Davenport Lounge sits on the second floor of the Ritz-Carlton on Canal Street and is named for trumpeter Jeremy Davenport, who has played here for more than two decades. The Scout Guide marks 25 years of his residency, which makes this the rare hotel bar that built its identity around a living, resident musician rather than a brand template.
Who would love it: jazz listeners who want standards played live in a room built for them, with a proper cocktail in hand. Who would skip it: anyone after a loud night out or cheap rounds, since this is a dressed-up hotel lounge with hotel-bar pricing and a sit-and-listen format.
The room reads as refined New Orleans, with velvet textures, warm wood and low light, the kind of space designed to hold a band without feeling like a concert hall. NewOrleans.com describes the soul of the place as unmistakably local under the Ritz-Carlton polish, and the layout puts the music at the center rather than off in a corner. It is a step up in formality from a Frenchmen Street club, and that is the point.
Order a classic cocktail and settle in, since the lounge pairs the music with a tight drinks list and light bites rather than a full kitchen. The experience is the live set, so time a visit to the music rather than the menu. Per WGNO's coverage, Jeremy Davenport and his ensemble play a mix of American jazz standards and his own songs, which gives the room a signature sound you will not get from a playlist.
The crowd is hotel guests, couples on a dressed-up night, and local jazz fans who come specifically for the band. Davenport and his ensemble play Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30pm to 9:30pm, then Friday and Saturday from 8pm to midnight, so the weekend sets run later and fuller. Arrive ahead of the downbeat to claim a seat with a sightline to the stage.
Who is it for: jazz listeners who want a live set in a refined room, couples after a date with a soundtrack, and visitors who want the polished side of New Orleans music. Note the dress-up feel and the hotel-bar prices, and plan the visit around the performance schedule.
Best time to go is a Friday or Saturday evening for the full late set, or a Wednesday or Thursday for the earlier, quieter house. The Canal Street location sits at the edge of the French Quarter, an easy walk from Quarter hotels and restaurants, which makes it a natural nightcap after dinner. Because the draw is the live music, the schedule matters more here than at a standard bar.
What regulars say centers on the band and the room. Listeners on the Yelp listing return for Davenport's playing and the polished setting, and reviewers repeat that the lounge feels like a genuine jazz room rather than a hotel afterthought. The recurring advice is to check the set times, arrive early for a good seat, and order a classic cocktail to match the music.
For the wider field, our guide to the best live music bars in New Orleans sets this Canal Street lounge against the Frenchmen Street clubs, and the city New Orleans bar guide maps where to hear music beyond Bourbon Street. Jazz fans should compare a set at Snug Harbor in New Orleans and the room at The Spotted Cat in New Orleans.
Sources: The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans official site, ritzcarlton.com (2026); The Scout Guide, Jeremy Davenport 25 years feature; WGNO, live music at the Davenport Lounge; NewOrleans.com and Yelp listings. Profile by James Harlow, barsforKings.
