With just one visit, Manolito is my new favorite place in the French Quarter. New to me, that is, as they've clearly been charming locals and visitors alike for years, now. You know how it goes... you live somewhere and keep meaning to try a place and suddenly it's like 8 years later and here we are. Exquisite everything... atmosphere, service, cocktails and food. Aperitivo-style dinners (aka girl dinners?) are my favorite. I love a good grazing. We had the seasoned chickpeas which are fried and crunchy but not dry like baked or dried chickpeas. These are the irresistible kind, the melt-in-your-mouth with salty umami goodness kind. The saltines that come with the black bean hummus are seasoned in the same way, fried, I suspect, but I'm not mad about that. I really couldn't stop eating these and don't get me started on the perfect fries. Drinks, ah the drinks. As much as I wanted one of those frozens, with dropping temps outside, I went for a gorgeous Flor de Jamaica. Think citrus-forward, not heavily boozy (vodka). I followed up with the Mary Pickford, which has pineapple juice and normally I would fear for an overly sweet drink but this is not that. It's more on the tangy/sour side of the spectrum. Both drinks are perfectly light and refreshing. It all felt like the indulgence I needed after a frigid week. After dining upstairs, which makes you feel like you're in a chic loft space, we peeked into the courtyard. I cannot wait to return and pretend that I'm in Havana, sipping on an expertly-crafted frozen drink. It really doesn't get any better than this. read more

The food was superb. Drinks superb as well (loved the drink menu - creatively made!). Service was nice and atmosphere was working - especially loved the well done reggae soundtrack. Will definitely go back. read more

Manolito should be 4 stars but given its location in the FQ, its reasonable prices and tranquil courtyard make it a 5 star. HH drinks are a great value. We enjoyed all the daiquiris we tried. They are much less sweet than the usual ones. The ropa vieja was very authentic and delicious. Not too spicy and the meat was tender and melting.Great value. The ham croquettes were crispy and the arepas were ok. The courtyard setting and the service were par with a much pricier place. read more

The wife and I came in for something different, and it was great! I don't know about you all, but when I am in the French Quarter I don't immediately think Cuban. Spanish? Yep. French? Absolutely! American? Of course, but not Cuban. So we were in the mood for something different, maybe a different vibe and we got it. First off the place is pretty unassuming from the outside. An old sign hanging above the side walk and a smallish door on a quiet street hiding the goodness inside. You could easily walk right past it. The place specializes in cocktails with a Cuban Caribbean flair. I don't know anything about daiquiris but they had a huge selection of them and I ordered a Jazz daiquiri. It was fabulous. It reminded me very much of a frozen margarita. Lots a lime, sweet and tasty. They do grind some coffee beans in it and that is a special touch. For food we went for the cheese arepa and ham and cheese croquetas. Both were fantastic. The cheese arepa reminded me of a buttery grilled cheese so decadent and the croquetas had super crunchy exterior filled with, you guessed it, melted cheese and ham. It reminded of arancini for some reason, although my wife disagrees. Either way they were both delicioso. Next we ordered the arroz con pollo. This is a dish we have had all over the Caribbean and we loved this take on a classic. They bake the chicken here so it was a drier dish than we have had elsewhere, but the chicken had great flavor and was super juicy, but with very dark baked skin. So good. My wife really liked were the crispy chickpeas she ordered! To be honest at first I wasn't sure about them. There is a flavor that I was not familiar with so I was kinda like ok, but then we took them home, you get a lot, and we had them the next day and I was addicted. I don't know if it's because something magical happened over night where the flavor came together, or more likely my palate adjusted. Either way this prolly now our go to snack to munch on while watching tv. At home I was eating them with my hands like popcorn and was disappointed when we ran out. We sat outside in the courtyard, and it was a touch chilly so we had them turn on the heater and it was fine. The server was super nice and we kind of felt bad because we were the only folks outside so she had to cover a lot of ground to check on us. This is definitely a go to place us we think. Quiet, comfortable, and tasty! read more

