Bayou Bar

Great food, drinks, service and atmosphere near the entrance of The Pontchartrain Hotel. Camila was our server who we relied upon for recommendations on everything and she didn't disappoint. I sipped on beer and rum. I'm not a fan of kale, but really liked our kale salad. My lady ordered the Molly Ringwald more than once. We split a Bayou Burger and a Catfish Sandwich with garlicy fries. It was all yummy. After closing out, we went to the Hot Tin penthouse bar to enjoy the views. A great NOLA afternoon.

It's a first-floor bar on St. Charles that offers quality live jazz nightly with no cover charge. I found plenty of free street parking on the side streets behind the bar. The bar menu was recently priced. We had a Cuban chicken sandwich and a cheeseburger. Both were delicious.

The food and atmosphere is incompatible!!! I love my gumbo and the Bayou burger (the meat patty is flavorful!) The ice cream cake (Mile high pie) is a bit pricy but I really love having sweets while enjoying the music (My friend doesn't like the mint flavor in the strawberry ice cream but I like it) relaxing atmosphere, The best combination of tasty food, and jazz music!

Pontchartrain Hotel Bayou Bar was a delightful experience. I was greeted by Kyra who made me feel welcome and found me a place even though I didn't have a reservation. At 7:30 pm it was standing room only for a great band with visiting Jazz Fest musicians joining the house regulars. So fun! Kyra worked to get people who really needed to sit a seat in the room or in the area just outside the door. Good food and drinks. The service was attentive and charming throughout the evening and I can't wait to go back!

Wow! We had a fantastic time at the Bayou Bar yesterday evening. The service? On point: well-timed and not intrusive, and our server JC treated us like royalty. The food? Each of our four dishes were so tasty, flavorful and fresh. (They have a much larger menu than what you see online, so there are plenty of options to choose from.) We are vegan, and I wasn't sure if there would be much for us to eat, but I just reached out in advance and the team was so accommodating to our request. Of course, we sampled a few of their drinks, and each one was fabulous, in both taste and presentation. The music? Their Wednesday night jazz combo was so good - a great interpretation of some quintessential tunes and some that we didn't recognize - all were outstanding. The band interacted with the crowd and seemed to be having as much fun as the listeners. The atmosphere? If you are like me, I love a good ambiance. The Bayou Bar is warm and welcoming and it was fun watching the St. Charles streetcar outside the window. We enjoyed the lovely holiday decorations and particularly the cocktail ornaments. (Do be aware that the bar is lively and popular - at least it was last night - so get there early if you want a seat!) We also had the pleasure of meeting Katie, the manager. She was so friendly and professional, and you could tell she really cared for her team and the patrons. She has done an amazing job curating an over-the-top experience. Our visits on this trip to New Orleans have included the Commander's Palace and the Grill Room at the Windsor Court and our experience at the Bayou Bar blew both of those institutions out of the water. We will be back for sure!

Tried it by accident and it was a delight. Claudia my bartender was delightful, attentive and even found me a plug to keep working. Had the grilled cheese with mushrooms and it was flavorful, light and not too much. also has a lil truffle. Cute place to just lounge and pop in during the day.

Great service and food for an early evening dinner! I had the catfish sandwich with the Parmesan garlic fries. My drink of choice was the Old Forester Birthday Bourbon. They have a good selection of bourbon.

Stopped in just for a quick drink while touring the garden district. Wonderful place to stop. Great drinks and had a great conversation with the bar tender. We had the best catfish sandwich we have ever had. Large filet, deep-fried, and a homemade coleslaw on the top. Also, a really great gumbo soup. Great cocktails! My wife had a pear drink that had a rose petal on the top of the drink. I'm glad we stopped in. As a history teacher, I also got my take of history with the picture of the official signing of the Saints into the NFL. Who knew it was done right here?

