Around the LGD: Urban South

Urban South

Location: 1645 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans

One Friday at the start of the Mardi Gras season, my exploration with Gieselle was at at brewery close to home. Urban South is a bar that brews its own beer on site. Located in a former warehouse on Tchoupitoulas Street (pronounced chop-it-too-lass, if you were wondering), Urban South has a large, open space with picnic tables, a bar, a small grill/food stand and a little store selling t-shirts and sweaters with their Urban South logo. In keeping with the backyard or garage-like feeling to it, there are games of bags and giant Jenga available.

Urban South on this particular night was the location of a Mardi Gras krewe party (Krewes are the term given to the social groups which form the Mardi Gras parades). The Krewe of Arsenal, paying homage to the Irish football team, had a casual party at a neighborhood bar, and didn’t mind when to people accidently crashed the party. The larger, more famous krewes have invitation-only black tie and gown affairs.

But since there was a krewe party, it was very crowded. Gieselle and I were lucky to find seats a the bar! We both had a Radler, which is described as a beer cocktail. I don’t like beer, but the pineapple juice gave it a nice flavor.

Gieselle and I went a few weeks later, on the Sunday before Mardi Gras, with our friend R. It was much less crowded, but had an easy-going atmosphere that I suspect is more its usual style.

They were not brewing the Radler that day, so I ordered a Charming Wit, which was the closest thing to a cider they offered. It was enjoyable as well. All drinks came in pint glasses, for $5-$6 each. For its chill atmosphere and reasonable prices, I give Urban South 3.5 stars.