Napoleon House
Restaurant · French Quarter
500 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Highlights
Muffulettas, po' boys, Pimm's Cups, and jazz in a historic house
Muffulettas, po' boys, Pimm's Cups, and jazz in a historic house
"This cool, refreshing drink, with London roots, was made for the warm days and day-drinking tendencies of New Orleans residents and visitors. The Napoleon House has served them for so long, that the drink is synonymous with the bar." - Missy Frederick
"This 200-year-old French Quarter landmark was once the home of a New Orleans mayor who offered the spot to Napoleon as a refuge during his exile (but the little guy never made it). Today, Napoleon House is the essential spot in town for a Pimm’s Cup, and it’s run by the Ralph Brennan restaurant group, so the food is also on point. The muffuletta here comes controversially pressed, but it’s one of the best in town, so give it a try." - Clair Lorell
"So much of the French Quarter is shiny and polished—not Napoleon House, with its ceiling fans, peeling paint, and general Haunted Mansion aesthetic. It’s a classic that’s not a tourist trap, and a lovely place to pop in during Mardi Gras season after being on your feet all day. You can’t come here without getting a hot muffuletta and a refreshing Pimm’s Cup, and the bread pudding, hot roast beef po’boy, and boudin are also good." - megan braden perry
"Though Napoleon never actually made it to this Chartres Street bar, that fact doesn’t seem to bother the droves of people who’ve sought out the shadowy restaurant since 1906, what with its beautiful courtyard and signature refreshments, the Pimm’s Cup cocktail." - Eater Staff
"If you’ve ever wondered what visiting the Haunted Mansion would be like if they poured a mean brandy milk punch, head to Napoleon House. This French Quarter landmark is over two centuries old and looks every year of it, with peeling paint, creaky wooden furniture, and lots of old portraits with eyes that follow you around the room. The kitchen here serves decent Creole staples, but we come here just for drinks—the no-nonsense, bowtied staff make some of the best classic cocktails around. We’re not sure how the Pimm’s cup got to be their house specialty (surely there’s a story), but whatever you do, don’t leave without trying the absinthe-dabbed sazerac." - carlo mantuano, megan braden perry, garrett snyder, zella palmer
