FIVE MOST IMPORTANT REASONS TO DO BOURBON STREET & THE FRENCH QUARTER ...

Nightclubs and restaurants and bars - oh my! The French Quarter is the ultimate urban jungle of adult nightlife and entertainment, not to mention some of the best food in the country. But where do you start? How do you know how to get the most out your excursion in to the fabled Vieux Carre?

Start with the Fabulous Five ...

Balcony Dinning On Bourbon Street!
The EMBERS STEAK HOUSE - 700 Bourbon Street, You've heard about the incomparable New Orleans cuisine -- you've wondered what distinguishes it from say, Peoria, or Poughkeepsie or Pompano Beach. After all, a steak is a steak is steak, right? WRONG. Need some proof? Get thee to THE EMBERS STEAK HOUSE and sink your taste buds into perfectly seasoned flash-fried oysters topped with garlic sauce, followed by authentic seafood gumbo. Then take a deep breath, smell the aroma of a freshly grilled 20-oz. T-bone or thick, juicy filet or huge fried seafood platter. The Embers Steak House sits on one of the ... more info!

Crazy Street, Krazier Korner!
KRAZY KORNER - 640 Bourbon Street, Dinner at the Embers was almost enough to write home about, but the night is young. Just cross the street and let THE KRAZY KORNER swallow you up for a full night of everything you ever hoped the French Quarter might be and so much more. Can one place offer the best Cajun rhythms in town and then turn right around and dig deep into rhythm and blues? Uh - yeah! Krazy Korner can. Did you ever imagine yourself in a Bourbon Street bar playing the ... ... more info!

Oldest Creole Italian Restaurant In The Quarter!
TORTORICI'S - 441 Royal Street, Close your eyes and see if you can taste this: Northern Italian cuisine deliciously combined with Creole and Cajun cuisine, all under one roof. It's the oldest Italian restaurant in the city and probably the most fun - TORTORICI'S, where the turtle soup is graced with just a hint of sherry and the antipasto is always fresh and created with four generations of love and expertise. Try the locally-beloved ... more info!

Home to the Huge Ass Beer - what else has to be said!
STEAK PIT - 609 Bourbon Street, Okay, time to 'fess up - what did you really come to New Orleans for? Come on - all together now - HUGE ASS BEER! There is only one place in the French Quarter you can get an OFFICIAL HUGE ASS BEER! It's The Steak Pit on Bourbon Street, the only place you can find sweet potato fries or eggplant fries to wash down your H.A.B. And we say buy the t-shirt first at the door - Huge Ass Beers taste so much better when ... ... more info!

Swampy New Orleans Music At Its Best!
OLD OPERA HOUSE - 601 Bourbon Street, Ask many first time New Orleans visitors what they'll remember most about the French Quarter and you'll hear a chorus of "The Old Opera House." If you're looking for music like Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco hellraisers, or Jimmy Thibodeaux's Cajun band, this is your place. And you don't have to wait until way after dark to hear it, because it's happening all the time, even during the 3-for-1 happy hour ... more info!

Once you've conquered the "Fabulous Five," plan your own pub crawl throughout the French Quarter - here are some suggestions:

Cat's Meow, 701 Bourbon (504) 523-2788 Belt your guts out in the French Quarter's busiest karaoke bar. You may have to wait for up to an hour to get on stage, but once there you can choose from over 1000 songs.

Coop's Place, 1109 Decatur (504) 525-9053 The ultimate French Quarter neighborhood bar serves a mean bowl of gumbo and serves as one of the best people-watching spots in town.

Donna's Bar And Grill , 800 N. Rampart (504) 596-69l4 Hit Donna's on a Monday night for some serious brass band jam sessions, and be sure to try and spot well-known local jazz musicians in the crowd.

The Dungeon , 738 Toulouse (504) 523-5530 Full name: Ye Olde Original Dungeon. Best time to get down and dirty at the Dungeon is Friday from 1AM-4AM, when the drinks are three for the price of one.

Famous Door, 339 Bourbon, (504) 522-7626 Since prohibition was alive and well. the sunken dance floor at The Famous Door has been crowded with partiers. Check out all the well-known names that have signed the front door.

Funky Butt At Congo Square , 7l4 N. Rampart, (504) 558-0872 Three shows nightly of some of the best jazz in town. The new generation of local jazz glitterati hangs out here.

House Of Blues and The Parish, 225 Decatur, (504) 529-2583 HOB answers the age old question: Can't a jazz club ever come up with great food? YES. Can you handle the likes of The Neville Brothers, Elvis Costello and a "Blues burger" all in one night? Only at HOB.

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe, 1104 Decatur, (504) 592-2560 You won't see the man himself hanging out here very often, but you are likely to hear some top local musicians in a real festive atmosphere.

Lounge Lizards , 200 Decatur, (504) 598-1500 The shows start way after dark in this laid back, off-the-beaten path club. Look for some way cool blues musicians still on the way up, and remember - you heard them "when."

Napoleon House, 500 Chartres St. (504) 524-9752 This 200-year-old landmark watering hole/eatery is famous for its "Pimm's Cup"-be careful now; it may taste like lemonade, but it creeps up on you. Try the grilled duck and poached oysters Florentine.

OZ, 800 Bourbon, (504) 593-9491 Drag bingo starts promptly at 5PM on Fridays at this top gay dance club on Bourbon. Bring your dancing shoes - this place rocks until sunrise.

Pat O'Brien's, 718 St. Peter , (504) 525-4823 Leaving New Orleans without having a Hurricane at Pat O's is like leaving NYC without seeing the Statue of Liberty. It just isn't done. Pat O's also has one of the best courtyards in the Quarter.

Ritz-Carlton's French Quarter Bar , 921 Canal St. , (504) 524-1331 Intimate, romantic and sophisticated, FQB is home to locally-beloved musician Jeremy Davenport and the now famous "Davenportini." Find that little black dress and go for cocktails.

Snug Harbor , Location: French Quarter 626 Frenchmen , (504) 949-0696 Just outside the Quarter in the Fauburg Marigny, Snug has long been considered New Orleans' premier jazz club, and the music never stops seven nights a week. Visiting greats share stage time with local icons. Two shows nightly.