Jazz in New Orleans: Frenchmen Street, Preservation Hall or a Jazz Brunch?
4 min read
The answer first
New Orleans jazz comes in three formats: a night of clubs on Frenchmen Street, a short seated set in Preservation Hall, or a daytime meal with a band. If you want someone to pick the music for you, book the Jazz Roots Tour with Live Music & Drink: 2.5 hours, €47.64 per person, 4.8 / 5 from 126 reviews. Its page says the guide tailors the evening around where the best live music is that night. For a brunch with a band, the Court of Two Sisters Jazz Brunch Buffet is the one to look at. GetYourGuide lists 17 jazz and live-music offers, from €17.94.
Three offers side by side
| Offer | What the booking page says | Length | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jazz Roots Tour with Live Music & Drink | Walk of about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) through Tremé, Congo Square and the French Quarter, ending with live music and one complimentary drink; meets at Louis Armstrong Park, 701 N Rampart St; not suitable for people under 21 | 2.5 h | €47.64 | 4.8 / 5 (126 reviews) |
| Court of Two Sisters Jazz Brunch Buffet | All-you-can-eat buffet with a mimosa and a jazz band at 613 Royal St, courtyard seating guaranteed, groups of up to 30 | start times on the booking page | €49.34 | 4.4 / 5 (508 reviews) |
| Dew Drop Inn Guided Tour with Live Blues Show | History tour of the Dew Drop Inn, a matinee show with Mikhala Iversen and the Gerald French Band, buffet lunch; 2836 LaSalle St; not suitable for people under 21 | 1.5 h | €69.98 | 4.0 / 5 (6 reviews) |
The brunch page lists breakfast dishes from 9 am to 11:30 am and lunch dishes after 11:30 am. On the Dew Drop Inn page the buffet lunch is included, alcoholic drinks and gratuity are not.
Frenchmen Street on your own
New Orleans & Company, the city’s tourism organisation, names Snug Harbor, The Spotted Cat, d.b.a., Blue Nile and Café Negril among the jazz stops on Frenchmen Street. Its page says most clubs are 21 and older, and that a few let children and teenagers in until a certain time, so check each club before you go. Its guide to live music for under-21s adds that Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro admits guests 13 and older to the music room with a parent or guardian and a ticket. Check each club’s own listing for entry charges. The walk above does the choosing for you; on your own, you choose a club and stay or move on.
Preservation Hall
The hall’s own FAQ is clear about the format: your ticket covers one 45-minute performance. The address is 726 Saint Peter Street, tickets are bought in advance on the website and no cash is taken at the door, the venue is all ages, staff seat you in the section you selected, outside food and drinks are not allowed and all sales are final. It is the shortest way to hear traditional jazz in a seat, and the only one here that the venue itself describes as open to all ages.
On the river
Jazz also plays on the Mississippi. Our guide to the steamboat jazz cruises compares the evening, daytime and brunch sailings, and the jazz and live-music category lists everything under this heading.
Our recommendation
For most visitors who want an evening of jazz and have no plan, the Jazz Roots walk is the safest booking: the guide chooses the venue, and the story of Congo Square and Tremé comes with it. Its page says participants must be 21 or older and that photo ID may be required, so with anyone under 21 choose Preservation Hall, or ask the restaurant whether the brunch takes children. Choose the Dew Drop Inn tour if the history of one famous venue interests you more than a club crawl. All three bookings can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours in advance, according to their pages.
