There’s perhaps no place better than New Orleans for a holiday cocktail crawl. In addition to signature cocktails, festive decor is found in abundance throughout the French Quarter and Central Business District. Block out an afternoon or evening for the spots below, and please remember to drink responsibly on your crawl.
BAR MARILOU
Start your crawl at Bar Marilou. Let Them Eat Cake! is a clarified milk punch inspired by Chantilly cream cake, with vanilla-infused vodka, raspberry eau de vie, amaretto, and four-berry preserves, served on the rocks and garnished with freeze-dried raspberry powder. They’ve also got gin-based Spruce is Loose! and Mistletoe Mai-Tai, a holiday twist on the rum-based classic.
POLO CLUB LOUNGE
The Royal Chocolate Eggnog is a decadent festive treat, made with five spirits including dark rum, bourbon, brandy, amaretto, and chocolate liqueur. Stop by Polo Club Lounge in the Windsor Court Hotel for a taste.
MISS RIVER
Most of December is technically fall, and Miss River (inside Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans) has the perfect cocktail for the season. The Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini takes the classic drink and transforms it into the ultimate fall cocktail.
CHANDELiER BAR
The S’mores Milk Punch is the perfect sweet holiday treat. Located in the lobby of Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, the cocktail is a boozy fireside delight with notes of vanilla, dark chocolate, cream, and cinnamon, and topped with a graham cracker and toasted marshmallows.
The Sazerac Bar
Start at the Roosevelt Hotel, first to ooh and ahh at their lobby decorated with over 60,000 twinkling lights. Then pop on over to The Sazerac Bar to sip on their holiday cocktails.
Davenport Lounge
Our next stop is the festive Ritz Carlton, which will be fully decked out for the season. Head to Davenport Lounge for jazz and a cocktail during your stop.
Carousel Bar
Located inside Hotel Monteleone, Carousel Bar is as whimsical as it sounds. Add the lobby’s festive decor, and it makes for a perfect holiday cocktail setting. Enjoy the Holiday Sidecar with cognac, curaçao, and agave nectar this December.
GW FINS
This French Quarter restaurant has plenty of holiday cocktails to offer, including the Irishman Mule, Mezcal Apple Cider Margarita, X-Mas Cookie, and fan favorite “Snoop Noggy Nog” with Aperol, dry vermouth, vanilla syrup, heavy cream, and optional egg white.
French 75 Bar
Arnaud’s French 75 Bar serves classic New Orleans cocktails and tasty bites, including their famous soufflé potatoes. Stop by to see which seasonal cocktails they have up their sleeve.
Bombay Club
This spot specializes in martinis, but we’d recommend the Brandy Milk Punch, a sweet, creamy cognac drink perfect for the holidays.
Rib Room
Step inside the Rib Room at Omni Royal Orleans Hotel for a special holiday cocktail: Aged Creole Eggnog. Enjoy the notes of bourbon, cognac, and dark rum all while cozying up to the bar.
THE COUNTRY CLUB
Not quite on the French Quarter cocktail trail, it’s worth venturing out to The Country Club for their Gin Blossom cocktail, made with Hayman’s London Dry Gin, Dolin Dry, and Fassbind Apricot Eau de Vie.
For even more holiday cocktail ideas, and for everything Holidays New Orleans style, see here.