Haven't been in years but way back when the advise about getting out of the Quarter is right. There are some classic places in the quarter but you get the tourist treatment in most. Bourbon street is gross after 9:00 and during the day most bars are hit or miss. The area around Harrahs casino has grown up and is more of a grown up place to be. I forget the name of the alley there but the Manning's own a sports bar and there is a brewery.