What's more fun that getting your drunk on while taking a leisurely spin around a well-appointed…read moreand historic bar? We got lucky. Walking in at 1:30 on a beautifully sunny Wed, we fully expected a wait. Instead, our two empty seats beckoned to us like a pretty girl winking at us across a bar in college. Marvin has been promoted to Beverage Manager. He left his bar in very good hands. The two young dudes carrying his torch were great. Very friendly and well aware each time we finished our drink and needed a reload. They're well-trained in the art of concocting the Sazerac we love. Sitting for 2 hours watching the regular turnover of the precious seats at the Carousel is still big fun. And having a friendly chat with the constant turnover of strangers sitting next to us is part of the unique charm of the Carousel Bar. As we were leaving Corey the bartender let us know management is shutting down next month for a few weeks for much needed repairs & renovations so the Carousel can add another 50-60 years to its legacy.

This is a fun spot, if you can grab a spot by the bar. It is first come, first served, so just grab…read morethe seats by the lounge and move to the bar when spots open up. It rotates slowly, so you won't get dizzy... The cocktail list looked interesting, but the two we had tasted pretty standard, inline with what you'd expect from a hotel bar (it is inside Hotel Monteleone). There is a small bar bites menu - the Cubano was tasty but a bit overpriced at $18. The service was okay. We ended up getting water from our server that brought us food as the bartenders were too busy making cocktails. There was a jazz band playing on Thursday night when we visited.

We were hesitant because there were only a few people sitting at the bar when we walked in. It…read moreturned out that was the band, which meant it was just the two of us girls, so we decided we'd just have a drink and see what happens. It was 2 p.m. afterall, so not a lot of people were out in general. Turns out the band was great! Then people started trickling in and there was a good crowd enjoying the music with us. We had a great time, chatted with other patrons and a few of the band members. Good drinks, prices are on the higher end at ~$15, but still affordable. I had a Pimm's cup which was refreshing, they are served in souvenir to go cups that are really cute. Glad we decided to stay! A great time was had.

Before I start, this is my review based on my experience. I've noticed some people complain about…read morethe music, paying the cover charge, seating or the size of the venue. I'm not here to argue any of those points. I will say this: expecting live musicians to perform for free until you decide whether they're worth paying is ridiculous. The cover is usually only $5...$10 max. If that's a dealbreaker, this probably isn't your place. Stay home and stream Spotify. Now... I have some friends in town, and whenever that happens, a Monday night trip to the Spotted Cat is basically mandatory. I've been coming here for years and years. Yes, it's super touristy now, but it still gives me the warm fuzzies every time I walk through those doors. So I'm presenting the "compliment sandwich" review. Never heard of it? You start with a compliment, slip in some constructive-ish criticism, then end with another compliment. Supposedly people receive feedback better that way. Let's see. First, the music. Outstanding. Chris Christy wasn't what I thought I wanted to hear until I actually heard him. I felt completely transported. Man, can that guy play the guitar. It felt kinda like gypsy music. Then came the Frenchmen Street Allstars. The last time I saw them, they had a different lead singer and, honestly, they kind of felt like a completely different band, aside from the phenomenal drummer. This version did not disappoint. It was a great mix of jazz and New Orleans standards. Both bands were great! **Now a note to management.** Great music isn't enough. The bar should be every bit as memorable as the stage. Forgive me, I didn't get the bartenders' names, so I have to describe them by physical traits. The first bartender, the guy with the mountain of curly hair, was friendly enough and made decent drinks. Later, another bartender with a short haircut took over and made the best drinks of the night. Then there was the bartender with the black and hot pink hair. She looked like she'd rather be anywhere else. She rarely smiled, her demeanor felt unwelcoming, and it almost came across as hostile. On top of that, the drinks she made were so weak I genuinely wondered if there was any alcohol in them. Seriously. They were that bad. Here's my philosophy: if you're going to be grumpy, aloof, or have some other off-putting trait, you'd better make a mean drink. Years and years ago there was a bartender named Curtis who wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows, but that man could make a cocktail. I didn't need him to smile because the drink did all the talking. If the drink is mostly soda, though, friendliness becomes a lot more important. Unfriendly and bad bartending is a double whammy. She must be somebody's child or partner because I can't think of any other reason to employ a bad bartender. I hate to belabor the point, but the drinks aren't cheap. Cheap and bad I can take. For another comparison, there's another bartender there, I'm pretty sure her name is Chris. She's been there for years. She's all business. Maybe a little surly. Who am I kidding? A lot surly. But she's a character. More importantly, she makes a great drink. That's the kind of personality that somehow fits the Spotted Cat perfectly. Now let me end with the final piece of "bread" on my compliment sandwich. The doorman deserves his own review. That gravelly-voiced "Welcome to the Spotted Cat!" is part of the experience. Then he absolutely hammers that stamp onto your wrist. Somehow you don't even mind because you know what's waiting on the other side: incredible music, a fun room, and one of the best nights you can have on Frenchmen Street. Just don't let the bartender with the pink and black hair make your drink.

