Absolutely lived up to the hype. This was one of our favorite spots in New Orleans…read more We came on a Wednesday night around 10:45 PM thinking it might slow down before closing at midnight, but the place was still packed -- which honestly showed how popular it is. We grabbed drinks in the lounge area while waiting for seats at the famous spinning carousel bar since seating is first come, first served. Around 11:20 PM, seats finally opened up and it was 100% worth the wait. The carousel bar itself is such a cool experience and something you have to do at least once when visiting New Orleans. Located inside the beautiful Hotel Monteleone, the atmosphere was amazing. Live band playing, classy but fun vibe, great energy, and the staff was attentive even with how busy it was. Every drink we ordered was excellent. This place is iconic for a reason and we'd absolutely come back again.

Carousel Bar was such a fun experience and definitely lived up to the hype. I had the Brandon…read moreBramble, which is a must if you enjoy Hennessy. It was made with Hennessy, lemon juice, simple syrup, crème de cassis, St-Germain, and ginger ale, garnished with a dried lemon wheel and "Filthy" cherries -- smooth, refreshing, and perfectly balanced. My date had the Royal Street Heat, crafted by Sean Holcomb, made with St. George Chile Pepper Vodka, agave nectar, peach purée, Hellfire bitters, ginger beer, and a Tajin rim. It had the perfect mix of sweet heat and flavor. Both drinks were so good we ended up ordering two rounds while sitting at the rotating bar listening to a live jazz band. Watching the bartenders work while slowly moving around the bar made the whole experience unique and entertaining. Definitely a must-visit spot in New Orleans.

Locals will tell you to come to the Faubourg Marigny instead of the overhyped Bourbon Street to…read morehear jazz. On a previous trip we had seen an evening show at Snug Harbor and wanted to experience something else. We had read good things about the Spotted Cat and their sets run all afternoon. We were a little confused about price because one of our guidebooks said there is no cover but you're supposed to order drinks. There was a doorman who charged us something like $5 each (still cheap!) and we ordered beer and a N/A drink at the bar and listened to a great jazz group playing old-time jazz. Interior is tiny and you're pretty close to the performers. We were standing at first but eventually found some seats as people left. There is even a back courtyard if you want to be outside, although I don't know if you can hear the music or not. We bought a CD from the band and enjoyed it when we got back home. All in all, a great New Orleans experience.

Fun little spot on the Frenchmen…read more On a slow night they were the only spot asking for cover but this was the first spot we stopped at so we had no idea if this was still a norm, but walking around more, we saw spots that were free. The vibe is divey with some tables and the stage with musicians is near the front. The music was great and musicians very talented. Drinks were fine and came out quickly. Overall had a nice time enjoying the music!

I have random days that I just think, PURPLE DRANK! It is delicious. I am not really a daquiri girl…read moreas they usually taste too sweet or artificial. Not this VOODOO PURPLE DRANK! I love it so much. Its vacation in a cup - even if you are not on vacation. I need to come here at least once or twice when I am in New Orleans. The staff is always great. Thank you!

Always and I mean always a must stop when I am in NOLA. Even if I'm not there to do touristy…read morethings, I still need to swing by. I love Lafitte's so much. I mean you can't go to NOLA without getting some cherries and purple drink, amiright? Of course they get crowded but service is fast and good. To me it's worth the wait for a table or a spot at the bar during those busier times. This is a piece of NOLA history that shouldn't be missed.

We absolutely LOVED this place. The area was a little sketch but once inside, it was great. The…read morebartenders were SUPER friendly, the drinks were good. I ordered an espresso martini because I had read they serve one of the best in NOLA but it was made with cold brew so that was a huge disappointment. We grabbed two stools at the bar and hung out for a few hours. There was a jazz band playing - Marty Peters and the Party Meters and they were FANTASTIC. They really kept the crowd entertained. We would definitely visit this place again!

