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    The Rusty Nail

    4.4 (255 reviews)
    Open • 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    The Rusty Nail Photos

    Business Info

    THE RUSTY NAIL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Chrissy P.

    Came in on a Saturday evening... and got a few drinks with my friends! We sat outside in the courtyard and instantly fell in loveee! I Love it here! So excited to come back again.

    Buttermilk chicken sandwich and a disco lemonade
    Charlé W.

    The Rusty Nail was our pre-Covid trivia spot and we're happy to report that the gang is coming back together again now that we know Jesse's trivia has returned. Back then, we didn't have the luxury of Sidecar next door where we could get great food. I love the convenience of scanning the QR code from the bar and the nice server bringing your order directly to you. I'm a frozen drink hobbyist and the disco lemonade is a tried and true favorite. It's sweet, but not cloying. Not too strong, but not watery. Garo has been there a while and is always a kind face to see behind the bar. The other bartenders have been great, too. There is ample bar seating and a good amount of table seating, but I recommend getting there early if you plan to compete. They also recently hosted a fundraiser for a non-profit that I'm affiliated with. It was lovely to get to hang at The Rusty Nail while being philanthropic. Best of both worlds!

    Mark C.

    On my most recent trip to New Orleans, my Dad and I mistakenly discovered The Rusty Nail during a rainstorm. We had left the WWII Museum and took a wrong turn walking to the bus stop. It started to rain a little and we could see it was going to get worse, so we ducked into The Rusty Nail. It was very dark inside, which gave off some ominous vibes, but the bartender was friendly and welcomed us in. We sat down at the bar. Dad ordered a beer, and I ordered a soda water with lime. We decided to order something to snack on and discovered that you had to order off a QR code. This is the only reason I am giving them 4 stars. It was easy enough for me to order but I thought about my Dad and a lot of the older people that were at the WWII Museum. There are very few of that generation that even know how to use a smart phone, let alone, have the ability to order food from one. If I had not been with Dad, he would not have been eating anything. Outside of that, the bar, the bartender, the facility and everything else was great! We ordered the pimento cheese appetizer and before you get an odd look on your face, I promise you, it is worth every penny. I have never seen pimento cheese on an appetizer menu, but it might have been as good or better than my mom's. The other unique thing about the dish is that the saltine crackers were deep fried. It sounds odd but I assure you, it was fantastic! We almost ordered a second helping. Fortunately, the rain stopped, and we were able to get back to the hotel without getting drenched. If you are in that area and need to cool off and grab a snack, definitely put The Rusty Nail at the top of your list. Just remember your smartphone. A note about my New Orlean's review: Back in December of 2024, my family lost the most loving and selfless woman you could ever imagine. My mom passed away after many years of suffering with botched scoliosis surgeries, crippling rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple stomach ulcer surgeries brought on by all the medications. My entire family, especially my Dad, have been crushed by her loss. My Dad builds street rods and he and my mom used to travel to all the car shows everywhere they could once they became empty nesters and dad retired. One of the shows they used to go to was in Biloxi, MS. Every year they went, my dad would talk about how they wanted to go to New Orleans. Unfortunately, every time they went, something would happen to prevent them from going. I promised my Dad that I would get him to New Orleans to see the city and visit the WWII Museum. The trip was memorable, and I got to spend priceless time with the man who made me who I am today. New Orleans did not disappoint, and I am forever thankful for the city of New Orleans!

    Charbroiled oysters
    Johnathan R.

    Friendly, efficient service, the bar is very well stocked and managed, you can order food they bring to your table, it's a really nice place. We played trivia there since we just happened to show up as they were starting, and we had a great time. One of my new favorites.

    Whiskey Sour
    DD D.

    Absolutely love this spot. Chillaxed vibe. And the drinks are fantastic. The bartender Garo is a beast with it. He is in the zone and knows his way around a bar for sure. The drinks were chef's kiss. My cocktails were made just right and I enjoyed them both immensely. It's always an added bonus when the bartender knows what he's doing. No complaints from me. Do yourself a favor and check out this place. And I hope when you come you're fortunate enough to get Garo, you won't be sorry. A tad bit later I decided I wanted wings so I ordered the 6 piece buffalo wings. I got them fried hard but it was more naked wings with buffalo sauce and ranch on the side. It was just ok.

    Justin C.

    Simple and short review. Come here. The place was super chill, the bartender whose name eludes me at the moment, was very friendly. The drinks are good, and pricing is good as well. Did not order any food as there was an event at Sidecar the night I was here. Easily suggest stopping in.

    Mmm
    Scott K.

