Entry No. 11 — the New Orleans file — filed under: haunted
Muriel's Jackson Square (Séance Lounge)
A Creole restaurant on Jackson Square whose upstairs Séance Lounge is tied to Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan, said to have lost the building in a card game and taken his own life there in 1814. The candlelit second-floor rooms are kept dim and clubby, and staff lore holds that a table is still set for Jourdan's spirit. You can climb up for a cocktail without a dinner reservation when the space isn't booked for a private event.
The story
In 1814, Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan staked his French Quarter residence on a single card game and lost. Refusing to hand the keys over to the man who beat him, Jourdan climbed to the building's second floor and took his own life. The property eventually became Muriel's Jackson Square, but staff lore maintains that Jourdan never quite moved out.
Bypassing the ground-floor Creole dining room leads you up the stairs into the Séance Lounge. The second-floor rooms are kept deliberately dim and candlelit, with plush seating and heavy shadows. Tucked into the layout is a table kept permanently reserved and set for Jourdan's spirit, complete with place settings, wine, and bread to ensure the original owner stays pacified while you drink.
What it's like
You do not need a dinner reservation downstairs to head up to the Séance Lounge for a cocktail—you can walk right in and take the stairs to the second floor. The lounge feels dim, dark, and heavy on atmosphere, making it easy to spot the ghost's perpetually set table in the corner. The main catch is that the entire upstairs area is frequently booked for private events, so calling the restaurant ahead of time to confirm the room is open to walk-ins is essential.
The move: Order drinks in the Séance Lounge before your table downstairs and see who flinches first in the shadowy upstairs rooms.
📍 Before you go The Séance Lounge is open to walk-ins for drinks unless reserved for a private event; call ahead to confirm.
- 📍 French Quarter
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 801 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Hours: Added 2026-06-22 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Dark Matter Oddities & Artisan Collective — Walk a few steps down Chartres to inspect taxidermy and post-mortem photography if you want to double down on dark French Quarter history.
- Pirate's Alley Cafe & Olde Absinthe House — Cross behind St. Louis Cathedral to follow up Jourdan's candlelit lounge with a glass of absinthe in a flagstone alleyway.
- Jewel of the South — Head four blocks north into a restored 1830s Creole cottage for historic cocktails in a secluded courtyard.
Good to know
Do I need a dining reservation to visit the Séance Lounge?
No. You can walk in purely for drinks in the upstairs lounge without eating at the restaurant downstairs, provided the room isn't rented out.
Who was Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan?
He was the building's 19th-century owner who lost the home in a high-stakes card game and took his own life on the second floor in 1814.
Why is there a dinner table set in the lounge if no one is sitting there?
The restaurant staff keep a table permanently reserved and set with place settings and wine for Jourdan's spirit.
What should I check before going?
Call ahead to confirm the second-floor Séance Lounge isn't closed for a private event and verify current operating hours.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · neworleans.com · Atlas Obscura · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-22