They have fantastic happy hour deals and 25 cent cocktails with your lunch. The French Quarter's oldest restaurant has converted one of its dining rooms into a bar open to the street, with live music pouring out softly and a gorgeous fireplace along the wall. The fireplace is on the side of the bar away from the door, so the heat emanates from the middle of the room. Bar Tonique believes that alcohol can be helpful and social this large bar is usually packed with patrons there for the great daily specials on craft cocktails ($5 Bacon Bloody Mary on Saturdays), but there are still some cozy spots for privacy. Specialty cocktails include the Ernest Hemingway–inspired Death in the Afternoon, Truman Capote’s favorite Screw-driver, and the William Faulkner–motivated Mint Julep.Ĭocktails began as a cure alcohol and herbs mixed together were used for medicinal purposes as tonics. A newer Quarter bar hopes to honor that tradition with a literary theme and an inviting fireplace right in the middle of the room that warms up the whole bar. So many bars here can make a list of the famous authors who have spent some time there and present it like a trophy. Writers go with New Orleans like bitters go with a Sazerac cocktail. The building is at least 200 years old, and the Old Absinthe House claims that Jean Lafitte met with Andrew Jackson in the building to plan the attack on the British. On the other side of Bourbon Street, in a busier section, is a round bar with a large fireplace farther from the street that is lit on cold evenings. Although it is known as the oldest operating gay bar in America, all are welcome to enjoy drinks, weekly events like karaoke and the balcony. Don’t fear, however, for the bar hosts one of the nicest local crowds you could hope to find in the Quarter. Café Lafitte in Exile has a sinister-looking flame constantly burning in a black cage near the doorway, surrounded by seating. Not too far away from Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is another bar with Lafitte’s name. You can often see famed pianist Mike Hood perform as part of the romantic atmosphere. The shop was built in the 1700s, and it’s lit mostly by candlelight. There aren’t many electrical lights in this bar at all. This antiquated watering hole located on the far, quiet end of Bourbon Street is not just old-fashioned because of its two-sided fireplace, which is used throughout the winter. And some of these bars have a strong connection to the infamous privateer and smuggler Jean Lafitte, who operated in the French Quarter before moving to Barataria Bay and then becoming an unlikely hero by helping General Andrew Jackson win the Battle of New Orleans. Many of the bar hearths are located in the heart of the town, the French Quarter, because it’s the oldest part of the city. The fires will be roaring in these bars so that you can imbibe and unwind with your friends. It’s cold outside, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying our city’s nightlife this winter.