Kerry Irish Pub

Irish pub · French Quarter

Kerry Irish Pub

Irish pub · French Quarter

1

331 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130

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Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null
Kerry Irish Pub by null

Highlights

Dimly lit Irish pub with live music, beers & a low-key vibe  

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331 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Get directions

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$10–20

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331 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130 Get directions

+1 504 527 5954
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$10–20

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Last updated

Aug 20, 2025

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New Orleans’s Essential Irish Pubs | Eater New Orleans

"Easily accessible to tourists and others on Decatur Street, Kerry Irish Pub often has live music with no cover charge. It doesn’t serve food, but it’s a solid place to grab a Harp or Guinness. It’s also roomier than most other Irish bars in town." - Eater Staff

https://nola.eater.com/maps/best-irish-pubs-new-orleans
View Postcard for Kerry Irish Pub

Connor L

Google
My wife and I popped into Kerry’s because it was pouring rain outside and it was the closest watering hole. The man tending bar was friendly enough, I ordered a cider on tap and my wife got a coffee with baileys. We both enjoyed our drinks. I liked that the chairs along the wall all face the room and not the table and each other. It’s dark inside and gives it that pub feel. Seemed to be more of a local haunt. People chatting and playing pool. Very reasonable prices. Definitely would pop in for another drink on our next visit. A very happy accident that we popped in because of the rain.

iixila

Google
Had SO much fun here! Such a great, casual vibe. Easy way to spend a few hours

Lawrence Witte

Google
Great place to relax and talk with friends. Good beer, friendly atmosphere, and a pool table. The singers were great and played at a volume that allowed us talk. The volume in other places kept us from talking. We went there both nights that we were in town. We will stop in again the next time we go to NOLA!

Soheyr Azar

Google
Great pub. Live music—rock, country, folk, Irish. No food except chips. Tributes sometimes to various artists.

April Bennington

Google
Second Irish pub visited while walking down Decatur Street on a September afternoon with friends. I saw a banner for Harp lager hanging inside, which I remembered fondly from a long ago trip to London, so that’s what I ordered. One of the other two ladies got a Black and Tan, poured quite expertly by the barman, in my opinion. We sat at the bar and chatted with the bartender for a bit and then were on our way. Sorry I waited so long for my visit. Nice neighborhood bar atmosphere.

Devan D

Google
Awesome little unassuming Irish pub with one of the only good playing pool tables in the area. Coworker and I often came back to this place throughout our trip to New Orleans due to the 10/10 service.

T G

Google
This was my first time and I liked it. There is a pool table, a good selection of alcohol and dollar bills that cover the ceiling and walls. The bartender was cool and I would recommend if you want a quick drink

William Bolte

Google
Nice pint of Guiness along with fun live Irish folk music with Aaron Svoboda. Impressed a Scotsman that happened upon the pub that night!
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Mary K.

Yelp
Came in for a quick drink- it was dark and seemed like a blast from the past. Bartender was good and gave us a good drink recommendation. Drinks were awesome and we had a good experience here. I liked all the dollars stapled to the ceiling. I wonder how much money is up there.
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Tushay G.

Yelp
This was my first time and I liked it. There is a pool table, a good selection of alcohol and dollar bills that cover the ceiling and walls. The bartender was cool and I would recommend if you want a quick drink
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Jen L.

Yelp
Yknow you walk past a place a million times and then your friend says, "let's stop here for a drink." So you go inside and wonder why you've never entered before. That was me in May. And now I've been back a couple of times. Solid dive bar in the FQ. Bartenders have always been lovely. There's generally space to sit and chat with your friends. And also some sort of FQ nonsense is usually going on so you might get a floor show. Not the spot to order fancy cocktails but they offer a good pour and a variety of Irish beers.
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Donna-Marie T.