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Charming Cuban restaurant with a beautiful courtyard and amazing daiquiris! We stopped by just for drinks, but the food smelled incredible and definitely made us want to come back. The cocktail menu is thoughtfully organized by technique (so unique!), featuring a large selection of classics as well as creative twists. We thoroughly enjoyed our drinks--the frozen daiquiri was hands down the best I've ever had, and you can truly tell how skilled the bartender is. The courtyard is lovely and adds a lot of charm to the space. That said, it does allow smoking, so we unfortunately didn't enjoy sharing the space with a group of smokers. Would sit indoors next time! read more

Manolito - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

What a STUNNING place for an evening to relax with some delicious drinks and just great food as well! Absolutely enjoyed the vibe here--chic yet relaxing? Definitely recommend visiting here, almost feels like hidden gem! Must try's are definitely the croquettes & one of their drinks! read more

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Such a great find! Delish daiquiri - home made! And excellent nibbles. Small but mighty read more

Manolito - Amaretto Sour - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

One of the best drink and food experiences I had in NOLA. The bartender was super friendly. The owner was approachable and passionate. The croquetas has such a rich, delicious flavor with a really crispy outside and creamy, dense ham and potato filling inside. My banana daiquiri was made with fresh banana. And the ambiance inside was so casual chic. I would absolutely suggest using their space for an event. read more

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Don't go to Manolito if it's the only place open in the Quarter, not just because the food was sub-par, but because ownership could not be ruder. I received this reply to my Google Review from the Manolito: "Really putting that bachelor's English degree from Berkeley to work with unhinged reviews of businesses and glowing reviews of... car dealerships, eh, Hannah? Your writing is drier than a biology textbook. Next time someone asks if everything is okay, maybe try telling the staff you didn't like the food? You probably wouldn't have had to pay for it. Enjoy the rest of your time in New Orleans and don't let the door hit you on the way out. P.S. - Our food is awesome." My review on Google still stands and reflects the experience my party and I had: "Profoundly underwhelming and shocked it has over 4 stars. Overall, the food was average and, more or less, flavorless-- I'd consider it to be far from authentic. Cuban sandwich was like cat food on bread. Arepa was tiny and bland. Smash burger was alright, but nothing special. Same with the Nah Colada. A terrible intro to the Quarter's food scene and more emblematic of a 2-star-reviewed restaurant." Why put money into the pockets of people like this, even if the food wasn't terrible? read more

Came here for dinner and we were led to a little courtyard that gives you the perfect Cuban vibes. We each ordered a Daiquiri, they were both very yummy. Ham and Cheese croquettes were 100/100. Crispy on the outside, creamy and cheesy inside. It was a dream. Molasses plantains were good, but some of them were a little too burnt. The chicken in our Arroz Con Pollo came quite dry. We checked with the server and she kindly checked with the chicken and gave us a new one that is much more moist. That is good service but I'd suggest the kitchen should never have served subpar dishes to guests. I would still recommend this place for a special occasion. It's a solid 4.5/5 for me. read more

Manolito - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I had such high hopes for this place as I have read the reviews and heard such great things about this place, but it was not great at all. The only thing they have going for them, at least the night we went, are the really great drinks. We came here for dinner reservations on Red Dress Run night, I will admit, I don't think that was the best night to try this place for the first time, but we had reservations. I did not make these reservations, but the point is, the service should have been better since we had reservations a month in advance. I came here with 6 friends. There were only 4 of us, and they seated us upstairs on what can only be described as on top of a boiler room. The heat was so bad, I questioned whether they had ac. There was seating outside on this hot August day, but I thought it would be too hot but as the evening went on, I think that was mistake to not opt for the outdoor seating. And I think we should have requested to move after we sat there for nearly 2 hours without food. The four of us were seated and we ordered drinks right away, we didn't wait for our 2 other friends. They arrived about 20 minutes later, and someone new came to our table to take our order as they hadn't looked at the menu yet. One ordered a diet coke, the other an adult beverage. When they ordered their first drinks, the four of us ordered our second drinks. We are there now close to an hour, and haven't ordered apps or any food yet because no servers came up to our area and we are starting to feel just how hot it is. When another server came to deliver the drinks, I ordered just a cup of ice for me to put on my face and chest as I told that server - one of our many servers that night - that it was quite hot. They came back with the cup of ice and we ordered apps and food. The diet coke never arrived for our friend, but they did ensure we had those $20 cocktails each...heh. We are close to 1.5 hours now, we got our apps, we asked our third? or fourth new server, (I don't think any of the servers wanted to go up there honestly) if we could all just have cups of ice to put on our faces to cool off and that waiter was aggravated with us, and just brought us a pitcher of water. I thought about trying to set up the random fan that was up there, but I decided not to. That is more proof this balcony, upstairs seating was way to hot - to just have a fan half set up. The entrees arrived over 2 hours after we ordered. The apps and the entrees were nothing special. I was very irritated that the appetizer fries' costs like $8 and there were about 8 fries, so yeah, one dollar a fry, I guess. And the Cuban melt I had from this Cuban establishment, was small and not authentic or flavorful for at all. Very big disappointment. I don't think I will go back here again, if I did, it would only be in Jan or Feb, when ac is not required and only order drinks. read more

