B J's Lounge

Dive bar with a very diverse crowd, appears frequented by mostly locals but a good amount of visitors like myself but both are welcomed alike. Energy is lively and seems elevated beyond any “typical” dive. Seeing Little Freddie King has been on my bucket list since Queen & Slim, and missing Jazz Fest last year when it got canceled. The stage here is awesome and intimate. Definitely coming back.

Update: The chair still lives! Also I'm an idiot and it's spelled 'Vaughans'! I'm hesitant to rate this place because I like it so much, and I want it to stay local. I've been coming here for years since a friend introduced us. It's changed slightly (RIP barbers chair and old jukebox) but I still love to visit everytime I'm in NOLA. Nothing special about it other than it's a neighborhood bar with strong drinks and lively clientele. I spent 12 hours drinking long islands and eating suspect crawfish, and the next 2 days sick as a dog and would do it over again. I've literally come here unannounced from out of town and randomly met local friends, it's that awesome. So if youre in the area, Vaughn's is nearby as well, check it out. Just 'dont ruin the bar dude'.

No clue about the food because I've never asked for any, bartenders are great and it is the atypical New Orleans side street bar

Although New Orleans has no shortage of bats, neighborhood bars are a special dying breed. We have witnessed far too many of them ditching their original art and gutting out their interiors to "upgrade" them and turn them into generic watering holes. Thankfully, BJ's has retained their original dive bar appeal and neighborhood feel. All greatly enhanced by owner Ryan Scully's passion for local musicians that perform there regularly. Los Guiros, The Tom Paines, Lulu & The Broadsides, Leyla & Sabine McCalla, Louie Michot, Morning 40 Federation, The Iguanas, Mike Dillon, and many others showcase their talents in this intimate and beloved bar.

standard drinks & great place to hear music

Great neighborhood bar with live music and great atmosphere.

Great locals dive bar with backyard seating someday music or complementary hot dogs very safe neighborhood

Try the ginger juice in your cocktail!!! Local dive bar with a neighborhood feel. Want a reasonable drink in a cozy dark spot out the sun? This is it. Nice outdoor spot as well. Bartender was friendly as could be and the locals didn’t give us no mind.

Interesting neighborhood dive bar with a tiny dance floor of gritty concrete. They have a soft swing band on Monday nights and I don't think they sell food. There was a cover charge of $5 and the doorman did check ID which was funny to me. Lots of random chairs and interesting paraphernalia decor.

Dive bar with a very diverse crowd, appears frequented by mostly locals but a good amount of visitors like myself but both are welcomed alike. Energy is lively and seems elevated beyond any "typical" dive. Seeing Little Freddie King has been on my bucket list since Queen & Slim, and missing Jazz Fest last year when it got canceled. The stage here is awesome and intimate. Definitely coming back.

Smokey and his aggressively talented band rock this well worn and welcoming establishment with their mix of early rock n roll and blues on Monday nights. If you're not up on the floor it probably means you had a hard day at work but your heart will be jumpin . This gem tucked away in the Bywater is not to be missed

Become part of the family. BJ's Lounge is a rickety, old bar that's under the love and care of a great bunch of people. Drinks are cheap and plentiful and the bartender won't leave your glass empty if he can help it. I came in on a Christmas morning and was greeted by the locals, already with drinks in hand and chatting away about last night's football game. People started pouring in with food, and offering it to me and my group. It's just something they do on the holidays, banding together and feeding each other under the neon lights and smell of old wood and beer. While most bars just care about your liver, BJ's cares about your heart too.

Hard to imagine this bar, and every old NOLA bar when they were new. They all age so gracefully and I bet, are better now than when they first opened their doors. This bar, and the 3 others nearby, are what I wish I had in my neighborhood to walk to on most days. Its cozy and fun feeling. The vibe is positive. I am not a regular here by any means but the feel is the same. I feel at ease and am ready to ride that stool for a few hours. The prices are right, beer is cold and the music is great.

