Edit Boo,our favorite bartender no longer works here. The past couple of times we've gone the service was slow and rude. Unfortunately,I don't think that we'll be returning. What a bummer. read more

Very cool dive bar with a rustic feel in the French Quarter. I wasn't feeling like alcohol in the middle of the day but there were good non-alcoholic beverages available. I had a Mockly cocktail made in New Orleans. I really liked the flavors. read more

See all

We were in New Orleans for a convention and two of the entertainers gave us wooden nickels from the Black Penny. We decided to stop by. Fun little place reminds me of some of the bars in Charleston SC. Bartender was great. It's a simple little fun place w great prices. We enjoyed it very much. read more

My Fav spot in NOLA. Specialty is beer. Cans only. Staff is extra friendly. Small dogs allowed. I think we went every day we were in town and met some really awesome folks. No food but the beer prices are $6 or less for craft beer. A good 2-3 less than anywhere in the quarter. Have a good 75+ beers. Come check it out read more

Black Penny - a can of beer on a table - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Now that I've been here at an earlier hour, I feel like I need to update that the Penny is definitely on my rotation for early evening libations. Icy sparkling rose in the can? Yes. Just yes. The price is right. The bartenders are so damn friendly and the regulars sitting at the bar are just the people with whom you want to be rubbing elbows. I'm not even a "sitting at the bar and chatting with strangers" type and I find myself compelled to do so here. Also, dogs. read more

Wouldn't recommend this place for a place to a have a decent beer, yes they do have a good selection but the staffs sucks. Super rude as hell, dickish like they are way cooler than you. I personally believe if you are nice to the customer they will return. I've frequented many bars that are darkesk bars but come on now. I enjoy the underground/ punk rock style ( which I am) but come on seriously, grow up. Find a better place to get good service and good beer. Period. read more

Black Penny - Thumbs down - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Extremely rude bartender last night. I witnessed him harass a woman so violently that we decided to leave before ordering a drink. They need to fire that bartender ASAP or they will start losing alll their clientele. read more

It's on Rampart a few blocks east of Bourbon St. I was bouncing around and had gotten recs from the bartender from Arnaud's French 75 Bar because why not? I always ask people from the city I'm visiting where they like to go. It's another lowly lit place in New Orleans and they have a lot of different beers and such. It was closer to the end of my night, so I was somewhat tipsy by then but service was great for me. Definitely a different pace from Bourbon which I like because it can be a bit much over there. Everything is reasonably priced and they have good vibes here. read more

We're usually more of the day drinking type but we got a late start a few Sundays ago because we were trying to enjoy the city before all of the Mardi Gras madness. We strolled into Black Penny and was greeted by Kelsey who was laughing at herself for tripping over a mat lol.She had us laughing the entire time we were there. She made me a delicious gin cocktail and told my husband she was picking out a beer for him LOL. We will be going back to black penny more often for our Sunday funday outings! read more

Came in and the bartender Matt was very rude. Me and my partner left without drinks because of the way he spoke to us.

Met some friends here after work one day a few weeks ago, and while I was sure I had been here before, maybe not. This is a great neighborhood bar that just happens to be at the edge of the FQ. They have a bunch of beers available for the beer folks, then they have some fancy liquors for those folks, and then they just have regular old drinks for the rest of us. The bartender was friendly but also kept himself busy with bar things. There is an art to being both available but also keep working. He handled the drunkypants tourists well and made sure folks were masking up as they entered the bar or moved around. Good prices too! read more

Stopped in for a drink, great beer list! It was quiet but that's probably because we were here at 3pm on Christmas Eve. Would love to come back after Covid and see the place packed! Bathrooms are very clean and the music is pretty punk. Highly recommend! read more