Yelp
I came to New Orleans on a solo mission and wandered my way into this lovery establishment. Definitely has the feel of a neighborhood bar and it wasnt too crowded. They had me at the Jameson sign. the bartender was very nice and I sat at the bar and watched the game in peace. I ended up coming back the next night and the vibe was the exact same. Next time I pop into New Orleans I will make sure to pop into my friendly neighborhood bar.
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David G.

Yelp
My new st. Patricks day tradition is getting a perfectly poured Guinness, here at one of the best dive Irish bars you'll ever find.
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Trent D.

Yelp
100% auto gratuity was not cool. Not advertised anywhere nor told to me beforehand. Luckily I caught it before giving a tip.
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JP H.

Yelp
Great polite service! One dollar pool table, nice little dive to pop into! Very hospitable bartender!
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Toni B.

Yelp
Nice, clean, good quality! Good location when on foot, but it can be hard to find parking when it's busy-- hopefully the driving would be by someone who hadn't been drinking.

Roger M.

Yelp
Probably the worst bar I've ever been in. I am Irish and have lived in the US for a long time. I have also bartended and waited tables when I originally came here so I don't knock places without some cause. We ordered four local beers on draft and they were all warm. I figured ok, maybe just that beer and we'll have a few Magners with some ice as u do. I am watching the Magners been poured and it's all foam, so I said to the bartender either the kegs are warm or the system is down. The response is "it's always alike that so if you don't like it pick something else". At this point we just left. I have worked in a bar where the draught system went down and we just switched to bottles and interacted with the customer. We tripped very well so bartender and the bar lost some good money. Avoid at all costs.

Beth E.

Yelp
Great Irish Pub.... Day drinking in New Orleans. Great prices, friendly service, and good drinks. Probably be a lot of fun at night and on the weekends. Todd, the bartender, is the best!

Tillar J.

Yelp
I've been to Kerry several times over the past 20 years. It has the reputation as being the best pour of Guinness in town. I was there earlier this week and purchased a Smithwick's. The taste was definitely off- as if they hadn't cleaned their taps well. I let the bartender know and he happily gave me another beer. The Harp lager had the same bad taste. Maybe it was some cleaning solution. I didn't want to make him feel bad so I just poured it into a plastic cup, left the bar, and threw it in the first trash can I saw. Zero stars for the beer. I hope they fix the problem. The bartender (older thin male, ponytail) was friendly.
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Kerry O.

Yelp
I have to come here whenever I am in New Orleans due to the fact that we share a name. But after my first visit I loved it, and now love returning. Kerry's is a nice spot to go to getting away from all the tourist bars. While it is definitely not a calm bar, it is a good spot to relax for a bit and enjoy a nice Guinness, or whatever your drink of choice may be. The bar is small and often has live music playing. The few times I have been here, there has always been a great band playing fun music. There are dollar bills handing on the ceilings and walls adding a cool décor. There a plenty of good beers on tap, as well as wines and liquor. The prices are all pretty good for what you are getting. Overall, this is a great spot to grab a drink away from the tourist crowds and listen to some good music!

John H.

Yelp
Great little Irish pub in the French Quarter. Get off Boubon Street and enjoy some Irish ales and Irish whiskeys.
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Marcy D.

Yelp
I had a great time at this pub. Then craziness of bourbon street was a bit much for me. This place was a bit more calm and not full of wild drunken people. It was a Friday night and they had a band from Ireland playing some traditional chieftain-type songs. It was a fun time and it felt much more "Irish" than I would have expected with it being so close to bourbon street. Made my husband and I miss our Ireland trip and start thinking about going back. The staff was also very friendly too!
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Marielle S.

Yelp
I really like this place and I've been coming here for years. I don't know if I would call this a "legitimate" Irish pub, but if you are in the mood for Harp or Guinness, they have it. While it isn't the cleanest bar in the world, it does attract a good crowd and they have bands playing almost nightly. I like that you can sit at the bar and get a French Quarter vibe without going deep into the Quarter or dealing with tourists. That's another thing; this isn't an overly touristy spot, so if you are looking to escape that type of crowd, look no further than the Kerry. Point of interest: all of the dollar bills stapled to the ceiling above and around the bar. I don't know what they story is there, but it's pretty cool. Check out my picture. Bonus points: plenty of available outlets for a quick phone charge while you drink your beer.
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Joi B.

