Bourbon Street

What to know

Bourbon Street is a monumental thoroughfare in the heart of the French Quarter, extending 13 blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue before meandering into the Marigny neighborhood. The street's history begins in 1718, when New Orleans was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. In 1721, French engineer Adrien de Pauger laid out the city's streets and named this particular road Rue Bourbon, honoring the French royal family ruling at the time. Today, the street is a living museum of Spanish, French, and African influences. It is especially known for its historic venues, social tales, and iconic buildings that frame the experience. The most-visited section is upper Bourbon Street toward Canal Street, an eight-block stretch featuring a dense concentration of bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, and strip clubs. Recent infrastructure improvements have enhanced the accessibility of the area. Between November 2024 and February 2025, a project completed by Hard Rock Construction Co., LLC, replaced the previous bollard system with removable stainless-steel bollards from Canal Street to St. Ann Street. This upgrade, which included sidewalk repairs, was designed to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility, allowing the street to support pedestrian-only times while maintaining vehicle access when necessary.

Visitor tips

• Wear comfortable walking shoes to navigate the historic sidewalks and the dense crowds of upper Bourbon Street.
• Explore the section between Canal Street and St. Ann Street to see the newest pedestrian safety bollards.
• Walk the full length from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue to experience the transition from tourist hubs to the Marigny neighborhood.

Nearby context

Bourbon Street serves as a central axis of the French Quarter, an area characterized by its Spanish and French architecture and landmarks like Jackson Square, providing a rich cultural backdrop to the street's festivities.