The Sazerac Bar

First of all, entering the hotel to get to the bar at Christmas time was magical. Many archways of twinkly white Christmas lights greet you. The WOW factor is stunning. The bar itself is a lovely fabulous place that makes you feel like you are so special with a throwback to the 1920's. The bar is beautiful with African Mohagany throughout. We were told it all came from the same tree. They had stunning murals. The bartenders all wore old time wear and even the music fit the scene. We had regular mixed drinks here, as we were on a roll and didn't want to mix and experiment too much while on our cocktailia crawl! This Bar is a winner!

If you only have one cocktail in New Orleans, make it a Sazerac at the eponymous bar at the Roosevelt Hotel. The beautiful Art Déco barroom transports you back to the 1930s with paneling made from a single walnut tree, beautiful mural paintings that convey a real sense of place, and a bar centered by a gorgeous etched-glass bas relief sculpture presiding over the absinthe service and flanked by a massive, award-winning silver water cooler and the 1878 Ascot Cup sailing trophy.Beyond the ambiance is the performance art taking place behind the bar. Brandon didn't just toss the ingredients into a mixing glass, stir, and decant into a cocktail glass. Rather, the patient care and precision he took with each step, as he explained the history of the cocktail and of the barroom, evoked a Japanese tea ceremony more than anything else. And the cocktail did not disappoint.The best part? I stumbled upon the bar by pure kismet, as I had come to the hotel to send a parcel at the UPS store upstairs. Walking through those doors was like taking a step back in time and the brief half-hour I spent savoring my first Sazerac was one of the most enjoyable experiences I had in New Orleans.

Ambiance: This place has a very classy vibe like you should be smoking a cigar with your cognac kind of fancy. We came here around 9 pm and the place was fairly empty and moody but then a tour bus of people came in an hour later and the place got VERY noisy and echo-y to the point of being unenjoyable. They have a solid modern cocktail list which features some fun combinations you would see in a mixology bar while still sporting their creative takes on classic cocktails and of course the classic Sazerac. The staff were friendly although the drinks took a while to come out. Drinks: We got some Sazeracs and a cocktail that had tequila and jalapeno and they were all good. The drinks featured quality liquors that played a starring role while the other ingredients just add accents. They were balanced and rich which made for good slow sipping. The $22-24 price was a bit steep but you're paying a premium for the historic location.I think this place is worth a visit for the experience. This place has history, vibes, and a solid cocktail menu that will suit all types of drinkers including mocktails for non-drinkers! Try to come when it is a little slower and you'll have a better time.

My first sazerac! Very speakeasy feel ambiance with a huge bar. The staff were quiet but friendly. The sazerac was delicious!

An absolutely beautiful venue as you walk through the Roosevelt to get to this bar. The bar itself is also very beautiful with a decent amount of seating and a lot of bar seats. They serve a small snack of chicharrones and nuts, and they have a menu of classic cocktails and a few signature cocktails. The bartenders were nice and speedy, and my partner had a Vieux Career and I had their signature Ramos Gin Fizz. Both were delicious but definitely on the pricy side, with mine being $26. Obviously a Ramos gin fizz requires a lot more effort so I understand, but I'd say if you don't care about the craft of the cocktails you're not going to appreciate it for the price. Definitely a beautiful stop in New Orleans.

Walking into the Roosevelt Hotel at Christmas time to be to this bar is an unexpected delight (Too many people to get a good pic but included a snip of the decor). Absolutely stunning. I chose the wrong time to visit this bar as it was absolutely packed so I couldn't sit and get a true feel for the place. Even with all the hooplah the service was great. Of course, I ordered a Sazerac to say I did. If you love Rye whiskey, the Sazerac is for you.

This is where it all began...The Sazerac. It's definitely fun to enjoy the drink classic drink from the source...especially with the cup that says it all!! Be ready to pay a nice healthy price for the drink. Well made...as a quality Sazerac should be. Well stocked bar with other fun cocktails. Just be aware that it can be busy and take a while to get your drink. The bartenders are well seasoned and make quality drinks. Prices are definitely marked up for the tourist trap that it is. BUT...it's always fun to go back to the roots where it all started.

Awesome vibe here. The drink below is their titular drink and they spend 15 minutes shaking it by hand at the bar. Hard to get a table but lots of standing room.

This was busy every time we were here we came for the Sazerac. Apparently it was first made at this bar in 1936. The cocktails were expertly made. Staff were very accommodating! A wonderful experience!

It was a great experience, we did the tour and it was very educational and drinks tasting was included so it made it even more fun. The have a store downstairs where you can purchase some to go options and bottles to make the trip even better. Make sure if you like something, you buy it because it might not ship to your state.