Yelp
For this trip down HML (Hazy Memory Lane)... walk inside *hazy fuzzy* order drink (vodka? Probably) *hazy fuzzy* nice bartender *hazy fuzzy* Hey, Sailor, is this the inside of some kinda old barge? *hazy fuzzy* There's my friends *hazy fuzzy* notice stage, wonder about live music *hazy fuzzy* this drink sure is strong *hazy fuzzy* Holy shit, did she just say she has TB? *hazy fuzzy* chairs are going up Thanks for the memories, Kerry Irish Pub.
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Violet A.

Yelp
After quite extensive hands-on investigation the 'hijinks aficionados" pub-crawled through the Quarter and have found one of their favorite downtown NOLA Irish pubs!! Kerry Irish Pub is off the beaten path for most main stream tourists, therefore you will find it packed full of locals and the fun-filled out-of-towners who ventured away from the tourist trap of Bourbon Street Daiquiri shops! Why we love it! Besides the previously cited good people you'll meet, raise a glass with and let's not forget share a dance or two or three..... The Music: LIVE, Often Irish, Always entertaining - if you can sing or think you can sing, you may join the band on stage. At this point if the drinks don't have you falling off a barstool, some of these performances WILL! The Drinks: Beer goes without saying - it's a pub. Personally, although I'll hoist a few, I'm not a beer coinsurer so I'll cut to the chase. Mixed drinks: BRILLIANTLY shaken up and very affordable!!! On a night when I wasn't planning to drink very much, the bartender had me perfectly smashed by the end of the evening... loved it! Did I mention superbly mixed drinks. So you beer drinkers go for the brew, but I'll be back to get 'shaken up' again and again... The Character: Kerry's is a hole-in-the wall dive! Hey that's a compliment of the tallest order. It's quaint, it's kinda hazy, it's covered (including the ceiling) with crapola of all sorts from Irish sayings to the Beatles posters. And lest we forget to send out an honorary mention to the ladies room, of which every inch is covered in damn good graffiti (and the guys are wondering why we are in there so long - it isn't the lipstick application!). Overall, if you too are looking for good drinks, good fun, and good music in The Quarter without the tourist trappings, head on over to Kerry Irish Pub. Just be careful upon exiting one of those wooden frames 'Is Not A Door".
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Christopher B.

Yelp
Great, dark, relative quiet and most-of-all consistent Irish pub. They always have a good live musician. Their Irish coffees are the best post-dinner pick-me-ups. Bartenders are good guys.
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Elizabeth T.

Yelp
I know 5 stars for a bar. I must be drunk. Right? Well, the place is great. My husband loves it because the bartender pours a perfect Black and Tan. They have live music in the evenings. Ladies, the bathroom is clean if you can believe that. It is old, but it doesn't smell which is a must for me. When you are in town, try out The Kerry on Decatur.
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Todd R.

Yelp
We visited the bar several times during our stay. Todd the bartender was amazing and very hospitable. They don't serve food so bring your own but if your looking for Irish music and Irish drinks come on out!

William K.

Yelp
My absolute favorite FQ. Dive. Been coming here for years since I stumbled across it a decade or more ago. Great divey atmosphere, good music most every night, and a really good staff- most have been here for years.
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David R.

Yelp
My friends and I ended up here on St Patrick's Day last year because I really wanted a place with Irish music, and thankfully we found the single place in New Orleans that had it. We got a good table right up front and spent about three hours here. There was a solo lady singer/guitarist and then a three-piece band that did rock and roll covers as well as Irish songs. The atmosphere was raucous and everybody had a great time. At other times I bet that this is a great joint at which to enjoy a more relaxed time, drinking beer and chatting with friends. Perhaps making some new ones, too, because everyone was very friendly here (even more so than elsewhere in the city, and that's saying something).

