Lest images of housewives enjoying their morning cappuccino enter your mind, it is important to note that coffee houses at the time were synonymous with vice-absinthe (and surely harder drugs) being a popular sin of yesteryear.ĭuring Prohibition, the Old Absinthe House suffered a rather tumultuous tumble with the government. After it was rebuilt, it was a grocery store, then it served as a coffee house. The first building to sit on the site was burned down in 1788 during the Great Friday Fires, leaving be-hind nothing but the fireplace. Nowadays you can find his name on everything from t-shirts to coffee cups should you wander into any New Orleans gift shop.Īs for the Old Absinthe House, it has also seen its share of ruckus over the years. ![]() Lafitte proved invaluable to Jackson’s efforts, and soon his status as a hero of New Orleans was secured. Lafitte offered up his firsthand knowledge of New Orleans-its swamps, its backwaters, and basically everything the Americans needed to know to beat the British. Andrew Jackson agreed to full par-dons of all of Lafitte’s men for their various crimes (which included buccaneering at the very least). Perhaps the Green Fairy helped seal the bar-gain, as well as the outcome of the ensuing Battle of New Orleans. They say the two men met on the second floor of the bar. And that is where the Old Absinthe House comes in… It was Captain Andrew Jackson who mended the relationship with Jean Lafitte he knew that the pirate’s services were necessary. They returned his gesture of goodwill by storming one of his outposts, leaving destruction in their wake. The Americans didn’t exactly trust Lafitte, however. Lafitte opted against helping the British, perhaps because of what some might call a code of honor–he had a soft spot for the Americans. Legend tells that Jean Lafitte received an offer from the British-would he help them in their war against the Americans? After all, Lafitte had a powerful network of buccaneers to draw from, not to mention ships, bravado, and most valuable of all, he knew New Orleans like the back of his hand. A Bargain in a Bar: The Battle of New Orleans The patriot part of Jean Lafitte’s story takes us here, to the Old Absinthe House. Others view him as a scoundrel, and still others, as a patriot. Some think of him as a barbarous pirate in the vein of Captain Jack Sparrow-charming and perhaps even a good man if it wasn’t for that whole plundering thing. If you have read the Nightly Spirits’ story on Jean Lafitte, then you know that he was somewhat of a controversial character in history. Secondly, the bar is closely tied to New Orleans’ resident pirate. First of all, the green elixir they serve up is the real thing absinthe, a botanical drink, said throughout history to cause hallucinations (thus its moniker as of “the Green Fairy”). The Old Absinthe House is a New Orleans icon for a reason. And the bartenders? If you ask them to tell you a ghost story, they are likely to look at you as if you have taken one too many vodka shots.īut don’t let the unassuming (dare we say dive bar) aesthetic of this place fool you. Upon entering the Old Absinthe House, you are greeted by a rather unexpected interior: football helmets and business cards form the main decor. ![]() You might just be lucky enough to get a visit from the Green Fairy. ![]() Come along for the journey as we travel to the Old Absinthe House, at the heart of Bourbon Street. Nightly Spirits is taking you on a ghost tour unlike any other as we explore the most haunted New Orleans bars. Would you like to meet one of these ghosts? You simply need to sit down in a local bar. Because while the festivities of Bourbon Street seem a far cry from spooky, New Orleans is crowded with much more than tourists-it is crowded with ghosts. Beneath all of New Orleans’ textbook history that many tour guides share await incredible stories that are stranger than fiction. Whether or not you consider a ghost adventure a traditional part of your typical vacation, a New Orleans ghost tour at night is an option that simply can’t be ignored when visiting the Big Easy. With so much to discover, many first-timers wonder, what is the best way to see it all? You can hardly walk down one of New Orleans’ historic streets without feeling transported in time.
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