50 Best Cocktail Bars in New Orleans

“Bob Boudreau and I were in NOLA for 9 nights. Three of the nights we had reservations at other places with family. Our 1st night we looked up and found Jewel of the South. We loved it so much. we asked our nephew, his medical school advisor and his wife to join us. All three lived in NOLA and had never been here. All 5 of us would definitely go back in a heart beat. Great food. Great atmosphere. Great drinks. Great staff. GREAT ALL AROUND! FIVE STARS for Jewel of the South.“

“I do not have the words to do this place justice. The interior is lovely and very fitting for the French Quarter but the patio is the best! The food is so delicious that I would be happy to eat every meal there. The attentiveness of the staff was incredible - they know their menu (bar and kitchen) and make great suggestions based on what you like not what they are trying to "move".“

“Incredible experience at Bar Marilou! Highly recommend. The ambience was great, the drinks spectacular but Hunter made the evening. Great personality and recommendations. We tried a variety of drinks and all were delicious, balanced and refreshing. If you're looking for a great experience, find this bar and ask for Hunter!“

“I forgot to finish my review and post it. My husband and I were in NOLA for the first time, we were celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary, in August 2023. I have a gluten allergy and it was difficult to find authentic NOLA food that was gluten free. I am so glad I found Atchafalaya Restaurant!! The food was absolutely fantastic and they had several gluten free options! Our waitress was amazing. The restaurant was very cute inside and had a lot more seating than it looked like from the outside.“

“Wonderful event space and casual atmosphere but with a New Orleans flare for good food served elegantly!“

“Awesome dinner and great service. I woke up this morning still thinking about our meal! Highly recommended!“

“Amazing food , staff and ambiance.“

“Late review but I went here last year after wanting to visit for a long time. Definitely worth it. Been a long time fan and this place is worth the hype, I also recommend grabbing a cook book from 'em. It's the better than the Bible.“

“Incredible! Flawless service, creative & delicious cocktails, and the food was outstanding. We loved everything we ordered! David was delightful to chat with in addition to being knowledgeable about the food. He provided recs for the city as well which were much appreciated! The atmosphere is buzzy and fun.“

“Food was delicious. Wait staff very friendly and attentive.“

“Everything was amazing!! The ambience, staff and food…oysters bed, curried gumbo, pork vindaloo, and crème brûlée were all spot on. Next time I visit my family will definitely come back to enjoy again.“

“I have been sending people to Bar Tonique for close to a year from my position as liquor vault manager at the Sazerac House. So many return to tell me what a great experience they had & to thank me for recommending it. I have left the position at Sazerac House & won't be sending any more from there, Good luck to all the craftsmen & women behind this truly wonderful place!“

“Trendy spot recommended by a friend (cocktail connoisseur). The place wasn't busy when I got there so I picked a seat on the back patio. Cocktail menu is awesome... ordered a Banana Manhattan based on a rec from the staff (wanted something unique). Loved it! Not too sweet, just a hint of banana. The food was OK. I've had better Cubans and better fries, but still good. Giving it 4 stars overall... 5 based on cocktails, but 3/3.5 based on food.“

“Amazing late night menu for both food and bevs!“

“Above all, you MUST order the seared scallops and artichoke appetizer. Fan-freaking-tactic! The Black Manhattan is excellent — except is was stirred long enough so it was nearly lukewarm when brought to the table. Great flavor, but disappointed at how warm it was. (An extra point for Luxardo cherries. Seriously. How can a restaurant claim they serve cocktails if they don’t use Luxardo cherries????)“

“Grabbed a drink here on a Saturday night when everything else seemed so busy, just a short wait to get into the bar which was great on its own. Beautiful ambiance, the cocktails were delicious and not outrageously expensive, basically just normal prices for a lot of the drinks. Lovely staff, great night.“

