The Low Down
Whenever I visit a gentlemen’s club, I never really think to judge it based upon its appeal to the local culture and history. Whether you’re in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami or any other big city, you’ll have clubs that range from small and seedy to those that large and cater to celebrities and a more affluent clientele. Déjà Vu Showgirls in New Orleans thoroughly embraces its local heritage with VuDoo Burlesque, a nightly burlesque show that performs at 9:30pm, 11:30pm and 1:00am. I arrived at the club at 7:30pm on a Wednesday night while on my recent visit to the 2015 Gentlemen’s Club Expo. As with all of my gentlemen’s club reviews, I’ve rated the club on a scale of one to five stars, with five being the best possible rating. Before we get started, I did have the chance to review quite a number of gentlemen’s clubs during my trip to New Orleans, and there are a few things you should be aware of before you head out to the Bourbon Street gentlemen’s club scene:
New Orleans Club Rule #1: Stick With The Name Brands!
While the name brand clubs, such as Penthouse, Hustler and Déjà Vu, may be the more upscale and pricier options, the quality of your experience will usually be much better here than the little hole-in-the-wall clubs on Bourbon Street. The name brand club parent companies have put a ton of money into giving “Vegas-class style” to the older historic properties on Bourbon Street. Despite the name brand stigma, however, drink prices are usually the same and you can still enjoy yourself on a conservative budget.
New Orleans Club Rule #2: Be Careful On Bourbon Street!
While this could be said for any gentlemen’s club, be careful of your surrounding on your way to, while on and leaving Bourbon Street. With a high crime rate and excessive outside drinking, Bourbon Street can get a little sketchy, especially in the late evening, so it’s best not to wander around by yourself and arrange your transportation in advance.
Location & Facilities – 5 Stars
Part of the larger Déjà Vu chain of gentlemen’s clubs, the topless Déjà Vu Showgirls New Orleans is located on the famous Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, amidst the plethora of Cajun restaurants and shops that line the partygoer-filled street. Parking is available close by, but to avoid the mainstream traffic (and so you can imbibe without worrying about your ride home), your best course of action is to take a taxi, pedi-bike or Uber/Lyft to and from the club. Upon entering the club, you’ll find one main stage with two poles, an additional two poles and four flat screen televisions in the bar area along with a performance stage above the granite-topped bar. Couch dance, VIP rooms and a second bar with balcony overlooking Bourbon Street comprise the second floor of the facility. The club mixes old and new décor stylishly, with beautiful chandeliers and a disco ball adorning the interior along with a great mix of rock and pop music by the DJ.
Staff – 4.5 Stars
I usually don’t comment on the staff at gentlemen’s clubs, as most of my experiences revolve around the wait staff and the dancers, but the staff at Déjà Vu Showgirls truly offers upscale customer service. I was greeted upon my arrival by Carmen and Eddie, then Darrinwas nice enough to give me a tour of the club and its amenities during my visit.
Food & Drink – 4.5 Stars
Déjà Vu Showgirls offers top shelf bottle options and plenty of domestic and imported brands of beer for your enjoyment. I enjoyed a Malibu and pineapple juice for $10.00, which was slightly cheaper than you’ll find at other gentlemen’s clubs and restaurants along the pricey Bourbon Street. For the high-roller, however, you can take advantage of the club’s extensive champagne selection, with a bottle of Krug Clos Du Mesnil topping the price list at $3,600.00. The only downside is that Déjà Vu Showgirls doesn’t offer food (as you’ll find is the case with all of the gentlemen’s clubs on Bourbon Street), but with all of the amazing restaurants in the area this won’t be a problem.
Dancers – 5 Stars
While the dancers are all extremely attractive, I enjoyed spending most of my time in the club with Dolly Madison, a sexy brunette dancer with amazing skill on the pole.
Value – 4 Stars
The prices at Déjà Vu Showgirls are pretty much average for what you’ll find in the New Orleans gentlemen’s club scene. Table dances go for $20 while the more private parlor dances are $30 per song. VIP court prices average from $600 to $1,200. Cigarettes are available for $8 per pack and the club does offer some drink specials, such as $2 Tuesday when all drinks are $2.
Website & Social Media – 3.5 Stars
The club’s website, DejaVuNewOrelans.com (not to be confused with dejavunola.com, a nearby restaurant) offers important club information such as upcoming events, a gallery of the club and past events as well as party package e and location information. The website itself could use a little bit of a clean-up to match the high-quality décor of the club itself, as their social media links litter the bottom of the pages of their site and other information can be hard to immediately find or nonexistent, such as a map of the club and directional information.
In Brief…
While similar in quality and value to many of the gentlemen’s clubs on Bourbon Street, this mid-range club offers a unique and exciting voodoo-themed experience with its VuDoo Burlesque show that truly reflects on the heritage and culture of its community.
Déjà Vu Showgirls (New Orleans, LA)
226 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 525-5801
http://dejavuneworleans.com
Hours: 7:00pm till you are partied out, Tue through Sat
C.J. Asher is a sex and adult entertainment blogger who has interviewed celebrities such as Dennis Hof, owner of the Moonlite Bunny Ranch, BurningAngel.com owner, director, writer and actress Joanna Angel as well as a sugar baby advisor, burlesque dancer, feminist and many others. His blog, CJAsher.com, also review gentlemen’s clubs nationwide and posts a weekly adult entertainment calendar highlighting adult film star appearances. Follow C.J. on Twitter @CJASHEROFFICIAL
