Review: The Sazerac Bar

Give us your first impression?
You can almost sense the history as you walk into the Roosevelt Hotel's signature bar. A small seating area gives way to the long, narrow bar room with its dark, African Walnut woods, leather-backed chairs and the striking colorful murals of old New Orleans that frame the entire scene. Even in a city of characterful hotel bars, it stands out, though it’s definitely upscale so you’ll want to dress appropriately.

So who’s there?
Clumps of post-conference suits and elegant pre-dinner groups trade gossip at the bar and around the tables, with hotel guests making up the numbers. The prices mean that it’s more of a special occasion situation than an everyday drinks stop.

How are the drinks?
You’re drinking a Sazerac, obviously. It’s a mix of rye whiskey and bitters in an absinthe-rinsed rocks glass and though it can be an acquired taste, the version made here is among the best in town. The bar also has history with the Ramos Gin Fizz, a cream-heavy concoction that puffs out of its tall glass like a boozy milkshake. The bar has its own creations, too, as well as a liquor and beer selection that you’d expect any five-star hotel to carry.

Did the staff do you right?
Given a slow enough shift, the bartenders will happily tell you about the history of the bar and its signature cocktails, their white tuxedos and professional manners imbuing them with authority. This bar wouldn’t employ rookies so you know you’re in good hands.

Wrap it up: what are we coming here for?
The bar has borne witness to several pivotal moments in local history (ask your bartenders about ‘the storming of the Sazerac’) and given that it’s the spiritual home of not one but two cocktails, it’s worth a trip for historians and mixology fans alike.