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The Carousel Bar & Lounge

Hotel Bar and Cocktail Bar$$$$

French Quarter, New Orleans

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8.6^/10

1,376

ratings

Ranked #2 for cocktails in New Orleans
The experts at Food & Wine and Men's Health Mag recommend this place
"Try any of the amazing cocktails at the rotating bar!"(18 Tips)
"We love taking a Vieux Carre Cocktail for a spin.. or two!"(16 Tips)
"perfect Ramos Gin Fizz and Pimms Cup....with style and panache."(12 Tips)
"They make a great Sazerac!"(16 Tips)

268 Tips and reviews

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DensAugust 20, 2014
Classy spot for a cocktail. If you're down for a weekend, make time to sit at the revolving bar (14 mins round trip!) and just chill for a bit. 10x classier crowd than what you'll find on Bourbon St.
Upvoted 1 week ago
Victoria U.June 25, 2016
As seen on the Booze Traveler, this place has strong and incredible cocktails. Classier than Anything next door on Bourbon street. Come take a spin on the ride!
PaulApril 19, 2016
We enjoyed the Fleur de Lis and Pimm's Cup No. 1. The bartender, Neil, is an absolute pleasure and quickly becoming a celebrity as he was recently featured on Travel Channel's Booze Traveler TV show.
Aubrey LittletonOctober 18, 2018
Competition for a seat at the carousel can be fierce, but it's worth it for the novelty. The drinks are great, and the Vieux Carré (invented here) and Sazerac (a NOLA classic) are popular choices.
Jarrod KlawinskyDecember 15, 2016
Great ambiance at the Hotel Monteome. Usually always packed with tourists so grab a seat the revolving bar. Jazz music is usually played live at night.
Gabriel HayesSeptember 23, 2015
Nice place for a fancy cocktail in the French Quarter. Try their Signature Cocktail: the Vieux Carre. Made with Bulleit Rye Whiskey, Hennessy, Sweet Vermouth, Benedictine, Angostura & bitters.
Andrew CJuly 17, 2018
The whole carousel decor is definitely really cool and fun to look at... but it's simply a rotating floor/bar with expensive (but strong and rich) specialty cocktails!!
Amanda ThauJune 6, 2016
Get one of the 25 seats at the rotating carousel bar and order the Fleur de Lis. Be patient, or chat up a person at the end of their cocktail and ask politely to take the seat once they're finished!
Rebecca DaleJanuary 7, 2015
The spinning bar is a fun unique experience. Cocktails are good and authentic, must wait to get a seat at the carousel it is always usually busy, better to go not during peak hours.
⚜ Nimesh Patel ⚜December 22, 2015
Been here 5+ times
The atmosphere is very cheerful with live music EVERYNIGHT. And beautiful martinis selection. Do plan to spend a few bucks at this hotel bar. Did I mention that the bar is an actual rotating Carousel.
Fodor's TravelJanuary 28, 2016
he Carousel Bar specializes in a rye whiskey Sazerac or an antebellum version made with Pierre Ferrand 1840 Cognac and absinthe. Read more
Tobias ReiperApril 6, 2016
Great bar due to the novelty of the carousel and the drinks are well made, though it can hard to find a seat early evening depending on the day.
Jonathan WebberNovember 20, 2016
Travis the bartender is a real professional. Made a perfect Ramos Gin Fizz and Pimms Cup....with style and panache. Recommended.
Lindsay HerndonMarch 24, 2016
Really cool place, ordered a drink at the other bar and waited until a seat was available at the revolving one to become available, great time!
Esther LudlowApril 29, 2014
Great bar bites! Just what we needed to hit the spot before a late dinner. Drinks were great - Hurricane was excellent! Fun to sit in a beautiful place and relax with a cold drink.
cami j.March 27, 2018
a gorgeous bar with fabulous cocktails. the fleur de los was my favorite, and it’s also a great spot for a sazerac.
Jackie GApril 19, 2017
If you can get a seat - it is a lot of fun! Definitely a must do in NOLA. Great cocktails. Stay for one drink
Daniel McDonoughJuly 27, 2014
Have a seat at the rotating bar and grab a bourbon drink. Takes a second to adjust but super fun. Bartenders can talk bourbon all day.
ChrisJune 6, 2014
The famous Carousel Bar. Get a classic cocktail like an Old Fashioned, Sazerac or Vieux Carre and sit at the rotating bar. The crawfish and crab beignet appetizer is delicious.
Anamaria HernandezNovember 19, 2015
Bar makes a full rotation in about 15 minutes. Sit on for a spin and check out their liquor collection! They can make just about anything! Ps they have Pisco!
Libby LeeFebruary 20, 2014
Hands down my favorite bar to visit every time I go to New Orleans. My favorite drink is the goody. Very tropical drink. If you can, sit down at the bar that rotates.
