In a city famous for its food and drink, how are travelers meant to narrow down their culinary destinations? This guide offers an answer to one part of that question: where to find New Orleans’ best beverages. It strays away from typical French Quarter haunts, opting for Uptown bars and independent coffee joints to give travelers a fresh and local perspective on New Orleans’ sipping scene. However, travelers can rest assured that wherever they choose to imbibe in this city, their thirst for exceptional libations will be satisfied.
The Tell Me Bar
Nestled at the threshold between uptown and downtown New Orleans is a wine lover’s new favorite spot: The Tell Me Bar. Opened in late 2022, the bar offers a menu of exclusively natural wines — the only bar in the city to do so. “Natural” in wine terms means low-interference wine production, resulting in an unfiltered and additive-free wine.
Despite how recently it opened, The Tell Me Bar has quickly risen to prominence. Locals love it, and Esquire hailed it as one of America’s best bars. With daily specials, funky-fresh décor and pop-ups from local chefs and oyster mongers, it is the perfect place to enjoy a selection of rare wines alongside Louisiana delicacies.
Coffee Science
Among Mid-City’s bevy of quirky coffee spots, Coffee Science stands out thanks to its varied menu and reliably good espresso. The shop recently opened a second location in the Central Business District, if travelers find themselves closer to the French Quarter.
Coffee Science’s menu features classic cocktails, pastries and a large selection of handcrafted espresso drinks. Most popular is the Espresso Nebula (pictured below)—a blend of whipped espresso, milk and seasonal flavorings ranging from Bananas Foster to pumpkin spice. Visitors can opt for seating on the outdoor patio or in one of several interior rooms.
Urban South Brewery
As one of Louisiana’s preeminent brewing companies, Urban South’s Lower Garden District taproom is a must-visit for beer fans. The brewery has nearly 20 beers and seltzers on tap, and their concoctions are so popular that they recently opened a location in Houston.
Even so, Urban South is New Orleanian at its core: The taproom is a community fixture among uptowners, hosting music festivals and weekly trivia nights in its colorful courtyard. Visitors can also enjoy smash burgers from the brewery’s sister company, Urban Smash.
Cure
Situated in a black brick building off uptown’s Freret Street, Cure offers a sophisticated and singular craft cocktail experience: an impossibly stocked bar, an ever-changing menu of seasonal drinks and the best mixologists in the city.
Since opening in 2009, the bar has pioneered New Orleans’ craft cocktail upsurge. The bar is more than a local treasure, though. Cure garnered a James Beard Award in 2018 and a 2023 slot as one of North America’s 50 Best Bars.
Besides cocktails, the menu features hors d’oeuvres, cheeses and a sizeable selection of beer and wine. Visitors can opt for seating in the sleek, yet loungey interior or on the relaxed back patio.
Undergrowth Coffee
After a day of shopping and strolling along Magazine Street, Undergrowth Coffee is an oasis for weary travelers. The shop lives up to its name: the interior is lush, replete with greenery and forest-colored walls. It also features a sizeable menu with plenty of plant-based options, including house-made nut milks and vegan pastries.
Undergrowth is also popular for its botanical beverages like lavender lemonade and rose-flavored lattes. Visitors can enjoy coffee in the back courtyard before heading off to an evening destination — perhaps at one of Undergrowth’s neighboring businesses, Uptown staples The Club Ms. Mae’s and Casamento’s Oysters.
The Elysian Bar
Named for the Marigny’s Elysian Fields Avenue, The Elysian Bar encompasses the best of New Orleans culture: rich history, great dining and hospitality.
The bar is housed in a nearly two-hundred-year-old space. It was once the rectory of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, which now stands as Hotel Peter and Paul. The atmosphere is sophisticated, yet warm and inviting.
The Elysian Bar serves drinks from a lengthy menu, with a focus on modern renditions of quintessential New Orleans cocktails. It is also a full-service restaurant, though, offering Louisiana classics and seasonal specials.
Miel Brewery and Taproom
For a laid-back local beer experience, look no further than Miel Brewery and Taproom. Located in the vibrant Irish Channel, this microbrewery features a rotating selection of beers and hard seltzers produced onsite. Many are brewed using local ingredients, including Louisiana honey.
Inside the blue exterior is a well-lit taproom and courtyard, where Miel often spotlights local talent and cuisine with performances and pop-ups. Frequent food options include lobster rolls, hot chicken and dim sum.
Fourth Wall Coffee
Even though the French Quarter has plenty of well-known coffee options, travelers can avoid long lines with this local favorite: Fourth Wall Coffee. Its exterior is unassuming, but the interior is vast and lush. A central room gives way to an open-air back room, as well as a spacious courtyard.
This multipurpose café serves coffee in the day and doubles as a bar in the evening. It is nestled in the Central Business District — mere steps away from the Quarter and the Warehouse District — making it a perfect stop-in before a night out downtown.
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