Best Year-Round Mardi Gras
Monte Carlo Club
Mardi Gras is more than just a date on the calendar or the last blowout before 40 days of Lent; it's a state of mind, and that jazzy, rambunctious Big Easy spirit is what drives and defines the Monte Carlo, a lively nightspot in the Bayview. Beads, carnival masks, and purple, green, and gold décor are the dominant motif. The kitchen serves up crab-andouille gumbo, fried-shrimp po' boys, and the silkiest, smokiest red beans and rice this side of Opelousas. And most every night a local band takes over the tiny stage and inspires everyone within earshot to hit the dance floor, helping to keep that New Orleans spirit alive and thriving, even post-Katrina.