I have random days that I just think, PURPLE DRANK! It is delicious. I am not really a daquiri girl…read moreas they usually taste too sweet or artificial. Not this VOODOO PURPLE DRANK! I love it so much. Its vacation in a cup - even if you are not on vacation. I need to come here at least once or twice when I am in New Orleans. The staff is always great. Thank you!

What a cool place! I cannot believe it took me so long to actually check this place out. I believe…read moreit's the oldest building in New Orleans and it used to be a black smith shop. The blacksmith fire pit is still there. I had their voodoo slushie. It was great on a hot day but killer hangover later! Either way it's a must stop!

Absolutely LOVED checking this spot out in New Orleans. If you are in the area I highly recommend…read morefor you to check this spot out, they have great cocktails and live music. Looking forward to coming again!

We absolutely LOVED this place. The area was a little sketch but once inside, it was great. The…read morebartenders were SUPER friendly, the drinks were good. I ordered an espresso martini because I had read they serve one of the best in NOLA but it was made with cold brew so that was a huge disappointment. We grabbed two stools at the bar and hung out for a few hours. There was a jazz band playing - Marty Peters and the Party Meters and they were FANTASTIC. They really kept the crowd entertained. We would definitely visit this place again!

There's something so sublime about sitting way up above from it all, sipping on a cocktail on a…read morewarm summer night. I feel like New Orleans was a little late to the game with these types of places, but now we have a decent array (typically at hotels like this one). And like most of the other rooftop bars at hotels, you don't have to be a hotel guest to take advantage! This past Saturday evening was surprisingly quiet up there, possibly due to White Linen happening on the other side of the CBD. I wasn't complaining, believe me! It was perfect out there for me and just when I thought things couldn't possibly get better, I saw the cocktail menu. Frosé, baby! Passionfruit frosé, yes please. Also, prices are not as high as you'd expect. My guy got a $3 Modelo. Frosé was $8. Pretty views of the surrounding buildings, fairy lights against the dark summer sky and a slight breeze... living my best life with a glass of frozé in mah hand. Thanks, Catahoula!

Popped up as a wine bar in Yelp but it's a hotel rooftop. The space is nice but the drinks are just…read moreok. I got served wine in a plastic cup. I guess it worked out since we came late and walked out with our drinks. The pisco punch is with tequila and not a traditional pisco.

Got a drink at the bar before checking into the Preservation Hall. This is a cool spot. We only sat…read moreat the bar so I can't say anything about the larger portion of the business. You felt the history. The bartender was dressed with a bow tie and apron- have professional even though it also felt like dive bar-ish. Drink was good. Service was good. I liked it here.