    Great beer, great atmosphere, great bourbon list, and amazing bartenders. I've been coming to the Nail for years, and it has always been a great place to hang out, especially for happy hour. The bartenders are super knowledgeable but not in a snobby way. They're very friendly and attentive, but also can tell you more about bourbon than just about any place I've been. That's especially cool considering the place is tucked away and looks like a random dive bar, not what you would expect from the outside. They have lots of good drink specials, and they make the best Dark And Stormy that you will find. They always have a good selection of beers on tap, and again, a great bourbon and whiskey collection. The biggest critique I've heard about the Rusty Nail is that the crowd changes after happy hour. It gets a lot busier and kind of loud as the evening progresses. Most people refer to that as being a bar, but if you're coming for a nice drink and conversation, just come earlier. Cheers!

    frozen cocktails!? yum!
    Simran M.

    One of our new favorite places! Close to home and within walking distance between warehouse district, dt, & cbd neighborhoods. Their menu selection is amazing, with wide selection of ciders, beers, & bourbon, & pretty much any cocktail you can think of at also some pretty affordable prices. Turns out the food can be ordered through their neighboring venue, the Sidecar, which looks delicious and we cant wait to try it out...! Many youth and people were dining and having a great time which set the tone for the place :) We met a few of the bartenders, including Lee, who were really welcoming too. My boyfriend had some cognac and I had a coffee cocktail. Let me know what you think of it!

    Oysters and waffle fries
    Josh M.

    The Rusty Nail has one of the best whisky selections around, and some of the friendliest bartenders doing the pouring. This bar is a great place to watch games or hide inside from whatever is going on at the Side Car patio with which it is joined.

    Trivia night
    Ariana N.

    Trivia night 7:30 on a Tuesday! One thing I will say about trivia on Tuesdays, is that Sychar is not open. So I had to go to con butcher which is very close but less convenient than having it right on site for food. However, the drink orders are very reasonable for the Tuesday night Tuesday trivia night. The trivia night is pretty reasonable, probably a bit geared toward millennials versus other groups but still very reliable.

    Outdoor Patio
    Stefanie C.

    Rusty Nail FTW!! I was tasked with planning a work happy hour, and this place was clearly the best option in terms of space, service, and menu. My only complaint is that the hours on the website (and generally online) are wrong, which made me think they're closed Tuesdays when they're not. It's also a liiiittle far from the convention center (especially in the heat) which is where everyone was walking from, but we still had a great turnout. Because the entire venue wasn't available for private rentals, we arrived early and set up our pull-up banner on the left side of the bar when you first walk in and ordered catering from a local restaurant. Fantastic coordination overall by Danielle, Lee, Garon, and Chris. Cocktails were phenomenal, too. I had the Burro Mule, containing tequila, mezcal, and habeñero. Next time I'm in NOLA, I'd go out of my way to come back again!! P.S. They have a cute, colorful outdoor patio I'd love to check out more.

    Waffle fries with cheese and bacon! Yum!
    Amy G.

    Greta little spot! Clean and friendly. Love watching football games here!!!! I worry a smidge about the area it is in, but during the day and afternoon/evening, you will be fine as long as you pay attention to your surroundings. You can order food from the Sidecar Lounge next door!

    Specialty cocktails

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    1 year ago

    Service awesome. Amazing whiskey menu. Good oysters! Fun casual bar with big screen tv.

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    1 year ago

    One of the classics I hit every time I get to Nola good service Lots of fun Easy to walk to

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    Nice little dive bar with a cool outdoor patio. Drinks were average price, and the location is cool.

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    2 years ago

    Great Happy Hour! Crowded but good time.The servers really paid great attention, as well as the bartenders .

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    The Rusty Nail Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Rusty Nail

    Do they allow 18+ (obviously not to drink alcohol) but to hang out and drink soda/water/etc?

    No one under 18 can be on the premises, at all.

    How much is the crawfish on Fridays and Sundays?

    $13 for two lbs + fixins. It is also tiered, so the more you buy the less it is per lb.

    Is The Rusty Nail dog friendly? I would love to go to my alumni watch party while we're in NOLA but our Airbnb doesn't allow check in until 3

    Yes they do allow dogs

    What is a disco lemonade please?

    It's a daiquiri like drink consisted of vodka, sake, lemon and sugar. It is delicious.

    Do they sell souvenir type things like T-shirts and Caps?

    Yes, and koozies too.

    View All 6 Questions

    Napoleon House - Our Specialty Italian Muffuletta and Jambalaya

    Napoleon House

    4.1(2.1k reviews)
    1.1 mi•French Quarter
    •$$

    The Napoleon House is well worth a visit when in New Orleans. This establishment has been operating…read moresince 1914 and are not serving righteous Italian Muffuletta sandwiches, Gumbo, and Red Beans and Rice and of course their famous and fabulous Pimm's Cup cocktails. We dined here twice during our last visit and lady luck was on our side as there was no line and we were seated immediately. Of course we started with a Pimm's cup. There are three options, but we stuck with their original. Want to sample all three then order their flight of Pimm's. The muffuletta is served warm and can be ordered whole, half, or quarter. This is a classic sandwich stuffed with all your favorite cold cuts, provolone cheese, and of course their homemade Italian olive salad. Do not sleep on their hot pastrami sandwich served with creole mustard. Of course, their gumbo and red beans and rice is to die for. Napoleon never dined here but if he did, he would have left a happy man as did we.

