Walking around New Orleans, makes you hungry. And all that food makes you thirsty. Fortunately, New Awlins is a drinking kinda town. I admit that even though I knew about the “drink on the street as long as it’s in a plastic cup” rule, it was still shocking to me to see people imbibing pretty much at all hours. The French Quarter felt like a giant frat party 24/7.
Still, when in Rome, right?
Our first foray into NOLA drinks was kind of accidental. We had taken a walking tour on our first morning there and it was a beautiful sunny day so we decided to just wander around the French Quarter and soak up some of the atmosphere. And since it was hot, you know, we were a little thirsty so as if by magic we found ourselves at Pat O’Brien’s, famous for the Hurricane, a blend of rums (including 151!) and fruit juices. Looked, and tasted innocent enough. Perhaps this is because we didn’t know at that point about the 151… Anyway, it was very refreshing on a hot day and it was cool to be able to wander around in the streets with our “go cups”.
Me? I said at the time that “Whoah – one of these is enough!” Neil proclaimed that he could “easily” drink three of them. Right then…
Pat O’Brien’s motto is “Have Fun!” I say “Have fun but not too much!”
The Bar At 718 St. Peter
Open 12:00 noon Mon. – Thurs.
10:00am Fri. – Sun.
Pat O’s Courtyard Restaurant
624 Bourbon Street
Open 11:00am – Kitchen closes 10:00pm
Later that day, actually later that night, we found ourselves at Snug Harbor, a jazz bistro with a bar and a restaurant. It had been recommended to us by a local as “the” place to go to listen to live jazz (that wasn’t Preservation Hall – more on that in a later post) without having to pay a big cover charge, since they have a spearate room in the back for the jazz concerts but pipe the music into the bar and also broadcast the shows on tiny televesions behind the bar. It was a fun night as we sat at the bar and met a few colourful local characters…
It’s a funky little place with cool art on the walls…
Just, you know, don’t sit at the bar for a long time and feel obliged to order more Hurricanes. Your night might be a bit fuzzy, you know?
And then you literally won’t know if you are coming or going. Check out the NOLA pedestrian crossing signs:
In a party town, that’s a bit cruel, huh? Is it Walk? Is it Don’t Walk? Who would know. This confused us the whole time we were there, even with no Hurricane in our system!
626 Frenchmen Street
New Orleans, LA 70116-2002, United States
(504) 949-0696
The next day, we took a Haunted History walking tour (more on that in another post) and one of the stops on the way was Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, built between 1722 and 1732 by Nicolas Touze, and reputed to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States. It’s also rumoured to be haunted and the interior does contribute to that feeling…
It’s a sweet little place and we were sorry we never made it back for a drink. Too many bars and restaurants, not enough time…
941 Bourbon Street
New Orleans, LA 70116-3120, United States
(504) 593-9761
A place I had been eyeing in our guidebooks for a while was the Napoleon House. According to the website, few places capture the essence of New Orleans like the Napoleon House: A 200 year old landmark that’s as casual and unique as its French Quarter surroundings. The building’s first occupant, Nicholas Girod, was mayor of New Orleans from 1812 to 1815. He offered his residence to Napoleon in 1821 as a refuge during his exile. Napoleon never made it, but the name stuck, and since then, the Napoleon House has become one of the most famous bars in America, a haunt for artists and writers throughout most of the 20th century. Owned and operated by the Impastato family since 1914, it’s a place that suspends you in time, where you can hear Beethoven’s Eroiqua, which he composed for Napoleon, and the music of other classical masters, while sipping a Pimm’s Cup, and basking in an ambiance that could only be New Orleans.
Ah the Pimm’s Cup. Both Neil and I are huge fans of Pimm’s so we were keen to try this one out.
Created in 1840 in England, Pimm’s is the central ingredient in this classic NOLA drink. The Pimm’s Cup recipe, according to the Napoleon House website is as follows: Fill a tall 12 oz glass with ice and add 1 1/4 oz. Pimm’s #1 and 3 oz lemonade. Then top off with 7up. Garnish with cucumber.
They DO warn, however, “home concoctions of the Pimm’s Cup, no matter how accurate, for some reason, never taste as good as those at the Napoleon House.”
Now, since our drinks were in no way fizzy, I am dubious that they used 7-Up. It tasted more like lemon juice proper. A perfect summer drink, though and one that we will definitely be replicating this summer at home!
500 Chartres Street
New Orleans, LA 70130-2110, United States
(504) 524-9752
On our last night in NOLA, we finally made it to the Sazerac Bar, in the Roosevelt Hotel, literally steps from our (less fancy) hotel so we had passed it at least twice a day since we arrived.
It’s quite posh…
(yeah, and that’s just the hotel lobby!)
On the menu, the Sazerac – the official cocktail of Louisiana and what many consider to be the world’s first mixed drink – for Neil:
and the Ramos Gin Fizz for me:
Containing gin, simple syrup, egg white (these days, most likely powdered), lemon and lime juice, soda water and – cream – I am not sure what I was expecting but it tasted like an alcoholic smoothie. Not so sure you would want any more than one small one of these – the whole gin with cream thing didn’t really do it for me, but you know, I had to take one for the blog, right? Neil felt the same way about the Sazerac, rye whiskey not really being his drink. Still, it’s a beautiful bar and an oasis of calm compared to the frenetic pace of the French Quarter, just a few blocks away. Also, you can pretend you are rich and famous and imagine you are staying in the hotel…
123 Baronne Street
New Orleans, LA 70112-2303, United States
(504) 529-4733
Should you put these places on your list for a future trip to New Orleans? Definitely! Even though some of them are so very touristy, it’s part of the fun. Try as you might, you won’t be able to resist New Orleans’ charms and infectious party mentality!
