Sazerac at the Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel
Number one on the list for a reason! The Sazerac is a New Orleans native and sometimes called the first cocktail in America. (Again, this is disputed.)
It’s honestly hard to tell which is more iconic, this cognac-whiskey concoction or the gorgeous, spinning Carousel Bar where it was invented in 1938 around the time the literary likes of Truman Capote and Eudora Welty became regulars.
Skip the Day-Glo Slurpee varieties you’ll see all over Bourbon Street, and hit up this cozy Cuban eatery for a more authentic experience. (The daiquiri was invented in Cuba.)
French 75 at Arnaud’s French 75 Bar
This gin-and-champagne cocktail may have been born in Paris, but it was perfected in New Orleans.
Once long-forgotten, this New Orleans native has made a comeback in a big way over the last few years, thanks to the same superstar duo behind Manolito.
Invented at Tujague’s nearly a century ago, the Grasshopper combines creme de menthe and chocolate for a bright green, milkshake-like treat.