davemy Posted April 11, 2023 #1 Share Posted April 11, 2023 Yes, I realize that it's totally a tourist thing to do, but I have a day pre-cruise to see Bourbon St. and some of New Orleans. So here's my plan: Mardi Gras World: Vast, 400,000-sq.-ft. complex where Mardi Gras floats are made & stored. Our tour allows you to see firsthand what it takes to bring Mardi Gras to life. Café Du Monde: Iconic cafe known for café au laits, chicory coffee & beignets. Sazerac House: Take a tour of the legacy and lore of your favorite drinks. Explore exhibits in a beautiful setting with opportunities to enjoy free samples. French Quarter: 1. Carousel Bar: At the Hotel Monteleone has a bar that revolves like a carousel. 2. Old Absinthe House: Saloon serving absinthe cocktails in historic building. 3. Fat Catz: A music club, with live bands playing a variety of music. 4. Antoine’s Restaurant: Circa-1840 fine French-Creole dining & birthplace of oysters Rockefeller. 5. Napoleon House: Muffalettas, po' boys & other Creole staples in a circa-1914 house with a palm-filled courtyard. 6. Pirates Alley Cafe: Hangout in a historic alley with a pirate theme, costumed bartenders, pub food & absinthe. 7. Pat O’Brien’s: Outdoor hangout with a flaming fountain, the bar that invented the hurricane cocktail. 8. Spirits on Bourbon: Lively bar with light-up signature cocktails, dueling pianos nightly & Cajun-accented pub grub. Featured on “Bar Rescue”. 9. Lafitte Blacksmith shop: One of the oldest bars around, serving beer & frozen drinks since the 1700s. We will sample food at several different stops in the French Quarter and definitely be taking a cab back to the hotel. For those with more experience, are there any places I should add? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princeton123211 Posted April 12, 2023 #2 Share Posted April 12, 2023 8 hours ago, davemy said: Yes, I realize that it's totally a tourist thing to do, but I have a day pre-cruise to see Bourbon St. and some of New Orleans. You're going to have to pick and choose a bit-- if you did all of this in one day you might not make it onto your cruise. That being said you can can drink in New Orleans basically 24 hours a day. 8 hours ago, davemy said: Mardi Gras World: Vast, 400,000-sq.-ft. complex where Mardi Gras floats are made & stored. Our tour allows you to see firsthand what it takes to bring Mardi Gras to life. Café Du Monde: Iconic cafe known for café au laits, chicory coffee & beignets. Sazerac House: Take a tour of the legacy and lore of your favorite drinks. Explore exhibits in a beautiful setting with opportunities to enjoy free samples. This is all very touristy-- personally would skip it unless floats get you really excited. Cafe du Monde you are going to end up going to regardless of what I say, so just go when there is little to no line-- its not worth waiting for. 8 hours ago, davemy said: 1. Carousel Bar: At the Hotel Monteleone has a bar that revolves like a carousel. Great bar that's well worth a visit-- if you want a seat on the actual carousel (vs in the lounge) go off peak. 8 hours ago, davemy said: 2. Old Absinthe House: Saloon serving absinthe cocktails in historic building. 3. Fat Catz: A music club, with live bands playing a variety of music. These are both a dime a dozen-- don't make a destination out of these two-- you'll find yourself walking by a bunch of similar bars you can just wander into. 8 hours ago, davemy said: 4. Antoine’s Restaurant: Circa-1840 fine French-Creole dining & birthplace of oysters Rockefeller. Worth a visit-- you can add Arnauds and Galatoires in the same genre. Antoines Hermes Bar is most likely my favorite of the old legacy restaurant's watering holes. 8 hours ago, davemy said: 5. Napoleon House: Muffalettas, po' boys & other Creole staples in a circa-1914 house with a palm-filled courtyard. 6. Pirates Alley Cafe: Hangout in a historic alley with a pirate theme, costumed bartenders, pub food & absinthe. Skip-- tourist traps. 8 hours ago, davemy said: 7. Pat O’Brien’s: Outdoor hangout with a flaming fountain, the bar that invented the hurricane cocktail. Get a hurricane but don't drink it at Pats-- take it around the corner to Preservation Hall to listen to a jazz set. They'll let you bring it in with you since they don't service alcohol themselves. 8 hours ago, davemy said: 9. Lafitte Blacksmith shop: One of the oldest bars around, serving beer & frozen drinks since the 1700s. Overrated but interesting. Wouldn't be on my personal list of places I'd go with one day. 8 hours ago, davemy said: For those with more experience, are there any places I should add? Yep. Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt (Waldorf Astoria)-- they also make a really mean Ramos Gin Fizz-- great historic bar. The bar at The Columns Hotel which is towards the Garden District. Commanders Palace, nearby, is a great spot for dinner but not a great spot just to drink as they don't have a great bar. For something fun and divey, Jake and Snakes Christmas Club Lounge is well worth a visit. The Polo Club at the Windsor Court hotel is another upscale favorite which is a nice respite from a hot day walking around the Quarter. In the same vein I would also include the Davenport Lounge at the Ritz Carlton-- great jazz when live music is scheduled there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgmpuma Posted April 13, 2023 #3 Share Posted April 13, 2023 I am not a fan of Antoine's. There are better choices, as mentioned above. A personal favorite is Bayona. If you are looking for music, try the clubs on Frenchmen Street. Much less touristy. Local bands, seldom a cover charge. For a schedule, go to: www.wwoz.org Listing are at "Live Wire." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallyho8 Posted May 8, 2023 #4 Share Posted May 8, 2023 The drinks at Pat O'Briens and the Carousel Bar are so good that you might not want to leave to go somewhere else. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemy Posted July 13, 2023 Author #5 Share Posted July 13, 2023 Thanks for all the suggestions, I have added several to my list and removed some of the original spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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