Awesome round up of my favourite form of sustenance. I’ve been wanting to travel south for a while… now I’m tinkering with the idea even more!
Oh Mel – you would LOVE NOLA!!!!
How fun that you were able to visit New Orleans! I’ve always wanted to go and it looks like it’s very tourist ready. Great recap Mardi, I especially like the Napoleon bar and would love to try the NOLA drink 🙂
Yes the Napoleon House was one of my faves!
Thanks for the great post! New Orleans is on my list of places to go. And I always admire anyone who is willing to suffer and “take one for the blog”! Bottoms up!
Oh it’s a great foodie town Delana – you would love it!
I told you on those Hurricanes were wild drinks! What a fun recap. The only thing you appear to have missed is a jello shot! Do they still sell those on Bourbon Street? 🙂
Could. not. do. jello. shots. After all, we are not 18 anymore…. 😉
You make me want to be back in New Orleans so bad. What an amazing town with extraordinary history. Those hurricanes at Pat’s are tasty as well as their mint juleps. The plastic container policy is quite cool once you get used to it I must say. Excellent recap of what I know was a fun trip.
Yes, we never got around to a mint julep though not sure I would have liked that much…
Nice post – I love New Orleans and every one of those drinks looks positively mouth watering. Nice blog and great post 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Sasha – hope you will visit soon!
I’d go to NOLA for the food, but I’d stay for the drinks!! What a great tour of the adult libations to be had in ‘Nawlins. The Pimms’ Cup is one I’d love to try and I have found, if rather indistinct, memories of Hurricanes (though I had them in North Carolina rather than in Louisiana). But those prices at the Sazerac Bar – whooeeee! Posh, indeed . . .
Well we figure it’s cheaper to have a drink than stay at the Roosevelt, right? I think you could prob make your won Pimm’s Cup – though beware, it “won’t be the same”!! LOL at that!
Er, that’s ‘fond’ memories, not ‘found’ – although, I suppose that could apply . . . one Hurricane and my head felt like a weather balloon.
Last time in New Orleans, Jenn and I had to decide between a transvestite bar or Pat O’Brien’s for a Hurricane. The Hurricane won and I still have the glasses.
LOL – that is tooo funny! I think Pat’s is an obligatory stop for any tourist!
Read the fine print on the drink menu and decided I’d love to try the French Quarter, with the house-made jalepeno (sorry, don’t know how to do a ~ over the “n”) syrup. Sounds tasty. And if the Pimm’s Cup was made with lemon juice instead of sweet lemonade, it’d be more up my alley, but then, I can drink lemon juice straight and don’t like sweet drinks. The NY Times ran a whole article on the Ramos Gin Fizz here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/magazine/15food-t-001.html.
I have to laugh, because I thought I read this article a few months ago, and it appeared in Jone of ’08. Time, stop flying.
The Pimms Cup was definitely not sweet – quite tart in fact, hence why I don’t think it had lemonade or 7-up in it… Think you would approve!
I had a liquid breakfast at Pat O’Brien’s. Hurricane, then switched to Bloody Mary, more my style.
Got a hangover from reading your post, in a good way!
Happy Easter Mardi!
LL
Thanks Lori Lynn! And yes, Bloody Mary SO much better than fruity concoction!
Lori Lynn – your comment hit a little too close to home… (H then BM then H).
I’m MOST intrigued to see MARDI write a post on Preservation Hall!
Well maybe you will have to help out…
And yes, your Bloody Mary in the middle of those fruity drinks did not help matters…
That Hurricane looks delicious, but I bet it would knock me off my feet! What fun!
Yes, that’s why it is not a good idea to drink more than one. Or even a whole one!
I’m so glad you got to Napoleon House and got to have a Sazerac at the Roosevelt. I heart Sazeracs. Next time you HAVE to go to the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone and have a Vieux Carre cocktail! I’m also glad you had the obligatory Hurricane … now you never have to do it again!
Trix – it was on our list – we simply couldn’t fit it in……. Next time… And you are right re the Hurricanes – NEVER again!
I think I have a hangover just reading this post. So many great drinks!
LOL Christine!
Mardi and Neil, hope you had a wonderful Easter.
Now a question from a simple Ozzie girl, what IS the difference between lemonade and 7UP?? In Oz it’s just a different colour bottle and label.
So, which is nastier hurricanes or krupnik?
Neil, would love to join you in a coupla hurricanes, I’m rather thirsty now after reading this entertaining post.
Lemonade (the Australian version) = 7 Up, you’re right.
Krupnik is way worse…
I love the art work. You certainly did your research. I do mine before every trip, as well… but I am sure I could not have found out as much as you have about the food of an area before visiting it. And I know my wonderful man wouldn’t be interested in accompanying me to all of the places you have been able to enthuse yours into going to… but the drinks? That might be different. He loves to try local and different drinks. He is just completely absolutely and forever exhausted about talking about food. Hates it. Hard for me… but, he is so wonderful that he does tolerate it… and is still the best sous chef anyone could ever dream of marrying… so, I can enjoy your escapades… and still be thankful for the ones I have, too!
Yes, we do A LOT of research when we go away so as to make the most of our time away!
Those kids have the right idea swinging around the pole. It looks like the perfect thing to do after a few hurricanes.
LOL Conor!
that hurricane looks like a fine summer drink, and i am looking for a new summer drink for 2010. off to google the recipe . . .
Oh trust me, you DO NOT want to make this your summer drink. You just don’t.