“I'm kicking myself for forgetting to take photos of the food at Margot's. It's probably because everything looked so good that we just couldn't wait to dig in. We went on a Friday evening and were seated with water immediately. The waiter was so kind and fun, we talked about how friendly he was the rest of the weekend. We ordered the burrata and shishito peppers for the appetizers and wow were they beyond incredible! The burrata was so cold and creamy, spreading it on the sourdough was so delicious. Next, we ordered the Don Quixote, Bianca, and Fungus Among Us pizzas. Everything was beyond our expectations (and after the appetizers, our expectations were pretty high.) The pizzas came out hot, quickly, and loaded with toppings. The crust was thin and crunchy and getting a variety of pizzas to share was a great decision that I'd recommend you make too. We look forward to the next time we're visiting friends so we can come back to this very cool, insanely chill, and very welcoming spot!“

“Cozy ambience with a unique, delicious drink menu. They also offer their kitchen to local food businesses, and the Asian fusion one there when I went was phenomenal. Donavin makes a wonderful drink called “Thank You for Being a Friend” with Louisiana run, almond, passionfruit, and smoky amaro – must try! I was in town for the Home + Garden Show, and Barrel Proof was the perfect unwind!“

“I’m a local who has dined at many N.O. restaurants and Cafe Amelie is my favorite. Charming atmosphere and THE BEST food and drinks!“

“Excellent music, good (and cheap) drinks, chill and friendly atmosphere.“

“Stopped infor the first time yesterday and couldn't believe what I have been missing! I had the BEST Bloody Mary I've had in years, and the frozen concoction they were serving tasted like heaven. We will definitely be making this a regular stop.“

“Went there Saturday night and stayed till close. Chris was our bartender and although they were super busy he was always there when needed. He recommended a great aperitif to finish the night based on our preferences and was an overall great experience with food and drinks!!! Only my second time going (first in 2011) and need to go more often when traveling to NOLA.“

“An amazing experience, the food,the service and the atmosphere are top tier!!!!“

“We had the most amazing dining experience we've had in awhile. Our server was attentive without hovering. We ordered the gulf fish (Drum) for my son and we did the Chef's choice. Everything came out with perfection. Our drinks were never empty and no courses overlapped. Needless to say we left full and blown away by the whole team at Plates.“

“Fancy. Fresh oysters from as far as Washington to nearby. Pacific NW are generally the saltiest and my favorite. Priced at a pretty penny though. Great wines by the glass and friendly staff. No reservation, no snobbery. They'll get you in when they can.“

“If I could give this food & to go package a 10 star review I would. This food was amazing-i can’t wait to dine in for the entire experience.Seriously impressed with both the bagel & bialy on the light & fluffy but not chewy texture.“

“My husband and I came down from Boston for a long weekend in New Orleans and this is definitely worth a stop! We had a tour of the distillery with Alyson and she was very knowledgeable, funny and witty. We tore a lot of distilleries and wineries and breweries, and they had an excellent and very high-quality selection of bourbon available. They also offered some unique vodkas. You can't really go wrong here at all. After our tour, we ordered some drinks at the bar while we were purchasing some bottles to take home, and the bartender made some excellent recommendations of signature cocktails on their menu. Very good experience and highly recommend“

“We had a great time at the Commander’s Palace. The food and service were excellent.“

“If you are gonna drink on bourbon street, Drink here. Specialty drinks are the picks here. Everything has been expertly crafted, sometimes taking days to soak special liquors to get right. Alway love music as well. A nice break from the Bourbon street nonsense.“

“Lovely atmosphere! Bright and airy. Drink menu was phenomenal. And the bartender!!!! I wish I remembered her name. Sweet girl from Mississippi. She was amazing! Creative with her cocktails, very pleasant, informative, just the best!! Cheers to her abs this wonderful place! The place set the ambiance, she set the tone! It was a great experience!“

“The Ruby Slipper is a delightful restaurant known for its delicious breakfast and brunch offerings. The cozy atmosphere and friendly service make it a great spot to start your day. Their menu features a variety of classic dishes with a creative twist, such as the Eggs Cochon, which is a unique take on eggs Benedict with slow-cooked pork debris. The Bananas Foster Pain Perdu is another standout, featuring thick-cut French toast topped with caramelized bananas and rum sauce. Overall, The Ruby Slipper is a must-visit for anyone looking for a memorable breakfast or brunch experience.“

