Waiting for Gordeau at an old favorite F Q watering hole, the Hermes Bar at Antoines; somebody has to do this! Restaurant is closed; but a classic Creole eatery for over a century! read more

See all

Chocolate martini at its finest. Highly recommend if you like chocolate. Nice bartenders. read more

Hermes Bar - Chocolate martini at its finest. Highly recommend if you like chocolate. Nice bartenders. - Wine Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Loved the appetizers we got! We got a tour of the restaurant and WOW- so much history! It's absolutely beautiful! Will definitely be back! read more

See all

When a server questions your order at a bar/restaurant, it's probably with good reason. Such was the case at Heremes Bar, which was once part of Antoine's dining room (but has now been converted into its own space) in the French Quarter. Yes, I'm partial to this joint, not only for its rich history but the fact that it's located on St. Louis Street. Back to the questionable order. I dragged my +1 here to have a martini and pre-dinner snack of oysters Rockefeller. We ordered a half dozen without hesitation, but thankfully our server said to us "Is there any reason why you want the Rockefeller?" On the menu is says specifically that Antoine himself created the OG dish over 100 years ago. When in Rome, right? Wrong. We were told that it might not be what we're expecting, and it was suggested that we order a sampler platter with two of each kind of fancy oyster. Thankfully, we obliged. Here's what was served: Two Huitres en coquille a la Rockefeller (oysters Rockefeller) Two Huitres Thermidor (bacon and tomato sauce) Two Huitres Bienville (white wine sauce w/onions, pimentos, peppers) The winner? Huitres Bienville - quite lovely. Rockefeller was OK, but definitely not the dish we were expecting. Thank you, lovely lady, for guiding us in the right direction. Drinks at Hermes Bar are strong. Come here for lunch and they're 25 cents! Beyond the food and drink, my favorite part of this experience was the wall of Heremes Mardi Gras crew queens, dating back many generations. Oh, to be a wealthy debutante in another time... If you're a sucker for rich food *and* history, Antoine's/Hermes Bar is the place to get the NOLA party started. read more

Hermes Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

Hermes bar we went in for a Ramos gin fizz. It was around 1 pm bar was empty. A Ramos is a drink made with gin and egg whites the bar tender if they know how to make it right will shake for approximately 10 minutes- most good bar tenders will sell you a drink to drink while you are waiting. Ours took less then 2 minutes needless to say it was not very good. The foam was not all the way through we didn't finish it. Place was dark but decorated with things from Hermes parade which was cool. Bathroom was very clean. read more

HOW CAN A CLASSIC COCKTAIL BE SO BLAND? The worst Sazerac and worst French 75 I've ever had have been at the Hermes Bar. Having been a bartender it puzzles me how both can be so flavorless. INFO NOT ON THE WEBSITE: - happy hour is daily from 4:00 to 7:00PM. - BUT the kitchen doesn't open until 5:30. So don't expect to munch on soufflé potatoes or oysters while imbibing early. And they won't be discounted! - and not so great accessibility, almost every seat is a high-rise uncomfortable bar stool. read more

Hermes Bar - HAPPY BASTILLE DAY! $5 French 75s all day! - Wine Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

A new favorite to visit! The bartenders were so friendly and gracious. I am a Sazerac cocktail enthusiast and enjoy trying the different variations found in the Big Easy and I must say the bartenders at Hermes impressed me. Their crafted cocktail game is strong! Thoroughly enjoyed not only chatting with the bartenders but the ambience and classic style of Hermes. read more

If you stop here for cocktails, do your tastebuds a favor and get the pecan bread pudding a la mode. I am a New Orleans native, and this is one of the best versions of that dessert that I've ever had. The only downside is the cocktail tours that come through. In addition to making your visit feel touristy/gimmicky, the tour group staff clearly have the run of the place. Yesterday, a woman leading one of these tour groups kept screaming across the bar/restaurant to the wait staff, completely disregarding the patrons around her. A few folks around us mentioned how her behavior ruined the atmosphere. Reclaim your space, Hermes! read more

