Fred's Lounge

Sixth Street Mamou, LA

(337) 468-5411

How to get there:

From I-10, take exit # 103 (A or B as appropriate) onto I-49, heading North.   Evangeline Throughway becomes I-49 after it passes under I-10.   Proceed North on I-49 about 21 miles to the 3rd Opelousas exit, Exit 19B, marked "US 190 West".   The exit ramp will curl around the the right and place you heading West.   Take US 190 West straight through downtown Opelousas (a one way street for a while) and head for Eunice, about 22 miles away.  As you come into downtown Eunice, and just after you cross the railroad tracks, you'll come to the intersection with LA 13 at the red light.  Turn right onto LA 13 and proceed North to Mamou, about 13 miles distant.  You'll wind through rice field after rice field until skirting the Western edge of Mamou (downtown is to your right).  Slow down and look for a large red brick sign reading "Mamou - the Cajun Music Capital of the World".  Turn right onto the street adjacent to that sign and proceed about 4 blocks to one of the very few red lights in Mamou.  Turn left and proceed about 3 blocks to what passes for downtown and look for Fred's Lounge on the right side, diagonally from an old tire store / gas station.  The photo above was taken from the tire store.

Click here for map of above directions

What to expect:

The ultimate "gotta see it to believe it" kind of place.  By far, the most famous bar in Cajun Country.

Great mix of people: farmers in overalls; bikers in leather; men in suits; ladies in fancy dresses or cut-off shorts; tourists in flip-flops.

Open only on Saturday morning for a radio show entirely in French on KVPI 1250 AM.

Band plays from 8AM to 1PM or so.  Drinking starts when the doors open.

About 150 people crowded into a space that comfortably holds 40 - 50.

Walls covered with old photos of Cajun musicians, posters, grafitti, and quirky art.

No admission charge.  But, you'll probably want to pick up one of the cool T-shirts or bandannas offered for sale.

Be prepared for proprietor "Tante Sue" (Fred's widow) to offer you a hit off her "Hot Damn!" Schnapps which she carries in a belt holster.

If you don't run into someone from over 1000 miles away, you've come on an unusual weekend.