Joe S.

Yelp
The worst draft beer ever! There is no way they clean the pipes in the place. Every beer tastes awful. Good band terrible beer!
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Buz B.

Yelp
Definitely on the list for places where we MUST stop for a drink any time we're in the quarter. A rather cozy little place with quite a few very good beers on tap. They pour your Guinness right and always with friendly service. They have live music here most of the time for sure, and I've caught a few acts from time to time. Some groups I know quite well and some groups I've never heard of. There's a shortage of old fashioned "Irish Pubs" these days down there, with the passing of O'Flaherty's and Sean Kelley's. This place is one of the few left that have that real pub feel, with just enough of celtic influence tossed in to make you feel ..... good. I really like the stage/seating arrangement in this place. It's up close and personal. The little nook to the right, just passed the bar is my absolute favorite place to sit in the entire place. No matter where I plan on spending most of the time when I'm in the quarter, The Kerry is always on the list and well worth the walk from wherever you are.
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Andy M.

Yelp
Doris and her awesome Irish hole-in-the-wall get my first 5-Star review. I've now been here twice. The first time, the friendly (and that's "treat you like you're family friendly", not "obsequious service friendly") won me over... ...that, and the good, inexpensive Irish whisky. The atmosphere is relaxing, but in a noisy way (except when the bands are playing).This is a real, working pub and not a tourist stop. It was thankfully devoid of drunken frat boys. The second time, the terrific live music of Roux the Day sealed the deal. We were here for the French Quarter Fest and saw a lot of live acts, but our night here with Roux was my favorite part of the visit. If you're an adult, this place is not to be missed. It's a good place to recover from the crowds and have a good time.
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Lil L.

Yelp
Stopped in with the workies after a long and less than terrific night at work and tried their Guinness. Now I'm no afficianado but this is the best Guinness I've had in quite some time. All the dollar bills on the walls and ceiling are an interesting choice for decor, but definitely suits the low key dark dingy FQ dive. There was a live performer playing some really nice acoustic renditions of classic songs, I believe his name was Patrick (Imagine that in an Irish bar??) This might be the new go to spot for me and the after work crew.
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Jason B.

Yelp
Best Irish Pub in the city!! Was voted in the top 5 Irish pubs in America by USA Today!!
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Val C.

Yelp
Worst experience in the quarter ever. We just moved here and were bar hopping and dropped into this bar. Apparently the bartender was more into his phone than making customers feel welcome. What a waste. So we left him to a empty bar. I guess he doesn't care about his patrons. Enjoy your solitude. The funny thing is we have been there before and had a great time with Irish bands playing. I guess this guy did not care to make people feel welcome. Wish I knew his name but he was too worried about his phone.
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Nickie G.

Yelp
Irish pub that seems pretty divey? I'm in. Went here after eating at the Crescent City Brewhouse. Not too packed, snagged a table in the back near the stage. No wait service, but bartenders were quick to wait on you when you went up to the bar. Bathrooms had tons of fun graffiti to read and weren't as dirty as you might think. So it appears that Tuesday nights are an open mic night with country music on the agenda. Two or three guys pretty much rotated the entire night. One guy was entirely sassy, he basically was heckling us and eavesdropping on our conversations the entire night. Pretty funny guy plus some good old classic country tunes. The other guys were also good and - btw - if you know a song and they know how to play it you can get on the mic for your own personal live karaoke. Verdict: nuthin wrong with this place - give it a go on Tuesday and cry a tear in your beer to the old country tunes.
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Stacy H.

Yelp
This is the definition of a dive! Cold beer, weird conversation, Irish??? Not so sure about that. I wonder how much they paid the health inspector... Ever gone to the bathroom with a skull staring you down, no? Why not?!
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Dan W.

