🎉📿 Beyond Bourbon Street – New Orleans Cocktails 🎉📿

 

When you think of New Orleans, you probably have images of Mardi Gras revelers on Bourbon Street drinking “Big Ass Beers” and doing creative things to get beads from the balconies. There are lots of places to get a decent hurricane and bourbon milk punch. But for those of us who have been to the city a few times - and are maybe of an age where we prefer quality over quantity, here are some thoughts about our favorite places for a good drink in the Big Easy.

We’ll start by mentioning some of the classics – the places that everyone talks about and should be on your list. A Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s is a rite of passage. Just do it. But also note that the ones you get these days are from a premade mix here. Still, lots of booze and worth knocking it off your list! We took one of the many bar tours during our most recent visit, which we highly recommend if you want a shot of history with your drinks. That’s where we learned that an authentic Hurricane will be made with a shot of high proof (i.e., 151) rum on top!

Get your Vieux Carre (a classic Bourbon cocktail invented here) from the Carousel Bar and hop on for a slow spin around history at the Hotel Monteleone. Go to Napoleon House for the Pimms Cup (invented here) and some fantastic Louisiana fare - the Muffuletta is excellent. Get your Sazerac (one of Scott’s favorites) from the Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel and your French 75 from Arnaud’s.

Now, for some options a bit more #offthetipsypath -

With so much consumption out in the open (yes, you can drink on the streets), there aren’t many authentic speakeasies in New Orleans. Of course, we found one! Double Dealer is a relatively new spot underneath the Orpheum Theatre. It used to be their basement ice storage room – literally how they would cool the theater in the warmer months! Today they’re serving fantastic cocktails and live jazz with the atmosphere you’d expect underground.

 

If you’ve been following us, you know we like craft cocktails heavy on the Bourbon. Bar Tonique has all that plus the classic NOLA drinks like Sazerac, Vieux Carre, and French 75 with their own twists on them all. This spot is on the edge of the quarter just across from Louis Armstrong Park, so it’s an easy walk or ride. We highly recommend this one as an escape from the madness.

And just down the street is another unique spot, especially for day drinking or night pizza. Rampart Treehouse looks like you are stepping into a Peter Pan novel. There’s art, booze and pizza! It’s a bit more of a dive bar, but worth visiting if you are already headed to Bar Tonique.

The appropriately named 21^st Amendment bar is another great location we’ve found. We spent a wonderful New Year’s Eve here a few years ago and have never forgotten it. This is a classy stop off of Bourbon Street with a great wine and cocktail list and live jazz most nights.

Laffite’s Blacksmith Shop - The oldest structure in the U.S. that’s currently a bar! It’s a bit far down Bourbon for most people, but worth the stroll! Their purple frozen Voodoo Daiquiri just might change your life … or ruin your night because they’re dangerously good. Pair it with some food from the deli down the street for a late snack.

Pirate’s Alley Café – Located in (gasp) Pirate’s Alley right off Jackson Square, this one is worth just dropping by for a drink. If you’ve ever been curious to try Absinthe, this is the place to do it!   They also have a fantastic Pirate’s Punch - as you might expect. 

We realize that with a city that has a drinking pedigree like New Orleans, new bars are opening all the time and we haven’t begun to cover all the options, especially outside the French Quarter. Places like the Garden District, the Marigny and Frenchmen Street are always on our radar. And we’re always looking for a good spot for live jazz! We’ll just have to keep going back for an update!

We started this blog for people like us who like to travel, like a good cocktail and are at a point in their lives where they can enjoy both. Hope you are enjoying our adventures and find this helpful to you!