sazerac bar

after the accidental sazerac at the imposter bar down the street, we made our way to the roosevelt hotel sazerac bar. sample the world’s first mixed drink at the sazerac bar. . named after what many consider to be the world’s first mixed drink, the sazerac bar carries as much history as its potable namesake. just gazing at the famous paul ninas murals flanking the african walnut bar takes you back to the grandeur of old new orleans – a time when huey p. long would stroll in, order a ramos gin fizz, and spend the next couple of hours talking to his constituents.

just a great spot for a holiday cocktail, either pre dinner or an after dinner drink heading back from the french quarter. love the art deco decor and seating is great for people watching. service is better at the bar vs small tables but it is one of the top spots to have a sophisticated conversation and drink. if staying at the hotel it is a end of the night must

gorgeous bar.  gorgeous hotel for that matter.

while we were visiting new orleans my wife wanted to see the roosevelt hotel.  she apparently read about it in one of her many magazines and thought it looked very elegant.  so we made it a point to stop by.

and we did.  and i had a sazerac there.  and then we stopped by again.  and then we stopped by again.  if we had not returned to connecticut we would be going back again tonight!

they make the classic new orleans drink like no one else.  smooth, refreshing and uniquely flavorful.  it was an experience i will relish for years to come.

next time we will have to try some of their food!

this is a cocktail & atmosphere/setting review only, as i visited the sazerac bar immediately after saturday brunch. the famous watering hole opens off the lobby of the somewhat recently renovated (& very well done, at least on the ground floor, by hilton) roosevelt hotel, just a bit n of bourbon st. & on the downtown side of canal. the long room gets its shape from the long, ornate bar itself, w/ enough room left for a staggered row of stand alone tables & booths against the back wall. the room is beautiful, & worth a few minutes of your time even if not thirsty. to my eye, it's reminiscent of some of the european based but western us-influenced barrooms i recall in san francisco. the barman himself was nattily attired & hipsterishly bearded, clearly having complete knowledge of the big cocktail menu. 
if fond of whiskey whatsoever, visitors should certainly order the namesake drink. the sazerac is my second fav whiskey concoction, a close 2nd to an old-fashioned. the real star of the drink menu, however, is the ramos gin fizz, another new orleans pre-prohibition refreshment invented elsewhere but popularized here. it's citrus focused & shaken w/ an egg white, so it's like easing your nose into a meringuey lemon pie w/ the first sip taken from the collins glass. this is a great place to waste a few hours & get tipsy amidst classy surrounds, but bring your money.

this is one of the quintessential bars of all new orleans, and where i had my first sazerac. you have to come here just to get a sense of the old new orleans. 
if you are not a fan of old fashioned drinks, the seem frequently to be made with raw egg whites, you still have to come to soak up the nostalgia, since the sazerac bar has been featured in many movies and other forms of media, most recently in now you see me. imagine yourself sitting at the bar with morgan freeman and michael caine as they discussed how they were going to deal with the four horsemen. 
just an awesome bar, with some of the most overly trained bartenders anywhere. we come here for after dinner drinks instead of the quarter when we are here, and we have enjoyed every conversation we have had with the bar keeps. just go!

this is where it all started. the home of the sazerac. i had a few cocktails and everyone was made to perfection. the bartenders are all super attractive and can make a perfect drink. what more could you ever want in a bar? the decor is art deco and dark with beautiful wood everywhere. i will return to this place and i will also stay at the waldorf astoria again. i stayed during the holidays and their christmas decorations are breathtaking.

great drinks worth a stop in the central business district”. we heard many good things about this bar before arriving in nola. we were fortunate enough to stay at waldorf astoria where the bar is located. the bartenders are friendly and efficient. i can honestly say that they serve the best sazerac cocktail in new orleans. we also had a few ramos gin fizz that were made with perfection. we were there early on a friday afternoon just before happy hour and the crowd was lively and inviting. it was a great start to our evening, nothing adds to great conversation like a well-made cocktail. when in new orleans don’t miss this historic and charming bar.

great atmosphere, great staff. grade: b

sazerac bar's combination of sleek wooden panels and warm colors creates an inviting place to enjoy a drink with company. the signature drink, invented in the bar, is worth a try - definitely unusual. the bartenders are highly competent and really know how to take care of their patrons. glad i stopped in.