NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Latter Hospitality Group, the team behind Tujague’s, The Bower and Birdy’s, will open its latest concept, Charles & Julia, on Friday, May 8, at Hotel Perle, 757 St. Charles Ave. Set across two levels, Charles & Julia moves between moods, from an intimate downstairs cocktail bar to an expansive rooftop terrace.
Latter Hospitality shares the concept is inspired by the fictional love story of a couple who met on a New Orleans streetcar, Charles & Julia reflects their shared passion for travel and hospitality. It’s a place to settle in and spend the evening, whether over a progression of small plates and cocktails downstairs or drinks above the city. “Charles & Julia is more than just a bar; it’s an experience built around storytelling and hospitality,” said Mark Latter, founder and CEO of Latter Hospitality. “We wanted to create two distinct experiences within one space, something that could shift depending on the time of day or how you want to spend your evening.”
Perched in New Orleans’ Warehouse District at the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Julia Street, the organization shares guests enter a space that feels polished yet relaxed, with layered interiors, warm lighting and an intimate ambiance that encourages conversation and a slower pace. The menu, developed by Latter Hospitality Corporate Chef Marcus Woodham and executed by Chef de Cuisine Ubolratana “Aum” Wipop, centers on a refined yet approachable selection of shareable plates designed to complement the bar program.
Menu Highlights
Available downstairs, the food menu balances refined small plates with indulgent, shareable offerings and opens with a selection of items designed for the table, including bread service featuring Bellegarde olive and fennel batard and focaccia with smoked tallow butter, as well as composed cheese plates and charcuterie boards.
Cold dishes showcase bright, seasonal flavors, including Hamachi Crudo with salted cucumber and green tomato, green onion, rice powder, lemongrass and shrimp paste vinaigrette; Heirloom Cherry Tomato Salad with blueberry, basil, Vidalia onion, labneh, pistachio butter and white balsamic vinaigrette; and a Key West-style Lobster Roll with lime aioli, celery, cilantro and Old Bay on brioche (with optional caviar); and a savory Creole Cream Cheese Cheesecake with parmesan-basil crust and roasted tomato jam.
Hot plates lean richer and more composed with dishes such as Scallops with creamed corn, pancetta, and smoked trout roe; Mushroom Bolognese – ricotta and pesto stuffed shells with Maggie’s Mushroom baby bella and shiitake, basil, and pecorino; and Baked Lobster “Escargot” in herb butter and breadcrumbs. Additional standouts include Carbonara Crab Gnocchiwith pancetta, sweet peas, and egg yolk; Provoletta with chimichurri and sundried tomato; and Pavé Potato with caviar and truffled crème fraîche.
Cocktail Highlights
The cocktail program, under the direction of Beverage Director Allison O’Keefer, spans both the downstairs bar and rooftop terrace, blending seasonal ingredients with a modern take on classic formats. Downstairs, the menu ranges from lighter, aromatic cocktails to spirit-forward selections. Highlights include the CBD Spritz with vodka, strawberry, basil, elderflower, lime, and sparkling wine; Sage Advice with gin, sugar snap pea, sage, lime, Boomsma Cloosterbitter, and velvet falernum; and Peachy Keen, Jelly Bean– bourbon, peach, pistachio, lemon, and thyme. Spirit-forward options include The Jabberwocky with bourbon, walnut, cinnamon, cacao, Luxardo Maraschino, and Chicory Bang Bang with rye, coffee-infused amaro, chicory, and pecan. The program also pays homage to the bar’s romantic narrative with two enduring classics: the Vesper, a nod to Charles, circa 1953, and the Daiquiri, representing Julia, circa 1898.
Upstairs, the rooftop cocktail menu shifts toward bright and refreshing cocktails perfect for open-air drinking, with selections such as Summer Crush with tequila, watermelon, fig-balsamic, Acqua di Cedro, and lime, Génépy From the Block – blanco tequila, Génépy le Chamois, lemongrass, coconut, lemon, soda; Sombre Verde with tobalá, tarragon, fino sherry, and Dolin Blanc, and a Frozen Paloma perfect for warm-weather afternoons.
Designed by Anna Nicole Interiors, Charles & Julia brings together a mix of textures and materials that balance polish with comfort. Downstairs, a palette of warm woods, soft lighting, and layered textiles creates an intimate, lived-in feel, with a mix of banquette and bar seating that encourages both conversation and effortless evenings. Upstairs, the experience shifts entirely. Inspired by the couple’s travels through Sicily, the rooftop terrace transforms into a lush European garden escape floating above the city. Surrounded by lush greenery and skyline views, the rooftop bar embraces a relaxed, vacation-like rhythm, perfect for starting the night at sunset or ending it beneath the stars.
Together, the two environments create dual identities within one destination: an intimate cocktail salon below and an open-air rooftop retreat above, each designed to feel discovered rather than announced.
Charles & Julia is located at Hotel Perle, 757 St. Charles Ave., in New Orleans’ Central Business District, a boutique lifestyle property known for its spacious all-suite accommodations and hospitality in downtown New Orleans. The Cocktail Bar is open Sunday – Thursday, 4 – 10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 4 – 11 p.m., with Happy Hour daily from 4 – 6 p.m. The Terrace Bar is open Monday – Thursday, 4 – 10 p.m.; Friday, 4 – 11 p.m.; Saturday, noon – 11 p.m.; Sunday, noon – 10 p.m., with Happy Hour Monday – Friday, 4 – 6 p.m.
For additional info and to make reservations, visit charlesandjulia.com.
Follow Charles & Julia on social media @charlesandjulianola.
