Golden Lantern

The Golden Lantern, at 1239 Royal Street where the French Quarter meets the Marigny, is a low‑key gay bar that serves cheap drinks, a jukebox, and a steady stream of older locals, and doubles as the kickoff spot for Labor Day’s Southern Decadence parade. The bar sits at the quiet end of the French Quarter, right where it blends into the Marigny. Its long bar and classic jukebox give it a laid‑back feel that feels more like a neighborhood watering hole than a Bourbon Street club. Cash is the currency of choice, and the place stays open from noon to midnight Monday‑Thursday, to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and to 2 a.m. on Sunday. The crowd is a mix of older locals and regulars who come for cheap drinks and a relaxed chat with the bartender, especially in the afternoons when the buzz slows. If you’re in town on Labor Day weekend, the bar is the starting point for the Southern Decadence parade, so you’ll hear the music and the crowd before the street turns into a carnival.