Cure

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.