This is one of my secret(not-so-secret, anymore) spots for Mardi Gras as well as a great neighborhood bar to shoot pool with friends. You have to get buzzed in, so there is an element of safety that I enjoy. I used to live near here, so I’d walk over to play pool on occasion. There was a very sweet bar maiden here that wore a scarf around her neck. I can’t remember her name but she was always very delightful. It’s cash only, but they have an ATM that I think has a $ 3.00 service charge on it. There is also a real live telephone ONTHEWALL that you can use if your cell is dead and you’ve been abandoned. How many bars still have communal telephones?! Props, Mayfair. They also have a few poker machines and a brand new fancy jukebox that you can load up with your favorites while playing pool. They have two tables and a handful of decent sticks, and enough room that you don’t feel like you’re asking someone to move every time you take a shot, but you’re also not totally cut off from the rest of the bar. Mayfair is clutch during Mardi Gras. They move out the pool table in the main area, and it becomes an excellent dance floor to make slo-mo videos that rival Vidal Sassoon commercials. Just sayin’. There is also a bathroom for girls, and one for boys, and I’ve never had a difficult problem getting a drink or using the restroom during Carnival. Pro-tip(that I actually stole from a friend): They have a hell of a lot of stuff hanging from the ceiling, great for a rousing game of drunken iSpy! This is a great place to take a casual date if they’re okay with a little smoke, a competitive game of pool, decent drinks, and, well, iSpy. ;)
Roxanne C.
Classificação do local: 4 New Orleans, LA
Just your good ol’ neighborhood dive bar! You actually have to buzz in to get inside, but once you’re in, you’ll find plenty of interesting conversation, cheap drinks, and a fun game of pool. I don’t know why I don’t come here more often because I like coming here(I have a thing for dive bars). It was my go-to bar during Mardi Gras(short bathroom lines and drink lines). Just make sure you bring cash! Only negative for me: too smoky.
Lindsay A.
Classificação do local: 4 New Orleans, LA
Hey there Mayfair Lounge didn’t see you standing there in some obscure corner near Touro all alone with your buzzer door. These are one of those great finds that I am happy to still have in my NOLA life. She may not be the prettiest bar, she may not be the classiest bar, she may not have Kokomo on the jukebox(don’t ask), but I’m kind of digging your style Mayfair. This is one of those great dive bars that you feel comfortable in once you get past that buzzer. I would like to preface that I was here on a Sunday afternoon, not a Saturday night, so I have no idea what their typical crowd is like. They have a small bar, two pool tables, and a jukebox. That’s pretty much it. Fancy cocktails? Nope. 10 beers on tap? Nuh-uh. Solid bottle beer selection, dark smoky comfortable environment? Yep. At least they have Africa on the jukebox.
Brandi K.
Classificação do local: 4 New Orleans, LA
Ah, the Mayfair. One of the definite go-tos when visiting the area. Unpretentious dive bar with friendly staff and a Cheers-like atmosphere. A lot of regulars, so everyone knows your name after showing up a few times. You can’t be bored here either: there are 2 pool tables for some friendly, competitive games; a few gambling machines; One of those new-fangled jukeboxes loaded with awesome tunes; a TV usually on some sports channel; and plenty of people willing to chat you up. Staff here are all amazing, genuine people. I like what Kris A. said«Stiff, cheap drinks served by bartenders that don’t have a hardened past — just average people making a buck serving their regulars». That sums it up perfectly! But I could be a little biased, some of them are my friends ;) Yes, you have to get buzzed into this establishment. Not sure why this bothers some people, but I have never felt unsafe here. And YES, bring ya dollah dollah bills, cuz this place is CASH only! ATM inside.
Marisa L.
Classificação do local: 3 Brooklyn, NY
random spot that i sought out after leaving Pascal’s Manale. Crazy beads and lights hanging everywhere, small space, but very smoky. Got a drink to go here, but noticed that they had a list of pumpkin drinks, not expected at a divey spot. Probably a fun spot for a few drinks overall.
Kris A.
Classificação do local: 4 Kenner, LA
This is my kind of bar. To me, its exactly what a bar should be. A small cozy dimly lit atmosphere with eclectic décor off the beaten path. Stiff cheap drinks served by bartenders that dont have a hardened past– just average people making a buck serving their regulars. Theres a couple pool tables, tv’s, juke box and the right amount of bar stools. Its cash only but theres an atm inside. I dont want to go on too much bc I dont want to ruin its off the radar charm. I even hesitated writing the review but the good Unilocaler inside me had to share.
Marielle S.
Classificação do local: 3 New Orleans, LA
I have been here once and I will probably never be back. The place isn’t bad and the staff is super nice, but I HATE bars where I have to get buzzed in. I know it’s supposed to make me feel safe, but the buzzer has the opposite effect on me. I get buzzed in and then the questions start popping into my head. «Why do they need a buzzer?» «What happened that the manager finally said ‘We need to start buzzing people in’»? «What is the criteria for NOT buzzing someone in?» «THAT dude looks a little suspicious. How did HE get in?» It’s just a whole lot in my head when I am trying to just relax with friends. No thanks. There are too many nice bars in the city. Ok, now I’m sounding like a snob. In conclusion, good place that would be better if I wasn’t worried about the buzzer.