Memorable / Best Cocktails I've Ever Had We were here on a slow (dead) night in January on the recommendation of 2 other New Orleans bartenders. Mike made us a number of deftly executed wonderful tasting cocktails. He's also a living encyclopedia of the American cocktail. He made me a variation on an old-fashioned that was originated at a bar in Chicago. It is now my favorite. As we sat for a while and it became clear that we were interested in his craft, he made some great suggestions and made some AMAZING cocktails. They were made with "simple" ingredients. They weren't flashy but they were wonderful. One of my coworkers had something with gin, muddle cucumber and some other stuff. Beautiful and well balanced. Like many truly great restaurants, this bar is elegant in its simplicity. It's so good that you wonder why other places aren't this good. The service was perfectly executed. Gracious, attentive and well executed. You'd be treated well if you wanted to order an apple martini or discuss the merits of the different types of absinthe (This great service and cocktail was in stark contrast to the Sazerac Bar which was shockingly poor.) =========== Mike also gave us some great suggestions for other bars - some to see because they have wood bars from the 1800s from Saint Louis. Some because they are open 24 hours. Some because they make their own tonic wataer. He also took us in back and left us to look at their "collection" of wine/spirits in the way back where all the private rooms are. These are also worth seeing. The rooms and hallways are covered with memorabilia that are actually interesting. read more

This is the bar of Antoine's and they offer their own menu (with some limited offerings from Antoine's). This is a great space and they make great drinks. I've always enjoyed myself here and it is a great place for a quick lunch (or a long one). My only complaint would be they are a bit haphazard with what you can and can't order off of the Antoine's menu. If you want to sample some of Antoine's food without the full formal dining experience (but that is a big part of the experience!!!) then this will be a good introduction. This is a great place for couples and groups. read more

Had drinks with friends before going to dinner. Our server was attentive and friendly. Drinks were good I had my favorite dark and stormy with goslings rum and ginger beer with lime. Delish! read more

Hermes Bar - Bar area - Wine Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

What a wonderful twist of fate....when our afternoon plans changed abruptly, we decided to finally see what the legendary Hermes Bar was all about. Having earlier in the day spied some very fetching cups and saucers at Antoine's gift shop with flaming devils adorning them, we inquired. Turns out one of their signature drinks--the cafe brulot diabolique--was served in them, and we decided to go for it. Brandy, coffee, cinnamon, cloves, lemon zest...the ingredients seemed perfect on this unusually cool and blustery day. But it turns out true real star attraction was the tableside preparation. Our game and very sweet waitress was joined by (clearly) one of the restaurant's brulot specialists, and together they put on a performance that was part bartending wizardry and part magic show. Flames leapt high into the air, sparks flew, as an amazing alchemy created a sumptuous brew that we will long remember--and certainly come back for again and again. p.s. i'll add photos soon! read more

Hermes Bar - preparing cafe brulot diabolique! - Wine Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This is a great little upscale bar which is part of Antoine's so you can order either off the limited bar menu or even off the full Antoine's menu if you want. The food is traditional and great - the gumbo is one of the best in the city and you can't go too wrong with most of the oyster preparations, including of course Rockefeller which was created by Antoine's many, many years ago. They have happy hour every day from 4-7pm which includes house wine and cocktails plus there's good music later on most Fridays and Saturdays. And the real reason to come to Hermes Bar is the cocktails which are truly some of the best in New Orleans. They're not necessarily the most cutting edge but the bartenders are fantastic - and much acclaimed. Get off Bourbon Street and go to Hermes Bar instead, jacket & tie are not required like they are at Antoine's but most people are dressed on the nicer side. It's just that kind of place. read more

What a lovely find...we had Sunday lunch at Antoine's and decided to go next door for drinks. Found a lovely bottle of sparkling rose for under $40 and beer was reasonably price. Cocktails looked great from what I could see people ordering but were expensive ($10). Figured they were paying for the right to take them on the go, but didn't see anyone complaining as they kept coming in to order them. Staff was amazing, very polite and fun to be around. The one bartender (Mike I believe) was just a wealth of knowledge about Antoine's and Hermes, but also about other bars/restaurants we should try while in town. Another server (can't remember his name) took us on a tour of the entire restaurant. It is housed in 7 different buildings and he took us through all of the dining areas, explaining the history of the different rooms. We got to see the wine cellar, which was very impressive as it looked like it was about a block long! Our tour guide was very patient with us as we took photos and asked questions. All in all it was a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon...we got to Antoine's around noon and didn't leave Hermes until about 5 pm. Time just flew by! Definitely will be going back there to hang out. read more