I carried a chip on my shoulder about BJs for a long time because one of the first times I went in there, my girlfriend got us kicked out because she forgot to bring her ID. "But she's 23 years old!" I pleaded. Haha as if. But I let my young arrogance go and have been back a handful of times (always with my ID, of course). I enjoy the chill atmosphere. BJ's is a true dive, neighbor bar. The crowd, the bartenders, the beer, the juke, and the prices reflect it. One of the highlights of my long, hot summers in NOLA is the celebration of Mr. Okra's bday at BJs every June. A fun collection of people from around the city gather to celebrate a living legend. The food that his family caters is some of the best home cooking out there! I highly recommend checking out BJ's if not for just this event. They've got 2 TV's and even though I wouldn't call BJs a sports bar, the bartenders are cool about handing over the remote and letting you pick what you want go watch. Also the juke box is on point, and be sure to check out Honky Tonk Tuesdays if you're in to those jams. Pro tip: Cash only. ATM is spotty at best so come prepared.

Troy (who works Sat nights) is an awesome human being. The customers were all great to talk to. It was a really great experience.

BJ's Lounge... it's simply The Awesome. Oh did you want to know the recipe for The Awesome? Just throw in equal parts: - dark/divey basement-like atmosphere (while not being icky/dirty) -fantastic music (hello, punk night with DJ Christion playing stuff I haven't heard in ages) -comfy bar stools -nice/fast barkeep Season with all the cheap a$$ drinks you want! Distinctly Bywater 'phere... like another favorite, J & J's (uh, is there a relation, Mr. or Ms. J?)

Best bar in the city with a rotating cast of characters and bartenders where you will always hear an interesting story and good music on the juke box.

It's a dive bar and being New Orleans, smoking is allowed in this bar (so you non-smokers take note and don't b*tch about it afterwards). Came here on a Monday for King James and the Special Men; excellent, awesome show!! It was exactly the authentic New Orleans nightlife I wanted to experience. It was refreshing to see couples, young and old, making their way to the front and dancing together. I would never see that at home. Service was friendly but not overly so. It's a block away from Vaughn's and close enough to Bacchanal to make a night out of the 3. Free red beans & rice on Mondays (as is in the New Orleans tradition)!

Love this local Bywater neighborhood bar. Cool music. Stopped by one day and they had a meatloaf cookoff! I asked why they said they do it once a year every bye week of the Saints season. Great time. Lots of neighbours participating. Prizes and everything. Little Freddie King is a regular.

Trashy bar first time I ever went here, will be the last. The bartender tried charge me 15.50 for one beer

Ok place to have a drink if you are in the Bywater district. It is an eclectic bar, not the cleanest or most modern, but it gets the job done. Like most other places in New Orleans, you will see pretty much every kind of person walk in here. Everyone gets along and has a good time. Outside, you'll find two life-sized sculptures of the Blues Brothers. Great photo opportunity. This seems to be the only place in the Bywater area with the NFL package so I'd recommend it for watching the NFL Football games. No food to speak of, just chips and a wide variety of beers and other assorted alcoholic elixirs to choose from.

This place is also listed among the Yelpers as B J's Lounge. It's part of what I call the Bermuda Triangle of Bywater bars. It's not far from some of the other more well know dive bars in the area. It's a small place with the usual mix of locals, rummies and hipesters. I like the place, it has an odd mix of old couches and chairs that might have once been destined for someones rec room, well worn, but comfortable enough if you don't consider what might be living in it. The staff is very friendly and the crowd very laid back, booze is cheap enough.

I have been here a couple of times and have had a really good time here. This is a neighborhood place and while it's not in the best area, if you are familiar with your surroundings or if you visit here with friends, you should be fine. I was here this past weekend for a dance party. The crowd was small, but it was still a lot of fun. The bar is cash only and pretty basic when it comes to beer. A really chill place to hang out and unwind after a long day.

BJ's hosts Blood Jet, a weekly poetry series on Wednesdays at 8:30. They bring in local as well as regional writers/poets. The set up is homey and comfortable, a literary living room! The bar itself is gently divey. Cash only! Bathrooms decorated with cut-outs of heartthrobs.

I LOVE BJ's. BJ's all around. The Bywater Living room. My friend, Alicia S.'s parents met here circa 1983. It's a great locals' hangout. Additionally, BJ's has a killer old school jukebox. I always have good conversations with the bartenders and patrons. Monday nights: King James and The Special Men. Put yer dancing shoes on ya'll!!!!

