Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Louisiana New Orleans Kermit's Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge

Kermit's Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge

"If she'd leave us alone, we would have a happy home, sent from down below."

New Orleans, Louisiana

Added By
Evgeny Koptev
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Kermit on the trumpet doing his thing.   icatsstaci / Atlas Obscura User
Ernie $ Antionette, together forever   http://www.k-doe.com/lounge.shtml
Ernie K-Doe in the early years of his career   http://www.k-doe.com/lounge.shtml
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

"Mother in Law Mother in Law"

Satan should be her name / To me they're 'bout the same / Every time I open my mouth / She steps in, tries to put me out / How could she stoop so low

In 1961, a hit song by R&B artist Ernie K-Doe hit the air waves. In a catchy complaint that almost all married men could relate to, Mother-in-Law held such wide appeal that more than 30 years later, a now-iconic watering hole inspired by the song still remains in Ernie's stomping grounds, New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Looking to capitalize on his most well-known success, Ernie opened the Mother-in-Law Lounge in 1994. It fast became a legendary New Orleans bar, almost immediately woven into the tapestry of the local community, and most visitors claim they can instantly feel the eclectic history the lounge has to offer upon arrival. (Libations and jumping live music may be involved in that unanimous praise, or maybe Ernie K-Doe still has it from beyond the grave, and just continues to appeal to an everyman audience.)

No one can say that the Mother-in-Law Lounge lacks character or flavor. The entire exterior is painted with brightly-colored mural work depicting Ernie and his wife smiling down on passersby from R&B heaven, and New Orleans-style iconography mixed with music and dance scenes. Looming down upon the hapless party-goers, thinly-mustachioed Native American portraits line the top half of the building, while a small gator jumps and jives on a dance floor with girls in '60s frocks.

The decor is busy, glitzy, and full of memorabilia, the entire place a a shrine to K-Doe's memory. Ernie's much-loved widow, Antionette, took the helm once her husband passed, but she herself passed away in 2009 during the annual Mardi Gras celebration. After being run for a time by their daughter, it is now under the watchful eye of one of the city's most famous musicians, Kermit Ruffins.  

The lounge was tragically completely under water during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but was brought back from its watery grave better than ever, and reopened in 2006 on the first anniversary of the devastating storm.

Related Tags

Shops Unique Restaurants & Bars

Community Contributors

Added By

ekoptev

Edited By

DanTMan, icatsstaci

  • DanTMan
  • icatsstaci

Published

February 7, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.kermitstrememotherinlawlounge.com/
Kermit's Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge
1500 N Claiborne Ave
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70116
United States
29.970989, -90.066774
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Faerie Playhouse

New Orleans, Louisiana

miles away

Treme's Petit Jazz Museum

New Orleans, Louisiana

miles away

Tomb of the Unknown Slave

New Orleans, Louisiana

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Orleans

New Orleans

Louisiana

Places 114
Stories 24

Nearby Places

The Faerie Playhouse

New Orleans, Louisiana

miles away

Treme's Petit Jazz Museum

New Orleans, Louisiana

miles away

Tomb of the Unknown Slave

New Orleans, Louisiana

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Orleans

New Orleans

Louisiana

Places 114
Stories 24

Related Places

  • Queens, New York

    5 de Mayo Food Market

    Head past the aisles of tropical fruit and imported candy at this bodega to discover a hidden, weekends-only taco stand.

  • Carton King Creative Park.

    Taichung City, Taiwan

    Carton King Creative Park

    Life-size animals and furniture made entirely from cardboard fill this odd paper-themed restaurant.

  • Dining room at Trader Vic’s Atlanta.

    Atlanta, Georgia

    Trader Vic's

    Mai Tais and Navy Grog served up in one of the original tiki bars.

  • The Mai-Kai’s roadside sign.

    Fort Lauderdale, Florida

    Mai-Kai Restaurant

    When you can't get to the Pacific, just go to Florida.

  • The Tonga Room’s pool.

    San Francisco, California

    The Tonga Room

    Tiki luxury on Nob Hill.

  • Destination Club

    Beijing, China

    Destination Club

    A progressive LGBTQ hub offers dancing, HIV testing, art, and more.

  • The bar at the Shameful Tiki Room.

    Vancouver, British Columbia

    The Shameful Tiki Room

    A high point in Vancouver kitsch.

  • Las Vegas, Nevada

    Frankie's Tiki Room

    The best Tiki bar in Las Vegas.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.