Snake and Jake's runs Christmas lights year-round in a room so dark you can barely see across it. This is the legendary Uptown dive that New Orleanians claim as a civic treasure. It opens at 7pm and closes at 6am. The drinks are cheap and poured generously. The clientele is diverse and entirely committed to the evening. One of the most New Orleans experiences available in New Orleans.
The room is Uptown $ Open 7pm to 6am's answer to New Orleans's broader hidden gem scene. The bartenders take their craft seriously without making a show of it, and the menu rewards repeat visits rather than first-timers chasing the obvious order. The Dive Bar programme is the right place to start.
Best time to visit is mid-week between 6pm and 9pm when the bar settles into its rhythm. Weekends fill up and the room takes on a different energy. Reservations are recommended for groups, and on Friday and Saturday for couples.
Snake and Jake's Christmas Club Lounge sits in Uptown $ Open 7pm to 6am, one of New Orleans's most distinctive drinking neighbourhoods. The crowd skews toward thirty-something locals on weekdays and a slightly younger international mix on weekends. The lighting is low. Conversation works at the bar; the booths handle small groups.
Dress code is smart-casual. The bar is most rewarding for an unhurried 90-minute visit between 7pm and 9pm — early enough to talk to the bartender, late enough that the room has filled in. Tags worth knowing about: Dive Bar, Legendary, Uptown, 6am Close.
Snake and Jake's Christmas Club Lounge accepts walk-ins mid-week before 8pm. After that, expect a wait — reserve in advance through their Instagram or by phone. The bar takes cards. Tipping follows local convention in New Orleans. Most regulars order two drinks at the bar, then move to a table when one opens up.
What to order
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The Dive Bar programme
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Editor's Pick
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Off-Menu Request