I came here to meet a friend for a beer and conversation. I would say that BJ's is more like a residential bar than a stereotypical "dive bar." But it is a stereotypical dive bar with a great jukebox, a pool table, and a stuffed coyote. I think the coyote was a patron's but it blended in well with the bar. My memory is a little fuzzy because the cheap beer was cheap. Overall I like this bar and it will be a good pre-gaming location before a night of Bywater debauchery or a good alternative for when Bacchanal gets over-crowded / over-run with trendy people.

Another great neighborhood bar featuring cheap beer, good music and great times with friends. Its kind of hidden down in the lower part of the Bywater but it is definitely worth a trip.

Paretty decent bar. I had just had a lot of blood tooken so I was all over the place and I accidentally stumbled onto this place. Very quiet and laid back, I asked for Rum punch and the guy knew exactly how to make it. Its very strong but really good and I feel like I got the most for my buck. After the night I had I needed this. Just goodness in one drink for 4.75

Shame on me. They say you can't judge a book by it's cover but I WAS guilty of that when I first saw the outside of BJ's Lounge. But then I went in side and found out how wrong I was. Great place,interesting decor,friendly people,my kind of place. They have not seen the last of me and I recommend it to anyone who wants to get away from the touristy bars. BJ's is old school N'Awlins, a gem.

Great Bar with an amazing staff and friendly patrons who are always down to chat and listen to good tunes on the juke box.

Pretty authentic dive bar. Here are the plusses and minuses of this one: - It's New Orleans.. which means smoking inside is fine. If it's going to be a problem that 10 mins in here will make you smell like a stale pair of chimney sweep's underpants then you'd better stay away. - No drafts beers. There were a few decent bottles and cans, but this really is a bud and a shot kind of place. - Great jukebox. Bartender spun some cool tunes while I was there. - Chill, laid back, local but not unfriendly vibe. - There's a pool table. If this was my local, I'd probably be popping in fairly often but wishing they served up some draft beer.

Smoky neighbourhood dive bar. Actually had some locals in it. Cheap drinks and good jazz on the Monday night we went at 11pm. Good vibe. PS: you pronounce "Burgundy Street" as "Burr - gun - dee" (not like the colour).

It was 85 degrees outside and my friends and I were peddling our bikes around the Bywater. Do the math hot weather plus bikes plus cold beer equals a great Sunday afternnoon. Do yourself a favor slow down and take a break here!!!

Good Bywater bar. It's a mixed crowd of hipsters and gutter punks. If you can find a nice place to get fresh air, the place is tolerable. They have cheap drinks and the closing time varies. Me loving the Bywater, this place is totally how you make it. If you want to be depressed and rant about George Bush, there is someone there that can do that. If you want to be happy and talk about your dog, there are people for that. Good little bar.

Chill dive bar, with pool, slouchy 70s basement couches, and a mediocre jukebox. Lots of elderly locals chilling with a beer, mixed with hipsters drinking Hi-life. There are ten millions plaques and trophies stacked up on a wall and the beer is kept in a regular white Frigidaire behind the bar. Seems like an after-work kind of spot to me.

My good friend took me here last night for a walk down memory lane. He grew up in the neighborhood and wanted to show me some of the old haunts. What a treat! This is an eclectic dive just off Poland Ave. where you can find both GI Jane haircuts and waist-length metal locks mixing it up with Tulane preps and hipsters. The decor is what you would expect to see if an old Metairie bowling team and fifty lounge lizards crashed into the back porch of your grandma's Arabi cottage. The jukebox contains retro-gems from days gone by and the band was laying down some kind soul grooves. Make a trip there and you'll not only be where you at, but where they used to be at as well.

What can I say. I've been coming here off and on for more than 20+ years, and it hasn't changed (much). For better or worse, it's the most comfortable Bywater living room/dive bar/pool table/local bar there is. Great jukebox, great staff. Blended frozen fru fru drinks on Saturday mornings...if Julie is working. Hipster-free if Bobby Lewis is working ;). Ok, not completely. If you pull an 18 hour shift in the barber's chair at the end of the bar, you'll see the widest variety of NOLA characters this side of the Quarter. And believe me, you want to be on this side of the Quarter.