I love this place because they make excellent cocktails, have fairly good happy hour specials (like the Bastille Day French 75 for $4.00!) and it is a phenomenal spot for people watching! In addition to a well stocked bar there is a bar food menu for those who are so inclined. The menu is a bit pricey, but it isn't anything more than what I would consider standard French Quarter pricing. read more

This review may have to be revisited and updated, because I find it hard to believe that such an established, and famous restaurant could have such poor experience. When I met my coworkers for pre dinner cocktails, everyone had ordered and were waiting on drinks-except the beer drinker, who had her beverage much longer than anyone else. The wait for drinks was substantial, even with two bartenders working. The server brought the first round over, two at a time, by hand, without a tray. We were a group of 7. When that round was finished, we sat for awhile with empty glasses. Again, our less than attentive server bussed glasses, two at a time. Did they not have a bar tray in the while building? Hoping it was just a fluke, may try again-just not during the holidays. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped in here after French Quarter Fest. We spent the day with people who can't hold their liquor on Bourbon Street and wanted to get away from that. Started walking south and noticed the open doors and FULL bar from across the street. Granted this is spitting distance from the craziness of Bourbon St., this feels a world apart. The wood decor is warm and inviting with a touch of class. The pricing of drinks keeps the pukers away, but keeps me pulled up to the bar for a bourbon and whiskey history lesson from the bar keep. That being said, the pricing is not outrageous ($8-$12) and the drinks are well made. We stopped for just a quick cocktail and in turn had friendly staff, great environment, and stayed much longer than our intended "one quick cocktail". We had the St. Germain cocktail, Ramos Gin Fizz, Pimm's Cup and 9th Ward. All well made, fairly priced, and delicious. read more

Hermes Bar - Pimm's Cup - Wine Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We had read about souffle potatoes from Antoine's while researching for our trip but ultimately decided it was not worth wasting a stop/meal on to try. But when we walked by the bar and had time to kill, we stopped in for a drink. Probably our least favorite experience on vacation... Happy hour is a pretty great deal, actually, and we got there early enough to get a seat by the window to people watch. Our server was nice, too. The food and drink we had were really meh though. We had happy hour champagne - it was pretty meh champagne, but for like $5 a glass who can complain? I just hope they don't sell their happy hour champagne at a higher price because that'd be a rip off. The happy hour red tasted really old, like it was opened 5 days ago and tasted pretty bad. That really shouldn't be the point of happy hour, to get rid of wine that's too old to sell... Foodwise, the souffle potatoes were both soggy and overfried, like they'd been fried too long and then reheated. Disappointing. Our server also suggested the 2-2-2 oyster app when I inquired about raw oysters (they don't have raw). We tried that, and it was basically 2 of each of 3 different kinds of broiled oysters, including the Oyster Rockefeller that were invented there. Too much turd-shape piping of the topping of all 3 kinds, and they were all too heavy and covered the oyster, and underseasoned and bad. Really bad. We were such tourist suckers :( The bathroom was really clean though. Otherwise, our experience ranged from average to below average. Would not recommend... For better happy hour, we liked Compere Lapin in the CBD. For better old-school fancy bar atmosphere and good drinks, we preferred French 75 not too far away. read more

You'd think we wouldn't return to a place where the bartender was so overwhelmed with customers that when we asked if they served food she replied (in a pretty unfriendly tone), "unfortunately". But return we did. Not sure why, but whatever. On our most recent trip to New Orleans we discovered the Hermes Bar one hungover morning (read noon) and will probably continue to head back there on future trips. Why? Clean, comfortable and casual. Nicely air-conditioned. Good people watching. Within stumbling distance to both Bourbon Street and our new favorite hotel, the Royal Omni. Once surly bartender that actually turned out to be pretty cool. Small bites offered from Antoine's. All this, plus some mighty powerful drinks make for a good place to "chase it" if you are still feeling the ill effects from the night before. read more