See all

I had to follow Bert and Tandie when they announced their departure from Erin Rose to open their own bar. Though I'm pretty sure Bert is the sole proprietor these days, I love coming to Black Penny to catch a friendly face, and an interesting beer. The spot had to be renovated and stripped of it's wood paneling, to reveal some pretty interesting masonry. To keep the integrity of the original building, the decor is minimalistic, white vinyl booths, and an L-shaped bar. The bar menu boats an extensive craft beer list, organized by style, and there is always something new I want to try. A great spot to pop in before a downtown parade, or catch up with a friend late night. read more

Great little bar in the French Quarter on Rampart st right by Armstrong Park. It's no frills, but I had a way better time here than on Bourbon St. It's also way cheaper, you can get craft beers for as low as $5. My group ended up going here like 5 times over the course of the weekend. They have a great craft beer list and all the bartenders were very nice. They take credit card, which is nice since some dive bars don't. I would highly recommend this place if you're looking for something not on Bourbon with a quieter vibe and way lower costs. If I ever come back to town I'm definitely coming back here read more

We stopped in while exploring the area. It is a small place, but it has a pretty cool vibe. The bartender was super friendly. We had no idea what we wanted to order so we told him to surprise us. He made us a "traditional" New Orleans drink, Sazerac. It was like jet fuel & almost knocked us over, so we definitely got enough alcohol! They also had a pretty clean bathroom, so that's a bonus. Overall, a good experience. read more

See all

Stopped in for a quick beer which turned into two because I was told it was a $10 minimum. So sat down and was pleasantly surprised with the cute Asian goth bartender Kelsey and stayed for a couple more. Kelsey was super awesome and shenomenal!!!! She rocks!!!!! And she loves Saliva....bonus points!!!!!!! Did I mention that her photo is on the wall and had to grab a picture of that too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Black Penny - the inside of a small bar - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Friendly neighborhood bar with a lot of beer options (Local and nationwide) for beer lovers like myself read more

Black Penny - Outside sign - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Here for a pop-up Vietnamese Style Crawfish Event; we journeyed in to wait for the crawfish order to be ready. Basic bar, with seemingly familiar to the place 'bar flys' as I know this is a frequent stop during Mardi Gras Festivities. The crowd here on a Thursday night was plentiful, idk if that was because of the Crawfish or if this was the norm; either way, we blended in and enjoyed the night. Bartenders were friendly as were the patrons. Indoors there were 4-5 table & seating areas for you to cop-a-squat and be a lookie-lou or enjoy your company, whatever your pleasure. Lots of eclectic decor to feast your eyes on. Quite dimly lit, but it helps to set the mood though. Drink prices were fair & the drinks were tasty as well. I'm not a fan of game hunting and my hope is that the BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED RHINO HEAD on the wall near the restrooms was a fake. read more

See all

Black Penny is one of those pubs we stumbled upon while walking the outlying layer of immediate Frenchman/Bourbon street core. We found it while perusing our way through Louis Armstrong National Historic Park. I instantly was smitten with Black Penny because it reminded me of a bar that would be in my neighborhood in MKE. Happy hour every day, spot on service and dog friendly were the hallmarks of this joint getting a five star rating from me. They also play vinyl and I can tell the Penny is about as hip and happening a spot as it can get in NOLA. It would be a got to for unwinding, if I lived in the area. read more

See all

What a nifty place to do some day drinking! We stopped here after our cemetery tour to grab a beer (and a water for my prego sister!). It was middle of the day, so there were a couple others there, but it was a nice quiet spot to relax and chill for a bit. Every time I looked around something new caught my eye. The bartender was friendly and the beer (my new fav-Abita Amber)was cold! Oh, and the bathroom was clean! read more

See all

Just a cool local bar. Nothing fancy, just good service and great drinks. Highly recommend.

