Serving Since

New Orleans

Serving since

1914

112 years in New Orleans

Napoleon House

French Quarter · Tavern / Pub

Go here for
Muffuletta · Pimm's Cup
Why go
A muffuletta and a Pimm's Cup in a French Quarter bar the Impastato family ran for about a century.
Local character
Locals + visitors. Difford's Guide says tourists and locals alike sip Pimm's Cups there.
Good to know
Walk-ins only; no reservations.
Directions Official website

The year the Impastato family took over the building, per the official site. It was first a grocery, then a bar.

Why it matters

The building at Chartres and St. Louis was built in 1797 as the home of Nicholas Girod, mayor of New Orleans. It takes its name from Girod's 1821 offer to shelter the exiled Napoleon, who never came.

The Impastato family took it over in 1914. Under Joseph "Uncle Joe" Impastato it went from grocery to bar, known for heated muffulettas, Pimm's Cups and classical music. In 2015 Sal Impastato and his sisters sold the business and building to restaurateur Ralph Brennan, who said he wouldn't change its character.

The story

  1. 1797Building built as Mayor Nicholas Girod's residence1
  2. 1914The Impastato family takes over the building1
  3. 2015Sold to restaurateur Ralph Brennan2
  4. TodayStill serving New Orleans

Going to New Orleans? Get all places offline, with walking routes: the New Orleans kit, $9.

Notes on the record

  • The official site dates the Impastato era to 1914; a 2015 Biz New Orleans report says Joseph Impastato bought the building in 1920.

Details

Address
500 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA
Neighborhood
French Quarter
Ownership
Not verified
Status
Open · verified Sep 2026

OldScore

A secondary, editorial measure. The founding year above is the fact that matters most. How it works.

Age31/ 35
Continuity10/ 20
Local significance15/ 20
Local food culture10/ 15
Independence3/ 10
OldScore69/ 100

Local character: Locals + visitors. Difford's Guide says tourists and locals alike sip Pimm's Cups there. This is separate from OldScore: a place can be popular with visitors and still belong here.

More like this

Sources

  1. Napoleon House, History (official) Founding year, Ownership, History, What to order, Address, Current status
  2. Biz New Orleans, 'Ralph Brennan Buys Napoleon House' (Mar 31, 2015) Ownership, History, What to order, Founding year
  3. WWNO, 'NOLA Life Stories: Sal Impastato Bids Farewell To The Napoleon House' (Oct 15, 2015) Ownership, History
  4. Difford's Guide, 'Napoleon House' History