The Old Absinthe House

Perched at the corner of Bourbon and Bienville, The Old Absinthe House is a living relic of New Orleans—where absinthe lore and literary legend intertwine. Originally built in 1806 as a grocery and commission house, it was first converted into a bar around the 1830s, eventually becoming renowned as “The Absinthe Room” by the 1870s under bartender Cayetano Ferrer, who created the legendary Absinthe Frappe. A haunt for bohemians and great minds, the bar was frequented by Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Franklin Roosevelt, Aleister Crowley, and Frank Sinatra. Legend even says that General Andrew Jackson and the pirate Jean Lafitte met here to plan the defense of New Orleans in the Battle of 1815. Surviving Prohibition and even near-destruction, the bar's legacy endures—celebrated today not just for its storied past, but for its vibrant present. It's a neon-lit, eclectically adorned retreat on Bourbon Street, beloved for its punchy cocktails, friendly bartenders, and historic charm.