When I travel to other cities I make it a point to check out at least one neighborhood bar, the similarities are always there, but the differences are telling— the rowdiness of Philadelphia, Texas-worship of Austin and the fanatical love of hockey in Pittsburgh. In New Orleans, our neighborhood bars celebrate drinking like yours, but late nights here routinely turn into neighborhood get-togethers, post-work celebrations and school or family reunions. Here’s the biggest difference — anyone is invited. Just show up to the Half Moon Bar.
The Half Moon Bar is a local neighborhood haunt located in the Lower Garden District that's been serving up cheap drinks and delicious food since the 1930's
Located in the Lower Garden District, the Half Moon Bar is a perfect blend of a low-key neighborhood hangout and a late-night, fun-time meet up spot. Many nights I’ve walked in with a friend or two, and by the time I leave I’ve met three people from St. Louis and am sitting at a table with five people I used to go to school with. You can come with a group and spread out, or just sit and enjoy the laid back atmosphere. You’ll see groups of cooks from the surrounding restaurants kicking back after a long shift, along with typical young professionals in suits hanging out with some cardigan-wearing Teach for America do-gooders. It’s an eclectic clientele for one of New Orleans’ oldest and most diverse neighborhoods, the Lower Garden District.
The bar has been open since at least the 1930’s and its success is understandable. The prices are approaching dirt-cheap, there are regular happy hour specials, and they just seem to keep expanding. First they blew out the back part of the bar to add the game room and kitchen and the latest addition is a relatively new patio where you can sit and enjoy the balmy nights with your friends. The game room is a quality addition; there are dartboards, an air hockey table, and even a skee-ball table- a rarity in any bar. The kitchen features a typical bar menu with standard bar food prices. I’ve only ever eaten the burger and fries here, but they put enough Tony’s (a local culinary standard) on the fries that I’ll never complain.
There are hundreds of neighborhood bars in any city but the Half Moon is worth a visit. You get a slice of how New Orleanians live and even better than a museum or a guide book; you get to live that way too.
The Half Moon Bar
1125 Saint Mary St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