Green fairy to star tthe night, what's better than that? The bartender wasn't very happy. Not sure if it was just cause last weekend was a huge weekend with homecoming, state games, and reunions, but she could definitely have put on a happier face. We sat down to have a drink while waiting for our table at Antoine's read more

Walked by this spot on the way to Bourbon street to get a Lucky Dog. We were on a mission to eat a little bite of all our fav dishes. This bar is part of the famous Antoine's restaurant. The cold A/C beckoned us in, but the superior service kept us around. First of all, they were celebrating Nat'l Bourbon Heritage Month so those drinks were FREE - yes, you heard me - free! Our waitress was a doll who even volunteered to take our picture, & she knew what she was doing! Then we got to talking to Vinny, one of the managers, and when he found out we had never been to Antoine's before, he brought us an order of Soufflé Potatoes with a glorious dipping sauce - o the house! He was a delight! Those potatoes were delish! Next time we are in NOLA you can bet the first place we make a reservation will be Antoine's. They know how to treat people - made us feel very special! read more

See all

While finishing up a wonderful lunch at the adjoining Antoine's Restaurant, our waiter told us about this little gem of a bar connected. The decor is very grand and ambiance is beautiful. They have a huge selection of drinks and cocktails, but I will warn that the service is awfully slow. Granted, we were here during peak Mardi Gras season on a Saturday, we just did not feel very noticed by the bartenders or staff. It was an EXTREMELY different experience from the 30 minutes before being waited on at Antoines. I would still recommend giving this place a chance if you're in the area! read more

Great cocktails and service with a smile. Some servers are a bit slow but Ms Muffin rocks! Of course the French 75's are, by far, the best in the area. The Sidecars and other cocktails are also yummy. You can order Antoine's delicious food and eat it in the casual atmosphere at the bar. It's a geat place to get a great drink and some exquisite food in the quarters. read more

Hermes Bar - The incomparable Ms Muffin! - Wine Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Super excited to visit this place because I'm an out of stater and have heard great things about the Oyster Rockefeller and wanted to try it. I went here when I got off the plane Friday night and got there around 930p, walked to the bar was told kitchen was closed but I had a sazerac made there and the drink did not disappoint. I returned Monday for happy hour dinner time when my wife and i came in there were two servers male and female chatting at the bar. The bar wasn't busy. Maybe half filled, Hermes isn't often super busy as I've noticed. We had to approach to ask them if it was open seating at the table there and they advised it is. We sat down and waited a few minutes til a menu was brought to us. We didn't feel like they were happy to serve us even when the menu was brought over. Nonetheless we got started with the Rockefeller and a drink, I got a Pimm cup and wife got a soda, the Pjmm cup here was probably my favorite drink in NO. Took about 10 min to get it tho. We ordered the seafood bisque and a side salad as we wanna get dinner elsewhere too. The goal was to try this oft talked about Rockefeller. The oyster is fine. It definitely ain't nothing to write home about, especially compared to the grilled oyster other restaurants have. Just taste overwhelmingly celery flavored. We didn't get our soup and salad and had to ask for plates when the oyster arrived. At that point the drink was good but I felt like the service was lacking. Everything took longer than it should and you don't really feel like you're welcome there. So I told the waitress to cancel the soup and salad after waiting for it and paid our bill and tipped the standard 15% and left. Overall I'd go here for drinks but that'd be it. My feedback for the management team is that I hope the service changes here for people in the future. People spend good money here and they should feel like they are, and many come for the Antoine's brand, they should get a welcoming and top notch experience, Even if they're sitting in Hermes trying out the Rockefeller and not At one of the fancier tables across the wall. read more

Hermes Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I just walked into bar. Ordered a round of drinks. Bar tender offers Mccallan 25. I accept offer thinking $75-100 a poor. Bartender hands bill of $400. Are you f'ing kidding me. What a dick! Not a word about price. We literally drank $11 drinks prior to that order. He offered Blanton's whiskey and McCallans 25 like they were equivalent. Total bill was $477, $77 for 2 Blanton's and $400 GD dollar for McCallans. Total BS, dude should have said something as price is not on men read more