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What a great dining experience! We went for an early dinner after a ride on the Natchez. We sat outside in the back. We had a mojito and a guava daiquiri, both were fantastic. We ordered the black bean Hummus, the Arroz con Pollo and black beans with rice. I don't remember what my husband ordered, but he loved it. It was like a burger of some kind and had potato stix. I loved everything about this dining experience. The food was flavorful just reminded me of being in the Gulf. Our waitress was busting her ass and provided fantastic service. She was friendly and gave great recommendations. I will definitely return here on my next trip! read more

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I am so bummed out about this place. Bad food, bad service, and hot as hell! But first the positives! The drinks are delicious! Every single one of of them was delicious!!! However the service was terrible! We waited for about an hour in between drinks and it took forever to place our food order and forever to get the drinks. Matter of fact we are still waiting for our food and nothing!!! Now to the service. Aside from the extremely long wait! We had to clear our own table to make room for our drinks and move our dirty glassware to the table that had just vacated. It has been an hour and they haven't cleared any rooms f the tables. We pretty much had to beg for ice and water. We ended stealing the water from the other tables near us. The first waiter we had was lovely but she left us in the hands of a rude waiter who seems aggravated every time we want to follow up on our order or order something else. Really this place was awful!!! And the food was bad!! The ceviche was tasteless, the Cubans were no Cubans, the smashed burger wasn't smashed and the ropa vieja was dry!! But the absolute worst is how hot this place is!!!! This was an awful sauna it was like a 110! We would have been cooler outside in the middle of the summer! I thought after the renovation there would be some AC but this place feels like a sauna!!! There is but a single tiny fan that blows no air. I guess they are trying to recreate the feeling of Havana before the invention of AC!!! Just disappointing, sad, overpriced and just bad! So as much as I loved the drinks, I will never come back to this place; unless it is the middle of winter. They get two stars because of the drinks but it really should be a one. read more

Manolito you are an island of solitude in an ocean of turbulent joy. Manolito hosts a comprehensive celebration of cocktails that is light years beyond what's available just a few streets up. Manolito is a terrific little hideaway and a great place to take a date. Book a reservation inside and you might get the upstairs. Which is a perfect quiet spot. The food is good, mostly small plates to accentuate your drinks. I'd ask the servers what pairs well, but even if you roll the dice you'll likely come out fine. The joint practically runs on island time. If you're in a hurry, this isn't the place for you. The cocktails are lovingly created with the finest ingredients and they take time to make. Manolito may not get the recognition that Jewel of the South does, but this does not mean you should overlook it. In fact, a killer cocktail crawl must include Manolito. read more

Manolito - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

What an absolutely AMAZING place! I felt like I was right back in Miami when we walked through the doors. They have an awesome and innovative drink menu and they absolutely CRUSHED with their food. It tasted like my friends, grandma's home cooked meal. The service was absolutely phenomenal & it was such a chill and vibey atmosphere. I will definitely be coming back whenever I'm in NOLA. read more

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Everything was really nice. They got there early. We sat outside and it was quite enough to talk. Nice patio. Food was good.

