I visited New Orleans in April for the third time and I swear every time I go I love it more. There are soooo many great bars and restaurants in New Orleans it’s hard to just pick five, but these are the ones I keep going back to because, in my opinion, they have the best drinks. These are in alphabetical order and you can click on the headers to go to their websites to learn more about them.
Alto Rooftop Pool & Bar at The Ace Hotel New Orleans
Alto is Ace Hotel New Orleans’ rooftop garden and bar. We were originally told that this was for hotel guests only but learned that it is in fact open to the public. When we were in New Orleans it was 86 degrees and quite muggy so a rooftop bar sounded perfect! Well, perfection it was. They have plenty of seating for you to relax and read a book, the pool is great and they have awesome drinks and food.
The bonus is you have beautiful panoramic views of the city!
We were in town on Derby day so they had yummy frozen mint julep’s!
After a few gin and tonics and a couple of hours baking in the sun we enjoyed their four cheese pizza and it was so good!
They also had a special frozen drink that tasted like a pain killer. If you’ve never had one before I strongly recommend! It’s got rum, pineapple juice, coconut and orange juice! Soooo good!
You get a bonus when you visit this hotel because they have a few awesome bars! I mean who has a lobby bar that is as cute as this!? I absolutely loved visiting this place and it convinced me to stay at an Ace Hotel next time I have the opportunity!
Carousel Bar & Lounge
The famous Carousel Bar & Lounge in Hotel Monteleone is a long-time favorite New Orleans hotspot. I was hesitant when I first heard about this bar because everyone recommended it. I know that sounds funny but I didn’t want to have high expectations and then it be a tourist trap. Well, I walked in and instantly put my foot in my mouth because it was so cool! The drinks here are delicious and the live music is always incredible. The actual carousel bar only fits 25 guests so if you’re looking to sit at the revolving bar, make sure you get there early or expect a wait!
We sat at the carousel bar for our first drink and then made our way to the lounge.
This whole place has such a great ambiance and you still get a view of the rotating bar. Look at these cuties enjoying their yum craft-cocktails!
Loa Bar at The International House Boutique Hotel
We stumbled upon this bar on our first night and were so excited because we had it on our list of places to try! “Loa are divine spirits in the Vodou faith tradition, but it is the spirit of space and spirits in the glass that make loa the destination watering hole for New Orleans’ more creative artists, entrepreneurs, and hotel guests alike. On any given evening, the lush room sparkles with style, gracious service, and a full measure of the conviviality for which this city is known.” I pulled this from their website because I thought it was such a cool and perfect description of this bar.
The cocktails rotate but always keep a similar theme of, “you’ve most likely never tried a cocktail that tastes like this.” They were all so unique and tasty!
The lighting is extremely dimmed in this bar so good luck getting a clear picture but I had to include this one for the awesome memory!
Happy Hour at Luke
All of these bars are amazing but if I had to tell someone the one place they couldn’t miss when visiting New Orleans, it’d be happy hour at Luke. Luke is a Creole-inspired Brasserie located just a few blocks from the French Quarter neighborhood. Every time I visit Luke, the food, drinks and service are incredible. They serve the freshest seafood and oysters procured daily from the Gulf of Mexico and they also make amazing cocktails. The best part? They have Happy Hour every day from 3pm-6pm with 1/2 off oysters, drink specials plus a daily special!
I’d recommend their half-shell oysters, fried oysters, brussel sprouts and to drink their famous French 75. This is how you’ll feel after your happy hour at Luke…
We loved Luke so much we came back the next day for more!
Again, if you don’t feel this good after leaving Luke, you’re doing it wrong.
The Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt
My final recommendation for awesome bars in New Orleans is The Sazerac Bar. This bar is named after what many consider to be the world’s first mixed drink, The Sazerac of course! This drink has sooo much history and I recommend asking your bartender or server to give you the scoop. We did and learned so much. If you’re looking for awesome hand-crafted cocktails and a great ambiance this is the spot to be. This bar is extremely famous so expect wait times or call and make a reservation
Not only do they serve awesome drinks, they also have famous Paul Ninas murals throughout the bar and, of course, their African walnut bar as well. It is so damn beautiful.
Both times I have been to this bar we’ve had incredible service. The servers are so knowledgeable, kind, and make one hell of a drink. Look at these cuties enjoying a sazerac nightcap!
Overall, we had an awesome time drinking and eating our way through New Orleans! I typically hate repeating places because there are so many new ones I want to visit, but this city is always such a blast and I always look forward to going back for a visit. Have you been to New Orleans? What is your favorite bar? Click the link to read more of my posts from around the world!
I can not wait to go to all these places, waiting now to board the plane! Great blog, by the way!