Hermes Bar - Just a frame of reference at another nice restaurant in the French Quarter - Wine Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

Been here several times, first time reviewed. Try the Ramos Ginger Fizz. It's even-tempered and excellent. Mrs William B had the mimosa. It looked boring but she loved it. Ask Mike the tender to speak Latin. read more

Hermes Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Without a doubt one of the best dining experiences of my life. I get that you may want to experience Antoine's in all of its upscale glory, but if you want something a tad less grandiose, but without sacrificing quality, I recommend that you come to Hermes and avail yourself of Antoine's menu. Start with a gin fizz. I have yet to find its equal in NOLA. Then, especially if you are a visitor, strike up a conversation with your server. Like Parisians, NOLA locals take great pride in their city, and if you demonstrate your love and appreciation for their truly world-class city, they will repay tenfold. After you establish rapport, put yourself in the server's care. They know the menu better than you, and they will guide you through what can be a rather daunting menu. Most importantly: take your time. Want a quick drink? That's fine: belly up to the bar, have an amazing cocktail, and then be on your way. But if you want something truly exceptional, let time go. Americans talk about "wasting time," or "spending time." When you are in the French Quarter, forget all about viewing time as a commodity. Instead, endeavor to PASS the time. I'm not sure how long we were there, but every moment was blissful. Our server, Jarius, was probably one of the best servers I've EVER had the pleasure of meeting. Calling him a server is selling him short: he was more of a culinary and cultural guide. Each course was as phenomenal as the previous. I started with the chair de crabes ravigote (chilled lump meat crab with a hint of lemon dressing), moved on to Huitres Bienville (fresh Louisiana oysters baked on the half shell with a white wine sauce seasoned with onions, pimento, and fresh peppers) then paused before sharing a salade combinaison (mixed greens tossed with artichoke, asparagus, tomato and hearts of palm). Several gin fizzes later, and it was onto a grilled pompano fillet which somehow managed to be both flaky and substantial. Finally, had a couple bites of their world-famous Baked Alaska. Although the two of us spent close to $260 for lunch, I would say that was a bargain. On a budget? Don't let the high prices deter you: they have less expensive options, and you and a friend can still have a great experience for under $40. But if you really want to treat yourself to the best New Orleans has to offer: place yourself in Jarius' capable hands and laissez les bons temps rouler!!! read more

Here's what you do: schedule this for an early- or mid-afternoon stop after a big awesome breakfast that morning. You won't be ready for lunch, so pop in here around 1:30pm and order whatever you want off of the Antoine's Menu! It won't be crowded at all and you don't need to be dressed up. Fair warning: Antoine's kitchen stops serving at 2pm, so don't be late! FYI, we got the appetizer sampler that included shrimp remoulade, fried eggplant, crab salad, and oyster foch. Look that last one up online if you're curious. Interesting story. All of it was excellent! read more

Was within stumbling distance to the hotel, there were no plastic grenades full of liquor being sold and this place has a great classy vibe without being snobby. Our first visit had a discussion that went like this with the bartender: Bartender - Good evening. What would you like? Me - Mmm....not sure. What's your personal specialty? Bartender - Everything I make is special. I LOVED IT!!! We drank here every day and made it our must go to bar. We even decided to get absolutely hammered on Pimms Cups before leaving for the airport. When it was time to close that tab on a Monday afternoon, the woman who rang it up said "oooh....looks like you won't be needen' a plane to fly home today" with a laugh. Every bartender we dealt with was professional, full of humor and knew their stuff. I'm even enjoying a nonalcoholic beverage right now in one of their red to-go cups!! read more

We had to stop into one of the city's oldest bars/restaurants celebrating 175years. Sitting at the bar for a Sazarac and a Pimm's cup, Frankie, our bartender took great care of us. He entertained us with personal and local history and stories. This is the place you want to be to get the "goods". My husband and I ended up hanging out for a while enjoying the company, the cocktails, and the space. We would definitely go back. read more

By far the low point of our trip. Two drinks (a very weak well cocktail and not-good house white wine) were $17. I threw in a paltry $1 tip because the server could not have acted more bored. Avoid. read more