Great music, food, service, and cocktails. We always go to the Bayou Bar when we travel to New Orleans. Now they have a reservation system implemented, but you can still find some first come first serve seating. I had the gumbo and my husband always gets the fish sandwich. It is huge! Definitely get there early if you want a table and make sure to tip the band.

This place is a gem in the general lower Garden District/Garden District area of New Orleans because it has the best live jazz in the city six days a week. Some of the top performers in town play here regularly and it's just awesome. The cocktails and wine list are great and I have been here several times this summer. I finally had some appetizers, the wings and the fries were delicious. I know the restaurant where the food comes from is actually quite outstanding as well And the service staff are very pleasant. My favorite cocktail is the Hibis-Kiss and it's delicious! But really I come for the music and the laid-back vibe!

Stopped by after a football game on a whim for a quick snack and drink. We had 3 adults and 2 kids and they had no problem accommodating us. The food was very good -- catfish sandwich, wings, and kids chicken fingers and fries. Abe was amazing! So funny and sweet on top of being an amazing bartender. We didn't have to ask for anything.. it's like he could read our minds!!!! Will definitely be back.

NOLA NIGHTS!!! Love love love this hotel lobby bar especially the local live band on Wednesday nights. The best time with friends..so much fun. Good music, good drinks and good food selection. Can't wait to go back.

Best bartenders on earth!!! And if you're lucky enough to see Jordan Anderson on a Saturday night, then you know it's the best spot in New Orleans on any given Saturday!! Great ambiance!

The daytime bartender really is a gem. She was so friendly and welcoming, makes a hell of a tasty drink, and I will say - when t was slow she didn't stop working. She was keeping the place orderly and clean. I ended up working there for a couple hours after checkout and she was the best. I ordered the Molly Ringwald as my "because why not?" And it was delightful. Had the rib tips for lunch and they were also fantastic. Sweet and full of flavor. Great addition the hotel experience!

Great food, drinks and service. We also got there right when the live music was about to start so we enjoyed that as well. The space is definitely cozy but we liked that. We started off with wine and cocktails. For food we got the loaded hummus and the pork belly. The hummus was amazing. They used green chickpeas, sundried tomatoes and goat ricotta, served with pita. So tasty! All the components worked really well together. The pork belly came on top of collard greens and creamed corn. The whole bite with everything was such a good bite. Service was so great. Jason was helpful with answering questions and checking in on us a couple times even though it was packed.

This was our late night hangout during the first nights of our stay. We had the place to ourselves and the staff's full attention. The third time we tried to get in there was live music and the place was full to the doors. The music sounded great but we couldn't get in. Can't fault them for being successful. We'll try again before we leave for sure. Great place.

What a fantastic spot located inside the Pontchartrain Hotel. If you're a fan of Anne Rice or AMC's show "Mayfair Witches" I highly recommend a nightcap here! The bar closes at 11PM, during the week, but if you're in the area around 7PM I recommend stopping in for some live music!

In NOLA for a convention- drinks in the garden district! Pretty and yummy! Small menu but tasty stuff.

Ripped off. Had to reserve a table using the Open Table app and pay $55. Whenever that is the case, the money goes to the bill. Here, with zero disclosure (we checked), the money went to pay the band that was playing (so they claim). However, you can just walk into the place, hang at the bar, and not have to reserve (pay) for the privilege. So, we got to pay an extra $55 for the privilege of ordering food? Really feeling cheated and will not return. Beware!!! ***Contacted the manager as requested below. Nothing but crickets.

Just stopped in for afternoon drinks and a snack. Great service, well made drinks and excellent garlic fries. Thumbs up!

We were walking around looking for some fun on our first night in NOLA. We heard the music, so popped in. Bar was full, but was able to get a table in no time. Truly enjoyable.

Great drinks and Food!! The Ambiance and service were amazing! The food was great especially the Mile High Pie!!!