Went here twice on my recent trip and would go back. First time was just for drinks with coworkers and once with friends and fam. Cocktails here are fruity fresh and strong! I had a guava daquiri based on recommendation from waitress and it was excellent. Next night i tried to mix it up with a banana daquiri which was also good but not as good as guava -- but as i stated above banana daquiri hit hard. For food wife and buddies got cuban sammies and i had arroz con pollo. My cuban friend, who grew up in S Florida, said it was all very tradition preparation. The sammmies looked a lil thin but ever loved them. My chicken and rice was top notch. For food we went after Krewe Du Vieux and it was super packed so service was a bit slow because of that and everyone likely arriving at same time right after parade. This isnt typical new orleans food but i have heard a local describe nola as northern most place in Caribbean. I would definitely go back but probably not first place on my list of must try restaurants. read more

Oh boy... a few days into our New Orleans trip my friend and I were in the French Quarter in the evening and wanted some quality food and well-crafted cocktails in a more laid-back environment (not a combination you find everywhere in that part of town). Manolito was definitely one of the most memorable food/cocktail experiences from our whole trip! We shared the arepa and croquettes, and I had the Cuban sandwich and she had the black bean soup for dinner -- everything tasted amazing and was a nice change of pace from other foods we had tried on our trip. I can't remember the name of the cocktails we chose, but they were both delicious, and all of the staff were welcoming, helpful and friendly. I recommend sitting upstairs or out in their lovely courtyard for the best experience read more

Popped in for a light bite and a cocktail on a Friday evening. It was surprisingly quiet and I was seated on the second level overlooking the bar area. My server was friendly and attentive and I ordered the banana daiquiri to start. I also tried the Cuban, which was very solid. The ham and cheese croquettes are alright, but seemed to be lacking something from the flavor profile. The fries were delicious but super salty. I don't mind, but be warned. I was in a hurry, so only got to try the one cocktail, but the next time I'm in town, I'll be back to try some more drinks. read more

Manolito - Banana Daiquiri - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Great place, very friendly staff. Food was great ! Will definitely come back. This is a great place for a quick afterwork cocktail, the patio feels so nice at night, but if you want something more intimate head upstairs for a more cozy and private atmosphere. read more

Stopped in for a light late-night meal after meeting the owner briefly in the airport. Wasn't really expecting much, being in a fairly touristy area of the French Quarter; thought we might get over-price bland food. Wow, was I surprised! Food was fabulous--even simple items like marinated olives and black bean soup were flavorful and delicious! We ate in the secluded ground-level courtyard, which was quiet and very nice. There are indoor seats on the ground floor and balcony level that have a vibrant vibe. It is just a few steps from the French Market, another plus. Well worth the walk to Manolito! We'll certainly be back! read more

Been here multiple times during my visits. The people are amazing, the food is top notch, and the drinks are simply delectable. I saw a really negative review that was based in complete dishonesty. Clearly he had some personal issues and took it out on the establishment. But just take a look at the other reviews and you can see how absolutely mental they were to think this spot was anything but amazing. read more

Sat at the bar on a Saturday about 4pm and had ceviche, croquetas, and cocktails. Great service, tasty bites, and wonderful drinks.

Food , service and ambience are really cool! The cocktails are simply stunning here! read more

Manolito - Croquetas - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Great cocktails in a lovely location in the quarter. Really enjoyed the Hotel Nacional and a Mojito while sitting in the courtyard. Server was attentive . Would definitely return to try some of the menu offerings. read more

Manolito - Hotel Nacional and Mojito - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

The ambiance is so cozy, cute, and fun. The service is fast, efficient, and super friendly. The food and drinks were all amazing.

AMAZING restaurant, seems like a hole in the wall but it's incredible. Had dinner reservations there on NYE, service was fast and the staff was attentive and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend coming HUNGRY, we got the hummus and ham & cheese croquetas for appetizers, and the arroz con pollo for our main. Beware you have to work through the chicken as it's bone-in, but sooo worth it. Drinks are phenomenal and love the cocktail menu!! read more

I was visiting New Orleans a week ago and I happen to just search Cuban food in Manolito popped up. Everyone was really nice and welcoming when we got there. The food was good. I started off with the black bean soup. I'll be honest I wasn't really crazy about the soup. Because it really wasn't soup. It really seemed just like black beans smashed. The seasoning/flavor was there, but the consistency was not of a soup. I had a side of black beans on my entrée and had I known that I probably would not have gotten it. The ham and cheese croquettes were good! The cheese arepa was really good! But keep in mind it's only one. so if you're sharing it, you might want to order more than one. For my entree, I got the Ropa Vieja. That was excellent! Overall, I really like the food. I just wasn't crazy about the black bean soup. But that could just be a personal preference. Try it for yourself! read more

