Just a little review update for my beloved Effervescence, one of my top five woman-owned businesses…read morein NOLA, as we close out WHM. It's my favorite splurge in town, so when my birthday weekend rolled around, this is where I chose to spend it... with a vegan cheese wheel (the dates that come with should be eaten at the same time as the cheese and you'll feel like you're eating some caramelized magic. And when Mardi Gras Day rolled around a couple weeks later, as per my tradition, we had brunch here. Their legendary popcorn is the stuff of the gods and paired with champagne, I can't think of a better breakfast of champions. Thank you, Effervescence for all your greatness.

I was very pleased with my experience at Effervescence. The Champagnes were exceptionally well…read morepriced (less than 2x retail), which was a pleasant surprise. They were out of quite a few bottles, but there was still a wide selection. The service was very thoughtful, with the owner serving most of the tables herself. She was even kind enough to give us free glasses of Champagne while our bottle cooled. You will feel cared for here. The real standout though was the food. We had caviar topped deviled eggs, caviar serving, and a wheel of deliciously melted cheese. Everything was gorgeously presented and Instagram worthy. The deviled eggs were incredible. My sister said they were one of the best things she's eaten and she's not a fan of deviled eggs. The caviar was great (of course). The cheese was also excellent and included dates that were remarkably good. The ambiance is very cute. Simple and clean aesthetics that are refined but lightly adorned. This is my 7th time visiting NOLA, and Effervescence is now one of my favorite places in NOLA.

People watching mecca aka front row seats to humanity. Davenport Lounge delivers exactly that…read more I'm also convinced they serve some of the best bar chips. Pair those with a cocktail and spend an hour people watching. Every table tells a different story, and that's part of the fun. A fantastic spot to slow down after exploring New Orleans.

A Ritz Carlton should be a lot more than a hotel. While few live up to such expectations, the…read moreperfect Ritz Carlton is the gathering place of a city's high society and a wild party, where live music intersects with endless vintage champagne while the patrons engage in scenes that could belong in a Woody Allen film. Not many locations pull that off, yet the Ritz in New Orleans does a very respectable job at it. While New Orleans is undoubtedly known for jazz, The Davenport Lounge builds upon that concept through a highly refined jazz experience. That is a huge plus for any guest of the hotel, as experiencing the city's signature style of music only requires a ride down from the suite in an elevator. The lounge opened in 2000 when the Ritz was established based on the frame of an old department store. Jeremy Davenport, the musician after whom the lounge is named, plays here regularly with his band. The hotel's man restaurant, M Bistro, is essentially a part of the lounge as well. Thus, while technically separate establishments and menus, they share one room with only some columns separating. What does it mean? One can sit down either in the back of the lounge or in the restaurant, all while getting to enjoy the jazz. The food is traditional to the area and genuinely incredible. The drinks are perfectly executed. The service is sharp. All around, The Davenport lounge may not be an old institution of New Orleans yet, but with a couple decades under its belt, it has undoubtedly cemented itself as a luxury jazz party that belongs perfectly in the Ritz.

After being denied service for our reservation at Antoine's due to "someone's" dress code not…read moremeeting their standard, we were glad to find out that the attached Hermes Bar offers the exact same menu daily after 5 pm. Claimed the last two empty bar seats, and had very fun and accomodating service from the bar staff (no dress code required). From $8 HH drink specials to brabant potatoes, oysters Rockefeller, shrimp remoulade and the truly over the top Baked Alaska, we enjoyed the most decadent bar meal I've ever had by far. So if you like Antoine's menu but not their stuffy atmosphere, then Hermes Bar is where you belong.

We simply stopped in to have a drink and soak up some local color and history at the beautiful bar…read moreassociated with the famous Antoine's Restaurant. Our bartender was Garrett and he was a wealth of knowledge regarding the bar and Antoine's. Numerous presidents have dined in the famous Presidential Room in Antoine's. I had a nice sparkling Rose and my husband picked up a delcious Paradise Park Lager made by Urban South Brewery in New Orleans. It was so good. The atmosphere inside is decadent with rich woods and cool tiled floors. You can order bites from Antoine's to have at Hermes Bar if you aren't dressed for Antoine's or if you are wanting a more chill environment. I would definitely return to this great bar.