12.3.16: Of all the bars we went into and checked out, I have to say this was it. We went to over 10 bars and I can't believe we didn't discover it until it was our last night in New Orleans. The inside was decorated interestingly. There were photos on the wall to chandliers to video arcades that looks like casino machines. What really caught our attention was that there were people cooking outside. Interestingly that's where they do their cooking for the bar. So intrigued we went inside and notice the wall of alcohol Wowzers. We loved it. We noticed that they have our favorite Jameson. Jameson Castmates. That was our hook to drink here. Tired of the same old stuff, this is the place. They have a great beer selection and they're all bottled beers. If you're just looking for sweet tasting alcohol stay at the main street otherwise venture one or two blocks over to this lovely place. Great beers, great liquor selection. Mellow and not rowdy, the type of crowd I need before heading to bed. read more

See all

This is a no frills local spot to spend some time in the Big Easy. Very easy to access on the trolley. Great specials & the bartenders are so helpful & kind to everyone. read more

Great neighborhood bar, literally right across from Armstrong Park! They have a good selections of whiskeys and beer! The also gave super comfortable apparel! Stop by and say hi!!! read more

Easily my favorite bar in New Orleans. This place represents all the iconic things of being a New Orleans drinking establishment: a cool historic space, locals intermixed with visitors who *actually* know what's good in New Orleans, not stuffy with both high-end and budget-conscious offerings, talented staff that can make virtually any cocktail (serious cocktail, that is.). One of the biggest selections of NA offerings in the city including NA beers, NA cocktails in cans, and now THC/CBD seltzers. Bingo most Thursdays. Kind of in the heart of a lot of cool stuff including Congo Square and Armstrong Park and steps from Bourbon Street and other attractions. read more

Very rude staff. Not welcoming at all. I love the thought of a punk rock of the beaten path place. Just don't come here.

If you are visiting the French Quarter check out Black Penny! They have an awesome beer selection and there staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. The bartender, Gio, gave me great recommendations on what beers to try and made an excellent cocktail for my friend. It's definitely a hot spot for locals but very tourist friendly as well. I'll definitely be back! read more

What a hidden gem! My wife and I decided we wanted to do a local pub crawl and could not have picked a better place! There was a spot open at the bar and we explained to the bar tender our goal of drinking local this night. He fixed up with his special as well as pointing out what other places to go to, who to chat with, and suggested drinks. Awesome! We really enjoyed chatting with him and learning about the drinks and the bar. If I was a local this would probably be my hang out. I hope they stay open for a long time so next time we are in New Orleans we can stop by. read more

This is an amazing bar. We went early, around 11 and were the only customers. The bartender, Cynthia, was perfect. She was the perfect bAlance of conversational without being intrusive. She had amazing recommendations for other places to check out as well... Her cocktails were the BEST we had on this trip! And that's saying a ton in NOLA.... she made a Sazerac that will help lead you to your happy place. There is a bar dog named Chico, an adorable, snuggly terrier. We try to go once a year, and we'll be adding this to the list of places we have to go..... read more

Black Penny - Chico!!! What a sweetie - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

This stretch of North Rampart is home to two of my favorite watering holes in the city, Black Penny and Bar Tonique. Both offer an unmistakably NOLA vibe. Black Penny offers an extensive beer list, while Tonique focuses on signature cocktails. BP is also a bit more "divey", but not in a bad or dirty way. Frequently listed as one of the top bars in NOLA, for good reason. If you fancy yourself an aficionado of dive bars or simply want to check off the city's best, don't miss Black Penny! read more

First time here. I met the owner at the Voodoo Lounge and he was very friendly. He told me that he owned the Black Penny so I thought I would stop by. The staff was very knowledgeable about the beer and recommended what I should try. I tried the Devils Harvest Breakfast IPA and it was pretty good. A nice place to visit to have a cold one. read more

