Bar Marilou

"Going to a divey bar for some live music and a watery gin and tonic is great and all, but if you’re looking for something a little swankier, try Bar Marilou. It’s in The Warehouse District, a mere ten minutes away from Bourbon Street, but the floor-to-ceiling red drapes, creative cocktails, and towering bookshelves feel a world away. It’s a great place to start your night while you plan your next move over a martini or whatever frozen cocktail they have." - team infatuation, zella palmer

"Slipping into this velvet-appointed bar is an exercise in Parisian maximalism. From the leopard print carpeting to rich and rouge walls, you’ll find tables angled for reclining and tassels as a prominent design detail. Bites at Bar Marilou are equally influenced by Parisian lounges, from frog legs spiced with Szechuan and deep-fried pomme Anna with dollops of caviar. The Pisco Sour? Spiked with génépy. Even the tropical Little Birds with rye, banana, and clarion honey has a distinctly Parisian, pastis backbone." - Kate Dingwall

"Nothing subtle about the explosion of color, patterns, and textures that is Bar Marilou. Yet the library-as-lounge is cheeky, tucked discreetly along the side of the Maison de la Luz hotel in the CBD. Although its bailiwick is outstanding libations, the bartenders clearly don’t need alcohol to shine. If I Ever Cease To Love, named for the anthem of Carnival, is just one example, a refreshing blend of passion fruit, ginger, lime, mint, and soda. Another is the on-trend, super savory Heroine, made with Seedlip Garden, blanc vermouth, gumbo bitters, and brine." - Clair Lorell, Beth D'Addono

"Close out the old year and ring in the new with a surrealist celebration at Bar Marilou in the CBD's Maison de la Luz hotel. Eats include extravagant eats like chilled oysters with tomato horseradish granite, pommes yukon with crème fraîche and caviar, and wagyu sliders with foie gras pave and caramelized onion alongside toast-ready libations. Tickets for the eating, drinking, and dancing party are $180. For ultimate sexy vibes, this is the spot." - Beth D'Addono, Clair Lorell

"Close out the old year and ring in the new with a surrealist celebration at Bar Marilou in the CBD's Maison de la Luz hotel. Eats include extravagant eats like chilled oysters with tomato horseradish granite, pommes yukon with crème fraîche and caviar, and wagyu sliders with foie gras pave and caramelized onion alongside toast-ready libations. Tickets for the eating, drinking, and dancing party are $180. For ultimate sexy vibes, this is the spot." - Beth D'Addono, Clair Lorell