Best Cocktail Bars in New Orleans

The bar that put New Orleans' cocktail renaissance on the map. Cure operates out of a converted firehouse on Freret Street, with 14-foot ceilings and a back bar stacked with rare spirits. Order the rotating seasonal cocktail menu. The bartenders treat each drink like a culinary event. Go on a weeknight to get the full attention of the room. Classic Cocktails

Named after an 1855 travel dispatch that called New Orleans "the jewel of the South," this French Quarter gem serves historically inspired cocktails in an intimate townhouse setting. The Brandy Crusta and the Swizzle are non-negotiable orders. Owner Chris Hannah is one of the most respected bartenders in the country, and it shows in every pour. Historic Recipes

Named for Antoine Peychaud, the New Orleans pharmacist credited with inventing the cocktail, this Marigny parlor keeps his bitters legacy alive. The house Sazerac uses a proprietary rye blend unavailable anywhere else. The back patio fills up after 9pm on weekends, but the interior seats 30 in quiet, gas-lit comfort. Sazerac

A laboratory-meets-lounge concept on Magazine Street where the drinks menu reads like a chemistry textbook. Smoke-washed glasses, clarified citrus, and house-fermented shrubs are standard. The 12-seat tasting menu flight pairs three cocktails with small bites from the kitchen. Reserve at least 2 weeks ahead, especially on weekends. Molecular

Louisiana's sugar cane heritage is the throughline at this Warehouse District standout. Every drink features a Louisiana-grown spirit, a cane-derived sweetener, or both. The Rum Punch changes monthly, and the Sugarcane Daiquiri tastes nothing like the frozen slush served on Bourbon Street. Priced honestly for what you get. Louisiana Spirits

Not to be confused with the San Francisco speakeasy of the same name, this French Quarter den is one of the few serious cocktail bars operating past 2am on the Quarter's back streets. The whiskey selection covers 140 bottles; the cocktail menu is deliberately short at 8 drinks. Come after midnight when the street energy is at its peak. Whiskey

Inside the Roosevelt Hotel, this Art Deco masterpiece has been pouring Sazeracs since Prohibition-era New Orleans. The Paul Ninas murals alone are worth the visit. Order the classic Sazerac with the original Herbsaint and a sugar-cube preparation, not the shortcut version. Smart-casual dress required; the room rewards the effort. Art Deco

Founded in 1856, Tujague's is the second-oldest bar in New Orleans and wears its age well. The Grasshopper was invented here, and the bartenders still make it with pride. The mirrored back bar is original 19th-century French glass. Come before dinner for the pre-theatre crowd, or after midnight for the city's true regulars. Historic

Mid-City's answer to the French Quarter cocktail scene, without the tourist markup. The owner spent 8 years behind bars in Portland before returning home to open this 40-seat neighborhood spot. The rum selection is the best in Mid-City, and the weekly Monday night cocktail class sells out every week. Neighborhood Bar

Uptown's cocktail destination for those who prefer conversation over spectacle. The menu is organized by base spirit, each section with 4 options at different price points. The rye cocktails are exceptional, as the name promises. Order the "Roux Old-Fashioned" with a rye washed through brown butter. Worth the Uber from the Quarter. Uptown

A rare cocktail bar that takes its wine list as seriously as its spirits. The Meridian's 60-label wine selection pairs with a short-rib-forward kitchen, while the cocktail menu leans on vermouth, amaro, and low-ABV stirred drinks. Lakeview residents discovered it first; the rest of the city followed 6 months later. Wine

Bywater's creative community found its bar. Cypress Sling seats 50 in a converted warehouse space and hosts monthly art openings where the drinks are as carefully curated as the art on the walls. The signature "Swamp Water" is a tongue-in-cheek green drink that tastes better than it sounds: mezcal, chartreuse, and cucumber. Bywater

A community-focused cocktail bar in the Tremé that sources every ingredient from within 250 miles. The house-made Creole bitters took 3 years to perfect. The courtyard out back is one of the best outdoor drinking spots in the city when the weather cooperates, which in New Orleans is most of the year. Local Sourcing

A newcomer on the Quarter cocktail scene that has already earned a following for its namesake drink: the Vieux Carré, originally created at the Monteleone Hotel. The bar serves 7 variations on this rye-cognac-vermouth classic, from the 1930s original to a clarified, carbonated version that arrives in a coupe with dry-ice mist. Vieux Carré