Black Penny - Devils Harvest breakfast IPA - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I really like this place. It's dark, old, creepy-ish but not filled with tourists (mostly). It's on the edge of the quarter so it's not too hard to get to (well, the Hard Rock Hotel mess does make it a little difficult). Large beer list was pretty dope, and the bartender was knowledgeable and super friendly. He even gave us some kumquats for hanging out. It does smell damp but that's because ya the Quarter, the building is old, and New Orleans is a swamp. My only complaint is that on a Friday night, the bathrooms get SO SO SO gross. Just bring some travel size hand sanitizer, ladies, and you'll be fine. One of the better bars in the French Quarter. read more

Small local spot away from the crowds for a good cocktail. Highlights: - Cozy and not crazy - Nice decor--wouldn't consider it a dive - On Rampart by some of my other local faves - Good cocktails like an old fashioned - Had some food being made on the side later at night - Few seats and found a comfy table by the door Lowlights: - Bathroom line: since it's a small place Like these types of water holes so I'd come back. read more

The second we stepped in here, I said to myself "I like this place!". Black Penny is definitely a local spot, just a bit off Bourbon but far enough away that locals and the people who are done partying by 11PM pop in just to have a drink or two. The bartender Gio is great and remembered us from the night before. Their beer list is downright impressive. The beer menu alone is nearly 3 pages. There is something for everyone, including your regular beers such as Heinekin and Stella. But if you come here, I encourage you to try a craft beer. It's well-worth it. Everyone here is so friendly and welcoming. Even if you're "new" to the 'hood, they still make you feel like you belong and will add you to their conversation. The beer prices are also very very good. Definitely a great spot to check out if you want something less crazy and with a more intimate feel. read more

Stopped here after reading the good reviews. When we first walked in, there was a smell of urine, that was offputting, we did stay for a drink. I had a gin and tonic and my friend had a Sazerac. Decent drinks, low key vibe. Cool building with exposed brick and interesting decor. Lots of canned beers to choose from. read more

Wow. We came and sat at the bar and were given menus that included an exhaustive list of beers and wines. Directly in front of us was a backbar covered with alcohol bottles. I asked if they served alcohol as well, as there were no cocktails or alcohol prices on the menu, and the bartender rolled her eyes and said "obviously we serve alcohol we just don't put all the drinks on the menu". I'm like "well you sure as hell put every beer and wine known to man on your 200 item menu so why not mention a few cocktails or alcohol you serve?" Condescending and rude. Lame. read more

I ordered a dark and stormy. Dark and stormy is a pretty basic drink- rum, lime, ginger beer. After being ignored by the bartender for about 15 minutes (bar wasn't even that busy, she was just chatting with another patron), she finally took my order and made my drink. She used 3 different types of bitters!!!!!!!!!! Bitters do not belong in a dark and stormy, it would be like putting bitters in a vodka soda- it just makes no sense lol. I figured I'd give the drink the benefit of the doubt so I paid for it and tasted it. N O P E it was so disgusting, could not drink more than 2 sips. I would have asked for a new drink and I'm sure they would have fixed it but the place had a gross smell so I was just ready to get out of there. read more

Fun stop!! Bar that's customer base is almost all locals....except the 3 of us.Drink prices are very good and the drinks were made well. If you love eclectic.....this is your place!! read more

Black Penny - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

One of the community groups I love had an event here and it was quite wonderful. The bar had a couple of group specific drinks at happy hour prices. I had a Moscow mule or two but took joy in the selections of beers and liquors and skeletons on the wall. I will definitely be back to investigate. There are tons of seating options making it equally good for a group of 6 or a single person at the bar. The atmosphere is homey without being divey. Dark without being depressing. It is streetcar convenient which is always a plus. I definitely felt like maybe I was in Europe somewhere. Can't wait until my next visit. read more

A must visit for all good dog parents. They allow your pups and give them water and treats. Highlights: Great selection, feels local, and last time we were here they had a pop up boil outside. General: The bartenders are friendly and make recommendations on drinks and other spots. Obviously had the Bloody Mary cause it was before noon on a Sunday, but the beer lineup is outrageous. read more

Black Penny - Dive Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana