Handsome Willy’s Bar & Cafe

New Orleans, United States

4.2

Open now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 504-525-0377
Website:
www.handsomewillyscafe.com
Address:
218 S Robertson St, New Orleans, LA, 70112
Central Business District
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.9 miBienville Station
0.9 miToulouse Station
1 miCanal Street Station
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Delivery
Yes
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Apple Pay
No
Parking
Garage, Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
No
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Average
Music
DJ
Good For Dancing
Yes
Alcohol
Full Bar
Happy Hour
Yes
Best Nights
Tue, Fri, Sun
Coat Check
No
Smoking
Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Has TV
Yes
Dogs Allowed
Yes
Drive-Thru
No
Has Pool Table
No

Today

Today 11:00 am – 4:00 am
Open now
Local time (New Orleans) 3:19 AM Friday, June 27, 2025

Business hours

Monday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Tuesday 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Wednesday 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Thursday 11:00 am – 3:00 am
Friday 11:00 am – 4:00 am
Saturday 5:00 pm – 4:00 am
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

In 2014 Handsome Willy’s will celebrate 75 years of Food, Booze, Music & Good Times on South Robertson Street.

Delicious Strong Drinks @ Reasonable Local Prices!

Tacos, Burritos & Nachos

Made with slow cooked proteins like Ginger Beer Pulled Pork, Big Boy Brisket & Island Spice Chicken.

Dj’s Tuesday-​Saturday

Who DAT Nation HQ: Pre & Post Saints Game Parties that are legend!

Private Parties!

Off Site Catering

Treating you right!

History

Established in 1939.

The Jackson Inn opened @ 218 South Robertson Street just as the construction of Charity Hospital began. The original bar was an old street car that Mrs Jackson bought from the city in post Ford Motor bribe era. In 1962 that rusted out, and George Jackson built the concrete box and patios that make Handsome Willy’s Bar today. George Jackson owned and operated the location until 1999. Serving Charity Hospitals 3 shifts a day for 60 years.

Before the hospitals were erected and most of the neighborhood paved over in favor of parking lots, the area was part of historic black Storyville, the center of New Orleans-​style debauchery in the early 1900s. Originally, the district was designed with the intention of centralizing prostitution, giving the authorities more control over the unstoppable appetites running rampant in the city. This environment fostered the birth of jazz.

Handsome Willy, he lived upstairs for many years. He rented 2 rooms.

Legit since 2005.

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Vicinity

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20 reviews of Handsome Willy’s Bar & Cafe

