718 St. Peter
Guinness Tag: $7.00 | Overall Rating: 8.55
First and foremost, this is a BEAUTIFUL pub with an atmosphere that truly delivers. It was once a speakeasy but 2 days after the prohibition came to an end Pat O'Brien converted it into a legal drinking establishment in 1933. They're known for the "Hurricane", which was invented in the 1940's during WWII when whiskey was scarce. They have a dueling piano bar every day of the week and it's got an entry way along the famous Bourbon Street in the heart of New Orleans.
Yes, the place gets incredibly rowdy from the moment it opens until the moment it closes. If you're looking for an intimate drinking session then you will surely be disappointed, as you will essentially be screaming throughout the duration of your time here unless you manage to find a table outside in their patio. The patio by the way is absolutely gorgeous which provides a fountain, unique furniture, 2 walk up bars, a gift shop, and fantastic greenery.
The inside of the place is perfectly lit with dim lighting and green accents behind the bar. There are over 500 beer steins hanging from the ceiling and the wall decor is authentic with pictures of well-known locals enjoying themselves from inside the pub throughout the decades. There's an old school jukebox for funsies and plenty of spots to rest your beer. The bar counter itself is a long L-Shaped bar that holds over 20 people. There's exposed brick and the stained wood throughout the main pub is magnificent.
The bathrooms are exquisite, especially the ladies room. The men get to tinkle into a trough while the women get a fine touch of class amongst a spiral staircase.
Across the hall is the piano bar, which has a bountiful selection of tables for foot tapping overlooking the stage. A small bar overlooks the pianos for walk-up drink ordering and again, the lighting and overall vibe of the room is second to none. All of the bartenders are fantastic... and we mean absolutely fantastic. It's evident that they hand pick the people who work there and hold them to high standards.
Chris, our main bartender for today, was the inspiration behind adding a "best bartender tracker" to the Drunken Mallard's website. Chris is a knowledgeable tender who came from Vancouver who followed a lady to New Orleans to later on make his wife. Right off the rip he was telling us stories and funny jokes; the perfect bartender anyone could ask for. He and his crew provide a healthy selection of spirits for those looking for something other than a Hurricane.
For as awesome as the place is, it does have its unfortunate gripes. For one; they don't have any Guinness on Tap. They blame it on the heat and the cooling process for the keg lines. They say it isn't worth having keg lines along Bourbon Street. Mind you, every other Irish Pub in the city has Guinness on tap. They also blame it on how busy the place gets. They say "imagine waiting 5 minutes on a pour of Guinness when it's slammed busy". The thoughts in my head were, "yes, I can, as I will always happily wait for a Guinness no matter the circumstance".
Another is that it's one of the most touristy bars in NOLA. It becomes a zoo of screaming people who are only stepping foot inside because of its footprint on history and "it's what you're supposed to do on Bourbon / St. Peter Street". Not many people are coming here for the Irish Culture but rather to get blitzed on Hurricanes and be as annoying as humanly possible. About all of the craic is coming from behind the bar.
Overall, the place is awesome. The exposed brick, stained wood, and rustic feel really give the place a unique type of charm. It's a beautiful venue without a dart board, without Guinness on Tap, with incredibly over-the-top prices, and with one hell of a bartender. If you're stumbling along Bourbon Street then yes; you should grab a cold one here at Pat O'Brien's because yes; it's just what you do.
Slainte!
