Has the pending sequester dampened your New Orleans travel plans? Does the real Bourbon Street make you feel dirty? Well lucky for you Washington, DC likes any excuse to throw a good party and imbibe some non-local beverages. Below are some of the best places to get your Mardi Gras on around the District.
Acadiana (Feb. 12)
Featuring a special four-course prix fixe menu for $50 featuring Crawfish, Jambalaya, Rabbit Étouffée, and much more. Click here to see the full menu.
3:30pm – Close at the Bar – $5 Specialty Cocktails
- Category Five,River Tea, Basil Acai, Pimm’s Cup, Cajun Dark and Stormy, Voodoo Berry
- Selection of Wine & 12 oz. Draft Beer
New Orleans Street Fare at the Bar
- Basket of House-Made Cracklin’ $2
- Southern Sliders $2
- Louisiana Crawfish Bread $4
- Cajun Pop-Corn Shrimp $5
- Frog Legs $10
Bayou Restaurant/Bar (Feb. 12)
Just a stones throw from Georgetown in Foggy Bottom is Bayou. Featuring a $20 all-you-can-eat New Orleans buffet and live music until midnight. At 4:00pm there will be a parade from Dupont Circle to Bayou, complete with horns and beads!
Bayou Bakery – Bayou Gras Block Party (Feb. 12)
An all night ticketed Mardi Gras festival featuring seafood jambalya, gumbo, crawfish, king cake, and all the other NOLA classics. Also featuring a cocktail called “Parade Route Punch” and Abita (local New Orleans) beer. Tickets are available online.
Townson Maryland “Mardi Crawl”
A bar crawl from 4pm – Midnight starting with registration and ticketing at the Green Turtle and proceeding from there. From the flyer this appears to be an event for Townson or UMD college students – you have been warned.
Bourbon Street Bash – Rumor’s (Feb. 12)
From 4pm – Midnight at Rumor’s (19th & M St NW) you can enjoy red beans and rice, gumbo, and jambalaya along with $2 Coors Light, $3 Blue Moon, $4 Hurricanes, and beads, masks, and whatever else happens at Rumor’s.
Southern Hospitality Mardi Gras Party (Feb 12)
For $35, ticketed guests will enjoy snow crab legs, corn on the cobb, jambalaya, hush puppies, king cake, and more from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
Clarendon, VA Mardi Gras Parade (Feb. 12)
Visible from anywhere on Wilson, the parade includes local volunteers and more throwing beads and playing music. It is suggested you are sufficiently lubricated prior to attending. Very family friendly.
Laissez le bon temps rouler! And remember, this isn’t New Orleans, so put your beverage in a cup and keep your shirt down (it’ll be rainy and cold anyway).