when watching their team play. Stop number 43 on the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar, Cooter Brown's is loaded with flatscreens, offering views of the game from all vantage points. The Snooty Cooter is a new craft beer bar located at the back baroffering 46 unique drafts in addition to the 38 drafts up front (84 taps total). In the middle of the bar is picnic style seating for eating freshlyl shucked oysters, fried seafood and "Philly style" steaks.
Recommended for Pubs because: Cooter Brown's is hugely popular with locals for sports and suds.
Beth's expert tip: If you're heading to Cooter's during football season, be prepared to compete with LSU/Saints fans for a seat, the place gets packed.
The only microbrewery in the French Quarter, Crescent City Brewhouse sits on historic ground. Once the site of a two-story 14 room house dating to the 1700s, the building was razed by fire and rebuilt as a fine French Quarter home in the early 1800s. Later home to a fur processing plant, the building was vacant until it was renovated and opened as the Brewhouse in 1991, the first brewery to open in the state in more than 72 years. Enjoy a beer sample of the house brew along with the likes of fresh oysters, crabcakes, boudin balls and alligator bites.
Recommended for Pubs because: This Decatur Street microbrewery boasts four house brews, raw bar and full menu of regional cuisine.
Beth's expert tip: There is live jazz nightly at this beer pub and never a cover.
This railroad-themed pub is yet another in the crop of eateries popping up like mushrooms along St. Claude Avenue. From the Molly's at the Market folks, the place is spare and casual, with the emphasis on grass-fed beef burgers with interesting toppings - like the spicy New Mexico Rail Runner burger is topped with green chiles, cheddar and a four-alarm chipotle aioli. Other pub fare includes chicken wings, pickled eggs and even a few salads. Beer lovers will high five over the 40 draft beers on tap, which span Louisiana, Mississippi and elsewhere around the United States. There is usually an Irish import on draft as well as an impressive number of craft bottles and cans.
Recommended for Pubs because: This is a sweet spot for beer lovers who will appreciate the rotating craft options.
Beth's expert tip: Junction is open seven days a week for lunch and stays open for late night.
Rub elbows with the natives at this diminuitive joint, where funk, blues and rock bands showcase regional talent every night. For a real good deal, come on Monday for free red beans and rice or hit the complimentary oyster bar at 10pm on Thursdays. Every Sunday is spaghetti Western night, with complimentary Italian eats, classic Italian westerns on the tube and live music by the likes of Ron Hotstream & The F-Holes - don't let the name fool you, these guys are pure country. There's no better way to dig into the local scene and you won't ever have to pay a cover.
Recommended for Pubs because: Banks Street is quirky and fun with great drinks and entertainment.
Beth's expert tip: There's a pizza pop-up next door for late night eats in case you get the munchies.
Finn McCool's is a Mid City sports bar that embodies fan culture. There are six screens for viewing, including a 50" HD plasma and an 8' projector screen showing primarily soccer and rugby matches. At the forefront of the sports bar scene since 2002, Finn's is a familiar winner of accolades like "Best Neighborhood Bar" and "Best Bartender." Competition isn't just on the screen at this popular neighborhood spot. At Finn's you can play against fellow patrons in trivia, billiards, darts or even Scrabble depending on the night of the week. The place is even open for breakfast - try the breakfast burrito with a bloody Mary, delish.
Recommended for Pubs because: Finn McCool's is a popular sports bar with a terrific beer list in Mid-City.
Beth's expert tip: This is a lively spot to watch soccer games, drawing a gregarious international crowd.