Pat O'Brien's is a New Orleans bar founded in 1933, famous for inventing the Hurricane cocktail and its tropical courtyard

Pat O'Brien's sits at 718 St. Peter Street in the French Quarter, a few blocks from Jackson Square. The bar occupies a building that was originally a Spanish colonial residence, then a speakeasy during Prohibition. When Prohibition ended in 1933, Pat O'Brien and his business partner Charlie Cantrell opened the bar there. The space has remained largely unchanged since then — the same courtyard, the same layout, the same hand-painted murals on the walls.

The bar is most known for creating the Hurricane cocktail in the 1940s. The drink came about because whiskey was scarce after World War II began, so the owners mixed rum with passion fruit syrup and lemon juice to stretch their inventory. They served it in a curved glass shaped like a hurricane lamp, and the name stuck. The Hurricane became so popular that it defined the bar's identity and remains the most-ordered drink there today.

Key Takeaways

  • Pat O'Brien's opened in 1933 at 718 St. Peter Street in the French Quarter and has operated continuously in the same building since then.
  • The bar invented the Hurricane cocktail in the 1940s, a rum-based drink that remains its signature offering and the reason most visitors come.
  • The courtyard is open to the street and free to enter; you pay only for drinks and food you order.
  • The bar operates daily from late morning through late night, with peak crowds in the evening and on weekends.
  • Parking is limited in the French Quarter, so most visitors arrive by foot, streetcar, or taxi rather than by car.

The courtyard and interior layout

The main draw is the courtyard, a brick-paved space open to St. Peter Street with a large fountain in the center and string lights overhead. The courtyard holds about 200 people standing or seated at high-top tables. The walls are painted with tropical murals — flamingos, palm trees, and scenes of Caribbean islands. A live band plays in the courtyard most nights, usually playing jazz, funk, or pop covers.

The interior bar room is smaller and darker, with wood paneling, a long bar counter, and walls covered in photographs, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia from the bar's 90-year history. The interior is where locals tend to sit, while tourists fill the courtyard. Both spaces serve the same menu and drinks, so the choice is mainly about atmosphere — loud and social in the courtyard, quieter and more intimate inside.

The Hurricane and other drinks

The Hurricane is a sweet, fruity drink made with light and dark rum, passion fruit syrup, fresh lemon juice, and a splash of straightforward syrup. It comes in the signature curved glass and costs around $8 to $10 depending on the size. Most people order it because it is what Pat O'Brien's is known for, not because it is the strongest or most complex drink on the menu.

The bar also serves Sazeracs (rye whiskey, absinthe, and bitters), Hurricanes by the pitcher for groups, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks. The bartenders move quickly during busy hours, so waits at the bar can be long in the evening. The bar does not take reservations, so you order and pay at the counter or at your table.

Food and snacks

Pat O'Brien's serves appetizers and light food rather than full meals. The menu includes crawfish bread, shrimp remoulade, gumbo, jambalaya, and po'boy sandwiches. Prices range from $8 to $18 per item. The food is standard New Orleans fare — not fine dining, but solid and filling enough to eat while you drink. The kitchen closes earlier than the bar, usually around 10 or 11 p.m., so if you want food you should order before 9 p.m.

The bar also sells Pat O'Brien's branded merchandise — t-shirts, hats, glasses, and other souvenirs — at the counter near the entrance. These items are priced higher than similar items elsewhere in the Quarter.

Hours, crowds, and when to visit

Pat O'Brien's opens at 10 a.m. most days and closes around midnight on weeknights, 1 or 2 a.m. on weekends. The bar is open every day of the year, including Christmas and New Year's. Crowds are lightest in the late morning and early afternoon, heaviest from 8 p.m. onward. Weekends and holidays draw tourists from all over the world, so the courtyard can feel packed shoulder-to-shoulder.

If you want to experience the bar without fighting crowds, go on a weekday afternoon between 2 and 5 p.m. You will have room to move, the band may not be playing yet, but the bar is still open and the Hurricane is still available. If you want the full experience — live music, crowds, energy — go in the evening on a Friday or Saturday.

Getting there and parking

Pat O'Brien's is located on St. Peter Street between Bourbon Street and Royal Street, about a five-minute walk from Jackson Square. The nearest streetcar stop is the Vieux Carré stop on Rampart Street, which serves the St. Charles line. From there, walk east toward the river and turn left on St. Peter.

Street parking in the French Quarter is metered and limited, with most spaces occupied by mid-morning. Paid parking lots are scattered throughout the Quarter, typically costing $2 to $4 per hour or $15 to $25 per day. Most visitors to Pat O'Brien's arrive on foot or by taxi rather than by car, since the bar is in the heart of the walking district and parking is unreliable.

History and why it matters to New Orleans

Pat O'Brien's survived Prohibition by operating as a speakeasy, then thrived after 1933 when bars became legal again. The Hurricane cocktail, created during World War II rationing, became iconic enough that other bars across the country began serving versions of it. The bar remained family-owned for decades and is now part of a small chain, though the original location on St. Peter Street operates much as it did in the 1940s.

The bar is a landmark in New Orleans culture because it represents the city's approach to drinking and socializing — casual, communal, and tied to local history. It is not the oldest bar in the city (that is Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, which dates to the 1700s), but it is one of the most recognizable and most visited. For many tourists, a Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's is a rite of passage when visiting New Orleans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to buy a drink to sit in the courtyard?

Yes. The courtyard is part of the bar, not a public plaza. You must order at least one drink to sit there. You can stand near the entrance and look in without ordering, but to occupy a table or stay for more than a few minutes, you need to be a paying customer.

Is the Hurricane very strong?

The Hurricane is sweet and fruity, so the rum content is not when ready obvious when you drink it. It contains about 2 ounces of rum total, which is standard for a cocktail. The sweetness can mask the alcohol, so people sometimes drink them faster than they realize. Pace yourself and eat food while you drink.

Can I bring my own glass or take the Hurricane glass home?

You can drink from the Hurricane glass while you are at the bar. If you want to keep the glass, you typically pay a deposit (usually $3 to $5) on top of the drink price, and the glass is yours. Some visitors collect these glasses as souvenirs. Ask your server about the deposit when you order.

What is the dress code?

Pat O'Brien's has no formal dress code. Casual clothing is fine — shorts, t-shirts, and sandals are normal. The bar is in the French Quarter, where casual dress is standard. Avoid only extremely revealing clothing or athletic wear with offensive language, but these rules are loosely enforced.

Is Pat O'Brien's a good place to celebrate a birthday or special occasion?

The bar works well for groups and celebrations because of the open courtyard and communal atmosphere. However, it is not set up for private events or reserved seating. If you want to gather a group, arrive early to claim table space, or stand together near the bar. The staff will not make a special fuss, but the lively environment itself makes it feel festive.