The Carousel Bar & Lounge — Restaurant in New Orleans

Update 11/26/2021 Thanksgiving weekend. Lena Prima Carousel Lounge Friday & Saturday shows. Bride & Groom Monteleone Lobby. Bayou Classic Parade.

Update – 10/29/2021 Halloween weekend. Lena Prima show is great. Lena Prima is an American singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of singer, trumpeter and recording star Louis Prima.

Update 7/31/2021 – Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summerfest

Update 5/19/21: Sheraton Hotel 36th floor Riverview .

Update 4/22/21: After 12 years of visiting NOLA 4-8 times per year, we finally decided to visit the Sazerac Bar inside the Roosevelt Hotel (Beautiful lobby). I tried the Sazerac and now I am hooked! My wife noticed that almost everyone at the Sazerac Bar was drinking a Sazerac cocktail. I ordered a Sazerac and a Corona Extra beer. You only sip the Sazerac. The Sazerac is very smooth. I tried the Sazerac at the Carousel Bar and I did not like it. Our next stop was the Chart Room Bar. After the Chart Room Bar, we visited our favorite Bar in NOLA: The Carousel Bar inside the Monteleone Hotel. At the Carousel Bar, as soon I sit, a Fleur De Lis cocktail and a Corona Extra beer are waiting for me. We’re treated as VIP. We had great times at the Carousel Bar for the last 12 years. We’re going back in June; God Willing. PS: We visited Pat O’ Brien’s for Hurricanes and Corona Extra’s on Friday afternoon.

Update 4/2/21: We stopped by the Carousel Bar around 5:30 PM and there were long lines waiting for the 25 seats of the Carousel Bar and the Carousel Lounge seats. We decided to leave and stop by GW Fins for dinner and drinks. We returned to The Carousel Bar around 8:30 PM and the line for the Carousel Bar was short and we were seated in less than 20 minutes wait. Nick (Bartender) is back to work. Nick was working with Parker Davis. Eddie (Bartender) was working in the Carousel Lounge bar. Eduardo (Bar back) was working in the Carousel Bar and Carousel Lounge Bar. There was live music. We had great time as always. On Saturday, we stopped by Pat O’ Brien’s for Hurricanes and Corona Extra's. On Sunday, We had Sunday brunch at the Commanders Palace. Live Jazz Band in the patio only. Sunday afternoon we stopped by the Chart Room Bar on Chartres and Bienville a block from The Monteleone Hotel. The Chart Room is a local bar and very small. However, is one of our favorites stops in the French Quarter.

Update: After 4 frigid days without power or water, we were able to get out of Texas and take a hot shower in New Orleans. Our last visit to NOLA was on November 2020 and there were not many people in the French Quarter. Now the Carousel Lounge has 2 bartenders working and Parker Davis is back to work. We visited the Carousel Lounge 3 nights in a row. The carousel bar still closed. In the Carousel Lounge you must order an item from the dinner menu and must wear a face covering in order to get in. The Carousel Lounge now opens from 12pm to 11pm on weekends. No live music. My favorite Fleur de Lis cocktail was created by Bartender Parker Davis. I always order a Fleur de Lis cocktail and a Corona Extra, a great combination I may add!! Parker Davis, Eddie, and Eduardo are our favorite people at the Carousel Bar and always treat us like royalty. They always receive excellent gratuity from us. We need to support the NOLA hospitality people. New Orleans is coming back. We’re planning to go back to NOLA in April (God willing).

November 2020 review:

Parker Davis, Eddie, and Eduardo are my favorite people at the Carousel Bar, that is currently closed due to COVID-19. Only the Carousel Lounge is open and Eddie is the only bartender working. Only 50 people are allowed at the Carousel Lounge and must order an item from the dinner menu, they must wear a face covering/mask. The Carousel Lounge opens from 4pm to 10pm. No live music. My favorite Fleur de Lis cocktail was created by Bartender Parker Davis. I always order a Fleur de Lis cocktail and a Corona Extra, a great...

