Jewel of the South
Restaurant · French Quarter ·
Award-winning cocktails & refined Creole cuisine in a historic cottage
Award-winning cocktails & refined Creole cuisine in a historic cottage
"A visit isn’t complete without stopping into Hannah’s own bar for a Brandy Crusta — the drink that inspired the place — a delicious 1850s New Orleans original by Joseph Santini whose sugar‑crusted rim helped pave the way for the Sidecar and Margarita and marked one of the first popular 19th‑century cocktails to feature citrus." - Wayne Curtis
"A well-accoladed cocktail destination that’s likely to be a major stop for festival visitors, the bar offers ambitious, creative drinks. The Durian Fields ($26) is made with durian yellow chartreuse and eau de vie and is garnished with a chewy durian candy; durian’s “combination of earthy sweetness and oniony savory notes” makes it a gamble — “a geeky drink, with creativity worth admiring, though one I may wait long to revisit.” By contrast, the seasonal Columbina ($15) — gin, a cardamom pear cordial, and lemon, garnished with a fresh sprig of thyme — impressed as “refreshing with pear and lemon, offset with cool baking spice notes of cardamom, and that sprig of thyme pulled the aromatics together in perfume.” “It is an understated drink with no frills and nothing to hide behind but brilliance.” — Henna Bakshi, Eater regional editor, South." - Henna Bakshi
"Like Saint-Germain, Jewel Of The South has two distinct date night moods. We like it best for a sit-down dinner in the plant-filled courtyard, but it’s just as good for walking in for some drinks and snacks at the bar. They put equal emphasis on the food and cocktails, and both are extremely quality, if not a little bit over the top. There are multiple cocktails that cost over $25, and you’ll find a lot of caviar on the menu, along with plates of wagyu beef tongue. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - megan braden perry, carlo mantuano
"This unassuming Creole cottage may be the best place for a romantic night cap in the French Quarter, if not the entire city. The bar’s extravagant desserts pair just as well with the dreamy courtyard as it does with one of Chris Hannah and team’s refined, precise cocktails. Though the desserts change, expect the incorporation of spirits and savory flavors — for example, an Eccles cake served with Point Reyes blue cheese or a rum baba with Chantilly cream." - Adriana Lopez
"Chris Hannah’s drink list at the James Beard Award-winning Jewel of the South is a wonder of global flavors and creative combinations in an inviting indoor-outdoor garden setting. The signature drink is a Brandy Crusta, said to be invented in New Orleans in the 1850s by an Italian bartender named Joseph Santini. Hannah’s extravagant version uses Remy 1738 Cognac, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, lemon, Luxardo Maraschino, and bitters. It’s truly delicious." - Missy Frederick