Locals looking for an intimate spot for Friday lunch can visit Arnaud’s French 75 Bar which offers a curated lunch menu with full service, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Guests can pair their meal with cocktails from the bar, which features a new list of beverages including a savory, herb infused “Dirty Freezer Martini,” an artfully presented Spanish gin and tonic, a selection of spritzes, and of course, the classic French 75. 813 Bienville St., 504-523-5433, arnaudsrestaurant.com.
Avegno Green Hour
Avegno, the stylish sister to the celebrated restaurant Gautreau’s, brings l’heure verte (the green hour) from Paris to New Orleans in celebration of absinthe, Madam Gautreau (the restaurant’s namesake and scandalous patron of the arts) and la belle epoque. Every Tuesday through Saturday at 5 p.m., imbibers have the opportunity to pause and savor an hour of intimate (and perhaps even scandalous) conversation. The cocktail “Death in the Afternoon” is a seductive mixture of chilled absinthe, Taittinger Champagne, and a hint of lemon, and is served exclusively during L’heure Verte. 1726 Soniat St., 504-899-7397, avegnoneworleans.com.
Cure 50 Best Bar
New Orleanians can celebrate the team at Cure’s fourth consecutive appearance on North America’s 50 Best Bars list. The cocktail bar jumped from the No.50 to the No.21 spot for 2026, earning them the Nikka Highest Climber Award. The 50 Best Bar list honors standout innovation and exceptional hospitality, which cements Cure’s role in advancing the modern cocktail movement in New Orleans. Cure’s past accolades include a James Beard Foundation Award for “Outstanding Bar Program” in 2018, inclusion on The World’s 50 Best Bars in 2014, and repeat placements on North America’s 50 Best Bars list in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Cure was also named the No. 1 bar in the United States in 2026, by Food & Wine as part of its annual Global Tastemakers awards. 4905 Freret St., 504-302-2357, curenola.com.
Safta’s Table
Emily and Alon Shaya’s newly opened Safta’s Table in Lakeshore offers breakfast and lunch on the go or pick up to-go family meals. Safta’s beverages include both classic and innovative coffee and tea selections available, and Folk Machine Winery white blend and rosé are on tap. By the glass options include La Val Alabarino, a Spanish Sancerre, a fizzy Psuedonimo Pet Nat and traditional sparkling Caves de Wissembourg Simonet Vin Mousseaux Blanc de Blanc Brut. Beer selections from New Orleans’ Second Line Brewing include Saison Named Desire and Batture Blonde Ale. A curated cocktail list ranges from classics like the Espresso martini, Negroni, Old Fashioned and margaritas. Seasonally inspired fresh fruit spritzes like the “Pomegranate Rose” are served with or without spirits. 129 Allen Toussaint Boulevard, 504-355-0045, saftastable.com.
Dolfy’s
New Orleanians proudly flaunt their Gallic heritage, forgetting that we were once Spanish for just as long as we were French. Chef Adolfo Garcia Jr. and partner Sophia Petrou Garcia celebrate that Spanish influence at the newly opened Dolfy’s, their Basque-inspired, wood-fired restaurant. The menu at Dolfy’s reflects an intersection of the Basque coast and the Gulf coast, featuring fresh seafood, open-fire cooking and simple preparations. The beverage menu has been crafted to complement these bold flavors. “The bar isn’t an afterthought here. It’s part of the story,” Garcia said. Head Bartender Chandler Johnson’s cocktail menu draws on Spanish spirits and Basque flavors as well. The “Bulevar,” a Manhattan riff features Apero Ibérico and sweet vermouth, while the “Txeequitini,” the bar’s playful martini, is offered with vodka or gin. 4508 Freret St., 504-841-9110, dolfys.com.
