travel guide : favorite cocktails & bars in New Orleans
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I’ve been so lucky to travel to New Orleans a few different times in the past couple of years. I absolutely love New Orleans, in part because it has an incredible cocktail scene! Theres nothing I love more than a town that loves to drink and create art, particularly literature. New Orleans is known for its vibrant literature scene, with famous writers like Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway, and William Faulkner all spending time in the city. In fact, after my first trip to New Orleans I read Island beneath the sea by Isabelle Allende and it made me fall even more in love with it. I love how the bookish culture and rich history goes hand in hand with New Orleans’ drinking culture, which has been a part of the city’s history for centuries. New Orleans has a long and storied history of imbibing, with its unique blend of French, Spanish, and African influences have given rise to iconic drinks like the Sazerac and the Hurricane. They even have a cocktail conference there every year called Tales of the Cocktail! I’ve also written a round up of some of my favorite New Orleans cocktail recipes, so don’t check that out too!
My obsession with absinthe is well established, and New Orleans is no stranger to it! The sazerac, one of New Orleans’ home-grown cocktails, uses an absinthe rinse, and lots of the bars today showcase absinthe. I’ve had a great time trying lots of absinthe cocktails at Mahogany’s Jazz Hall, not to mention the music!
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Favorite Spots for Cocktails in New Orleans
Alright to the good stuff - here are some favorite cocktail spots in New Orleans!
Cure
Cure is such an incredible pioneering cocktail bar in New Orleans, located in the Garden District/Uptown area. Opened in 2009, it sparked the restoration of the Freret Street corridor in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Housed in a fire station dating back to 1903, Cure has significantly contributed to the modern craft cocktail movement in the city, leading to a bustling neighborhood revival. The bar, helmed by co-owner Neal Bodenheimer, is renowned for its "rogue cocktails" and ever-evolving menu of house concoctions that often include unusual ingredients. The bar's regular menu is refreshingly approachable and democratic. During happy hour, patrons can enjoy a variety of classic drinks including the Sazerac, Pimm’s Cup, Negroni, and Tommy’s Margarita, among others, all offered at $6. Cure's innovative approach to mixology received nationwide recognition when it won the 2018 James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program and is one of North America’s 50 best bars. I highly recommend this great book by one of the owners, Cure: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em, available through amazon or bookshop.org, which supports local bookstores.
Bar Tonique
We stopped by Bar Tonique after dinner at Dakar because a friend recommended we get a gin fizz there. The Ramos gin fizz is notoriously challenging to make as it requires vigorous shaking, long-term chilling, and since it was after dinner I was more craving a sazerac, so that is what I went with. It did not disappoint - and someone else ordered the fizz so we got to see the magical creation process anyway! It is the perfect place for an after dinner drink, but my guess is this is a great spot any time of day.
Bar Tonique, opened on 08/08/08, is a prominent craft cocktail bar located on the edge of the French Quarter, near the entrance to Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans. It was the first free-standing craft cocktail bar in the city, and offers an affordably priced happy hour menu, offering well-made cocktails like Aviations and Old Fashioneds for just $5. Aside from the amazing vibe that is a balance of dive bar and cozy lounge, one of my favorite things about Bar Tonique is that it is a minority-owned business, largely staffed by individuals identifying as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ and the management and staff are committed to creating a positive and supportive environment through health insurance, retirement programs, and more. Bar Tonique was among the first to host mentees from Turning Tables, an organization that supports marginalized individuals in the hospitality industry by offering education, training, and mentorship. Many former employees have gone on to lead major cocktail programs in the city. To me - this place is what it is all about - cultivating a supportive community, great drinks, and a good time.
Vampire Apothecary
Opened in 2023, Vampire Apothecary embraces the city's reputation for supernatural and darkness, so this is likely the kitchiest pick for an evening out. The venue exudes spooky charm, with a gorgeous transportive courtyard, cocktails in blood bags, and custom fangs. A tarot reader of dubious quality is also on hand. The drinks lean towards the sweeter side, making them ideal for later in the evening or as a one-and-done option. The overall etherial nature of the venue is well done and fun!
Barrel Proof
Barrel Proof in the lower Garden District was recommended to me by an old friend who lived in New Orleans at the time, and it offers a perfect blend of trendy and classic, without trying too hard to impress. The bar boasts an extensive collection of over 300 whiskies, bourbons, and ryes. The cocktail menu is succinct and straightforward but expertly crafted. The highlight, however, is the impressive whiskey, bourbon, and beer lists that promise a unique experience. They also do the miracle pop up bar, so stop by around Christmas. Also - they’re opening one up in Nashville soon, so keep an eye out for that as well!