Exactly as they say it is... Service is fantastic, drinks, well prepared and the food ... Mind you…read morewe had the bar menu and it was devine!! We had the crab claws (cold dish) and potatoe fry puffs lol that's not the official names but they were tasty. The drinks we had customized but well worth it and the service was quick and effective

You know those places that feel like an institution ,something you just have to visit as a tourist…read more New Orleans has plenty of them, and this one definitely comes across as one of the originals. We found a seat, ordered our drinks, and had a great time once they arrived. The space could have been better maintained- floors were noticeably soiled with spilled drinks and napkins, and there didn't seem to be much effort to clean up during our visit. The drinks themselves were excellent. I had a French 75, and my husband ordered a Sazerac. We also got some fries to go along with our drinks since we were bar hopping and not planning a full meal. The fries were good and paired nicely with the cocktails.Service was generally fine, but overall the cleanliness and upkeep of the space took away slightly from the experience, which is a shame given the reputation of the place.

This is hands down the classier end clubs/Lounges if you are trying to avoid the smell of the…read moreFrench quarters. Drinks are ridiculously expensive and the joint is a bit small. But the vibe is like a big city night club.

I don't know if they have a VIP section elsewhere but this place is tiny from what I remember. They…read morehad good music, a few girls. They didn't let me in with my hat, the bartender spilled a beer all over me, didn't get it free or discounted. I had a great time here hanging with T.O. but we could've went somewhere better

So cute! I cannot wait to go back! I've never been to Miami but the inside gives me 80s Miami vibes…read moreand the staff was super friendly not sure if they have bites but the drink I got was a Bellini and it was delish. The wine was also very affordable like $12~ , however getting there was funny as soon as you don't think you're at the right place that's when you know you actually are getting close lol. And then there's plenty of parking !

This was such a cozy spot for music and drinks and lounging. We stopped in on a Monday night and…read moresat on the back patios that was completely unofficial and had some charcuterie and wine and just had a fantastic evening.

Thirteen years calls for an update, no?…read more Sometimes I forget that this cocktail paradise lies on the very edge of the French Quarter. Admittedly, I have other regular stops these days, not for a lack of love or anything, these things happen. But Bar Tonique is a forever favorite, a worthwhile stop before a concert at the Saenger. The best place to stop, along with the Black Penny, on Rampart if you want a good cocktail. We stopped in on a hot Sunday late afternoon. What a refuge! The bar had plenty of seats, and the people in there were a nice mix of locals and cool tourists that don't want to spend their drinking day on Bourbon Street. Drinks are so fairly priced. In a time when cocktails are upwards of 20 bucks even in NOLA, it's nice to see theirs cost considerably less and they have a solid HH with $8 cocktails (rotating specials). Not BS beer and a shot or well drinks, but actual expertly-mixed drinks. And frozen Ramos Gin Fizzes if that's your thing (not mine but I get it).

After today.... I…read morereally share a SOLID like for this spot You get the DIVES bar vibes but I can't solely call it a stand alone dive bar if that makes sense. I am not one to update reviews but I must admit this spot makes me want to so I did. The Ramos Gin Freeze is good. The aftermath taste is notes of a "Key lime Pie" finish. Very cool

What's more fun that getting your drunk on while taking a leisurely spin around a well-appointed…read moreand historic bar? We got lucky. Walking in at 1:30 on a beautifully sunny Wed, we fully expected a wait. Instead, our two empty seats beckoned to us like a pretty girl winking at us across a bar in college. Marvin has been promoted to Beverage Manager. He left his bar in very good hands. The two young dudes carrying his torch were great. Very friendly and well aware each time we finished our drink and needed a reload. They're well-trained in the art of concocting the Sazerac we love. Sitting for 2 hours watching the regular turnover of the precious seats at the Carousel is still big fun. And having a friendly chat with the constant turnover of strangers sitting next to us is part of the unique charm of the Carousel Bar. As we were leaving Corey the bartender let us know management is shutting down next month for a few weeks for much needed repairs & renovations so the Carousel can add another 50-60 years to its legacy.