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Memphis, TN
Great stop on the way to the Superdome. Friendly staff and nice outdoor space.
Didn’t eat any food but the beers were cold and priced right.
Place rating: 3
New Orleans, LA
Stopped in to Willy’s for a beer while taking a break from a concert at the Joy Theater. A friend and I figured to get some food and a cheaper priced beer. We ordered a two domestics that were $ 3 a piece, a little more expensive that what I would have thought given the location but way better than the options nearby. It was $ 1.50 taco night which was surprisingly pretty tasty. I am not going to say that they were great but for bar food they were filled with meat and toppings. They have a huge kitchen in the back which makes me wonder why such a big kitchen and a relatively small menu of just tex-​mex bar food. Its an ok spot if you are in the area and need a place to crash but its certainly not a destination. Most of the reviews and photos here are relatively old and a lot has changed filter the reviews for the newest ones to get a sense of what the place is like before going.
Place rating: 5
New Orleans, LA
My Friday spot. I love Handsome Willy’s for dancing. I usually come after midnight for the fun. The space inside is usually packed, with some people dancing and some people hanging out. The front and back patios allow for a nice break from the crowded interior. I generally don’t like crowds but I only like Handsome Willy’s when there is a crowd. I have stopped over on other nights when it’s much less busy and I don’t like it at all.
There is a kitchen in the back and it’s usually tacos and burritos, but they sometimes have pop-​ups.
Place rating: 4
New Orleans, LA
Great happy hour and drink prices. Plus, you can get deals on certain days of the week for tacos and burritos!
Place rating: 1
Evans, GA
The second we walked in no one greeted us and it was basically just a bar with another bar in the back. This is not a restaurant even though they have a small grill out in the back bar. When we sat down at a table, no one asked us if we wanted any drinks or any food. We were completely ignored. Not the place you want to go for food or drinks
Place rating: 5
Central Business District, New Orleans, LA
Karibu Kitchen pop up on Tuesdays is a MUST! Patrick (chef) makes the best food. I have yet to have anything on the menu that is even mediocre because everything is nothing short of fantastic. Also, the prices are unreal! So cheap for what you get and the size of the portions.
Place rating: 5
Philadelphia, PA
This place was great free food on fridays and awesome drinks!!!
Place rating: 5
Sachse, TX
This was outstanding worth the wait I had the butter beans delicious I had the fried chicken delicious and the chicken fried Pork chop delicious
Place rating: 5
New Orleans, LA
I checked out Handsome Willy’s on a Summer’s Friday night. It was a really good time. There’s a patio in the front and the back. I had some simple whisky-​ginger mixed drinks, they were good. My friend who was visiting from DC was pleasantly surprised by the prices. It definitely seems like this is the place were young/​black/​professionals go to turn up at the end of the week… Unfortunately, I went late and missed the food (apparently there’s free food too). But I was able to charm the back bartender into giving me what he had… It began with chips and turned into FREE watermelon and pineapple for the whole back patio!!! lol It was a great way to cool down on a steamy summer night.
Place rating: 5
Cincinnati, OH
Handsome Willy’s is the Draymond Green of NOLA bars – all hustle, all heart, all the time. No other bar I wanna be in when I’m in NOLA, especially when I want to get away from annoying tourists like myself. Cheap/​free food and great music too!
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Went here on a bachelor party and was well taken care of. Great tacos to tide us over and awesome friendly service. There was live music and even though it wasn’t my style it was fun.
Place rating: 3
Kennewick, WA
What a cool bar. Great service. Came in on Thursday for the tacos. The handsome juice is very good. Cheap drinks & great atmosphere. Would come back for sure.
Place rating: 4
New Orleans, LA
Came here last night with a few friends to escape the uptown scene. What a great decision! I must say at first I was a little skeptical about the location, a small building in a sea of parking lots. But once we got inside it felt like the New Orleans style bar I love to love. There was fun music from different generations, a disco ball amongst dim lighting, and groups of friends chatting over drinks, a great combo.
The drinks were good and cheap. I stuck with my usual vodka tonics but did try their margarita, which was very tasty. We also order their tacos. 3 tacos for $ 5!!! These tacos were a good size also, luckily I split them with a friend otherwise I would have been stuffed. I tried the beef and chicken, both very yummy.
Overall, Handsome Willy’s has a great bar experience, cheap drinks, and good food.
Place rating: 5
New Orleans, LA
Awesome spot. Patio at the front and back. No Smoking inside and great music! Big plus, free food on Friday and it’s good food! Mixed casual crowd so there’s something for everyone! Also a great stop before the game since it’s walking distance from the dome and smoothie king center. A must stop for anyone!
Place rating: 5
New Orleans, LA
Its probably safe to say I’m a slight regular here on Friday nights. Good drinks and DJ RQaway on the 1’s and 2’s. What’s not to love?
Place rating: 4
New Orleans, LA
Looking for a bar that’s conveniently close to a hospital emergency room (incase someone trips and falls of course)? Handsome Willy’s got you covered.
Great patio, strong drinks, and good atmosphere. Try the Strong Island.
Place rating: 5
New Orleans, LA
The atmosphere here is great, and only gets better for game days. Drinks are always on point, specifically the Handsome Juice. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle, though not far at all from the Quarter. Definitely a must see!
Place rating: 5
Central Business District, New Orleans, LA
Great place to be after work! Free grilled brisket from 5 – 9 is awesome! The food is great! The grilled brisket, the grilled egg plant and the burritos are awesome!
Place rating: 1
New Orleans, LA
I used to come religiously every Thursday for a drink and dollar tacos and even brought friends here until one day I tried getting a drink and tacos to go because I liked them so much and was approached by the owner who stated that he «doesn’t make profit on them» and I can’t take them to go.
Here’s a thought, (I always buy your minimum drink and have had several drinks here.) plan the cost of your tacos so you do make a profit OR ADVERTISING NEEDS TO CHANGE TO SAY ONLY EAT IN. Me and my friends not returning. Don’t be rude on the ONE TIME a frequent flyer asks for to go. I was uncomfortable because he approached me in the front of the bar like I was a «problem» away from crowd. Awkward threat like.
As a follow up based on this answer. .the implication was made that I was somehow deceptive. This is false. I ordered some to eat THERE and for a friend that couldn’t stay i.e. to go. In a noisy bar explanation in detail were difficult and I personally was eating in. Nevertheless the «eat in only «you state existed was not visible to me at the bar. I felt so threatened I left. Next time, don’t angrily approach a female customer in the parking lot. It’s scary. I’m just glad I took my business to Tacos and Beer where I’m sure they make a profit. Good day.
Place rating: 5
Washington, DC
Free food on Fridays, cheap eats during the week, great drinks, and dorky doctor company are hallmarks of this dirty named place. I really love this place! A friendly feel in the most unexpected place, this dumpy dive bar is freaking awesome!
There is seating out front and a patio out back. I love both. If you hate the light you can sit inside but it’s a bit dark and dank. A DJ works on Fridays, too.