[Courtesy of Emily Hingle]

Best CBD and Warehouse District Bars | NOLA CBD/Warehouse District Bars to Check Out

09:00 January 13, 2023
By: Emily Hingle

The Warehouse District and CBD areas of New Orleans are very different from the rest of the city. The industrial neighborhoods appear to shut down after business hours, but there are many lively bars if you know where to look. The happy hour specials are particularly great here too!

Best CBD and Warehouse District Bars

From gorgeous hotel lounges to long-running locals bars, there is definitely a place for you to get a great drink. Take a walk down Tchoupitoulas Street to find most of these great downtown New Orleans bars. So no matter which New Orleans neighborhood you live in, going to get a drink in the Warehouse District/CBD is a hop, skip, and a jump away.


A Server at Barcadia New Orleans [Courtesy of Emily Hingle]


1. Barcadia

601 Tchoupitoulas St. (504) 335-1740, barcadianeworleans.com

Barcadia is not just a bar, and it's not just a restaurant. This is a full-on arcade with pinball machines, standing arcade games, and even giant Jenga and more!

After you eat your All American Smash Burger and drink that craft cocktail, head to the machines and try to get the high score. Barcadia is the perfect place to bring a group of friends who want to have fun. Don't be surprised if Barcadia brings out your competitive side.



[Courtesy of Lucy's Facebook]

2. Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant

701 Tchoupitoulas St. (504) 523-8995, lucyssurf.com

Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar is not just for surfers. Anyone can enjoy the beach-themed bar and restaurant which serves tacos, burgers, and coastal-inspired food.

Lucy's is also famous for their creative cocktails. The Shark Attack cocktail comes with a toy shark, and it's perfect for your Instagram pictures. Beware: this drink bites back!



[Courtesy of Ernst Cafe Facebook]

3. Ernst Café

600 S. Peters St. (504) 525-8544, ernstcafe.com

The Ernst Café is the oldest continually operating bar in the Warehouse District. The pub grub bar and restaurant has been serving since 1902!

You can choose to sit inside the historic restaurant or outside on the shaded patio or balcony. Try out Ernst Café's famous Gumbo Bowl with a Patton's Hot Sausage Patty Po'boy over a long, leisurely lunch. It is recommended to wash it down with the Ernst Cup bourbon cocktail.



[Courtesy of The District Facebook]

4. The District

711 Tchoupitoulas St. (504) 301-1476, districtnola.com

The District is popular with locals who come out to watch Saints games on the massive screens. The Happy Hour deals from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. every weekday also make this a popular after-work spot.

The District's food menu specializes in flatbread pizzas, quesadillas, and sliders. Service industry workers love that the kitchen is open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.



[Courtesy of Sarah Ignas]

5. Loa Bar

221 Camp St. (504) 553-9550, ihhotel.com

The lovely Loa Bar is located inside of the International House Hotel, but it is not just for hotel guests. The cocktail menu was created by expert mixologist Abigail Gullo. The drinks are as complex and unique as New Orleans itself.

This dimly-lit lounge is very romantic. The décor invokes thoughts of ancient rituals and spell casting. Loa's creative cocktails can be considered love potions.



[Courtesy of New Orleans Social House]

6. New Orleans Social House

752 Tchoupitoulas St. (504) 581-7101, nosocialhouse.com

The Social House is a lounge designed for getting into deep conversations over great drinks. The "Social Hour" happy hour has great deals on cocktails, wine by the glass, and beer from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.

The Light Bites menu has a wide variety of delectable snacks. You may want to try the Meatballs in Sunday Gravy, Debris Fries, or Cheeseburger Sliders. All of the food pairs well with the refreshing signature cocktails.



The Lounge of Bar Marilou [Emily Hingle]

7. Bar Marilou

544 Carondelet St. (504) 814-7711, barmarilou.com

Go past the entrance of the Maison de la Luz Hotel to find the alley entrance to Bar Marilou. It's one of the most upscale bars in the city, and it's perfect for getting close to that special someone.

The striking red interior and plush furniture is surrounded by a wall of books and garish art. The cocktail menu features drinks like Death Becomes Her and Tokyo Record that are to die for. You'll want to take your social media photos here for sure!


Eternal Summer Cocktail at Alto [Emily Hingle]


8. Alto

600 Carondelet St. (504) 900-1180, acehotel.com/new-orleans

Take the elevator at The Ace Hotel all the way up to the roof to find Alto. This outdoor rooftop bar is located next to the Ace Hotel's pool and offers wonderful views of the New Orleans skyline.

What better way to take in the sunset over the Mississippi River with one of Alto's frozen cocktails or a bucket of beer? You'll also want to snack on some Calabrian Chiles Chicken Wings, a JT Burger, or Andouille en Crute.



[Courtesy of Sarah Ignas]

9. Rosie's on the Roof

1000 Magazine St. (504) 528-1941, higginshotelnola.com

Rosie's on the Roof is inspired by Rosie the Riveter, the World War II campaign poster that inspired women to join defense industries. Rosie's on the Roof is on the rooftop of the World War II Museum's Higgins Hotel.

While overlooking the museum's ever-growing campus, you can sip a made-for-two The Riveter cocktail with rum, bitters, and fruit juice served in a 40 ounce Thermos. Don't forget to order the Riveter Fries to go along with it!



[Courtesy of Ingenue Instagram]

10. Ingenue

1111 Gravier St. (504) 518-5600, monkeyboardnola.com

Formerly called Monkey Board, Ingenue is the rooftop lounge of the Troubadour Hotel. Many patrons enjoying buying a bottle of wine to enjoy the night. Others go for the expertly-made signature cocktails.

The Rosemary Peach Bellini is topped with bubbly. And the Fig Dark and Stormy may be the only cocktail you can find with fig preserves in it.



Find the perfect CBD/Warehouse District bars in New Orleans

So if you're out for the evening and have had dinner in one of NOLA's restaurants with great patios, get an after-dinner drink at one of the Warehouse District/CBD/s cool bars.

You don't even have to walk that far to find one. Park your car on Poydras Street and walk around the CBD to the east or the Warehouse District to the west. You never know where you'll discover!

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