Had the worst experience here at the carousel bar. We tried…read moreto go another day but there were no available seats at the spinning carousel so we tried our luck the next day right when they opened. We got there at 10:55am and there was a little line. When the doors opened, Oddly enough, there was a party of 5 sitting inside already?!?? Our bartender W took a while to come get our drink order and took longer to get, one of us never even got our beer. I pointed at someone's drink and told W I wanted that, the martini special. How is he gonna make me the drink minus the Baileys?!? I pointed to the drink I wanted, simple. My bf ordered a Abita, guess what 45 mins passed and he NEVER got his beer. We asked for the check and W said "oh your beer". Bro just give us the check and take off the beer. Worst service I've ever experienced. How you going to forget about someone's drink who's sitting right in front of you drink-less plus make a drink wrong. The carousel sits about 25 people and there's 2 bartenders?!? This isn't a club where drinks are getting shouted out. The only thing they have going for them is the rotating carousel bar if the SD one didn't close, I'd say pass and go to that one instead. One and done for me. Good luck if you get W as your bartender! And sir, no I'm not coming back after the game for you to make it right, make it right the first time!

What a beautiful evening at the Fountain Lounge. Terriona attended to my table quickly and she…read moreefficiently shared about the daily specials. I ultimately ordered the Sautéed Garlic Shrimp with butternut squash risotto. The presentation was beautiful and the flavors were rich and creamy. Also, Eddie kept my water glass filled and made me feel special and welcomed. The ambiance at the Fountain Lounge is classic luxury. Plus, the staff is always on point. They even remembered my special occasion when I last dined there. Plus, the team was attentive and quite friendly. My only complaint is that the piano is no longer there. Apparently, the powers that be decided to remove the soul of the restaurant. In the days of old, a pianist played sets during dinner. Not only did it make guests truly appreciate the musical style of New Orleans, but the melodic music also drew others into the restaurant. What a shame to have lost the heart and soul of the restaurant. Yet, the staff does their best to create a warm and welcoming environment, while the chefs provide truly top notch cuisine. Whether staying at the Roosevelt or simply enjoying the French Quarter, the Fountain Lounge is a perfect place to enjoy delicious cuisine and top notch service.

We needed a break from the heat and decided to stop by the Roosevelt Hotel. We wanted to stay for a…read morewhile, so we went to the bar, which is right off the lobby, and got a drink. It is very dim lighting with bar seating, couch seating, and table seating with table lamps. It is a pretty big space with lots of walking room. We ordered at the bar because at 1:30, they didn't do table service. We got a glass of Prosecco and a Hugo spritz. It was so refreshing and just what we needed. Service was quick. I thought it was pricey, but we were in a nice hotel in NOLA.

I would not recommend staying at this hotel…read more Upon arrival, the front desk attendant was repeatedly hacking and coughing and appeared visibly ill. It was not the first impression I expected when checking into a hotel. Unfortunately, the room itself was also disappointing. The carpet was dirty, there was an old cough drop and a granola bar underneath the bed, and the air vent blew dust into the room when it turned on. These issues made me question how thoroughly the room had been cleaned before our stay. To make matters worse, there was a wedding taking place at the hotel, and the reception appeared to be directly outside our room. The music was extremely loud and continued until around 9:30 p.m. Traveling with a small child, this made bedtime difficult and significantly impacted our experience. The restaurant experience was equally frustrating. I ordered chicken tenders for my child, but they arrived covered in a spicy buffalo-style sauce, making them inedible for a young child. I charged the meal to my room and only discovered several days later, after requesting an itemized receipt, that a 22% tip charge had been added. I was never informed of this 22% tip charge when ordering. When I called to ask about it, the manager explained that the 22% charge was for room service tip. However, the food was never delivered to my room. I was required to walk to the restaurant and pick it up myself. While I didn't mind retrieving the food, I do mind being charged a substantial tip for a service that wasn't provided. To make matters worse, my hands were full carrying three drinks and a bag of food back to the room, and one of the overfilled drinks spilled along the way. I also spoke directly with the hotel manager regarding the 22% tip charge. I explained that I was never informed ahead of time that this charge would be added and that the food was not actually delivered to my room. Instead, I had to walk to the restaurant and pick it up myself. The manager did not seem concerned that I was being charged what was described as a room service fee without receiving traditional room service. What bothered me most was not just the charge itself, but the lack of transparency and the apparent unwillingness to acknowledge why a guest might find that frustrating. If they had actually delivered the food themself I would have tipped more. The combination of the dirty room, excessive noise, unexpected charges, and poor dining experience made for a very disappointing stay. I would not stay here again and would not recommend either the hotel or the restaurant.

Had the pleasure of using this hotel for a pre hoco dinner for our kids and it was an amazing…read moreexperience. The ambiance of the outdoor gardens and drinks from the bar made this experience impeccable!