Cure in New Orleans is the Freret Street cocktail bar in a 1907 firehouse from Neal Bodenheimer, on the North America's 50 Best Bars list since 2018 with a rotating seasonal cocktail list.
Food program: Small plates and bar food
Tip: Cure prints a seasonal menu but the regular order is to tell the bartender what you like and what you don't.
Address: 4905 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Cane and Table in New Orleans is the Decatur Street rum bar from the Cure team, with Caribbean-inspired cocktails, Cuban plates and an Old Havana patio behind on the French Quarter river edge.
Signature drink: Rum cocktails
Food: Caribbean and Cuban plates
Tip: The back patio is the prize seat; rum flights start at $15 and beat the daiquiri Bourbon Street chain shops.
Manolito in New Orleans is the tiny Cuban daiquiri bar on Dumaine Street from Chris Hannah and Nick Detrich, a tribute to Havana's El Floridita with frozen daiquiris and Cubano sandwiches.
Signature drink: Daiquiri (El Floridita style)
Food: Cubano sandwiches, ceviche
Tip: Standing room only inside; pay cash and tip well. The frozen daiquiris are blended El Floridita style.
Molly's at the Market in New Orleans is the Decatur Street dive bar by the French Market, open 10:00 to 03:00 daily, famous for its frozen Irish coffee and a queue at the door.
Signature drink: Frozen Irish coffee
Food: None (bar food at neighbours)
Tip: Open at 10:00 every day; the frozen Irish coffee is the signature order and the room runs to 03:00 nightly.
Erin Rose in New Orleans is the French Quarter Irish dive bar on Conti Street, with frozen Irish coffees, no-frills service and the Killer Poboys kitchen tucked into the back room.
Signature drink: Frozen Irish coffee
Food: Killer Poboys in back
Tip: The frozen Irish coffee is the canonical Quarter order; Killer Poboys at the back closes at 20:00.
Napoleon House in New Orleans is the 1797 Chartres Street tavern at St Louis that was offered to Napoleon as exile residence, with Pimm's Cups and a muffuletta on a 200-year-old patio.
Signature drink: Pimm's Cup
Food: Muffuletta and Mediterranean snacks
Tip: The Pimm's Cup and the muffuletta are the canonical order; sit on the back courtyard for the cooler seat.
French 75 Bar in New Orleans is Chris Hannah's longtime cocktail room beside Arnaud's on Bienville Street, with the canonical French 75 cocktail and a serious classic-cocktail programme.
Signature drink: French 75
Food: Bar snacks; Arnaud's kitchen next door
Tip: Order the French 75 with cognac, not gin; the older Cazenave-era recipe is the house standard.
