Hey friends! I kind of dropped the ball here on my New Orleans guides– I can’t believe it was already a month ago that I was down in NOLA with my family. Traveling with my family is always a blast. Our vacations can best be described as eating trips (which makes sense when you find out my dad is a chef) and as my sister and I got older these trips morphed into eating and drinking trips! One thing is for sure, we’re always on a quest to find the best cocktail in whichever city we’re visiting. Always.

Our three days in New Orleans were well spent at piano bars, hotel bars, and rooftop bars. It was awesome. We also dined at a few amazing restaurants (which I’ll share more about in a future post), but for now I want to highlight a few of the best places to grab a cocktail in New Orleans. Don’t just take my word for it, all of these places are Phillips Family Approved!

LOA Bar @ The International House

I’m just going to jump right in by saying this was quite possibly the BEST cocktail I’ve ever had. LOA not only serves up the best, most creative concoctions, but it also has a great atmosphere. Located right in the Central Business District in walking distance to all the main attractions, The International House is an easy place to swing by for a drink on your way to dinner, or maybe it’s your final destination. (If it’s in your budget, I’d recommend booking this hotel!)
LOA Bar’s cocktail list changes pretty frequently. I’m pretty sure I ordered my signature drink (a French 75), but truth be told, I wanted to order almost every drink on the menu!
It’s kind of hard to describe exactly how much of a science LOA Bar has it’s cocktail making down to. I mean, it’s not called mixology for nothing, but the techniques our bartender used to make our drinks were mind-blowing! Speaking of our bartender, he was awesome. He was a great resource for not-so-touristy things to do and we actually ended up shaping our next day entirely around his recommendations.

Jack Rose @ The Pontchartrain

We stayed at The Potchartrain hotel, located in The Garden District, and it was such a gem, a bit quirky, but such a gem. There are actually two great places to grab cocktails in this hotel and Jack Rose is one of them! I’d suggest Jack Rose for grabbing drinks when you’re looking to chitchat with your friends and relax on a couch. There are plentyyyy of couches. They also have a pretty nice selection of small plates to share with a couple friends, so order away (we did!).
One of the reasons why Jack Rose made it on this list is because it’s just such a cool place. When you walk in you’re greeted by a wall completely covered in artwork. Even better, a portrait of Lil’ Wayne is smack dab in the middle of the wall giving this place an instant cool status. If you’re looking for a great place to have a cocktail and snap some pics for Instagram, then this is your bar!

Shaya Resturant

We ate at Shaya for lunch and absolutely loved it. One of the best meals I’ve ever had. The hostess tried to convince us to come back that same night because they have “the best cocktails.” While I can’t vouch for their cocktails, if they are half as good as the food I ate then you’ll be in great hands! I will say, I can vouch for the atmosphere, which I loved! Shaya has a nice size bar and in the warmer months they even have outdoor seating. You’ll have to go there for cocktails and let me know which one you order!

Hot Tin Rooftop Bar @ The Pontchartrain

There are probably a bunch more rooftop bars in New Orleans, but I’m kind of partial to this one. Apparently on Fri/Sat nights this place commands a line out the door, so don’t just take my word for it! The bar is located on the 15th floor of the hotel. There is a beautiful wall of windows separating the indoor space from the large, outdoor terrace. Cozy up by the bar with your cocktail or take it to a spot on the balcony and enjoy the views of NOLA. Up to you! Either way, your cocktail will taste great and you’ll have a fun time at this place.