Bellocq

Bellocq is my favorite bar in the city, hands down. Matt, the manager, defines what's the New Orleans experience should look like. He makes sure to personally get to know all of his customers to ensure they are getting a drink uniquely tailored to them. My best advice is ditch the menu and trust Matt. Tell him what you usually drink and what type of drink you're interested in, and he'll whip up the most innovative and delicious cocktail you've ever tasted. The venue itself is one of the most unique in the city, decked out in dark velvet with fringe curtains. Tons of comfy couches for a more intimate gathering, but I would suggest perching up at the bar and getting to know the bartenders. I've followed Matt through the various bars in the city he has worked at, and I must say, he continuously gets better, move innovative, and his work at bellocq is truly the best in the city.

Named for a pre-Prohibition-era artist best known for photographing New Orleans’ red light district, this Central Business District cocktail den was one of the biggest openings of 2012. The sultry, Interview with the Vampire-style space revolves around an extensive list of creative cocktails by the Cure’s Neal Bodenheimer, Kirk Estopinal and Matthew Kohnke. They tackle traditional cocktails as well as of-the-moment trends like 19th Century drinks (Pequot Fizz, anyone?), as well as cobblers made with El Dorado 5-year or Amontillado sherry.

Yes, amazing and worth the trip from the Quarter - very different. Take a pedicab but tip well because of the distance. We cabbed back for $7.50 plus tip. If Kim is behind the bar (10 year veteran there) eat at the bar and let her advise you. Save room for the local Satsuma Fruit Creme Brule and BEG her for a taste of her own Satsumacello infusion with ginger kaffir lime and black pepper (they go together so well). I've never had anything like the lamb crepe appetizer and they managed to make my wife's steak something new without disappointing. I'm still a little "under the influence" because she NAILED my bourbon taste with something I've never had before ("gunpowder & steel" characterizes my taste in bourbons) but I'm also still beaming because of the dinner flavors stilll lingering. If this was closer to the Quarter you wouldn't be able to get in.