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Cocktail barCocktail bar
Bar Tonique in New Orleans is the North Rampart Street classic cocktail bar from Tony Yu, with a stripped-back menu of canonical mixed drinks and a quiet.
DrinkClassic cocktail menu
FoodNone
TipThe two-for-one happy hour from 17:00-20:00 is one of the best deals in the Quarter for a real cocktail.
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Cocktail barHotel cocktail bar
The Carousel Bar in New Orleans is the rotating carousel inside Hotel Monteleone on Royal Street, where the Vieux Carre cocktail was invented in 1938.
DrinkVieux Carre
FoodBar snacks
TipThe bar itself rotates, one full turn every 15 minutes; the booths around it do not move.
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Cocktail barHotel cocktail bar
The Elysian Bar in New Orleans is the Marigny lounge inside the Hotel Peter and Paul on Burgundy Street, with European wines, classic aperitifs.
DrinkAperitif rotation
FoodBar snacks and small plates
TipThe back courtyard is the prettiest seat; the rectory bar has the longer pour list.
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Cocktail barDive bar
Saturn Bar in New Orleans is the St Claude Avenue dive bar in the 9th Ward, with painted walls, cold beer and a fluorescent-light interior that has run.
DrinkCold beer and well drinks
FoodNone
TipCash only and no kitchen; pre-game across the street at the Country Club or at Bywater Bakery.
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Cocktail barHistoric bar
The Old Absinthe House in New Orleans is the 1807 Bourbon Street bar at Bienville, with marble fountains for absinthe drips and the canonical absinthe frappe.
DrinkAbsinthe frappe
FoodNone
TipThe absinthe frappe is the historical drink; the marble fountains drip cold water into the glass.
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Cocktail barCocktail bar
Jewel of the South in New Orleans is Chris Hannah's St Louis Street cocktail temple in an 1830s Creole cottage, four-time North America's 50 Best South USA.
DrinkBrandy Crusta
FoodFull dinner menu upstairs
TipThe brandy crusta was invented by Joseph Santini in New Orleans circa 1850; this is the canonical version.