It's been well over 30 years since we last visited Pat O'Brien's. Based on our maturing lifestyle,…read morethis visit will most likely be our last. Nothing has changed: the fun inner courtyard; the flaming fountain; the piano/karaoke bar; and the small 'quiet' bar were each exactly as we recalled. The Hurricane we remember so fondly was now so sweet we just couldn't drink it - the bartender generously took it back. The Rye Old Fashion substitute was very well prepared, but served in a minuscule glass packed full of crushed cubes of ice. We calculated our drink had maybe 3-4 sips because there wasn't any place in the glass for our drink. For $18. The bartender was great. The karaoke across the hall was entertaining for maybe 30 minutes - about 1 drink. Then the loud off-tune assault on our hearing drove us to pay our bill and skedaddle on down the street. Best wishes to the Pat O'Brien crew. We've aged out, and we graciously wish all the next Gen folks well. Enjoy!

THIS IS A MUST SEE/DO THING IN NEW ORLEANS!! We were recommended to go here from some friends. It…read morewas our favorite thing we did in Nee Orleans. It feels like culture. The music is fantastic! There's a vibe to the musicians where they feel that they all know one another. We saw two different groups perform. The cocktails were delicious and craft! Really really loved! Wish we could come here every weekend! For others trying to understand how it all works, you don't have to purchase tickets to go. You can't make reservations. You just show up and grab a seat. It's a tiny little space but truly amazing. GO!

We were looking for a place to grab a cocktail before out dinner reservation elsewhere and we…read morestopped in here. Getting here right after they opened for the evening, before the live jazz started, we were able to chat with the staff (which we love to do) and they were very engaging and chatty. I also noticed they do a proper absinth service here and they offered one of the largest Absinth menus I've ever seen, so I had to try something interesting and different and went with the Texas made Opal Absinthe. Before selecting it, I asked the young lady who was handling the bar and she gave me her description, which I have to say was spot-on to what I ended up drinking. Another drink we got was great as well, and made with fresh juices. The vibe and venue is great here... I love jazz and I would love to return sometime to listen to the live jazz while enjoying their amazing adult beverages!

Some bars just make their way into your nightly routine. The Sazerac Bar did just that. I ended up…read morehere two nights in a row because it's just that good. Old world elegance, very polished bartenders, classic atmosphere with business travelers and tourists. It reminds you why classic hotel bars never go out of style. While everyone else orders a Sazerac, I'll happily stick with my Manhattan. They absolutely nailed it both nights. If you appreciate a timeless cocktail bar, don't skip this one.

Swanky and fun. Located within the Roosevelt hotel, this cool bar has lots of rich history (that…read moreyou can read about while there). Whether sitting at the bar, or in one of the many lounge chairs on the opposite wall, every seat is an excellent. While I knew of the drink French 75, on the bar menu it was offered with either gin or cognac. I decided to try the cognac and so glad I did. Perfectly delicious! It turns out that drink is actually a French 125, so I learned something new that night. Great spot with a great vibe.

Great experience at this artsy, welcoming bar. The spot is adorned with creative pieces, and the…read morepool table is good quality. Strong, cheap, tasty cocktails, large and clean bathrooms, and a friendly bartender. Best part was that we had the place all to ourselves on a late Sunday afternoon, so I kept pumping credits into the jukebox while we ordered big $10 double shot specials and enjoyed a VIP experience.

Stopped in for a quick drink as the bar was in the bottom of the building our Airbnb was in. The…read morebartender was super nice and the drinks were speedy. One of my friends went out for water after drinking later and the bouncer took care of her watching to make sure she got back safe. Good people!

Had dinner and drinks at The Peacock Room recently with a group of friends, and it exceeded…read moreexpectations from start to finish. The atmosphere is absolutely fantastic, inviting, and perfect for a night out. The food was just as impressive. We shared the cheese board to start, which was a great choice, and every entree at the table was outstanding. The shrimp and grits were packed with flavor, the braised short ribs were incredibly tender, and the smash burger was great. The service was attentive, the cocktails were excellent, and the overall experience was top notch. Hands down, The Peacock Room is a hidden gem. If you're looking for a great spot for dinner, drinks, and a memorable evening, this place deserves a spot at the top of your list.

The cocktails were great and the service was superb. The waitress gave a lot of great…read morerecommendations and was very patient with us. She came back to check on us frequently, but wasn't hovering. The interior is very cozy and elegant and there's lots of decorations around to look at.