This bar is absolutely a must go to if you come to New Orleans. The bartender was absolutely amazing and super friendly and went above and beyond to please us. The food was absolutely great as well even though we only got things to pick on as we were waiting for our dinner. This is the bottom bar to the hot tin bar which is on the roof top of this hotel and as I said before it is a must go to if you are in New Orleans do not miss out.

Killer pianist! We had appetizers for dinner with cocktails. After the live music, go upstairs for the best view of all of NOLA. Bar is jamming with people enjoying the spot. Great time.

Wow! We had a fantastic time at the Bayou Bar yesterday evening. The service? On point: well-timed and not intrusive, and our server JC treated us like royalty. The food? Each of our four dishes were so tasty, flavorful and fresh. (They have a much larger menu than what you see online, so there are plenty of options to choose from.) We are vegan, and I wasn't sure if there would be much for us to eat, but I just reached out in advance and the team was so accommodating to our request. Of course, we sampled a few of their drinks, and each one was fabulous, in both taste and presentation. The music? Their Wednesday night jazz combo was so good - a great interpretation of some quintessential tunes and some that we didn't recognize - all were outstanding. The band interacted with the crowd and seemed to be having as much fun as the listeners. The atmosphere? If you are like me, I love a good ambiance. The Bayou Bar is warm and welcoming and it was fun watching the St. Charles streetcar outside the window. We enjoyed the lovely holiday decorations and particularly the cocktail ornaments. (Do be aware that the bar is lively and popular - at least it was last night - so get there early if you want a seat!) We also had the pleasure of meeting Katie, the manager. She was so friendly and professional, and you could tell she really cared for her team and the patrons. She has done an amazing job curating an over-the-top experience. Our visits on this trip to New Orleans have included the Commander's Palace and the Grill Room at the Windsor Court and our experience at the Bayou Bar blew both of those institutions out of the water. We will be back for sure!

Was staying just a few doors down. Totally awesome bartender. Sampled several Items on menu. If you have to have one item, have the catfish sandwich!

When my Mom and I were last in New Orleans, we stopped at the Bayou Bar before making our way over to Jack Rose. I really dug the dark interior of Bayou Bar that comprises dark wooden tables and a bar area in the back. Being that it would be a long day of celebrations with my cousins, we decided to order a couple of appetizers to tie us over. The wings were super good when ordered fried. So flavorful and savory, they were that I would come back just for the wings. The bruschetta was quite tasty and crispy, as well as flavorful. I washed down the wings and bruschetta with a pint of Nola Blonde Ale -- a local craft beer that I hadn't enjoyed before and was quite yummy and refreshing. Their beer list comprised many different New Orleans and Louisana-based craft releases that you can only find mostly in the local area. Bayou Bar was a great spot to enjoy some eats before moving on to the next place on our weekend excursion in New Orleans.

Excellent choice as a watering hole and place of reality in NO. The food was really good and the service was excellent.

Piano, bass, drums, sax and steak. Beautiful room, warm, comfortable, feels like a home. The manager Riley is a good man. We had been in an auto accident that day, decided to stick with our plans. Public transportation across town but every table and seat were taken. We were feeling down. Riley rolled out a whiskey barrel and two stools. Improvisation at its finest. Seven weeks later our car is still in N.O. Being repaired - hoping to stop back on our return to retrieve the auto.

Small bites and drinks are wonderful every time! The bartenders are always friendly. The music is always great. It is indeed one of my favorite places

Service was a little rocky to start (nobody greeted me, no sign to seat oneself) but the food was delicious! The kale salad looked like the leaves were too mature, but actually they were extremely tender. The lemon dressing was incredibly delicious - flavors of juice and zest of lemon (doubt it had anchovies, but didn't miss it). Just enough Parmesan, a small amount of raw cauliflower, and a generous quantity of absolutely perfect croutons. This is the best salad (kale or otherwise) I've had in a long time! Impressed with the salad, I suspected the desert would also be good. On my waiter's recommendation I ordered cheesecake with the dark cherry sauce. The cheesecake itself was incredibly tender and mildly flavored. The dish was topped with the crunchiest citrus zest I've ever eaten - fried perhaps? Don't know how to describe it. It wasn't candied; it was dry and crispy. Wish I knew how to replicate that!