Located inside the historic Hotel Monteleone in the heart of the French Quarter, The Carousel Bar & Lounge is an iconic New Orleans drinking establishment that delivers a unique experience and unforgettable cocktails. Famous for its carousel-style bar, which slowly rotates counterclockwise while the bartenders remain stationary in the center, this bar offers an experience that is as fun as it is atmospheric.

The decor perfectly embraces the carousel theme, with brass finishes, carnival motifs, and whimsical touches that make the space feel like a playful nod to old-world elegance. The bar itself is relatively small, seating just over a dozen patrons at a time directly at the rotating counter, which gives it an intimate, yet lively vibe. If you’re looking for a seat during peak hours, be prepared to wait, as the carousel bar is highly popular. At times, the wait can stretch to 30 minutes or more, but there’s an auxiliary seating area adjacent to the bar for those biding their time. A nice touch for those looking to relax while waiting, though you’ll still be eyeing those coveted seats at the bar.

For the best experience, try to visit either right when the bar opens at 10 a.m. or on a weekday when the crowds are a bit lighter. As the seating is first come, first served, timing matters, especially if you’re in a larger group.

As for the drinks, The Carousel Bar lives up to its legendary reputation with a stellar bar program that executes New Orleans classics with precision and flair. Their Sazerac was a highlight—balanced, smooth, and perfectly crafted for the price of $16. Whether you’re a fan of whiskey-based cocktails or prefer something lighter, the bartenders here are skilled at mixing drinks to suit your taste.

Speaking of the bartenders, they’re not just talented mixologists—they’re also true professionals in hospitality. Their friendly banter and attentiveness made the experience even more enjoyable, as they made sure we had everything we needed while keeping us entertained as the carousel slowly spun us around.

There’s no official time limit at the bar, so you can take your time and enjoy the experience at a leisurely pace. I ended up staying far longer than anticipated, but in the best way possible, as the atmosphere and drinks kept me happily engaged.

Overall, The Carousel Bar & Lounge is a must-try when visiting New Orleans—the city that invented the cocktail. With its timeless charm, excellent cocktails, and unique rotating bar, it’s an experience that encapsulates the spirit of the French Quarter and is a fantastic spot to immerse yourself in the city’s vibrant cocktail culture. Whether you're a local or a first-time visitor, this historic watering hole is sure to be a memorable part of your New...

Where do I start? At the front desk things seemed in order. Mask requirement as well as Covid vaccination card or negative Covid test to enter. It was a short wait because we wanted to sit at the carousel portion of the restaurant. Once inside we made our way back to the carousel bar. If you could paint a picture of what a Covid cloud looked like, this was it. There was no crowd control at all. We waited a few minutes for some ppl to leave so we could sit at the bar. I expected the staff to spray the bar down with disinfectant or something and clean the area. Instead, the area closest to the bartender was wiped down only with a rag that had been sitting behind the bar already, not in any disinfectant or solution. The area I was occupying farthest from the bartender wasn't cleaned at all. I ordered a drink and watched the bartenders. I stayed about an hour. They never washed their hands, never hit the hand sanitizer sitting by the register, never used any gloves, nothing. Drinks were made bare-handed simultaneously with them taking money and credit cards and cashing ppl out. Fruit garnish, was placed on rims and inside of drinks with bare hands. Lemon pulp was removed from lemon rind bare handed. Dirty cups were pilled up behind the bar and sitting. When someone came to finally "wash" them the cups were dunked in soapy water and placed on a scrubby spinner thing and dunked in water and hung for the next person. The other customers waiting for chairs to become free were hovering literally right behind you. They reach in front of you to order drinks and pay. Social distancing is no where to be found, understandably..but the bartenders can at least use the hand sanitizer provided. The place definitely is short staffed. They would benefit greatly from a third person doing strictly sanitation (wiping down the bar WITH DISINFECTANT, removing/washing cups, clearing the surrounding tables and disinfecting, etc.). I felt very claustrophobic and anxious about the environment and lack of sanitation in place. I felt very uncomfortable. I'd suggest coming closer to the time it opens to get some type of space and sanitation up to basic standards. Let's not even mention that my drink tasted like a cup of juice. Refreshing, but not close to even being a strong...