I don't know what some of these reviewers are thinking, but when the description says "dive bar" and it's described as a "dive bar", typically you'll find a DIVE BAR. No, it's not a plush, happening place with top-shelf accomodations, or matching barstools, or all pretty people drinking. It is, and shall likely remain, a DIVE BAR. Drinks are cheaper, people are real and it's a fixture in this neighborhood, much like the corner bars of the Pre-Katrina New Orleans. Those places are few and far between now, but BJ's remains. So, take your bitchin back to San Diego and enjoy your flair over at Shenanigan's.

Any bar that has the History Channel on is my new favorite bar.

Great little dive bar - c'mon in and show the 9th ward some love! Diverse and friendly crowd, mix n match seating (including a barber's chair at the bar), lots of awesome stickers on the fridge and even a tabletop 80's video game console. There's a pool table in the back and two flat screen TVs if you need distraction from your drinking companions. Jukebox was playing a bunch of fantastic old school tunes the night we were there. Stop by for a drink after grubbing on some delicious BBQ at the Joint just a couple of blocks away. Get the bartender to pour said drink into a "I Heart BJs" cup and you'll also end up with the perfect double entendre souvenir of your night out.

Reminds me of a smoky bar back home but with all walks of life. Oh and on Mondays there is free beans and rice, I wish they did this back home. Bottled beers are limited but most ppl here have mixed drinks. Loved the mix of ppl and the dancing when the band plays. I just wish it wasn't so smoky my eyes are red.

Uh, let's start with a healthy dose of honesty: this is not a good "dive bar." It's just a 20-foot by 100-foot ramshackle, smoke-filled shack of a house in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans. There are, maybe, 20 seats in the house, most of which appear to have been picked up from the sidewalks of New Orleans. The band takes up HALF of the bar, and the crowd is packed, asses-to-elbows, into the other half. We came for the music, and this place would have gotten more than one star (despite all of its many faults) had the (very good) house band (King James and the Specialmen) started something reasonably close to their advertised time of 10 p.m. They were extremely lackadaisical, finally gracing the crowd with their first note after 11 p.m. They played a 35- to 40-minute first set, then took a nearly 45-minute break. There's nothing "authentic" or charming about this: it's simply unprofessional. The crowd? Dominated by 20-something, preppy, pretentious chain-smokers. Expect a dry cleaning bill to rid your clothes of the smoke. As is well known, the Bywater is NOT a good neighborhood. With sensible precautions (taking taxis in and out), that's not a big deal. Getting a cab there is not a problem. Getting a cab OUT at 1 a.m. or later: not so easy. Add up the cab fare from the French Quarter, and it makes a great deal more sense going to one of the many (far superior) clubs on Frenchman Street. Don't waste one of your precious nights in New Orleans on this place.

This is about old school New Orleans and pre-Katrina as you can get even for this neighborhood. No it isn't fancy and yes it is smokey and the seats aren't amazing etc etc etc all the things that make this one of the last standing real locals bars in the whole crescent city. I have been going to this place for 25 plus years when I lived in or just passing thru the city. Cold cheap beer, fast friendly service and great music. In a city where service has gone right out the window by non locals claiming to be locals and hipster d-bagging up the whole area, this place stays true to real friendly no nonsense dive bar. You can be a local or not and have a good time here at any hour of the day and I have many times. So many things have changed in the city I'm from, for the worse, before and after Katrina please let BJ's stay exactly what it is. Awesome.

New Orleans has way more to offer than this place. On Monday nights they have a great band and decent prices on bottled beers. Unfortunately, the clientele is the problem. This joint is filled with drunken hipsters that consider themselves Bohemian but they really aren't. I'm not going to overly judge the element but if you want a better feel for the Bywater got to J&J's, where you can get great beer deals and not pushed around by a host of want-to-be seen hipsters!

Went to BJ's on a Monday night. Great music and a fun crowd. The only downside was the Monday night bartender. She would vacate the bar for long periods of time. She was under-qualified and apathetic about any of the customers.