New Orleans Lesbian Bars & Parties

Her Haus is a monthly pop-up created by queer women for queer women in New Orleans. The events are built around dance parties and DJ sets, with a rotating lineup of go-go dancers, burlesque performers, drag queens and live vocalists.

Everyone can attend, but the focus stays firmly on celebrating queer women, including trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer people. Events are usually held at The Bourbon Pub & Parade.

Swirl Wine Bar & Market is a queer women-owned wine bar and shop in New Orleans’ Faubourg St. John neighborhood. Most of the bar's customers are regulars, and Swirl has become a place for locals to catch up over wine and talk about life in New Orleans.

The shop carries an international selection of European wines, particularly Italian bottles, sparkling wines, and sustainable, biodynamic, and natural producers. You can drink a glass at the bar or open any retail bottle for a small corkage fee. Cheese and meat plates are available, and you can even order food from neighboring 1000 Figs to eat at Swirl.

GrrlSpot began in 2005 as a small meetup for queer women returning to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. It has since grown into a semi-monthly pop-up queer and lesbian bar that takes over different venues around the city.

The dance parties bring in local queer entertainers and large, eclectic crowds. Its biggest events arrive during Mardi Gras, Pride Weekend, and Southern Decadence. The location is announced through GrrlSpot’s socials, so make sure to check them out if you want to pull up on the next one.

NOLA Sapphics is a monthly meetup for women-loving women in New Orleans, held on the last Wednesday of every month at The Domino. The gathering gives local sapphics a regular reason to meet up in the Marigny/Bywater area and forms part of The Domino’s wider queer event calendar.

The Soiled Dove is a monthly pop-up lesbian bar in New Orleans. They take over Palm&Pine on the third Thursday of every month from 10 pm to 1 am. The night brings together drinks, drag, and karaoke in a venue that provides a safe and inclusive space for the local LGBTQIA+ community.

It’s a recurring night to put on the calendar if you’re looking for queer women’s nightlife outside the city’s permanent bars.

Pal’s Lounge is a woman-owned LGBTQ-friendly bar that has long been part of New Orleans’ queer-femme scene. It’s a neighborhood-style dive with affordable drinks, outdoor seating, and a crowd that is mostly local and wonderfully eclectic.

The bar is perfect for the classic shot-and-beer combination, with creative pairings given playful names. Grab a seat and expect to be drinking shoulder-to-shoulder with LGBTQ+ locals and allies until closing.