John L. H.
Classificação do local: 3 New Orleans, LA
Mayfair is right down the street from Superior Grill, but I had never heard of it before. This is very surprising since I fashion myself a dive bar aficionado. Most of the time I have visited a bar that requires you be buzzed in, I am in fear of being murdered. They are normally quite shady and have buzzers to prevent nefarious characters from entering. Apparently I met their standards since as soon as I buzzed, I was let inside. Inside Mayfair is definitely a dive. There were pool tables in the front and a nice bar towards the side. The highlight of my visit was the fact that you could order a full, or half pitcher of beer. I had never heard of a half pitcher, but the bartender made sure I knew it could save money. Like he others have said, Mayfair is cash only. If you’re in the area and want a true dive, hit the buzzer and get a half pitcher.
Sam P.
Classificação do local: 3 Los Angeles, CA
Fun dive bar. Pretty small so it was packed on a Weds night with college/grad school aged ppl. Don’t expect fancy mixed drinks here and they only accept cash. Ambience is fun with christmas lights, dark lighting, and upbeat music.
Maria A.
Classificação do local: 5 Metairie, LA
Whether its Denise, Uriah or Jack: you will have fun and get great drinks at a great price. Meet new people and see old friends. Great mega jukebox, pool tables, good seated bar and a Ton of fun. Plus they have a stock pile of booze and fun characters! Come stop by. May even see me and my crew. Cheers!!!
Derek W.
Classificação do local: 3 Baton Rouge, LA
Weird little dive bar. Cash only. Must ring the doorbell to get in. Only a couple of beers on tap. Video poker machines. But a fun place to hang out after a night of out.
Shannon S.
Classificação do local: 3 Garden District, New Orleans, LA
This is a pretty solid dive bar that is cash only. This is a bar that you have to ring a bell and get buzzed in to enter. I’ve seen some crazy things in here during Carnival time and had some very good times here. They usually have pool tables but they often take them out during Mardi Gras time to make room for all the crazy people that take over. During the rest of the year this is always a decent bar to go to and hang out at for interesting conversations and the bartenders usually have some interesting things to say. It gets way too smokey in here for my taste and the lack of accepting credit cards discourages my more frequent appearance in this venue but it is always worthy of a visit.
Craig T.
Classificação do local: 5 Clearwater, FL
A great little oasis as far as smoky dive bars go and hey you’re in NOLA so live it up. Strong cocktails and witty bar maidens(Jill). We stayed at the Hampton Inn located just around the corner so it was an excellent place to kick off our night!
J S.
Classificação do local: 4 Marrero, New Orleans, LA
Great locals dive. If you’re lucky Ms Gertie will sit on your lap guys! Nothing compares to the high tech mood lighting of The Mayfair! Always interesting conversations to be had with the other regulars.
Judy H.
Classificação do local: 4 Addison, TX
i love this bar. crowd is all different ages and types, there are pool tables and drinks are dirt cheap(and cash only). It’s a great place to just chill out and feels special because of the bell you have to ring to get in. overall, i’ll be back for more. :D
Jeff S.
Classificação do local: 3 New Orleans, LA
We drove past and I saw the sign… never heard of the bar, since I’m never up that way, but with that old sign and the classic sounding name, it seemed good to me. Every city has an old man’s bar called the Mayfair, they are usually good places to drink… just one of those things. Walked in, varied crowd; ages and dress, mainly older than 30… out of fashion ties, classic New Orleans… I liked the look immediately The day bartender sneered at me as soon as we walked in «We don’t take credit cards» Kinda mean. I don’t resemble the little rich cartoon character from Monopoly, so I was a bit taken aback. I don’t even carry id or a wallet, so that’s not the kind of sneer I usually face at a new bar. Lucky for me, I love all bartenders, grumbly or not… so we stuck around. For 5 or so hours. Great décor, second bartender was super nice, bottles of beer not as cheap as my usual dives(2.75 a bottle and my shot of Jameson seemed really pricey) but its a regular bar that gave off a pissy and pleasant vibe at different times. Good enough for me, my recommendation is how I feel… I’d go back if I was nearby… but am hardly driving across town to return. So if you see it, stop and drink. All local New Orleans bars have their own character and in the end, they are all alright.
Brian H.
Classificação do local: 4 Baltimore, MD
First off, the Mayfair is not a tourist bar and that is definitely to its credit. Example: you have to ring the bell to get in. No credit cards, one beer on tap(the king of them, natch), dirt cheap pitchers and an eclectic crowd. As in: I was asked by a(motor)biker about my mountain bike outside, a gallery owner from magazine st hawked me her wares and promised free wine for everyone who came in on fridays and I got waxed on the pool table by some seriously hard-looking 20 somethings. A great place to get away from the camera-carriers and Tulane jetset. Also offers free food on college and nfl gamedays and the vast majority of lighting from christmas and black lights hung from the bedsprings above the bar. This place deserves a trip, if only for a pitcher of bud and a lung full of marlboro from the ladies posting up on the video poker machines.