Golden Lanternsimilar businesses >

504-529-2860
City's Best

1239 Royal St
New Orleans, LA 70116

Average Rating 4 (15 Ratings)

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At first glance, the Golden Lantern is an unassuming spot, indistinguishable from countless other neighborhood bars in a city defined by its neighborhood provinciality. However, the drag queen totems on the wall indicate the storied history of this tiny little gay bar, the second oldest in the city -- for 35 years this watering hole has served as the spiritual home of Southern Decadence, now one of the planet's largest gay outings. Although it's considered one of the ''grandma'' drag bars in the city, it actually sports quite a varied clientele the rest of the year; leather, Levi's, businessmen, transgendered, you name it. Though Southern Decadence actually began at a home down the street, it soon moved to the more convivial public atmosphere of the Lantern, and since the mid-'70s the Lantern has been the starting point for the (in)famous drag parade that tops off the SD festivities. Like other neighborhood bars in the Crescent City, however, it never loses its low-key charm. -- Robert Fontenot, Jr.

Categories: Cocktail Lounges

Picture for Golden Lantern

15 Ratings and Reviews

  • what a real gay bar is all about

    Review rating : 5out of 5   Ranchhandz - 08/03/2008

    what a great time we had on a resent visit......a very friendly place with a great old time New Orleans charm....make sure it is on your list of stops when there

  • Best Cocktail In New Orleans

    Review rating : 5out of 5   bkcmar - 07/04/2008

    I forgot to sign my review

    Byron "Marleeka" Craige

  • Review rating : 5out of 5   Golden lantern - 06/29/2008

  • Fort Myers Guys

    Review rating : 5out of 5   Ft Myers Man - 06/29/2008

    Just had to go to New Orleans to check out the new bar. Great place, some of the same great videos as Tubbys and lots of fun people singing and dancing like their on a reality show. The later it gets, the show gets better. The bartenders were very helpful as I needed directions to my hotel and they were more than accomodating. Had a real good time. Thanks will be back soon

  • Great Fun Place

    Review rating : 5out of 5   Inntimate1 - 06/29/2008

    I lived in N.O. before the storm and just recently returned for a week and was so surprised to find the Lantern has new owners and a clean bar, with exciting, and fun crowd. So some changes are for the good. I cant wait to get back and be one of the regulars at this great bar. Thanks guys

Showing 1 - 5 of 15 reviews