If you think the room is spinning after a few cocktails at the Carousel Bar, you're onto something. Actually it's the working carousel bar that revolves at this stylish spot on Royal, one of three lounges in the elegant Monteleone Hotel. The ambiance is classic piano bar and the crowd varies from traveling business professionals to die hard regulars. The Monteleone Carousel Bar Chas long been a favorite meeting place for locals and celebrities alike. Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams were among its famous patrons. The decor is exquisite and the mood elegant. Local songbirds Robin Barnes and Lena Prima are two regular performers.
Recommended for Bars because: This is a storied meeting spot for locals and a swell grown ups bar for anybody.
Beth's expert tip: This is a super spot to catch early music, with performances during happy hour most days.
Cane & Table is yet another concept cocktail bar created by the proprietors of successful ventures Cure and Bellocq. This new spot, on Decatur in the French Quarter, describes itself as "proto-tiki" - so don't expect little umbrellas in your drink. Bartenders concoct a variety of rum drinks in their "rustic Colonial" style location, and pair those with an island-themed food menu that includes entrees like local yardbird with sesame and mole deep and fried ribs served with overflowing side dishes. But it's the drinks you'll remember best, refreshing coolers made with fresh juices and pot-stilled rum and interesting blends like the golden lion, a clarified milk punch with pineapple and sherry.
Recommended for Bars because: Head towards the back for a wonderful courtyard experience.
Beth's expert tip: If rum is your liquor of choice, check out this place for some amazing craft rum drinks
Although the Pimm's Cup is veddy British, Napoleon House popularized the drink in a setting reminiscent of Amsterdam's brown cafes. The French Quarter bar - which doesn't look like much from the outside - possesses a faded peeling beauty earned the old fashioned way - over the course of more than 200 years of history. The bar is named for the diminutive despot, who was offered asylum by the building's first occupant, Nicholas Girod, in 1821. Napoleon never made it, but the name stuck and the place has been a haunt for the literati and the besotted every since. Ralph Brennan took over ownership of the bar from the Impastato family in May of 2015.
Recommended for Bars because: The combination of Pimm's Cup and classical music makes this place a gem.
Beth's expert tip: This French Quarter classic closes a week in the summer, usually the end of June, beginning of July.
Regulars were in shock when the old Chuck's Bar closed a while back. Thankfully the Little Bar on Gravier stepped up to the plate. A fab dive bar located on a quiet street less than a mile from the Superdome, Little Bar pours cheap, strong drinks for a mostly local clientele, including plenty of bartenders late nigh. There's a pool table and a slammin' jukebox, but don't come hungry. No chow is served but you can bring something in if you like. You won't confuse this place for the Polo Lounge at the five-star Windsor Court Hotel two blocks away, but Little Bar is a keeper.
Recommended for Bars because: Little Bar is worthy of dive bar status.
Beth's expert tip: You won't find a heftier pour on the way to the Superdome.
Drinking strong, well made drinks or a bottle of wine in the outdoor courtyard at Bacchanal is simply one of the best ways to spend a Sunday afternoon. But really anytime is fine to visit this off the beaten path Bywater classic on Poland Street just a stone's throw from the river. Pick up a bottle of wine at the shop out front and head outside where you can order an inspired cheese plate or just about anything from the kitchen's inventive menu (love the whole grilled fish with tomatillo salsa). If it's rainy the more recently added upstairs bar is lovely, but when the weather is fine, the open air courtyard is the perfect spot for live music and conversation.
Recommended for Bars because: Fab cocktails, bottles of wine from the shop up front, an awesome cheese plate and an outdoor music venue add up to one terrific bar.
Beth's expert tip: A lot of thought and skill go into the creation of Bacchanal's small plates. Be sure to order one or five.
Bar Tonique on the edge of the French Quarter bar isn't the typical PBR slinging dive - not that there's anything wrong with that flavor of bar. But this is the place for a frothy Ramos gin fizz — a favorite libation of notorious past governor Huey P. Long — made with TLC by a friendly enough bartender. All drinks are hand crafted cocktails using fresh ingredients and choice rare liquors. There's a rotating daily special, offering drinks like a Pimm's Cup, Mai Tai or Bloody Mary for just $5. The bar is directly across from Armstrong Park, a lovely wander before or after you imbibe.
Recommended for Bars because: Bar Tonique is on the edge of the Quarter, enough out of the fray to guarantee a mostly local crowd of regulars.
Beth's expert tip: One of the few spots in town with a working fireplace, BT is a cozy hang on a damp winter's eve.
When a local bar is one of just 16 American bars to make Drinks International's prestigious ranking of the 50 best bars in the world, it's a big deal. Cure on Freret Street s London's Artesian, New York's PDT and Tokyo's High Five. The accolades are well earned. The barkeeps at this dimly lit lounge make drinks of the highest order. A lot of credit goes to owners Matthew Kohnke and Neal Bodenheimer, who had a vision for change when they opened Cure in 2009 at a time when Freret Street was downright blighted. Six years later and this swanky cocktail lounge has plenty of company on a street that is now a destination for tourists and locals alike.
Recommended for Bars because: Cure mixes up some of the most innovative drinks in the city and was a leader in the reinventing of Freret Street.
Beth's expert tip: Cure is as good at food as drink - check out the kale Caesar and the stuffed pork skins.
Tracey's was the original bar in New Orleans' Irish Channel, dating back to 1949. Its current location is on Magazine Street, and since their reopening in 2010, Trace's has thrived as a top Big Easy sports bar. With great drink specials Monday through Thursday lasting from 11 am to 7 pm, there is rarely a time to not be at Tracey's. They have more than 20 TVs equipped with all the sports packages so the traveling fan can catch their home team play while on the road for business or pleasure. Tracey's food has drawn rave reviews, especially the po'boy section of their menu.
Recommended for Bars because: Tracey's is a friendly neighborhood bar with a great sense of community.
Beth's expert tip: This is the perfect place for the male gender to duck into while the wife/girlfriend/daughter is occupied shopping on Magazine.
Intimate, quaint and quiet. The luxury of enjoying the splendor of a cigar is what French 75 Bar is all about. Aficionados can find the finest of tobaccos from around the world in a classic dark wood club-style ambiance. Located across the hall from Arnaud's Restaurant's main dining room, there is an on-site humidor housing an extensive cigar selection. Tobaccos in stock come from South America, the Caribbean, Switzerland, France, London, Miami and New York. The bar also offers an array of drinking spirits. Enjoy a sip of cognac or port, bourbon or scotch to further enhance the total experience.
Recommended for Bars because: Regularly rated among the best bars, not just in town but in the country, French 75 is a French Quarter winner.
Beth's expert tip: Bartender Chris Hannah at Arnaud's French 75 Bar mixes that namesake drink with Cognac instead of gin.
Before St. Claude Avenue was "cool," before there were restaurants opening every other week along this Bywater stretch, the Saturn was there. There's a great juke box and live music on a regular basis, but the real night to dance like a fool is the monthly Saturday night Mod Dance Party - an evening of 60s swagger powered by DJ Matty and DJ Kristen, who stick to a soundtrack of solely vinyl from the period. Put on some lashes, tease the hair and done your best pucci knock off mini-dress, and you'll fit right in. The view from the upstairs balcony is killer.
Recommended for Bars because: The Saturn Bar is beyond classic, a place where celebrities and street people drink to each other's health.
Beth's expert tip: Although the bar claims to be open every night after 5 or so, hours can be random.