New Orleans' 10 Best Bars for Handcrafted Cocktails
With exuberant nightlife and exciting bar culture, New
Orleans is home to some of the best cocktails you will ever taste. As the city
gears up for Tales of the Cocktail at the end of July, these ten local watering
holes are just what you need to start your tipsy travels.
1. Cure
Located in uptown New Orleans,
Cure is the go-to cocktail bar for creative specialties and it is widely known as
the "pioneer" of craft cocktail bars in the city. For over a decade, Cure has
been a popular favorite of both locals and visitors. In 2018, the company won
the James Beard Award for its outstanding bar program. Stop in for their
esteemed happy hour or a nighttime drink any day of the week! Cure can be found
at 4905 Freret Street. https://www.curenola.com/menus
Our recommendation: Try Ghost
Clothes - a sesame toasted almond version of the Old Fashioned.
2. Jewel of the South
Jewel of the South is a lovely
French Quarter restaurant that knows how to put the fine in fine dining. It boasts
a wide range of dinner and brunch cocktails that are great for any occasion.
Jewel of the South has been featured in both USA Today and National Geographic,
ranked among the top cocktail creators in the nation. There are separate
cocktails for the brunch menu, including a Coffee Cobbler, Pot Likker Dirty
Martini and Carnival Colada. The dinner menu has a variety of seasonal, classic
and diamond cocktails, as well as an impressive wine list. Jewel of the South
is located at 1026 St. Louis Street. https://www.jewelnola.com/menus/#cocktails
Our Recommendation: Try Figroni
- a combination of Rieger Gin, Gig Leaf Vermouth and Spiced Campari.
3. Bar Tonique
This cozy, brick bar is known for
its friendly environment and welcoming atmosphere. It is known for welcoming
members of diverse communities, as the bar is owned and run by a majority BIPOC
and LGBTQ+ identifying staff members. Bar Tonique also hosts Turning Tables, a
non-profit organization that promotes equity and leadership across the
hospitality industry. To this day, Bar Tonique exists as the very first free-standing
cocktail bar in New Orleans. It is located on the edge of the French Quarter
and has a different style of drink to please every individual. Be sure to check
out their daily specials and extensive list of slings, blossoms and traditional
cocktails. Bar Tonique is found at 820 N. Rampart Street. https://www.bartonique.com/
Our Recommendation: Try Bobby
Burns Cocktail - a 1917 blend of Monkey Shoulder and Malt Scotch Whiskey, La Quintinye
Vermouth Royal Rouge Vermouth, D.O.M. Bénédictine, Angostura Bitters and
Lemon Peel.
4. Loa Bar
Loa Bar is unique cocktail
destination connected to the historic International House boutique hotel. Its
name comes from the divine spirits of the Vodou faith tradition. The space
hosts large events like weddings, meetings and private parties. Loa Bar is located
in the Central Business District, only a few blocks from the French Quarter. The
venue also operates under the creative direction of Abigail Gullo, a globally
recognized bartender, cocktail creator and podcast host. The cocktail list is
inspired by the natural world and the wonders that make life so magical. Loa Bar
is 221 Camp Street. https://www.ihhotel.com/loa-bar/cocktail-list
Our Recommendation: Try Sanctity
of the Gods - a dirty martini with a splash of fish sauce that reflects the
age-old deities of Vietnam, Southern Spain and the Ayrshire Coast.
5.
Bar Marilou
Located in a former library, Bar Marilou
is a unique French-inspired bar with delicious eats and sophisticated drinks.
The bar also hosts a wide variety of live music, including jazz, blues, Latin
and string ensembles. Bar Marilou has a collection of non-alcoholic cocktails
as well, making it an inclusive destination for drinkers and non-drinkers
alike. Bar You can also join for happy hour every day from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Marilou
is located in the Warehouse District, at 544 Carondelet Street. https://www.barmarilou.com/
Our Recommendation: Try Femme
Fatale - a frozen cocktail with rose, vodka, strawberry juice, love potion
bitters and bubbles.
6. Arnaud's French 75 Bar
This vintage bar was custom built
in the late 1800's as a place distinctly for gentlemen. This French
Quarter establishment is classy and elegant with a range of classics, cocktails
and non-alcoholic specialties. It is also home to the famous New Orleans French
75 cocktail, which is a made up of Courvoisier VS, sugar, lemon juice, Moet and
Chandon. Arnaud's French 75 Bar is a part of Arnaud's dining experience with
authentic Creole cuisine. Arnaud's also hosts a jazz brunch from 10:00 a.m. to
1:30 p.m. Find Arnaud's French 75 Bar at 813 Rue Bienville. https://www.arnaudsrestaurant.com/bars/french-75/
Our Recommendation: Try The
Empress - a refined cocktail with Dorothy Parker Gin, Honeydew Cordial,
Mint Cordial, lime juice and rose water.
7. Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29
Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29 is a
French Quarter Tiki bar and restaurant that celebrates the life of Jeff Berry,
an award-winning cocktail historian. It is located in the historic Bienville
Hotel in downtown New Orleans. The menu includes a long list of traditional and
innovative island cocktails. This coastal themed bar incorporates lots of rum
and fruit flavors into its boozy creations. The food menu also shows a range of
island favorites to pair with your drinks. Latitude 29 is at 321 N. Peter's Street. https://latitude29nola.com/
Our Recommendation: Try Banshee
- a cocktail with fresh banana and coconut milk, blended with lime, dark
Jamaican rum and Aztec bitters.
8. Twelve Mile Limit
Nestled in the heart of Mid-City
New Orleans, Twelve Mile Limit is a bustling cocktail dive bar with over a century
of history. During the bar's connection to Pelican Park in the 1920's, Twelve Mile
Limit hosted many New York Yankees players, as well as the legendary Babe Ruth.
The bar is now home to hand-crafted cocktails and a Cuban kitchen, making it a
relaxed neighborhood favorite. Twelve Mile Limit puts a large emphasis on their
environmental impact, and they have adapted several practices to reduce their
carbon footprint. The bar has a list of cocktails and daily specialties. Twelve
Mile Limit can be found at 500 South Telemachus Street. https://twelvemilelimit.com/#
Our Recommendation: Try Professional
Widow - described as "sexy" and "a little bitter", this cocktails is made
of rye, Cynar, peach liquor and Huhu's.
9. The Sazerac Bar
Located within the Roosevelt Hotel
New Orleans, The Sazerac Bar has been a city landmark for generations. The bar
has both classic and modern cocktails and it is rumored to be the site of the
very first mixed drink: Sazerac. The Sazerac Bar has been featured in USA Today
and is known for its beautiful atmosphere and conversational space. The design
of the bar is art-deco inspired and continues to display a variety of timeless
pieces. The Sazerac Bar is at 130 Roosevelt Way. therooseveltneworleans.com
Our Recommendation: Try El
Presidente - named for the Cuban president Mario Garcia Menocal, this drink
is considered the "aristocrat of cocktails".
10. Manolito
Manolito is a French Quarter bar that
continues the legacy of Manuel "Manolito" Carbajo Aguiar, a Cuban cocktail
crafter who extended his knowledge to the bartenders of New Orleans. The secret
of perfecting the daiquiri is a tradition that the bar hopes to carry on, in light
of New Orleans heritage. The Manolito menu includes cocktails that are blended,
double-blended, shaken, thrown and effervescent. You can find this downtown bar
at 508 Dumaine.
Our Recommendation: Try Daiquiri
de Santiago - a shaken cocktail of Bacardi Reserva Ocho, Crème de Cocoa and
lime.