Stopped in for music on a Thursday night. The room is a little too small for a 5 piece band with only a few tables available. There is ample space on the roof for music but for some reason they keep it in the bar. The drinks are expensive and poorly made. I had the worst and one of the most expensive Tom Collins drinks in my life. The redeeming thing about the joint is the food. The menu is small but the items come big, huge burger, huge garlic fry bowl, the food here is excellent.

Came inside for a midday drink and was pleasantly surprised. The bartender was very sweet and we ended up talking with him for a while. The ambiance was very nautical.

I was not impressed with the food. We ordered fries, rib tips, calamari, grilled cheese sandwiches and a duck and sausage gumbo. Of all the items the gumbo was the best by far. The roux tasted a little burned but it was delicious. The other item were ok, it's hard to ruin fries so I'll give them a pass on that but the other items needed work.

Recently checked this place out and had a fun, relaxing time. It's beautiful, for starters. Love the dim cozy lighting and the murals that cover the walls. There was live jazz, as is often the case, and an all around inviting atmosphere. The cocktails are delightful. I tried something called the Endless Summer--a refreshing blend of coconut water and tequila, with cucumber and toasted coconut--with a glass of smooth pinot gris to wash it down. We tasted several dishes that night, and I confess I didn't get to try many of them in their entirety due to my own dietary issues (not much into meats, I'm afraid) but of what I saw and sampled, there are some very nice offerings. The Cubans come on herbed focaccia and the chicken sliders have the tastiest slaw. Only thing I'd really like to see more of is veggie dishes. ;)

Deep bar, especially For bourbon lovers. Bartenders know their stuff. Live music was awesomenesssssssss! The jazz trio included Jason Marsalis, whom I've paid much for to see on Frenchman Street, whose best clubs, sadly, are dark four days a week now. The food menu is very limited. Steak frites came out with hot fries, cold steak. In a New Orleans racked by hurricane and Covid, suffering its worst restaurant crisis of closed eateries, short hours and short staff in its long history, no one complains. Service was excellent. Short-handed. One gal, but she made the room hop. In the Ponchetrain Hotel, where playwright Tennessee Williams is alleged to have stayed when he wrote Streetcar Named Desire.

Get the burger! Great food! Great music! Beautiful intimate space for both! Thank you for being there and serving up excellence!

Bayou Bar is currently an extension of Jack Rose restaurant due to COVID-19. They shared the same menu and everything. I had some appetizers and a couple of drinks, ohhh and I can't forget about the CHAMPBONG. Overall, it was a pretty decent experience. The waiters were cool, the service was cool, everything was cool. Just a cool experience lol

Drinks and small plates are memorable. Tyler is an talented and humble bartender. Try his own drink creation, Falling Down Ladders - tastes like a Circus.

Started our day off great with an amazingly delicious burger and OMG the flavors in the cocktails were one of a kind. Matt was friendly and informative. Look forward to going back again.

Fantastic music - any of the nights that Peter Harris is hosting /playing . Just go! The burger was delicious , and the hummus extraordinary- sit back and relax and enjoy!

St Charles street car to the Pontchartrain Hotel. Head up to Hot Tin for the sunset, then a snack at Bayou Bar cause everyone told us upstairs doesn't serve food. Ordered the Brie & Crab egg rolls... sounded good but I think cream cheese would enhance the crab a bit more... ordered the fried oysters over the bacon jam under it. Not a fan & it does nothing for the fried oyster. Order fries to be safe, but it came w/ two sauces that tasted like lard. Ketchup please. Service was ok, the ambience is cute & I really like the decor. Maybe we should've tried dinner instead of wasting calories on three unsuccessful app's.