“Great place good food, broiled oysters are great.“

“Truly one of the best restaurants in the French Quarter. Reserve a table in the Jazz Bistro area for an extra special experience with live musicians! ?✨️ They were LOVELY! The ambiance, service, and food were all amazing. We had the Meunière and Shrimp Creole...they were both delicious. Best French 75 too. Can't wait to come back and try more things!“

“So glad we came here, based on the recommendations of a local friend. Great start with friendly greeting from hostess Stacy and then every recommendation from our server Quinn was on point!! The High Hat Burger and the Pimento Mac and Cheese was ?... 5 star meal right there! The pork on the Cuban sandwich was so tender and delicious ?. We were only in town for 2 days and had to come back to High Hat for the brunch (also recommend by Quinn), before we left. We had the Chicken and Waffle and Cornmeal Pancakes. They did not disappoint. We are leaving NOLA fat and happy ?. Thank you High Hat!! We'll definitely be back.“

“Love The Will & The Way! We happened upon it in 2021 and stop by every time we’re in NOLA♥️“

“Loved this place! It’s a must see!!!“

“Had lunch there today for the first time and the food was absolutely delicious!“

“Wonderful food Great service and ambiance“

“Taylor was awesome knowledge about drinks and was perfect on suggestions when you told them your favorite flavors“

“Alaina is the best bartender ever!!!“

“Top notch. I love this place. I went here to celebrate my first child!“

“Absinthe!!!!! Awesome atmosphere in this place!“

“Their food. No words. All home made. The best! Their Gnocchi with crab meat. The best!“

“What a gem!!. Every last staff was amazing, friendly and funny. The food was incredible. We got the crawfish bread and the crabcake fettuccine pasta. Chef kiss indeed. Our waitress was a sweet pea!! The atmosphere was beautiful, clean, and such a vibe. Definitely going back. 10 out of 10. Glad a staff member flagged us down to come in a try. What a find!!.“

“Above all else, Tom who took care of us was excellent and made our experience unique.You should definitely try the truffle potatoes. I ate a hamburger, although I cannot say it was the best hamburger I have ever eaten, I can say it is 8 out of 10. Other choices were better, everyone at the table left satisfied.“

“Great Food! Staff very friendly.“

“I didn’t see any flying burritos … except the one that flew into my mouth!I stopped in here on February 4th 2024 and grabbed a burrito to go (brought it over to Oak St. Brewery). It was Sunday afternoon and the place was packed! There was a wonderful energy to the place.I had their flagship Flying Burrito. It comes with grilled steak, shrimp, and chicken. It was very good, and more that one person should consume at one sitting. But, of course, I ate the whole damn thing! I couldn't put it down!I can't wait for my next visit!“

“Just found a jewel near the bayou. Me and relatives wanted a drink after a Friday outing. Some1 searched bars near us, and we headed that direction. After passing the bridge construction and potholes on the nearby street, sat a little unassuming bar with indoor and outdoor accommodations. We stayed inside and viewed the game. I got rum punch another a margarita. Both nice and tasty. Our 3rd person wanted food.The sharable portions were just what we needed. I ventured out to the Xmas lit - gravel filled courtyard and chilled a bit til my people looked around. It was late nite and chill.U will love the atmosphere. Bartender Ally catered to us with a few song selections. She made the nite.E n j o yGive this review 5 ? 'sParking: Found a spot on street no problem“

“The atmosphere here is unbeatable. I rarely enter spaces that look very designed and curated and this is one of them.( My mama was an interior decorator, for context) I would love to just casually hang out with friends here anytime. Real goth vibes, gorgeous artwork, interesting, Taxidermy. Low lighting, soft, plush, furniture with matte black walls enveloping it. The bar tender was very nice and the bathrooms were immaculate. A rarity in this city! (The bathrooms I mean)All in all I can't wait to come here when I'm not performing. I genuinely look forward to it.“

“Bartenders are awesome!! Especially to out of town customers. They make you feel like one of the regulars, like a resident. Absolutely one of the best customer service I've ever had.“