We were staying at the Hotel Mazarin, and William at the front desk showed us after we arrived, how…read moreto get here through the hotel. We stopped here every night of our stay! The bartenders, Susan, Brian, Amy, and Other Brian, were all great! We also came for the music which was great! One thing I love about this place is meeting people visiting. We had so much fun laughing, dancing, and drinking! We also felt at home and safe, because the staff took care of us! We also got some great restaurant recommendations from Brian...or was it other Brian...LOL! Definitely worth stopping by either before or at the end of your night. Or spend the whole night!

There's something so sublime about sitting way up above from it all, sipping on a cocktail on a…read morewarm summer night. I feel like New Orleans was a little late to the game with these types of places, but now we have a decent array (typically at hotels like this one). And like most of the other rooftop bars at hotels, you don't have to be a hotel guest to take advantage! This past Saturday evening was surprisingly quiet up there, possibly due to White Linen happening on the other side of the CBD. I wasn't complaining, believe me! It was perfect out there for me and just when I thought things couldn't possibly get better, I saw the cocktail menu. Frosé, baby! Passionfruit frosé, yes please. Also, prices are not as high as you'd expect. My guy got a $3 Modelo. Frosé was $8. Pretty views of the surrounding buildings, fairy lights against the dark summer sky and a slight breeze... living my best life with a glass of frozé in mah hand. Thanks, Catahoula!

The Tito sours were to expectations. However, the barmaid pilfered my new Maui Jim's. Left on the…read morecounter for a half a minute, came back: Oddly enough she didn't know where they were, she was the only other person in the bar. Not going back.

Got a drink at the bar before checking into the Preservation Hall. This is a cool spot. We only sat…read moreat the bar so I can't say anything about the larger portion of the business. You felt the history. The bartender was dressed with a bow tie and apron- have professional even though it also felt like dive bar-ish. Drink was good. Service was good. I liked it here.

Came for the drinks, stayed for the vibes…read more I had only vaguely heard about this place, but when we stepped in for a quick drink, we were completely taken by surprise. Inside, there was a pianist leading a room full of people singing Christmas songs together ,it felt spontaneous, lively, and genuinely joyful. What was supposed to be a quick stop turned into us staying much longer than planned. The atmosphere was infectious, and we couldn't resist soaking it all in instead of just grabbing drinks to go.We had an amazing time and it truly lifted our spirits and ended up being a memorable part of the evening.

We were looking for a place to grab a cocktail before out dinner reservation elsewhere and we…read morestopped in here. Getting here right after they opened for the evening, before the live jazz started, we were able to chat with the staff (which we love to do) and they were very engaging and chatty. I also noticed they do a proper absinth service here and they offered one of the largest Absinth menus I've ever seen, so I had to try something interesting and different and went with the Texas made Opal Absinthe. Before selecting it, I asked the young lady who was handling the bar and she gave me her description, which I have to say was spot-on to what I ended up drinking. Another drink we got was great as well, and made with fresh juices. The vibe and venue is great here... I love jazz and I would love to return sometime to listen to the live jazz while enjoying their amazing adult beverages!

Heard this is the best jazz bar in town, so we decided to enjoy our first drink here in town…read more I got both the Absinthe red and green, which is very strong and unique flavor that I never had before. Both bands performed that night were talented, lightened our first night in town.

Love this lounge/bar with lots of history. Located in The Roosevelt, a Waldorf Astoria hotel, its…read morecool vibe and delicious drinks had us returning a second night after trying it the first. Tables with lounge chairs line the back wall, while the bar runs the same length on the opposite side. Lots of standing room in between; enough for a wedding party and friends to fill the bar space Saturday night. Service is professional and upscale. I discovered a twist on the French 75 cocktail that I love (champagne, lemon juice, simple syrup and gin) when the menu offered a choice of gin or cognac. After looking it up I found out that the cognac variation is called a French 125. Loved it and now a new favorite!