The food and drinks were amazing! I got the watermelon sugar and the garlic fries, and the fries were some of the best i've had!! Only 4 stars because service was kind of slow, but we did go when they were extremely busy

Lovely bar with deep dark colors and a beautiful bar. Music is normally pretty good, though the other night it was really loud Bass for such a small place. It's my fav for a wind down drink and a snack or dessert if I chose brunch earlier as my main meal.

Just arrived in New Orleans for Essence. I needed a drink and this was the closest bar to the hotel. Nice ambience and good drink selection. They have a few signature cocktails that were good. Staff very friendly. Quick service. Not overpriced. Definitely recommend.

Stumbled on this place because it was close by and we were looking for a quick bite to eat. What a hidden gem and our waitress was phenomenal! We ordered gumbo, 1 on 1 burger (bone marrow with bacon), and pork tacos and to top it all off, the mile high pie. The burger was huge and shareable. The fries were crispy too (always a plus!). Everyone finished their plate so I'm assuming the gumbo and tacos were also as good. The famous mile high pie was orgasmic. The layers complimented each other and the peppermint wasn't too potent. The only thing is we could've done with a little less marshmallow on top. On top of that, they have a separate room with a painting of lil wayne eating mile high pie. Then the waitress sold on on their rooftop bar with the best view in town. It was a very quaint hotel overall and the bonus is the food and restaurant was also awesome.

Every once in awhile you venture out of your standbys and regular spots and go somewhere new. Sometimes it's a reason to stick to what you know, and others like on this night, you're blown away and reminded what an awesome city you live in. I went with my neighbors as they had some visiting friends in town and were staying here. They asked we meet them in the lobby bar for drinks before venturing up to the rooftop bar. This little spot was ROCKIN' out to the croonings of a kick-butt piano player and vocalist, the cocktails were flowing, and the laughs were bouncing all around. The decor was dank, with exposed timber beams, agriculture inspired relief paintings and dark wooden tables. The bar itself was stocked to the gills with bottles and bitters and tinctures of things I've never heard of and the sleeves were pulled up on the bartenders as they shook, and stirred and crafted all night long. The only drawback to a flawless evening was the three different cocktail menus. When I went to order my second drink, I didn't see it on the list I was given, but recall some of the ingredients. The server brought me a second menu that had food on it, but it wasn't on that one either. I knew I wasn't making this up. When I was given a third, and final menu--I found the drink I had seen the first time around but was told it was unavailable. My only suggestion is that they pull all the menus and do an audit so there is consistency to their offerings. Overall, a fantastic spot for surprises and laughter! I would definitely bring my next round of out of town guests here!

My favorite place to eat in NOLA. Seriously. We ate at several well reviewed venues and this place, which we only found because it was next door to our hotel, was far and away the best food I had. The duck and andouille gumbo was meaty with a spicy, clove scented complexity. The savory crawfish sautéed with the Cajun trinity and served over sweet and crumbly cornbread was deeply satisfying. And the Banoffee Pavlova was a triumph of contrasting textures and flavors that was addictive and blessedly not too sweet. I also enjoyed the lemony freshness of the tuna rillettes, but it's a bit pricey for what is, after all, just tricked out canned tuna. We enjoyed a cider and a double stout with our dinner.

The manager at this bar is an immature liar. This woman screamed at my boyfriend and me because he grabbed a chair two spots over from her without asking. She called my sister, who just had a baby, and this was her first outing fat. When we spoke to the manager about the altercation, he said, "she didn't say that," and then later told us he "didn't hear any bit of the altercation." The hotel managers spoke to us and gave us free drinks at Jack Rose. That is the place in the hotel to go, not Bayou Bar.

