Ready to Wine Down?
Summertime in New Orleans—a perfect time to "wine down" and enjoy the daylight outside. This usually means driving around the city in search of good wine and amazing outdoor spaces to relax, drink, and take in a breeze off the river.
Yes, there are several amazing wine spots around the Big Easy, but the focus was the ones along the Mighty Mississippi, the river that spans the beautiful city, responsible for its crescent shape.
When it comes to tropical climates, sitting outdoors means searching for the coolest location and what better place to get fresh air than along the river?
This journey ended up at a variety of amazing wine bars. Some have large patios, gardens, and courtyard, while others display a more quaint setting. If you're up for the breezy, yet boozy adventure, check out this tour of wine bars with outdoor seating from upriver to down.
Bywater
For this wine bar patio tour, there were two locations with such dynamic outdoor wine sipping experiences that they are the perfect stops.
Heading from the French Quarter down Rampart Street to St. Claude, stop by Saint-Germain. This venue has an amazing tasting menu and a stellar outdoor scene. While the dining room is reservation only, with a ten-course tasting menu experience, you will be able to visit the wine garden patio, which has open seating every Wednesday through Sunday. There, you will enjoy their selection of natural, organically-grown wines.
Another spot is Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits where you can enjoy outdoor wine drinking. Located downriver on the upper side of the Industrial Canal, Bacchanal provides a unique and romantic wine drinking experience. With a wine store located at its entrance, you are able to purchase a bottle from their vast selection, to enjoy in the enchanting courtyard while listening to live music.
Downtown: Warehouse District & CBD
Next is Pluck Wine Bar & Restaurant on Girod Street. Known as a "Wine bar for the curious," where you are sure to be very curious to see what it was all about. Pluck has a lovely courtyard where you can taste from their vast wine selection.
The next stop on the downtown list is a place known for their highly demanded picturesque courtyard and balcony seating. Located on Poydras street, Copper Vine is a beautiful place to sip some of the city's finest wines while enjoying the outdoors, which is exactly what you can do before leaving downtown and continuing the tipsy tour.
French Quarter
After your time downtown, head to the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans—the French Quarter is what's on tap. The first stop is Patrick's Bar Vin, where you can enjoy "a sip of pleasure in the heart of the Vieux Carre." Not only was this bar voted one of the top wine bars in the U.S., but it also has beautifully intimate courtyards, where you're able to sip and sightsee in the city's oldest neighborhood.
Along the way on the French Quarter stroll, the next stop was Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar and Bistro. Located in a historical building, built in 1808, this spot gives the fine dining experience highlighted with an amazing wine selection and a fantastic courtyard.
At the end of this journey in the Quarter, head to Rampart Street for a taste of bubbly at Effervescence. The sparkling wine lounge and restaurant gives the best blend of the relaxed, yet lively, nature of the city, with the opulence of champagne. Try a flight and a bite while enjoying their perfectly quaint outdoor seating.
Uptown
At the top of the river is Oak Wine Bar, located in the Riverbend neighborhood on historic Oak Street. The upscale wine bar has a beautiful indoor space, but the front sidewalk area has a unique vibe, provided by the covered seating. There are delicious bites along with a favorite bottle of vino.
Next, across on St. Charles Avenue, visit Chais Delachaise on Maple Street. The wine bistro has both front seating and a back patio. Sitting in the front you can enjoy the Maple Street view and indulge in a plate of mussels with its perfect wine pairing.
Then there is the mothership location, just down St. Charles, right before Louisiana Avenue—The Delachaise, the original wine bar and gastropub. This beautiful neighborhood bar has romantic lighting and is the perfect date setting. The Delachaise has over 350 wines along with a selection of handmade food.
The final stop is closer to the river in the Lower Garden District. There is a rather hip wine and cocktail bar called The Tasting Room. With outdoor seating along Magazine Street, it is the perfect place to "people watch." Not only can you enjoy a nice wine flight and small plates, but you can also look forward to coming back and experiencing one of their monthly drag brunches.
As you end your wine down journey from upriver to down, it's safe to say that when it comes to sipping wine outdoors, the city has a variety of options. From the magnificent wine gardens, to the patios, sidewalks, and quaint courtyards, New Orleans is the perfect place to enjoy vino outside.