The Sazerac Bar at the The Roosevelt New Orleans prepares an outstanding Sazerac cocktail, as you…read morewould expect. While the Sazerac wasn't invented here, this is arguably its most iconic home, a place where New Orleans cocktail history comes to life. I would use this version as your gold standard when dining out in New Orleans and looking for a perfect Sazerac. We enjoyed watching bartender Rachel craft each drink. Rye whiskey, Peychaud's Bitters, and sugar are stirred in a small pitcher with ice. The serving glass is chilled, then emptied, and finished with an absinthe rinse along the rim. The cocktail is strained into the glass and topped with a lemon peel. The atmosphere makes the experience even better. The murals, the history, and the energy of the room give it a sense of occasion that you do not get at most bars. We had such a great time sitting at the bar that my wife and I each finished two and a half Sazeracs, which tells you everything you need to know.

Located in the Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, it is actually a nice restaurant that has a lot of charm…read more Located away from the nose and bustle of Bourbon Street, we had a peaceful dinner that is not fried or wholly unhealthy (i.e. greasy). The presentation of the food came was amazing. We ordered the linguine and added meatballs, which was well worth it. We also ordered the shrimp & grits, which included Brussels sprouts. Boy, it was sure nice to get some vegetables in my stomach after eating all that yummy fried food during our stay! All in all, both dishes were delicious. It is a little on the pricey side, but after several days of eating in the touristy area of the French Quarter, this was truly a welcome change. Service was polite and attentive. I always appreciate the staff's efforts by making simply making eye contact and smiling (which they did). Seems trivial but I think those small things says a lot about a business. I would recommend this restaurant even if you are not a guest of the hotel.

I had a hotel credit I could use on this restaurant, so I popped into the Peacock Room for a solo…read moreearly dinner. The ambiance is amazing, plus velvet, emerald and sapphire tone, glitzy, and feels like a good photo op. The bar and cocktail menu looked expansive. However, I was going to be hopping on a meeting, so I could not partake, unfortunately. A group got this impressive tower of espresso martini and everyone seemed to be enjoying their drinks! I wanted that New Orleans seafood but had late lunch, so I opted for just the crispy gulf shrimp on cheesy grits. I really wished I can hungrier because the dish ended up being very heavy. The shrimp were nice and crispy. The charred Brussels sprouts gave me the false sense that this was a healthy dish because I was getting my veggie intake. The bacon jam was sweet and went well with the Brussels sprouts. I loved the combination of the cheesy grits and the Crystal hot sauce. It was the perfect amount of both and some how led me to understand why Americans put hot sauce on their Mac n cheese and some other cheesy dishes after 30 years of not really understanding the attraction to that combo. I got the marinated olives to go so I could have a little snack later. They were just stuff I feel I could get in a jar... not really sure if I could justify the price. I think this is a fine place if you're looking for a photogenic night out drinking with a group of friends. Could be really cute for brunch!

Real nice find for this tourist. Extensive drink menu but be aware, whiskey is their thing. An…read moreimpressive whiskey menu covering all corners of the world. Most impressive collection of Japanese whiskeys I've seen. Food was great and the service even better. Lee was my top notch bartender and was a joy to deal with. That's big for me. I went with the 12 raw oysters sampler and they did not last long in their half-shells. Delicious. If you're in the area, well worth checking out this place.

My friends always talk about Rusty Nail, and I get it now. We met up here the evening of Crescent…read moreCity Classic with a pretty large group and had people coming and going the whole time. They have a great beer selection, and they make some wicked good mixed drinks! I was late arriving, so my friends had already grabbed a few, but we caught up quickly. The outdoor area is great! We caught some March Madness, and it really was just the best place to chill out and enjoy the beautiful weather. The bartenders were all amazing too! Quite friendly, and each seemed to have their own favorite drink to make. I absolutely will return the next time I'm over in the Warehouse District!