Damned good burger! I didn't get a picture of it because I was hungry. Lol. But it did not disappoint.

i got the if the sun rises drink. it was very strong and very banana-y. took me a while to drink but was well done and sweet. the bar is in the hotel separate from the restaurant so don't get confused but is such a fun and old school atmosphere. we weren't even here during their live music days. our server had a larger tattoo on her back and blonde hair, but was so fun and great and funny. I ordered the rib tips and was AMAZED. my dad said he. was not hungry at all but took one bite of mine and immediately ordered his own. GET THE RIB TIPS.

We were staying at a nearby hotel and stopped in for a drink and a snack a couple weeks ago. What a great spot! The bartender made the best paper plane I've ever had, and it's a cocktail I know well. Thanks for the the rye recommendation! Live piano was great, if a little loud in the small space. Food was a little over priced compared to other places in the area but tasty. Still thinking about that cocktail tho...

Pretty cute little place. Staff was friendly. Drinks were okay, but I should have probably looked more closely at the selection. Have a starter mean and appetizer here, head to the rooftop, then grab dinner in the back.

I've found myself in Bayou Bar on a handful of occasions, and think it's a wonderful little spot to grab a bite and enjoy some live music later in the week! Some history behind Bayou Bar...!n 1966, the current NFL commissioner proclaimed, "Professional football has voted a franchise to the state of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans..." Thus the New Orleans Saints came into being, and the deal was signed at...you guessed it, Bayou Bar. So if you're into Saints history, maybe that is reason enough for you to grab a cold one there. What I do love is that the firm (AJ Capital Partners) and Besh Restaurant Group did little to change the appearance of Bayou Bar keeping the rich wood and beautiful murals, and Phil Melancon who tickled the ivories back in the day is back every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday starting at 8pm. It's cozier and cleaner than a trip to the French Quarter, and the food is much better as well. I've been here for a night of revelry and a packed house with song requests written on napkins and guest songbirds to sit alongside Phil. The crowd from my past experience has been older, but age is really only an opinion when you're having a good time in New Orleans. I've also been on slower evenings for a bite (or half the menu). I like to try a little bit of everything and have really enjoyed the Fried Chicken Sliders (3 to an order) and Crispy Fish Tacos! I think their prices are fair for the quantity and quality you're getting, and they've got a pretty good Bloody as well! Service has been great the times I've been there. Know that the house can get pretty packed though on a Friday night. Great place to go with a date or a few friends later in the week and then if you're looking for a view, definitely head up to the Hot Tin Roof!

If you are ever in the Garden District and find yourself by the trolley stop on St Charles and Josephine Street you must stop in this bar. We started there for a late lunch snack and ended up coming back for dinner at the bar. We went into the front door of the Pontchartrain Hotel which, while I mention it looks like a fabulous place to stay. The bar is off to the right after you enter from the street. It was open seating and we were able to find a table quite easily. We were greeted by a super friendly waitress. She took our drink order and was quick about getting them to us. We ordered the steak frites. Now maybe we didn't read exactly what we were about to eat but it looked good. It was amazing!!!! The steak was so tender you didnt need a knife to cut it. The potatoes were perfectly seasoned and then the best part...there is a fried egg draped ever so nicely on top of the potatoes. It was by far the best thing I had in New Orleans. I said we ended up going back for dinner. The gumbo was awesome and the burger was quite delicious and huge. The best part of the night was that there was live music..just a woman singing great jazz while playing the piano. And she waited to start playing until after the football game.. that was just a classy move. 5 stars!!!!!! This was probably the best part of my New Orleans trip

Love this Bar! and the hotel it's located in. Bartender is super friendly and makes fabulous drinks. He made me a drink that was off the menu with Blantons. All of the food I tried was fantastic and great for sharing. Decor is my favorite thing about this bar/hotel. Stop by Bayou Bar for a snack and drink and head up to the roof top bar after for the best views of the city.

Love this place! Tried some food and it was amazing. Highly recommended place to hang out, meet new people, have some drinks and grab some snacks. Came back for more! Tried the southern spread this time and yum!!! It was great!!