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One of the best decisions on my NOLA trip was stopping by here for some drinks. Interior was so cute, cocktails were fantastic, server was friendly and attentive. The food menu looks delicious but unfortunately I had a dinner reservation so didn't dine here. I'd definitely come back and highly recommend! read more

Great spot! Ambiance, food, cocktails were all great! The Hotel National cocktail was delicious- still thinking about it days later! We also enjoyed the Arroz con Pollo and Cuban sandwich! We sat in the courtyard and the scent of jasmine was everything! read more

Needed a late night dinner that wasn't painful on the stomach. It's a small place with great ambiance and limited menu. Seating is available inside and the courtyard. We sat upstairs, which was so cozy and overlooked the first floor. The party had arroz con pollo and the ROPA VIEJA with flan for dessert. The flavors in both dishes were off the chart! Such a welcome change from the usual NOLA food. Service was quick and friendly. I would recommend reservations during peak times as it's small- but worth the wait if you had to wait. It made our evening. read more

Manolito - ROPA VIEJA - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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I stopped by Manolito with a group of 6 girlfriends to get a round of drinks. This is a very small spot, but they were able to accommodate us on the second floor. The drinks were amazing! They were a little pricier than some other spots nearby, but the quality of the beverages were worth the price. The service was not bad at all...especially as we came in with a large group without reservations...I am not sure if you need reservations at this place, but it probably couldn't hurt seeing how small it was. When I come back to NOLA I would love to stop by again. read more

One of the quarter's best kept secrets - shhh. The first time I came here was in 2019. I make my way back time and time again to get a cold drink during the hot New Orleans summers. The vibe is swanky and European. I love the huge selection of cocktails especially blended ones with fresh fruit. They recently renovated allowing for more guests to come. I usually get the croquettas, the black bean hummus and Cuban sandwich. Service is stellar. It's always a fun place to bring people who have never been. read more

Manolito - Menus - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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The best cocktails ever. For snacks we had the Cuban sandwich and Cuban smash burger, ham and cheese croquettes. All delicious but the cocktails were the star! read more

Manolito - Cuban sandwich and Cuban smashburger - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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The drinks were delicious. I tried the blended guava, definitely could taste the guava flavor, and the nice blend of violet and cachaca. Freshly made. The classic pina colada was awesome, and you can't really go wrong with that especially with fresh ingredients. The presentation was really nice too, sugar rim, just super elevated with a casual, friendly atmosphere. I did not try the food, but the menu looked really good and based on my experience with the drinks I'd bet the food is equally as delicious. I would def go back! read more

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Trendy spot recommended by a friend (cocktail connoisseur). The place wasn't busy when I got there so I picked a seat on the back patio. Cocktail menu is awesome... ordered a Banana Manhattan based on a rec from the staff (wanted something unique). Loved it! Not too sweet, just a hint of banana. The food was OK. I've had better Cubans and better fries, but still good. Giving it 4 stars overall... 5 based on cocktails, but 3/3.5 based on food. read more

Manolito - Banana Manhattan - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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These are the best frozen drinks in the quarter. (As they claim on their website). These are for real.. not the cheap drink mix + sugar over on bourbon for the tourists. My fave is the Floridita They're operating out of the door right now. NOLA is currently NOT allowing to-go cocktails during this phase of the pandemic. You must be seated. ManoLito has put out stools and chairs so sit yourself. Too hot to walk anyway read more

Manolito - The Floridita outside Manolito - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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If you are looking for something different, unique and cozy try this place out. Lots of unique drink options, but it's really small. Like only seats probably 15-20 people max! read more

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Beware of this place ! This is an insult to real Cuban food! Very disappointing. Food overly seasoned. Croquetes as they call them had nothing to with a real croqueta. Please if you want Cuban food do not eat here. Cute place and good drinks. But food was uneatable. ! read more

Manolito - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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We've been frequenting Manolito for about a year now and it just keeps getting better and better. The bartenders there are top notch and all of their recommendations have exceeded expectations. My favorites there are the Hotel Nacional and the El Presidente. The food there is great too. I love the ropa vieja, beans and rice, Cuban sandwich, and chicken empanadas. The flavor can't be beat! read more

Manolito - Drinks before dinner - Cuban Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana