The Country Club

"Summers in New Orleans are brutal, and when you need a break from bar hopping or just want to relax for a bit near water, head to The Country Club. You can eat crab beignets or have some filet mignon at the restaurant inside the 200-year-old house, but the real reason to come here is to hang out by the big pool in the backyard, where you can still order food, but also swim or just lay around. If you come on the weekend though, be prepared for Drag Brunch at 10am and 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays, which is exactly as fun—and as popular with bachelorette parties—as you’d expect." - chelsea brasted, megan braden perry

"The Country Club’s lushly landscaped outdoor pool in Bywater attracts a lively over-21 crowd. Pay $20 for the day (or $499 for the year) and enjoy chef Chris Barbato’s yummy crawfish beignets, sandwiches, and salads. Happy hour is Monday through Friday, 4 to 7 p.m., and the pool stays open every day til 11 p.m. A big draw for the bachelorette crowd." - Beth D'Addono

"The Country Club dishes a range of experiences, from wild drag brunches to poolside parties. Chef Chris Barbato keeps the focus on modern Southern cuisine, with global influences. Hence, his Basque-style cheesecake, which swaps New York style for this caramelized version, baked at high temp to dish a smooth custard interior, dressed with fresh berries and pine nuts. The chocolate torta Caprese with fresh berries is epic too." - Beth D'Addono, Clair Lorell

"The Country Club in the Bywater has long been an anchor of the gay scene, even if it no longer pegs itself as a gay bar since the restaurant’s renovation and new pool clothing regulation — meaning, it’s no longer optional. Weekend drag brunches might be overrun with bachelorette parties, but at the pool, it’s otherwise the same LGBTQ-friendly scene with the always-prominent rainbow flags and men in cheeky bathing suits. Drag brunches every Saturday and Sunday are a hot ticket." - Adriana Lopez, Clair Lorell

"Drag brunch is back at the Country Club, Bywater’s always-packed oasis for brunch. Eat and drink outside in the lush pool gardens or on the front veranda; there are plenty of boozy options. Bellinis and mimosas come six glasses to a carafe; there’s a potent Titio’s bloody mary. Housed in a stunning circa-1884 Italianate manse in Bywater, brunch specialties include dishes like a silky corn and blue crab bisque and toothsome polenta and eggs. Lots of gluten-free options are available, too." - Beth D'Addono, Clair Lorell