Jando S.
Yelp
Whenever I feel like an impromptu concert with a load of drinks, I know I can always count on Bourbon 'O' Bar for live music in an effort to laissez les bons temps rouler (#1). The vibe is everything the Big Easy is known for: intimate, unpretentious, local fun, and so much character.
Located inside the Bourbon Orleans Hotel (#2), this cocktail bar exudes all the laid back and cozy vibes that I would never expect in a hotel establishment. There is a good amount of room to roam and live jazz music every single night starting at 4pm. In fact, they have a schedule of artists online here: https://www.bourbonorleans.com/event-calendar
There's a lot of excellent cocktails to be had here. I am a lover of their brown sugar old fashioned ($12) as well as their fun selection of mules ($12). The vieux carre ($15) is a nice and strong cocktail consisting of rye whiskey, cognac, and a whole host of bitters and sweet vermouth. The seasonal pomegranate mimosa ($10) is deceivingly good, as is their classic hurricane ($15). There are also some quality mocktails, as well as bar bites (menu changes daily).
Service is super professional, but laid back enough not to feel stuffy. It's hard to hear the staff at times when the music is blasting, but that's part of the price of admission. This is a great place for a date or a small group, and a nice place to start an fun evening.
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(#1) "Let the good times roll"
(#2) https://www.yelp.com/biz/bourbon-orleans-hotel-new-orleans-6