Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!
Just as the theme from Cheers claims, sometimes you want to go where everyone knows your name. Located at 4801 Magazine St., Le Bon Temps Roule is well loved by locals and tourists alike. It’s an iconic no-frills Uptown neighborhood joint that offers great service, a friendly environment, late-night grub, strong cocktails, a wide variety of beer, and a great Bloody Mary. A neighborhood watering hole by day and a world-famous diverse music club by night, there’s only one rule: “Be nice or go home!”
If you see a handsome gentleman there with a Boston Terrier, chances are that is Joe, the co-owner! He will introduce you to his nine-year-old fur baby named “Batuq,” a lively native dance in Brazil. If you are familiar with Boston Terriers, you know this dance! A year after Hurricane Katrina, Pepper Kennan, a heavy metal musician with the bands Corrosion of Conformity and Down, took over with the intent of maintaining the business’s reputation as a classic corner bar with a distinctly local flair. In 2004, he partnered with local Joe Bikulege to operate the bar. Together, they pride themselves in the diversity that is supported and encouraged in all facets of the business. They are good neighbors who are quite active in the community, often supporting local causes and charities.
Historical records indicate the building was built around 1890 as a dry goods store; it still retains the original bargeboard walls and flooring. An Italian immigrant Epifanio Roppolo purchased it in 1908. His son Leon Roppolo became one of the most important composers in early jazz and one of the first stars of the new style of hot jazz.
Half a century later, a young trumpeter named Kermit Ruffins attracted a diverse crowd from across the city and around the world which cemented Le Bon Temp’s reputation as the quintessential neighborhood bar, welcoming all. Celebrities regularly visit because word has spread that this fixture is a place to hang out without the hassles of stardom intruding on the good times. You may be surprised who might be sitting on the next stool or cutting up on the dance floor. With a diverse beer and liquor selection, people from around the world can sip what they normally drink and feel right at home.
If you see a handsome gentleman there with a Boston Terrier, chances are that is Joe, the co-owner! He will introduce you to his nine-year-old fur baby named “Batuq,” a lively native dance in Brazil. If you are familiar with Boston Terriers, you know this dance! A year after Hurricane Katrina, Pepper Kennan, a heavy metal musician with the bands Corrosion of Conformity and Down, took over with the intent of maintaining the business’s reputation as a classic corner bar with a distinctly local flair. In 2004, he partnered with local Joe Bikulege to operate the bar. Together, they pride themselves in the diversity that is supported and encouraged in all facets of the business. They are good neighbors who are quite active in the community, often supporting local causes and charities.
Historical records indicate the building was built around 1890 as a dry goods store; it still retains the original bargeboard walls and flooring. An Italian immigrant Epifanio Roppolo purchased it in 1908. His son Leon Roppolo became one of the most important composers in early jazz and one of the first stars of the new style of hot jazz.
Half a century later, a young trumpeter named Kermit Ruffins attracted a diverse crowd from across the city and around the world which cemented Le Bon Temp’s reputation as the quintessential neighborhood bar, welcoming all. Celebrities regularly visit because word has spread that this fixture is a place to hang out without the hassles of stardom intruding on the good times. You may be surprised who might be sitting on the next stool or cutting up on the dance floor. With a diverse beer and liquor selection, people from around the world can sip what they normally drink and feel right at home.
Tagged in Best In Show in our Fall 2022 issue