Beat the Heat With These Refreshing Poolside Cocktails
Sometimes all you need is a reclining chair and an umbrella. And a crisp, cool drink in your hand. Good thing New Orleans has no shortage of picturesque pools with innovative and tasty cocktails to match. Whether you're working on your tan lines or treading water in the deep end, there's a pool and beverage pairing for you.
1. The Pool Club, Virgin Hotels - Crescent Moon
550 Baronne St., (504) 603-8000
virginhotels.com
Nothing screams summer quite like aperol. Virgin Hotels' Pool Club offers a fruity twist on the classic aperol spritz with their Crescent Moon cocktail featuring aperol, St Germain, orange liqueur, grapefruit lime, and soda water. The Pool Club is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Passes start at $25.
2. La Riviera Poolside Bar, Omni Royal - Gilded Lassie
621 St. Louis St., (504) 529-5333
omnihotels.com
Grab yourself a drink that tastes like the sun at Omni Royal's La Riviera Poolside Bar. The Gilded Lassie combines Milagro tequila, Chinola passion fruit liqueur, coconut, lime, and scrappy's fire tincture. Tropical and boozy with a hint of a kick, this cocktail is liquid summer. The bar is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. Passes start at $25.
3. The Country Club - Honey Matcha Highball
634 Louisa St., (504) 945-0742
thecountryclubneworleans.com
A little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, The Country Club's Honey Matcha Highball features Johnnie Walker Black Label scotch whiskey, matcha, ginger, honey, lemon, and soda. The blend is an earthy yet refreshing cocktail that is sure to delight. The bar is open from 10 a.m. to 11p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Passes start at $20.
4. Rooftop at the Roosevelt, The Roosevelt New Orleans - Coco Loco
130 Roosevelt Way, (504) 648-1200
therooseveltneworleans.com
The Roosevelt's Coco Loco is a combination of Roosevelt Bacardi rum, pineapple, coconut, and lime. Its selling feature, though, is that it is served in a real coconut. Perfectly Instagrammable, this cocktail is as delicious as it is picture-worthy. The Roosevelt's poolside bar is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily depending on the weather. Passes start at $65.
5. Poolside Bar, The Chloe - Private Eyes
4125 St. Charles Ave., (504) 541-5500
thechloenola.com
Tired of aperol spritz? Try out aperol's bitter cousin: Cynar. Both liqueurs of the Italian amaro variety, Cynar's flavor profile is more earthy, and it also has a higher alcohol content. The Chloe's Private Eyes highlights this bitter liqueur alongside banana, bitters, orange peel, and soda for the perfect pick-me-up in this summer heat. The Chloe's poolside bar is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Day passes are $45 Monday through Thursday and $55 Friday through Sunday and on holidays.
6. Acqua Bella Poolside Bar, Hotel Monteleone - Fleur-De-Lis
214 Royal St., (504) 523-3341
hotelmonteleone.com
Spotlighting gin and St. Germaine elderflower liqueur, the Hotel Monteleone's Fleur-De-Lis cocktail is an herbal refreshment that is sure to sate your thirst. The drink is infused with cucumber and lemon juice and topped off with ginger ale. Parker Davis, bartender at the hotel's iconic Carousel Bar, crafted this cocktail in 2007. Acqua Bella is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Passes start at $30.
7. Poolside Bar, The Blackbird Hotel - Brackish Martini
1612 Prytania St., (504) 383-7500
theblackbirdnola.com
There's something so sophisticated about sipping a little drink, especially a martini. Blackbird Hotel's Brackish Martini combines vodka, Kahlúa, espresso, coconut cream, and coconut water for an elevated take on an old classic. The Blackbird Hotel's poolside bar is open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Pool cover is $30 Monday through Thursday and $45 Friday through Sunday.
8. Haven Pool Club, Dew Drop Inn - Too Darn Hot
2836 Lasalle St., (504) 948-3002
dewdropinnnola.com
It happens every year, but somehow it's still surprising. We find ourselves exclaiming, "It's too darn hot out here!" The Dew Drop Inn may not be able to take the weather down a few degrees, but their Too Darn Hot cocktail might just be the thing to take the edge off. A tangy mix of 21-seed cucumber jalapeño tequila and piña colada mix, this drink is sure to cool you off in this sweltering summer. The Dew Drop Inn's Haven Pool Club is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Passes start at $20.
9. 3rd Block Depot Kitchen & Bar, Hotel de la Poste - Aphrodite's Revival
316 Chartres St., (504) 581-1200
marriot.com
Indulge in a little summer romance with the Aphrodite's Revival at Hotel de la Poste. Bittersweet without the heartbreak, this cocktail features rum infused with bell pepper and butterfly pea paired with jasmine tea, honey, lemon, and orange flower water. 3rd Block Depot Kitchen & Bar, located in Hotel de la Poste, services the pool guests with bites and beverages daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Guest passes are $45.
10. Pool & Swim Up Bar, Garden District Hotel - Paloma
1525 Prytania St., (504) 383-9500
gdhnola.com
Want to experience New Orleans' first swim up bar? Make sure to head over to the Garden District Hotel's Pool & Swim Up Bar, which features heated saltwater, lawn games, events, and more. Make sure to order a refreshing Paloma, which is a cocktail typically made from tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit-flavored soda. Pool hours are from between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. Passes range from $25-$45, while children under 5 can enter for free.