Yelp
Too bad we didn't find this spot until our last night in town, when we were walking around after dinner at Palace Cafe. From the street, we heard live music and so we stopped in. Friendly, attentive bartender, live band and an intimate dive-y atmosphere. It would appear as though there was a mix of tourists and locals in the bar (At leas one patron had his dog with him.) which was kind of a surprise for Decatur Street. This is the the type of place I could plant myself for the night, play pool and listen to the band play. Smoking (and dogs) permitted. My kind of place...dress down. Great find for next time we're in NOLA.
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Renee' S.

Yelp
You will LOVE the live music and the energy of this little hole in the wall. Great place to come when we have some of our local French Quarter parades. The parades will roll right in front of the Kerry. The only complaint I have with the Kerry is that it is a lil too smokey for me. The ventilation could use some upgrading.
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LA J.

Yelp
I had a similar experience to Thomas E.--"A HOLE bartender"--except I made a visit to the Irish Pub on New Years Eve Day. My friends (two guys) and I were discussing plans for NYE over an early afternoon drink. When choosing between Irish brews and Lousisiana Abita for our second round, the bartender suggested that our next drink be "a tall glass of shut the f*ck up." Impatient, angry, rude--and totally unnecessary since we were three of the twelve people in the whole damn place and live music was playing over our convsersation. Kerry's serves the same beer you can find anywhere else, so I would suggest going anywhere else. Seeking an Irish Pub in particular? I couldn't help but notice that another Irish Pub is just two doors down.
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Bex F.

Yelp
This was the first place we stopped at in New Orleans, well, after the airport and the hotel of course. And yeah, we're glad we stumbled upon it indeed. A divey spot by most standards, dirty dollar bills coating the ceiling, dark and comfy. The bartender was super nice and friendly, giving us pointers and tips which were much appreciated. She was cool. The ladies room made for some very interesting reading and photos. Great jukebox too by the way. We stayed longer than intended (gotta eat too ya know) mostly because we were having fun with the bartender and a chuckle at all the various characters who came and went. Here is where we discovered this town is a to-go town; buy a drink, pour it in a plastic cup and wander the streets. Blew my little Chicago mind. We stopped by the next night and yeah, a different bartender makes all the difference. This guy was rude and made it quite clear he didn't want us there. No worries, there are a bajillion other places who want our money so we to-go'd and left. Had he been our first bartender, this would be a whole other kind of review for sure. If this place was local to us, we'd be there all the time. Really cool. We likely missed the whole true experience of this place, but we liked what we saw.
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Dennis S.

Yelp
When you're done with the intense drunken crowds, head to Kerry's for a relaxed drunken crowd. Late at night I've never faced an overflow crowd at Kerry's, and always found delightful live Irish music. The patrons have always been more locals than tourists, even though it's right on the edge of the French Quarter. But the busy part of Decatur Street has taken a turn and this is almost a deadend street, off the beaten path. This isn't a place to write home about. But if you want a last round and a place to talk and decompress, it's perfect.
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Laurie J.

Yelp
In a sea of bars-this is an Awesome little dive bar in the French quarter. Good selection of draft, great music, funky vibe. I love the badges of first responder badges that they adorn their walls with-paying mad respect to the men and women who came from all over the country to save communities affected by Hurricane Katrina-for that fact alone (and the cold albita brewski)...they get a five in my book!
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Jerry C.

Yelp
We loved this place. The Kerry is everything we look for in an Irish pub (except food). We managed to stop by twice, once around happy hour and once late at night. Both times we met great local people, heard great music, had enjoyed perfect pints. The Kerry supports local Irish performers as well as other acoustical performers and bands. They also have Irish sessions. Sadly, we were told that many if the Irish singers have not made their way back after the storm. Hopefully they will get there soon!
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Mark A.