    Visited Napoleon house for lunch. Upon arrival, we were immediately seated. Our waiter gave us…read moremenus and water. He asked me three times if I wanted a drink, but I just wanted water. I am trying to stay hydrated while on vacation. I wanted to sample multiple items from the menu. I requested sausage, some rice and beans, and half of a mufaleta sandwich. My wife requested a chicken sandwich and potato salad. I hesitated as I was ordering and the server walked away while I was ordering. When he returned, he was surprised to learn that I wanted to order more food. Then he told another worker that I put my appetizer in late, so all the food came out at once. That was fine with me, but the tables were small, so not a lot of room. The sausage was tasty, but didn't hold itself together well. The red beans and rice were very tasty. I'd get those again. My first mufaleta sandwich was very tasty. Half of a sandwich is a big serving. I really enjoyed it and it makes me want to try more of them. My wife really liked her chicken sammich and potato salad. Overall, very good meal and friendly service. Good stuff!

    Photos
    Napoleon House - Front dining room

    Front dining room

    Napoleon House - Italian Muffuletta (quarter size) with a side of jambalaya.

    Italian Muffuletta (quarter size) with a side of jambalaya.

    Napoleon House - Pimm's flight

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    Pimm's flight

    Mahogany Jazz Hall - They were very good

    Mahogany Jazz Hall

    4.6(282 reviews)
    0.9 mi•Central Business District
    •$$

    THIS IS A MUST SEE/DO THING IN NEW ORLEANS!! We were recommended to go here from some friends. It…read morewas our favorite thing we did in Nee Orleans. It feels like culture. The music is fantastic! There's a vibe to the musicians where they feel that they all know one another. We saw two different groups perform. The cocktails were delicious and craft! Really really loved! Wish we could come here every weekend! For others trying to understand how it all works, you don't have to purchase tickets to go. You can't make reservations. You just show up and grab a seat. It's a tiny little space but truly amazing. GO!

    We were looking for a place to grab a cocktail before out dinner reservation elsewhere and we…read morestopped in here. Getting here right after they opened for the evening, before the live jazz started, we were able to chat with the staff (which we love to do) and they were very engaging and chatty. I also noticed they do a proper absinth service here and they offered one of the largest Absinth menus I've ever seen, so I had to try something interesting and different and went with the Texas made Opal Absinthe. Before selecting it, I asked the young lady who was handling the bar and she gave me her description, which I have to say was spot-on to what I ended up drinking. Another drink we got was great as well, and made with fresh juices. The vibe and venue is great here... I love jazz and I would love to return sometime to listen to the live jazz while enjoying their amazing adult beverages!

    Photos
    Mahogany Jazz Hall - Local band

    Local band

    Mahogany Jazz Hall - Mahogany Hall Swingers featuring Roderick Paulin

    Mahogany Hall Swingers featuring Roderick Paulin

    Mahogany Jazz Hall - Framed artwork in ladies bathroom

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    Framed artwork in ladies bathroom

    The Carousel Bar & Lounge - Weeee!

    The Carousel Bar & Lounge

    4.2(1.9k reviews)
    0.9 mi•French Quarter
    •$$

    Food: Went to sit at the bar and have drinks and they were delicious…read more Service: Excellent Ambiance: cool vibe Noteworthy: i went again, a couple days later for a private event. Drinks and food were great and they had live music, fun ambiance

    Had the worst experience here at the carousel bar. We tried…read moreto go another day but there were no available seats at the spinning carousel so we tried our luck the next day right when they opened. We got there at 10:55am and there was a little line. When the doors opened, Oddly enough, there was a party of 5 sitting inside already?!?? Our bartender W took a while to come get our drink order and took longer to get, one of us never even got our beer. I pointed at someone's drink and told W I wanted that, the martini special. How is he gonna make me the drink minus the Baileys?!? I pointed to the drink I wanted, simple. My bf ordered a Abita, guess what 45 mins passed and he NEVER got his beer. We asked for the check and W said "oh your beer". Bro just give us the check and take off the beer. Worst service I've ever experienced. How you going to forget about someone's drink who's sitting right in front of you drink-less plus make a drink wrong. The carousel sits about 25 people and there's 2 bartenders?!? This isn't a club where drinks are getting shouted out. The only thing they have going for them is the rotating carousel bar if the SD one didn't close, I'd say pass and go to that one instead. One and done for me. Good luck if you get W as your bartender! And sir, no I'm not coming back after the game for you to make it right, make it right the first time!

    Photos
    The Carousel Bar & Lounge - The Sazarac

    The Sazarac

    The Carousel Bar & Lounge - Lemon drop martini and old fashioned

    Lemon drop martini and old fashioned

    The Carousel Bar & Lounge - Second bar

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    Second bar

    The Rusty Nail - sportsbars - Updated October 2026

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