Came in Sunday afternoon. This place was recommended by many. I may have been there the wrong time. The place was dirty as if not cleaned from the night before. I did enjoy my drink. The bartender was less than attentive even though there was only one other person at the bar. Not really sure if I would go back. read more

Hermes Bar - 175 Years! - Wine Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This is a historic French Quarter barroom that dates back to the 1840s. That's right this places pre dates the Civil War by a good 20 years. Cocktails are the calling card here, the bartenders are top rate. This is a deep pockets or special occasion place, you are getting a quality experience, but be ready to pay for it. If you are interested in Mardi Gras culture you'll see some festive artifacts and photos adorning the walls from the bars namesake, the Krewe of Hermes. read more

The gin fizz here is beautiful. So you're here at Hermes. You're probably a tourist. And just stop it - you're not a "unique tourist trying to be like the locals." If you were, you wouldn't be here. And not as part of your "Scandals and Cocktails Tour" like we were. This was the last stop on a mediocre tour, however, the gin fizz was anything but mediocre. When I think of a gin fizz, I think of drinking them at age seven out of my grandma's fruit jar-turned-drinking glass after a long, hard day of playing in the back yard. (Don't judge.) Atmosphere is very classic and very old world. Bartenders are outstanding. Drinks are outstanding. It's still touristy. But definitely a good place to grab a drink. read more

$18 for house wine and a weak-as-hell well vodka cocktail? Served by a man who willfully ignored my request for our check? And then laughed at me when I was aghast at the high price? I regret the time and money spent here to the point that it makes me angry. read more

I was lured in by the menu promising a "Fried Shrimp Reuben Po-Boy with Horseradish Sauce". I was alone in the bar throughout the meal. After about 25 minutes my po-boy arrived from the adjoining kitchen in Antoine's. At $9:25 it was decidedly small and bland. If there was horseradish involved I couldn't taste it. Not that it was bad; it was just boring. A real reuben would have been a much better plan! The friend portabella slices were a nice side and the staff were very friendly but I won't be going back. read more

This place is my new fav! They have daily happy hour specials even on the weekends! You can get a glass of house red or white wine for $4! What a deal!! The bartenders are great too and very attentive! They are entertaining and make sure to tell customers the history of the drinks they are ordering such as the Sazerac and Pimm's Cup. The ambiance is "old New Orleans." You will find a good mix of locals and tourists at this establishment. Highly recommend! read more

We stopped by for drinks and respite from the heat. The bartender was great and made awesome cocktails. She gave us excellent advise for places we should visit while in town. I love bartenders that will recommend other places to go. Try the Old Fashioned! read more

To paraphrase Moe the Bartender...Call this an unfair generalization if you must, but old restaurants are no good at everything. It seems like whenever I go to a "classic" or "venerable" institution the experience just doesn't measure up. I feel a bit bad about handing the bar a bad review, as the Ramos Gin Fizz was actually quite nice, but the food and service were subpar. We had two different servers coming to our table and they couldn't seem to get on the same page. One was rather rude. The menu features a lot of classic French goop recombined in not especially appealing ways. The po-boy with fried oysters, pate, and several sauces got lost in a muddy combination of flavors. Not a true classic, at least not in my book. read more

A very good extension of Antoine's Restaurant. To those who are not up to par with dressing up (or down) for Antoine's, Hermes Bar (pronounced her-mees) this is the very casual place for you. But you don't have to worry about Hermes cutting back on service or quality of food because it doesn't. Although the menu on Hermes is very limited to appetizers and sandwiches, the quality is still outstanding. I ordered their famous Oyster Rockefeller, oyster po boy, and gumbo soup. One word best described the flavors of each one: "Wow!" The ambiance is okay but not too out of control like the other bars in the French Quarter. But if that's the type of place you're looking for, then Hermes is not it. You can walk up and down Bourbon St and find many of them, with many drunk and loud obnoxious locals and tourists. Here at Hermes, it almost feels like you're an elite...even though it's not quite the same as Antoine's. In any case, this is a great establishment to hang out and people watch (even though it's off Bourbon St). This is also a great place to have one of the original oyster rockefellers around. Oh yeah, even though I didn't get to do it, you can ask the staff for a tour of the restaurant. But you don't have to take my word for it. read more