Jewel of the South
Restaurant · French Quarter ·
Award-winning cocktails, caviar, steaks & brunch in a cottage
Award-winning cocktails, caviar, steaks & brunch in a cottage
"French Quarter spot with numerous cocktail awards and founded by two longtime bartenders, but don’t skip the food. London native chef Phil Whitmarsh turns out hearty British fare—savory pies and a soft, decadent chicken liver pâté served with currant-studded toast and tea prunes—that surprisingly suits a night of drinking. For drinks, the Jewel martini, made with Monkey 47, Meursault vermouth, and orange bitters, is a smooth sip, and the Brandy Crusta, an 1850s cocktail resurrected by co-owner Chris Hannah, is another standout. I don’t normally have to Google menu items, but there’s always something out of my knowledge range here—recent specials like a crown of duck (duck with the legs removed) or Baron Bigod, a wheel of brie, run around $100 and are best shared. Set in a 19th-century Creole cottage just far enough from the Quarter’s chaos, the space feels cozy and sunlit, with exposed brick, a bar with only a few seats, scattered tables, and a charming patio with cast-iron furnishings, drawing industry folks and New Orleans natives; you don’t have to dress up, but with $29 cocktails, why not? Insider tip: there’s no mirror by the bathroom sink, but look out the window to the one on the wall outside—it’s not great for checking your teeth, but it makes a fun selfie." - Erin Perkins
"A visit isn’t complete without stopping into Hannah’s own bar for a Brandy Crusta — the drink that inspired the place — a delicious 1850s New Orleans original by Joseph Santini whose sugar‑crusted rim helped pave the way for the Sidecar and Margarita and marked one of the first popular 19th‑century cocktails to feature citrus." - Wayne Curtis
"A well-accoladed cocktail destination that’s likely to be a major stop for festival visitors, the bar offers ambitious, creative drinks. The Durian Fields ($26) is made with durian yellow chartreuse and eau de vie and is garnished with a chewy durian candy; durian’s “combination of earthy sweetness and oniony savory notes” makes it a gamble — “a geeky drink, with creativity worth admiring, though one I may wait long to revisit.” By contrast, the seasonal Columbina ($15) — gin, a cardamom pear cordial, and lemon, garnished with a fresh sprig of thyme — impressed as “refreshing with pear and lemon, offset with cool baking spice notes of cardamom, and that sprig of thyme pulled the aromatics together in perfume.” “It is an understated drink with no frills and nothing to hide behind but brilliance.” — Henna Bakshi, Eater regional editor, South." - Henna Bakshi
"Like Saint-Germain, Jewel Of The South has two distinct date night moods. We like it best for a sit-down dinner in the plant-filled courtyard, but it’s just as good for walking in for some drinks and snacks at the bar. They put equal emphasis on the food and cocktails, and both are extremely quality, if not a little bit over the top. There are multiple cocktails that cost over $25, and you’ll find a lot of caviar on the menu, along with plates of wagyu beef tongue. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - megan braden perry, carlo mantuano
"This unassuming Creole cottage may be the best place for a romantic night cap in the French Quarter, if not the entire city. The bar’s extravagant desserts pair just as well with the dreamy courtyard as it does with one of Chris Hannah and team’s refined, precise cocktails. Though the desserts change, expect the incorporation of spirits and savory flavors — for example, an Eccles cake served with Point Reyes blue cheese or a rum baba with Chantilly cream." - Adriana Lopez