Restaurants with good cocktail menus.

[caperio]

I love to have cocktails, but I'd like to have them in the same place I stop for dinner! I like well crafted cocktails like found at Cure and Loa Bar (in the International House). Does anyone know great places in the city that serves a great meal and great cocktails?

I'm a fan of La Crepe Nanou and LA Thai, but I'm looking for new places. I recently found out about Coquette and I'll probably try there first.

[kevin25]

I've been looking for a great cocktail before dinner at Brigtsens. we are staying at the international house so should we just have cocktails there? at Loa Bar

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Brigtsen's Restaurant
723 Dante St, New Orleans, LA 70118

[Hschultz00]

Loa is a top 5 bar In Nola. Anyone there will make a fantastic drink.

[caperio]

I agree, Loa Bar's drink selection is great and the mixologists are friendly. They have a very eclectic ingredient list, including pine needles! I can't speak for the cocktail menu at Brigsten's though. I might suggest Oak since its only a few blocks away from Brigsten's for a drink before hand. Will you be taking the street car down to Brigsten's or driving? It might be best to settle into Loa Bar for the night as I found their drinks pretty strong.

[Monch]

Thanks for these two recommendations!

Whenever we streetcar to Brigtsen's, we seem to arrive early. Sipping a Saz in their foyer is nice, but not the same as relaxing at a nice bar.

We'll also keep Loa Bar on our radar!

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Brigtsen's Restaurant
723 Dante St, New Orleans, LA 70118

[kevin25]

is it easy to take the st car from the international house to Brigtsens?

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Brigtsen's Restaurant
723 Dante St, New Orleans, LA 70118

[caperio]

It shouldn't be too bad. If the weather is nice I would recommend it (when it is still light out). At night the street car is lit from the inside and doesn't allow for much sight seeing. It costs 1.25 per person to ride; however, the ride may take an hour as you have to take the St. Charles car to Carrollton. Once you get off the car its only two 1/2 blocks to Brigsten's. So, if you'd like to get some sight seeing done, the weather is tolerable, and you have an early reservation (or plan to eat early) I would definitely opt for the street car.

[Monch]

Taking the streetcar to Brigtsen's is actually PART of our ritual.

Stopping at The Columns for a beverage in that wonderful room is part of the allure of taking that ride.

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Brigtsen's Restaurant
723 Dante St, New Orleans, LA 70118

[fat harry]

Coquette without a doubt.

[ClevelandRandy]

I am planning dinners at Atchafalaya and Dante's Kitchen for my upcoming trip, and both had some enticing cocktail selections on their menus.

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Dante's Kitchen
736 Dante Street, New Orleans, LA 70118

[noradeirdre]

Try the Goodnight Moon dessert cocktail at Dante's, it was the best drink we had all night (and they were all good.)

[caperio]

Cafe Atchafalaya is great! I cannot say enough good things about my experience there.

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Cafe Atchafalaya
901 Louisiana Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115

[Bdav1818]

Sylvain in the French Quarter - without a doubt, do not miss this great spot. Earlier this year, I had a great meal with hand-crafted cocktails there and I can't wait to go back (favorites were the beet bruschetta, house-made pickled vegetable plate, and the fried chicken breast sandwich).

I also tried Coquette on that trip and was less than impressed with the cocktails and the food - I was really looking forward to trying it, and was pretty disappointed based on all the good reviews they're getting.

I love the Swizzle Stick Bar, but would stick to apps and drinks there are do your full meals elsewhere.

[montuori]

Check out the Green Goddess. Their cocktails trend towards fresh and interesting combinations of ingredients rather than old standards. Tujagues -- when Paul's on the stick -- has the best classic cocktails around (and rumor has it the serve food there ... never got beyond the bar myself).

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Green Goddess
307 Exchange Place, New Orleans, LA 70130

Tujague's
823 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116

[mrsfury]

+1 re: Green Goddess

[Monch]

+2 for Green Goddess....best Aviation anyone's ever served me.

[ClevelandRandy]

Wow, had never heard of an Aviation, but looked it up and it sounds great (as do quite a few of Green Goddess' other offerings). Is Green Goddess the type of place one could stop in and have a drink at the bar, or not really?

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Green Goddess
307 Exchange Place, New Orleans, LA 70130

[Monch]

You sure could, if you were lucky.

They are VERY "compact" in space. If memory serves, they only have about six barstools and the patron's barspace competes with the liquor bottles for elbow room.....the grill is right behind the bar.

All that said, it's a very cool space and great food/drink. When last we visited, we devoted TWO lunches to Green Goddess in a three day trip...and we don't make choices like that lightly....too many great places to visit.

Please give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

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Green Goddess
307 Exchange Place, New Orleans, LA 70130

[edible complex]

Iris and Boucherie

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Boucherie
8115 Jeannette St, New Orleans, LA 70118

[swampsue]

Oops, just saw you got that one, didn't you? There is also the Bouligny Tavern next to LIlette (same owner). Small plates and adjacent to LIlette, so I would guess they might share cocktails (only a guess)

[joedontexan]

the bombay club in the prince conti hotel

[swampsue]

Coquette!

[collardman]

Park at the Pierre Marquet, get your drinks at their Bar Uncommon and eat at MiLa.

[Hschultz00]

Sam at Mila is one of the best kept secrets in New Orleans. Sit at the bar, have him create a drink for you, and eat dinner there.

[kibbles]

yeah he is definitely amazing. our new favorite bartender in the city.

[caperio]

Any suggestion on a good day to go? Or when to catch 'Sam'?

[Hschultz00]

He is usually there for evening dinner service, Tues-Sat 5 til close, almost always.

[TaTee]

Great drinks from the Swizzle Bar, adjacent to Cafe Adelaide in the Lowe's Hotel.

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Cafe Adelaide
300 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130

[JazzyB]

IMO, Cafe Adelqide is no great shakes. Stick to the bar menu with your cocktails at Swizzle Stick. Coquette's food and cocktails are really good. Domenica has interesting cocktails, great lasagna (normally not a fan), pizza, squash blossoms.

You'll do bettert ordering an all app meal at Lilette with a bottle of proseco (or sparkling cocktail) rather than small plates at Bouilgny Tavern.

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Lilette
3637 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115

Domenica
123 Baronne Street, New Orleans, LA 70112