The Columns is one of the great undiscovered hotel bars in America. The Victorian mansion on St. Charles Avenue was built in 1883, and the bar inside operates as if time moves differently here. The wraparound porch overlooking the St. Charles streetcar line is the porch drink you will remember 20 years from now. Order a Sazerac, watch the streetcar pass, and let the city arrive at its own pace.
The room is Uptown / St. Charles $$ Open until midnight's answer to New Orleans's broader hidden gem scene. The bartenders take their craft seriously without making a show of it, and the menu rewards repeat visits rather than first-timers chasing the obvious order. The Victorian Mansion programme is the right place to start.
Best time to visit is mid-week between 6pm and 9pm when the bar settles into its rhythm. Weekends fill up and the room takes on a different energy. Reservations are recommended for groups, and on Friday and Saturday for couples.
The Columns Hotel Bar sits in Uptown / St. Charles $$ Open until midnight, one of New Orleans's most distinctive drinking neighbourhoods. The crowd skews toward thirty-something locals on weekdays and a slightly younger international mix on weekends. The lighting is low. Conversation works at the bar; the booths handle small groups.
Dress code is smart-casual. The bar is most rewarding for an unhurried 90-minute visit between 7pm and 9pm — early enough to talk to the bartender, late enough that the room has filled in. Tags worth knowing about: Victorian Mansion, Porch, Hotel Bar, St. Charles.
The Columns Hotel Bar accepts walk-ins mid-week before 8pm. After that, expect a wait — reserve in advance through their Instagram or by phone. The bar takes cards. Tipping follows local convention in New Orleans. Most regulars order two drinks at the bar, then move to a table when one opens up.
What to order
- 01
The Victorian Mansion programme
- 02
Editor's Pick
- 03
Off-Menu Request