Twelve Mile Limit takes its name from the US Prohibition-era limit of American jurisdiction at sea — the line beyond which rum runners could operate without legal risk. The name tells you something about the bar's relationship with authority, and with the history of New Orleans drinking. This is a Mid-City neighbourhood bar that serves craft cocktails at honest prices to people who live here, work here, and come back here three nights a week.
The room is small — maybe 12 stools at the bar, a few tables, an old jukebox in the corner loaded with New Orleans music that nobody turns down. The cocktail menu runs about 10 drinks, each well-conceived and priced around $10 to $12, which is half what you would pay for comparable quality in the French Quarter. The bartenders know their regulars by name and know their cocktails by instinct. You get the sense that this bar would be here whether or not anyone from outside the neighbourhood ever found it.
We recommend Twelve Mile Limit to anyone who wants to experience New Orleans as a city rather than a tourist destination. It pairs well with a visit to Bacchanal Wine in Bywater — different neighbourhoods, same spirit of keeping things real. The hidden gem bars in New Orleans guide covers the full picture for off-the-beaten-path drinking in the city.