Where to Grab a Drink in New Orleans Right Now

Tucked away in the corner of the Frenchmen Hotel on the street that shares its name, newcomer Midnight Revival is a sophisticated intimate bar and live music venue strewn with exposed brick, a mysterious vibe, and choice beverages. Soak up the sounds and the spirit of the city with a New Orleans- and Caribbean-inspired cocktail in hand—the history is as rich as the night is young around these parts.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

A tropical roadhouse serving up global cuisine and drinks right along the river in Uptown, the menu changes with the seasons here with a nod to the freshest and funkiest ingredients available. In terms of eats, the eclectic cuisine sports heavy influences from Southeast Asia, India, and Mexico, with a colorful and quirky setting to match. Stroll on through for dinner and drinks every evening except Tuesday and Wednesday, and make sure to check out their legendary Sunday brunch service from 11 to 3.

This renovated bi-level 19th century bank building has been recently retrofitted with a bar on each floor, a pool table, and a killer jukebox, to boot. Backing a perfect neighborhood bar with drinks as delicious as they are strong, Anna herself has been crafting cocktails in the Crescent City for almost a decade, and wants to keep this cool corner of the Marigny as welcoming and exciting as it's always been. Pop in every night of the week for endless good vibes until the wee hours of the morning.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Every day is a soiree in the Peacock Room. This stylish and refined restaurant and bar inside the Kimpton Hotel Fontenot will give you a high-class dining experience without breaking the bank. Among the highrises and bustling streets of the Warehouse District, this fun and fanciful hideout is a veritable breath of fresh air primed to recharge you just enough to keep on carrying on through the rest of your work week. Keep an eye on their website to see what events will be coming through each week, lest you miss out on any of the planned festivities.

This punk rock dive bar and venue hosts a wide variety of happenings including late night karaoke on Mondays with local drag queen Sunshine Edae, a Cajun jazz trio on Wednesdays on the upstairs bar and balcony with Russell Welch, and an ‘80s dance night on Thursdays with DJ Shanelove. Grab a shot and a local beer on draft and explore lower Decatur with your soon-to-be favorite locals.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating or purchase concert tickets online.

This renovated 1800s-era warehouse serves up live music during the week, delicious cocktails all day long, and tasty bar food with a twist every single night. Take in sweeping Crescent City views from their large rooftop while enjoying craft cocktails in the stylish, beautiful Bywater neighborhood. And if you’re looking to rent out the entire space for your upcoming banquet or birthday bash—not an uncommon occurrence thanks to its slick location, talented staff, and warm, inviting decor—simply hit up their website for booking availability.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

This gay bar has the best and longest happy hour in all the French Quarter, with $2 wells from noon to 7 pm and boys dancing on the bar from dusk ‘til dawn. Put your phones away and grab your dollar bills for the new meat dance contest every Friday night. You won’t forget anything you see in this boozy den of iniquity for a very long time.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

It’s like you’re going to a friend’s house, if your friend had a full bar, killer cocktail list, great food, and made you pay for all that. (Worth it, though.) It’s a cozy space with a pretty courtyard, and it’s easy to settle in and get comfortable. Munch on elevated tavern fare while enjoying a wide variety of creative house cocktails, wine, and beer. French Quarter frequenters will remember the space and same energy as this predecessor, Longway Tavern.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

This neighborhood hangout peddles original cocktails behind its long mahogany bar or out of its to-go window. Try the Watermelon Margarita or their Aperitivo La Strada, infused with amaro, rosemary, and citrus, then take a stroll around the picturesque Bayou St. John neighborhood. Hungry? Check out whichever food truck happens to pull up onsite for an accompanying snack.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Although the Saints season has come to an end, fans of the team (or any other team in any other sport), can pick up beers by the cup or refillable 64-ounce growlers along with any other drink you’re in the mood for from this laid-back joint’s friendly bar or to-go window. Make sure to put this one on your list come March Madness and keep an eye out for the bar cat, Cheddar Bob, known to make the occasional belly rub appearance.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Located in the heart of the Irish Channel, this beloved neighborhood dive comes correct with a fun, witty vibe (seriously, peep their Instagram). It’s easy to miss—at least they have a sign now, a recent and much appreciated addition—but once you discover it, prepare to make new friends over very cheap and generous drinks. There’s even a cat-friendly patio—which means cats may be hanging out there, not that the cats are necessarily themselves friendly.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Fortunately for Parasol’s, it’s always been known for po’boys, so when bars closed but restaurants were open, the spot could still sling its signature sandwiches along with beer and booze to customers eating in the separate restaurant space or outside under the newly installed corner awning. And even as the rest of the city reopens around it, this dependable low-key watering hole remains a solid pick for cold drinks, cheap food, and service with a smile.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

New Orleans’ preeminent Irish pub and sports bar, Finn McCool’s serves as a jovial hangout, (non-American) football zone, and provider of the perfect Guinness pour. There’s now a beefed up menu with pub favorites like Fish and Chips, Scotch Eggs, and Chicken Wings, should all your hooliganism work up an appetite.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

A cheerful, tiny spot cranking out the flavors of Cuba, Manolito is named for Manuel Carbajo Aguilar, a longtime bartender at Havana’s famed Floridita Bar. Try the frozen Jazz Daiquiri, richly flavored and textured with the blended addition of whole coffee beans and granulated sugar. Or the Papa Doble, a frozen version of the classic Hemingway daiquiri. Reserving your spot in this small but special secret is suggested by calling ahead or circling back around Jackson Square if there isn’t enough space for you and your crew just yet. For food, the bar hosts pop-ups on Monday followed by its own Cuban-inspired menu Thursday through Sunday.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Erin Rose feels like a real locals joint, with simple-yet-potent beverages and one of the best Bloody Marys in town. On a hot day (okay, basically everyday), there’s nothing better than this standby’s signature Frozen Irish coffee. Don’t trust us? Stop in and see for yourself—the inevitable brain freeze is 100% worth it.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

This love letter to (very) old New Orleans was inspired by Joseph Santini, a barkeep who owned a tavern of the same name in the mid-19th century. Jewel of the South also honors Santini’s contribution to the New Orleans cocktail canon: the Brandy Crusta. In addition to the Crusta, other classics are tweaked ever so slightly by co-owners Chris Hannah and Nick Detrich. The elegant 1850s-era Creole cottage has recently expanded to a large adjoining space called The Park, 4,000-square-feet of outdoor socially distant space complete with roving cocktail dim sum carts and food.

