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New Orleans, Orleans Parish / History

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop

A legendary New Orleans landmark and bar, this structure is claimed to be the oldest bar in the United States, steeped in tales of privateers and colonial-era smuggling.

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Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop
ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0

Where is Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop located?

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar is located at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116.

What is it known for?

It is a National Historic Landmark and is claimed by its owners to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States. Tradition suggests it was used by Jean and Pierre Lafitte between 1772 and 1791 as a base for their Barataria smuggling operation.

What are the hours?

The bar opens daily starting at 10 a.m.

What does the bar serve?

The bar offers wine, beer, and frozen drinks.

What is the architectural style of the building?

The building is described as an example of French Colonial Louis XV townhouse construction using briquete-entre-poteaux.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

Located at 941 Bourbon Street, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar is one of the oldest surviving structures in New Orleans. The building is a National Historic Landmark, a designation it received in 1970. Architecturally, it serves as a prime example of a French Colonial Louis XV townhouse, utilizing a traditional briquete-entre-poteaux construction method. While some sources suggest it was built as a house in the 1770s during the Spanish colonial period, the current owners claim the structure dates back even further, between 1722 and 1732. The site is famously associated with the privateers Jean and Pierre Lafitte. According to local tradition, the brothers used the property between 1772 and 1791 as a New Orleans base for their Barataria smuggling operation, posing as blacksmiths to mask their illicit trade. However, preservation research indicates there is no concrete proof that the Lafitte brothers actually owned or operated this specific Bourbon Street cottage. Modern history shows the building's transition into a social hub. The first recorded barroom permit for the address dates to 1933, when Mary Collins, Thomas Caplinger, and Harold Bartell opened a restaurant called Café Lafitte. By the mid-1940s, Roger 'Tom' Caplinger turned the abandoned shop into the iteration of Café Lafitte that paved the way for the current business. Today, the venue remains popular with locals and tourists, serving beer, wine, and frozen drinks in an atmosphere that blends documented age with enduring legend.

Visitor tips

  • The bar opens daily starting at 10 a.m., making it a good early stop on a Bourbon Street walk.
  • Look for the distinct briquete-entre-poteaux construction on the exterior walls.
  • Allow extra time if you plan to order one of their frozen drinks, as the venue is popular with both locals and tourists.

Nearby context

Situated in the heart of the French Quarter on Bourbon Street, this landmark provides a quiet, historic contrast to the high-energy party atmosphere of the surrounding neighborhood.

Sources

Evidence and links