Bourbon Street's Strip Clubs and What Actually Happens Inside

Bourbon Street's Strip Clubs and What Actually Happens Inside

Bourbon Street from the 300 block through the 500s has been a concentration of adult clubs since long before anybody asked whether that was a good idea. Rick's Cabaret, Larry Flynt's Hustler Club, and a dozen smaller rooms stack the strip — bright neon, doormen in suits, loud music bleeding onto the sidewalk.

The New Orleans style is classic topless-with-full-bar — Louisiana law permits alcohol with topless, not full nudity. Cover is usually modest, drink minimums kick in after you sit, and the upsell to VIP rooms is aggressive. Set your limit before you walk in.

Police presence on Bourbon after midnight is heavy, which cuts down on the worst of the street hustle. The clubs on the 400 block are the higher-end rooms; the further east you go, the dicier the economics get.