Dive Bars?? Why, yes!!

A really good dive bar makes me happy, happy, happy (thank Phil Robertson from the show "Duck Dynasty" for that little quip) and I would frequent them far more often if I could.  These are my favourite three in The French Quarter .  Just how do I define the term "dive bar"??  My personal criteria is as follows (and in no particular order):

• Smokey, low-lighting, mis-matched furniture, linoleum or old wood floors.
• A pool table or two, some electronic trivia machines, and old-ass pinball machines.
• The beer is icy cold out of the tap - and the price for one (or five) won't tap your wallet.
• Regular clientele, regular bartenders, and some allow dogs - on leash, of course.
• Friendly service, quick refills, and some sort of snacks and/or munchies.
• No really loud, deafening noise (music/band) as in "I-can't-hear-myself-think".

All of these hit the four- ☆☆☆☆ mark (in my opinion):

Fahy's Irish Pub

540 Burgundy Street

New Orleans

70112

Located in:  The French Quarter

Serving up beer by the pint, mixed drinks in plastic cups, ice-cold Jagermeister shots, and with a small selection of bagged chips and candy bars, this is a great place to kick back and people watch.  Fahy's is situated on the street corner and the floor-to-ceiling shutters are open most of the day.  Patrons who bring their dogs here are provided with bowls of water for their pooch's hydration needs.  :0))  The owner's dog runs around leash-free, loves to get attention, and is well-mannered.  Smoking is permitted here, but children are not *encouraged* as clientele as there is nothing to offer them in the way of food, drink, or entertainment.  There is a pool table and a very good portion of the people who frequent Fahy's are, indeed, neighborhood locals.  

 ^^  Street view with the shutters closed

^^  Area in the back of the bar, near the uni-sex bathroom (which is clean)

The Three Legged Dog

400 Burgundy Street

New Orleans

70112

Located in:  The French Quarter

This is the place to go for bar food (wings, fried mac and cheese, jalapeno poppers, burgers, some sandwiches, nachos).  They NEVER close.  The pub is open 24/7/365.  There is a huge television behind the bar and the patrons all vote on what movie they want to watch and heckling is encouraged.  The beer and drink prices are very reasonable, as is the food - and you can simply stumble a block and a half from Fahy's to get some vittles (if you'd like more than chips, that is!!).  It can get a bit loud and rowdy at times (especially during the weekend), but it is a great pub to hang out at during the week.  If you're sick of being rooked on Bourbon Street and want to get away from all the hustle and bustle, The Three Legged Dog is a great pub to visit.  It's a bit off the beaten path, but that's what makes it so great.

 ^^  Daytime divey-ness exposed!!

^^  Don't forget to grab a tee-shirt while you're there...

Coop's Place

1109 Decatur Street

New Orleans

70116

Located in:  The French Quarter

Coop's looks just like the sort of pub you wouldn't voluntarily try from how it looks outside.  And the bar is pretty small - they don't offer any beers on tap, everything is bottled or canned.  It's also a tiny restaurant, but let me tell you - the food is FANTASTIC and the menu selections are not your typical pub fare.  My favorite thing to eat there is the Smoked Duck Quesadilla and my husband is partial to their Rabbit and Sausage Jambalaya.  We'll typically drink an icy-cold Abita beer with our food and the bartender makes a mean Bloody Mary.  Coop's Place is probably the best pub to go to when you're feeling a tad hung-over from the night before.  It's not loud, no blaring music or televisions...  just a fantabulous place to go and enjoy the food and relax.

 ^^  And yes, alligator IS featured in quite a few dishes on the menu...

 ^^  I don't know when this was taken, but the paint actually looks new!

^^  And the icy cold deliciousness of an Abita Purple Haze...

All of these dive bars have very different atmospheres and offer a more "local" experience compared to the crazy touristy places also found in the French Quarter.  Neither Fahy's Irish Pub or The Three Legged Dog boast websites - but plenty of reviews can be found on Google, Urban Spoon, and Yelp.  Coop's Place does have a site - and you can view the menu and prices online.  

Coop's is only a short couple of blocks away from the French Market (a large covered market that sells fresh produce - and also offers vendors selling food, coffees, snowballs, and handmade gifts).  It's a great place to browse after enjoying a delectable lunch.

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