This laid-back French-style wine bar stocks unusual grapes from unusual places, a small bar, and a serene backyard. It’s like discovering a magical place quite literally hiding in plain sight—there’s no current signage, but the exterior is still marked by the old Sugar Park neon sign blazing out front. Wines by the glass range in provenance from France and Oregon to Slovenia and the Czech Republic. On the cocktail front, the eponymous St-Germain Spritz combines aromatic elderflower liqueur with sparkling wine and lemon and is arrives by the pitcher.

Housed in a former rectory as part of the Hotel Peter and Paul, this bar’s stunning restoration feels simultaneously sophisticated and homey. The religious iconography is a nod to its previous life, and the light casts a golden glow for added ambiance. Believe us when we say that sipping a low-proof aperitivo cocktail outside on a warm autumn evening is nothing short of a transcendent experience here.

It’s like you’re going to a friend’s house, if your friend had a full bar, killer cocktail list, great food, and made you pay for all that. (Worth it, though.) It’s a cozy space with a pretty courtyard, and it’s easy to settle in and get comfortable. Munch on elevated tavern fare while enjoying a wide variety of creative house cocktails, wine, and beer.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

It’s all about Champagne wishes and caviar dreams at New Orleans’ first-ever bubbles-dedicated bar. Expect upwards of 18 sparkling varieties from around the world served by the glass, including hard to find vintages as well as Prosecco on tap and wine cocktails like the French 75. The food menu has been amped up with bites available all day, brunch on Sundays, and special prix-fixe dinners over the weekend.
How to order: Reserve via Tock.

Open since 2014, Latitude 29 swaps traditional New Orleans tipples (Sazeracs, Brandy Milk Punch, Grasshoppers) for ornately festive and fruity concoctions rife with island vibes. Owner Jeff “Beachbum” Berry wanted to augment the city’s proximity to the tropics and opened this bar to cement that connection—and serve crazy-cool (and crazy strong) mixed wonders like the Navy Grog and the Suffering Bastard.

This is simply the weirdest and most wonderful wine bar in the world. Enter the unassuming spot through what looks like a perfectly normal wine shop. But once you’re in, it's like stepping into an entirely different dimension. Pick up a hearty Cab or crispy Pilsner—at retail, not restaurant prices—and tote it outside into the courtyard where live music plays every night of the year. It bills itself as the city’s “backyard party,” and definitely lives up to that hype.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

The Bakery Bar serves up doberge alongside creative cocktails and a standout beer and wine selection. (For the uninitiated, doberge is a classic New Orleans cake involving many layers slapped together with custard then covered in icing.) Over the years, it’s also developed a solid bar menu that’s equally worth a try—the Biscuit Board and Trash Fries look mighty tempting.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Barrel Proof is back in the swing of things, with the full use of its cozy indoor seating and recently extended sidewalk patio. Still utilizing their partnership with Matchbook Kitchen and Que Pasta, Barrel Proof offers smart cocktails to balance the onslaught of creative dishes. Stop by for happy hour from 4 to 5 pm to cop $5 Old Fashioneds and Frozen Margaritas.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Jonesing for high-caliber, daring, and carefully composed cocktails, both original recipes and classics? Look no further than this 2009 Freret Street debut, which ushered in the golden age of modern cocktails back when the city was still reeling from post-Katrina abandonment. The renovation of a former fire station made it possible to display its gleaming bottle collection across five long shelves stretching over 14 feet high, a truly impressive sight. While in the neighborhood, grab a taco and marg at Vals (run by the same folks as Cure), a former gas station armed with takeout and outdoor dining.

Stashed in a former corner dive, this the place to go when you want a high quality mixed drink at a markedly reasonable price. Twelve Mile Limit has grown steadily since it opened in 2011, and its breezy kitchen and outdoor space are ideal for welcoming back customers from COVID-induced hibernation. A welcoming joint at its core, the bartenders here are as happy to sell you a PBR to-go as they are to mix up an original cocktail like the Baudin (bourbon, honey, lemon, Tabasco). Make like a shark at their pool table once again while various pop-ups keep folks on their toes throughout the month.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

The Avenue Pub boasts one of the most tightly curated beer lists in the country, but folks who prefer shots of whiskey with their Abita are more than welcome, too. There’s room for everyone at the Pub, be they beer geeks, whiskey aficionados, sports fans, tourists, or regulars kicking back after a long day. Longtime fans and customers will notice a significant upgrade in decor—lighter, brighter, and cleaner is the name of the game these days.
How to order: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

This spot is over-the-top French sophistication by way of decor and hella creative when it comes to cocktails. There's a noted speakeasy vibe (it’s separated from the adjoining hotel by a false bookcase door) and everywhere you look is lush, sultry, and downright seductive. Highlights include fancy small plates like Caviar Service with sieved egg, crème fraîche, and caper berries accompanied by thoughtful cocktails and a wallet-friendly Aperitif Hour daily from 4 to 6 pm. What’s not to love?
How to order: Reserve via SevenRooms.