Between the wrought iron balconies and the brass bands and the unbridled commitment to opulence, New Orleans could never be mistaken for anywhere else.
This is an American city that can seem happily adrift in an alternate world, buoyed by history and cocktails and a cuisine all its own. We at Pinhook are particularly charmed by NOLA’s bourbon whiskey connection—one of its many supposed origin stories holds that the whiskey got its name from Bourbon Street, where it became a popular tipple in the 19th century. Today, Pinhook has its own special connection to New Orleans: It's where Master Blender Sean Josephs hangs his hat.
Among our favorite spots in New Orleans, you’ll find century-old standbys and boundary-pushing new restaurants. You’ll find holes in the wall serving award-winning food and lavish bars famed for their cocktails. You’ll even find a whiskey bar or two. (In fact, an asterisk next to a listing below indicates that Pinhook bourbon or rye is available at the establishment.)
Classic New Orleans
Galatoire's
Come to this formal 1905 restaurant in the French Quarter for its famed Friday lunch, when the local business crowd eases itself into the weekend. Pro tip: get a seat in the downstairs room.
209 Bourbon Street galatoires.com
Brennan's*
There’s no more sumptuous setting in the city in which to dine on fine classic Creole dishes, plus the restaurant’s signature Bananas Foster dessert. (The Kenton cocktail is made with Pinhook Rye, Peychaud’s Bitters, and Herbsaint Rinse.)
417 Royal Street brennansneworleans.com
Clancy's
This few-frills spot serves straightforward, expertly prepared Creole dishes on white tablecloths in an Uptown location that keeps the vibe distinctly local.
6100 Annunciation Street clancysneworleans.com
The New Guard
Pêche
Seafood takes center stage in this sprawling Warehouse District space helmed by boundary-pushing chef Donald Link. It’s served up in a grand fashion that’s great for group sharing.
800 Magazine Street pecherestaurant.com
Saint-Germain
This is a well-curated wine bar first, but in a small Bywater space with outsized culinary ambitions, and the accolades to show for it.
3054 St. Claude Avenue saintgermainnola.com
Bywater American Bistro*
This neighborhood, and neighborhood-transforming, restaurant in a former rice mill has gained acclaim on a national scale. (Check out their Gandalf the Grey cocktail, made with Pinhook Bourbon, lime, Creme de Violet, and simple syrup.)
2900 Chartres Street bywateramericanbistro.com
Mosquito Supper Club*
Chef Melissa Martin cooks the Cajun seafood dishes she grew up loving in her hometown of Chauvin, Louisiana, out of an unassuming Uptown house. (The Jerbis Scherbis cocktail here combines Pinhook Rye, Fred Jerbis Amaro, strawberry, and lemon.)
3824 Dryades Street mosquitosupperclub.com
Coquette*
There’s not much this restaurant in the Irish Channel neighborhood can’t do with aplomb—endlessly inventive dinners, lunches, brunches, and cocktails served under chandeliers at the dramatic wooden bar.
2800 Magazine Street coquettenola.com
The Chloe*
This restaurant in the ravishing boutique hotel of the same name has become a hot ticket with the locals, as well, with its updated takes on classic New Orleans fare and meticulous cocktails.
4125 St. Charles Avenue thechloenola.com
Compère Lapin*
The Carribean food at this spot in the Old NO. 77 Hotel provides a great reason to change things up in a city where Cajun and Creole cuisines dominate. Don’t sleep on the fantastic cocktails, including the I'm Not Dead Yet, made with Pinhook Bourbon, Moscatel, Amaro, and Cocchi Bianco.
535 Tchoupitoulas Street comperelapin.com
Cochon
The industrial vibe of the dining room here is a departure from your standard New Orleans atmosphere, but the modern Cajun dishes could hardly exist anywhere else. The wood-fired oysters are not to be missed.
930 Tchoupitoulas Street cochonrestaurant.com
Sandwiches Etc.
Domilise's Po-Boy & Bar
This delightful Uptown hole in the wall has been serving up unrivaled po’ boys in generous portions for a century. You can’t go wrong with the Half & Half—equal parts shrimp and oyster.
5250 Annunciation Street domilisespoboys.com
Cochon Butcher
This offshoot of the restaurant Cochon specializes in house-made cured meats and sausages, many of which form the basis of epic sandwiches. Their muffaletta, a classic New Orleans sandwich, is one of the better ones around.
930 Tchoupitoulas Street cochonbutcher.com
Turkey & The Wolf
Few restaurants, let alone sandwich shops, gain the kind of national acclaim bestowed on this Lower Garden District spot. The fried bologna sandwich and collard green melt in particular have earned cult followings.
739 Jackson Avenue turkeyandthewolf.com
High Hat Cafe
The catfish steals the show at this casual Uptown soul food spot, where the cocktail program is surprisingly astute. (The Space Cowboy is a favorite).
4500 Freret Street highhatcafe.com
Bars and Cocktails
Cure
At arguably the most visionary cocktail bar in the city, patrons are destined to sip on something unprecedented. The reimagined historic firehouse supplies an appropriately dramatic backdrop.
4905 Freret Street curenola.com
Bar Marilou
Even given New Orleans’ typically sultry interior design tendencies, the lavishness of this cocktail bar in the Maison de la Luz Hotel stands out. The francophile vibe extends to the French pop music backing the hum of conversation.
544 Carondelet Street barmarilou.com
Sylvain*
This pleasantly worn-in space in a former carriage house features food that’s better than it needs to be and a cocktail menu that doesn’t shy away from complexity.
625 Chartres Street sylvainnola.com
French 75 Bar
The cocktail expertise on display at this French Quarter classic is unparalleled. The original home of the eponymous French 75 cocktail, the bar also serves innovative new creations.
813 Bienville Street arnaudsrestaurant.com/bars/french-75
Manolito
Locals love this snug bi-level Cuban spot that also serves up a mean frozen cocktail. It’s named after a legendary bartender at Havana’s La Floridita, where Hemingway used to drink.
508 Dumaine Street manolitonola.com
The Avenue Pub
With sprawling selections of both beer and whiskey, this two-story bar attracts die-hards and casual drinkers alike. Head out to the balcony and watch life on St. Charles Avenue passing by. Bonus: The kitchen is open 24 hours a day.
1732 St. Charles Avenue avenuepub.com
Barrel Proof*
This bar is after our hearts, with literally hundreds of whiskeys on offer. The wood-paneled room and long bar provide the ideal atmosphere for sipping and sampling.
1201 Magazine Street barrelproofnola.com
Jewel of the South
No surprise that the cocktails steal the show here, given that they’re created by Chris Hannah and Nick Detrich, two of New Orleans' most renowned bartenders. But the food more than holds its own, as well.
1026 St. Louis Street jewelnola.com
Pluck Wine Bar
Sommelier Skye LaTorre opened this cheery, sophisticated wine bar to help customers explore the vast world of wine without pretention. Her particular passion for champagne and burgundy come through on the list.
722 Girod Street pluckwines.com
Bacchanal
Where better to wrap up the list than with this must-visit establishment that defies categorization. A combination live music venue, wine bar, al fresco scene, restaurant, and bar—it’s a bacchanal, indeed.
600 Poland Avenue bacchanalwine.com