Pêche
We stopped by Pêche Restaurant for apps and cocktails, and if we didn’t have dinner reservations we may have stayed! It was a great spot to grab a bite to eat at the bar and both of our cocktails were so delicious. The highlight for us was the fried bread with sea salt - just absolutely ridiculous how good it was.
Located in New Orleans' Warehouse district, is known for its great cocktails and a culinary style is inspired by South America, Spain, and the Gulf Coast, with a strong focus on sustainability and local produce. The restaurant, designed by Chefs Donald Link (Cochon), Stephen Stryjewski and Ryan Prewitt, delivers a seasonally changing, creative cocktail menu. In 2014, Chef Ryan Prewitt won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: South and the restaurant was named Best New Restaurant in America. We can see why!
The Sazerac Bar
We visited Roosevelt hotel's Sazerac Bar back in late 2019 around Christmas time, which was absolutely perfect because it is such a cozy, gorgeous, and romantic spot for a cocktail. Naturally, I got the sazerac. Thomas got the ramos gin fizz, which was both of our first ever time trying it! Huey P. Long was known to order Ramos Gin Fizzes here. Even though it has a bit of an exclusive and intimate atmosphere, we had a lovely chat with a couple who frequently visited New Orleans and just overall had an amazing time.
Where we’ve stayed
Vrbo in the Garden District
The first trip we took we went with my family - my parents, my sister and her husband, Thomas and me. We rented a great house to hang out in close to Shaya and Dakar in the Garden District. The location was perfect - quiet on the street but you could round a corner and find a million amazing things to do and see. If you have a smaller group, this spot is right nearby and is super cute!
Hotel Fontenot
One of my trips was for a work conference, so I needed to be near the convention center. As always, I looked for a Kimpton hotel and found this one. It was centrally located, beautifully decorated, and even boasted a peacock themed cocktail bar. Definitely recommend!
Other places and activities I loved
Incredible Senegalese food and beautifully executed service. When we went they were BYOB, so we popped down the street to grab a bottle of wine from (insert name).
While I can’t really put it on the cocktail list, this weird and gritty 24-hour Garden District spot definitely deserves an honorary mention. A dive bar, diner, casino, pool hall, and laundromat mashup, it’s just too New Orleans to ignore and I’ve had such a fun time there both times I’ve been that I even bought a t-shirt. I recommend a beer or a simple drink like my go-to dive bar order, a whiskey & club.
Queer History Tour of New Orleans
Amazing stories and incredible company! I had just been reading about Lulu White, a fascinating woman who ran brothels and because I visited a bar honoring her in Paris, and Quinn went out of her way to show me her brothel! This walking tour offers a history of the New Orleans Queer Underground including sex workers, drag queens, the mafia, etc!
A spot to buy wine and cheese in a shop and enjoy it in a backyard with live music in the Bywater neighborhood. Often referred to as New Orleans’ backyard party, I would be here all the time if I lived in town!
Parkway Bakery and Tavern was also recommended by my New Orleans local friend, and we had the best po boys of any of our trips there. I ordered a Bloody Mary, Thomas got a beer, and it was a great lunch. I recommend you skip the line and look for a seat at the bar, as some folks who were leaving offered up their seats to us, and we did the same when we left. First opened in 1911 in mid-city New Orleans, this family owned and operated has plenty of stories to share.
Expect a wait and then expect the best breakfast food of your trip. I can never not order the incredible bbq shrimp toast. Truly impossible to describe how much I love that dish.
New Orleans Garden District Walking Tour Including Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
A super informative and stunning tour of the Garden District and cemetary.
Chart Room and Crescent City Books
Perfectly located nearby one another to grab a book and chill in a (cash only) dive bar
Lovely spot with great records and gifts
The botanical gardens and the New Orleans Museum of Art were both highlights of our December 2019 trip!
Spots for next time
It’s impossible to go everywhere you want to in New Orleans, so there’s always places to look forward to visiting next time!
Jewel of the South- co-founded by Chris Hannah, New Orleans cocktail royalty, and named The Best Bar in South USA 2023
Peychauds Bar - named for Antoine Amédée Peychaud, the apothecary who created Peychaud's bitters, and owned by the same folks who opened Cure, this gorgeous courtyard spot in the Celestine hotel is very high on my list
Seaworthy - oyster and cocktail bar in a creole cottage from 1832
Manolito - elevated New Orleans style daiquiris (yes, the frozen slushie kind)
Arnaud’s French 75- I feel I must go to any cocktail bar that used to be only for gentlemen, and this spot happens to also have a James Beard award under its belt and is named for one of the best cocktails out there
The Sazerac House - as someone deeply dedicated to the sazerac, I really need to make it here. I’ve heard good things about the self-paced tour!
Melba’s - a bookstore, a daiquiri spot, po boys, and a laundromat all in one? I’m moving in.