Yelp
If you're looking for a pint of Guinness, this is the best place in the French Quarter to go. The day I stopped in was a quiet afternoon, and I was the only person there. The bar maid was a red-head from Ireland who pulled me a proper pint (meaning it took close to five minutes) and chatted me up about my visit to New Orleans. The walls were covered with old Guinness posters and other paraphernalia. Great place to visit, and I will be back when I'm in New Orleans again.
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Heather G.

Yelp
If I could give this bar a lower rating, I would! The atmosphere was less than inviting, and the bartender was one of the rudest people I have ever encountered! There are so many awesome places to patronize in New Orleans (like Pat O'Brien's!), I would put this one at the bottom of your list... or better yet, drop it off of your list completely!!
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Amy T.

Yelp
stopped in here on the way bk to the hotel (Canal St) and it was pretty dead. the bartender was chatting with his favorites or regulars i presume. Never really payed us any attention but that's ok. I wasnt there for him anyhow. drink was good, kinda overly OJ'd (screwdriver) and it wasnt real OJ, tasted like that cheap one you get at the store, that'st he generic tropicana from concentrate...but that's ok. it was a cheap drink on the way "home". but you are in NO..and this place felt haunted, old and cool.
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David G.

Yelp
Average experience and overall felt like a place that exists in every city. Nothing that really turned me on or off to it. Bartender wasn't super friendly but we put a dollar on the wall. I guess that's something.
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Jennifer F.

Yelp
Odd little place. Strange bartender who was a little too attentive to my friend. There was a cover band that was pretty cool but the whole vibe was odd. It's definitely not Irish.

Lance H.

Yelp
Very chill bar. Great place to get away from the kids on bourbon street. Bartender said he had worked there for 13 years and actually knew about Irish whiskey. The Irish pub up the road didn't even know what kind of bushmills they had. It was a little warmer than I would have liked, but on an early April night it wasn't too bad. If I come back to the French quarter I will definitely come back here
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Ronnie C.

Yelp
Amazing that you have a working tv in your pub showing the Houston Astros baseball team in GAME ONE against the NY Yankees. Amazing that when fans from Houston - in for the weekend - want to at least see if Carlos Correa can bat in Jose Altuve from 2nd base that you decide to change the channel. You know, we'd have probably ended going inside to watch the remainder of the game and most likely ordered a few pints. But - this will never happen from Houston fans' points of view. You forget that a large amount of your revenue comes from out of towners, such as us. Hope you feel satisfied with what you did to us, Mr. Bartender, because Houstonians have other Irish pubs on your street to patron.
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Mike S.

Yelp
Been in the French quarter for six days. Worst daytime bar by far. The owner or could be the manager didn't give my wife and I the time of day and was clear he didn't want us in the bar. Yes we were the only patrons in the middle of a Friday afternoon but only 15 minutes earlier we had a beer at Claire's Pour House a block away and our bartender was very helpful and we were the only patrons.
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Jon K.

Yelp
Authentic right down to the Irish bartender... If I were a smoker, then I would given the Kerry 5 stars, but it still rates 4 stars although I sucked down a good 2 packs of second hand cigarette smoke every night I was there. This place is the very ideal of a good bar. A good mix of locals and out-of-towners all having a good time talking, listening to music on the jukebox, watching the game, playing pool, and drinking great beer (for me Harp) out-of-the-tap. Simply, I am normally a militant nonsmoker, but can overlook it every now and then. I managed to overlook it the entire time I was there for the reasons listed above. Dang! What a great bar.

W Z.

Yelp
Garbage. Place wouldn't let me use the bathroom before I order a drink. What am I supposed to do, bring the drink with me into the nasty ass bathroom. Boo
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Michael J.

Yelp
Came into this place with no expectations and the band that was playing was amazing. I beleive the name was hurricane refugees and they rocked everything from take i easy to the beatles.
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Kelly F.

Yelp
"There's great cajun food anywhere off of Lafayette." Gumbo FAIL, sir, Gumbo Fail...