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!

Always and I mean always a must stop when I am in NOLA. Even if I'm not there to do touristy…read morethings, I still need to swing by. I love Lafitte's so much. I mean you can't go to NOLA without getting some cherries and purple drink, amiright? Of course they get crowded but service is fast and good. To me it's worth the wait for a table or a spot at the bar during those busier times. This is a piece of NOLA history that shouldn't be missed.

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!

We stumbled upon this place after dinner and absolutely loved the live music and the fun that was…read morebeing had. It was a great place to enjoy a drink, listen and watch the shenanigans, and just relax. Bartender was awesome and took great care of us, even though they were incredibly busy. It was definitely loud and not good for conversation, but we had a lot of fun.

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.

Came for the drinks, stayed for the vibes…read more I had only vaguely heard about this place, but when we stepped in for a quick drink, we were completely taken by surprise. Inside, there was a pianist leading a room full of people singing Christmas songs together ,it felt spontaneous, lively, and genuinely joyful. What was supposed to be a quick stop turned into us staying much longer than planned. The atmosphere was infectious, and we couldn't resist soaking it all in instead of just grabbing drinks to go.We had an amazing time and it truly lifted our spirits and ended up being a memorable part of the evening.

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!

Heard this is the best jazz bar in town, so we decided to enjoy our first drink here in town…read more I got both the Absinthe red and green, which is very strong and unique flavor that I never had before. Both bands performed that night were talented, lightened our first night in town.

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.

The Sazerac Bar at the The Roosevelt New Orleans prepares an outstanding Sazerac cocktail, as you…read morewould expect. While the Sazerac wasn't invented here, this is arguably its most iconic home, a place where New Orleans cocktail history comes to life. I would use this version as your gold standard when dining out in New Orleans and looking for a perfect Sazerac. We enjoyed watching bartender Rachel craft each drink. Rye whiskey, Peychaud's Bitters, and sugar are stirred in a small pitcher with ice. The serving glass is chilled, then emptied, and finished with an absinthe rinse along the rim. The cocktail is strained into the glass and topped with a lemon peel. The atmosphere makes the experience even better. The murals, the history, and the energy of the room give it a sense of occasion that you do not get at most bars. We had such a great time sitting at the bar that my wife and I each finished two and a half Sazeracs, which tells you everything you need to know.

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.

Such a nice little bar in CBD district. It was steps away from our hotel so we decided to try and…read moredefinitely glad we did. It's got eclectic style decor which was very cute, it was clean and drinks were good! Had one of the specialty martinis but I forget which one and had to try a sazarac because, well, when in New Orleans! The bartender was a super nice girl, originally from Texas. Overall great vibes and not in the crowded craziness of bourbon st.