MJanuary 12, 2018
Fantastic unique experience. The rotating bar is full so expect to wait for someone to get up. The place is bigger with a second bar and a live band.
Erin DaileyApril 17, 2013
Been here 5+ times
Do yourself a favor and visit it during the day and mid-week. It's much quieter and less touristy. Anything you get will be expertly mixed, but all the old fashioned drinks are delish.
Pia WilsonApril 1, 2018
Great music & great bourbon! Hop on the carousel, if you can. Seats are hard to come by. Fun place
Jake SmithMarch 25, 2016
There is seating in other places, but let's be honest: you're here for the Carousel. Order a cocktail (I suggest a Sazerac, you're in NOLA) and chat with the bartenders.
Ariana VoyerJune 9, 2017
Fleur de lis and French 007 cocktails. People constantly coming and going so there's a decent chance of getting a seat!
Mary Ann CaramMay 8, 2015
Spot a drunk person standing on the rotating carousel around the bar. Position yourself so they bump into you without trying. Make them buy you a Sazerac as an apology. Success.
Gabriel DietrichDecember 29, 2014
Cool atmosphere. The revolving carousel will make you feel you've been drinking hard. First-come-first-served basis may create competition for seats. Go for the French 007 and everything will be OK
Men's Health MagNovember 15, 2011
The bar spins. And not in the “I’ve had a few too many it’s spinning way.” A little hokey, but a trip or two around is worth it when you taste the tender’s first drink. Best bet? A Ramos gin fizz.
TessaMarch 23, 2015
One of my favorite NOLA spots. A true classic and beautiful place. Get a seat at the spinning carousel while you can - they go quickly!
AmateurConciergeApril 15, 2023
Fun bar for a pinky up drink, but still with some live music vibes. Bar tenders aren’t the fastest but aye, it’s the big easy
AnnaMarch 22, 2019
My favorite bar in New Orleans. Great Sazeracs. Same bartenders for years. Great service.
Kelsey HuseAugust 19, 2019
Fun bar! Might be hard to find a seat. Best alone or only 2 people. Drinks are great!
PaddyDecember 6, 2014
Nice hotel with a quirky rotating bar. Good quality cocktails with an apparently famous and well-renowned cocktail bartender (not Tom Cruise).
Marigny9October 16, 2015
You don't have to sit in one of the seats at the revolving bar but you should try a French 75 and their invention, the Vieux Carre cocktail.
Eva 🐾 BanovaJuly 6, 2018
Love the bar. Had to wait a few minutes to get a seat but so worth it! Bartenders are nice and good at their job
anomalilySeptember 29, 2015
Don't be scared off by the fact it is a hotel bar. Fun for everyone and awesome drinks.
NOLAliciousJune 8, 2012
Sit at the bar long enough to watch the bartenders hop over the bar. Enjoy the great drinks along the way, and you might not be able to walk straight once the twirling stops.
Eric DNovember 2, 2014
Get a barstool if you can. Order a Vieux Carré and while the world is spinning around you, imagine what this place was like when the drink was invented here in 1938.
J CrowleyJuly 27, 2014
Belly up to the spinning carousel bar and order a fancy cocktail, preferably something with dramamine.
Craig OlsonApril 27, 2013
I am a gin addict and the Gin Fizz was great- not too sweet, strong, or weak. Ambience is great even though it looks stuffy from the outside.
Emily KaneNovember 24, 2016
Start your night here with a nicer cocktail and crowd before you devolve into a Bourbon Street Monster.
Russell HolleySeptember 9, 2014
The bar bites are amazing. Seafood beignets and the jambalaya, crawfish pie and file gumbo trio are out of this world.
Mick MillerApril 11, 2014
Vieux Carré is a must. Since they invented the damn thing, they clearly know what they're doing!
Meredith BabbDecember 27, 2014
Classy clientele, a nice break from the Bourbon St. madness. They make a great Sazerac!
Stephen SmytheJune 23, 2015
Located in a historic hotel the scene is already set, but the bar being a rotating carousel sets the atmosphere apart from most. Sit.drink.slowlyspin
Chad TovarJanuary 30, 2014
Good jazz and ask for Travis behind the bar he's full of personality as u can see from the pic
Ricardo HernandezApril 2, 2016
Great place for drinks and meet people. Live jazz starting at 9.
Yo johnnieApril 11, 2022
COOL NICHE BAR. NOT MANY SEATS AND PEOPLE LINGER TOO LONG BUT NICE TO SAY I'VE BEEN THERE. THE BAR TEAM IS MESMERIZING TRYING TOI WORK IN THAT SMALL SPACE
Alyssa WJuly 14, 2017
Always packed! You have to wait for people to leave the bar (but you need to time it just right to get a seat).

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