The Old Absinthe House is an Historic old bar with great ambience. I find it more of a tourist destination than a local favorite, but not in a bad way. The service is very good, friendly and personable. The drinks are good but a bit on the expensive side, likely due to the Bourbon Street location. Definitely worth a try, even if you only have one drink.
This was my favorite place on Bourbon Street as a first time visitor. It’s laid back, has a cool history, the drinks were good (Absinthe Margarita was delicious), and both Furious (sorry if it’s spelled wrong!) and Kaitlin were funny, personable, and made the whole experience memorable and a great time. The manager (forgot his name) was also cool but more grouchy, now, he wasn’t rude just had a different vibe. Loved this place. Thanks guys! Will totally come back when we come back to NO.
I’ve always wanted to try absinthe and, specifically, here at the Old Absinthe House. I was not disappointed! I knew what to expect of the flavor so I got some Pernod and some of the Butterfly. I found the Pernod to be slightly sweeter, a bit more palatable. Of course, it still had the strong flavors of fennel and anise which is expected of any absinthe but Pernod had a bit more delicate taste. If you haven’t seen the menu, be aware that the average cost of one drink is about $22. Normally, I would complain about such a high price but you’re not paying for just a drink- you’re paying for drinking 130-proof drinks in a historic setting, a bar that’s been in business for generations. It was a nice experience, I definitely recommend trying a cup of absinthe here if you haven’t done so.
Fun place on Bourbon Street with a focus on absinthe-based cocktails. Historic and worth investigating the dead skin cells of past generations while enjoying your favorite libation
If you are looking for a venue with outstanding service and professionalism for a special event this is your place! Rue Bourbon was the perfect place for a surprise proposal. Era, the event coordinator does her job extraordinarily well and goes beyond your expectations to provide a once in a life time experience! I highly recommend you considering this establishment for any special events in New Orleans!
The drinks are very good, this was my first time drinking absinthe and the selection was a little overwhelming. However the menu was really informative and clear so I was able to pick something I really enjoyed without issue. My only gripe was there was not nearly enough stools for the bar space so we had to stand for half of our visit until a couple left. There's a football decor theme going on and there are large TVs blaring sports which felt weird for absinthe. I just hoped for something more interesting and relaxed. The drinks make it good enough to stop at for a single drink, but not longer.
I had a wonderful time here! There was a huge Christmas work party going on and Corina was working the bar. We are from out of town in Florida and Corina did an amazing job with her bedside manner and taking care of us and the additional Christmas party. We LOVE CORINA. 5 GOLD STARS FOR CORINA!!
Go to the back bar and do the Absinthe thing. Really relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Bartenders are very knowledgeable regarding Absinthe history and how to prepare it. Plus, it's fun to drink...don't do shots, you'll lose time 😉
When on vacation, you must try new things, especially things you can't get where you reside. So this place came highly recommended for the style of drinks they make. The drinks were strong but good, and I was advised not to shoot it. The bartender was very knowledgeable and helped me select my drink of choice, which was Absinthe Ordinaire.
Back room was very cozy, good vibes. The bartender was able to guide us to an absinthe that was easy to appreciate as a newbie, and was an excellent guide to the what and why of absinthe. We tried the Lucid, which seemed like a good introduction absinthe.
Been coming here since 1998. Had my 1st Ramos gin fizz here! Longest running bar in New Orleans. Nice fireplace. The back room renovated bar was featured on Led Zeppelins, "In the Out Door" album covers!
Strong drinks. Great service. Very knowledgeable staff. Tried California absinthe. They did a wonderful job with the presentation. Did the whole show. Lit the sugar cube on fire, diluted it down.
BEWARE if you are not a fan of the licorice taste. But absolutely wonderful experience.
A cool and fun experience for any first timers trying absinthe. I particularly liked the walls of business cards and the football helmets hanging on the ceiling. These are pretty unique decors I must say.
My spouse, friends and I paid a visit yesterday and was immediately greeted by a bartender. We ordered the drinks and she put on a little show, watching her preparing the absinthe drinks was an eye-opener. Our bartender wasn’t exactly the friendliest but it was end of the shift for her so, I’m assuming she was in a rush to get out of there.
Taste wise, not for me. Absinthe tastes like liquorice candy and I’m not a fan of that. We spent $77USD for four drinks, that came down to roughly $20usd per drink which is as expensive as a cocktail at a 5-star hotel.
I understand this place has a lot of history and personality so I would highly recommend it to whoever wants to visit a historical place in New Orleans at the French Quarters. Credit cards/cash accepted here.
Visited on a Wednesday evening, and the bar was pretty full - we were able to make room for the 2 of us. Ordered a couple beers and the California absinthe - they lit it on fire to serve! Tasted like black licorice, and you could hardly taste the alcohol! Enjoyed the service and atmosphere. If you get a chance to stop by, look up the history before visiting- pretty cool!
Adam was the best bartender! He took great care of us for our first-time drinking absinthe and created extremely tasty drinks! Highly recommend for the welcoming, fun, and relaxing atmosphere
The Old Absinthe House is exactly what it sounds like - an old bar on Bourbon Street that shows its age and continual use. It was dark inside, with a copper topped bar, and really helpful and fun bartenders. I've never seen so many absinthe options, either. Tons of them. Not the cheapest of drinks, but the experience with the sugar cubes and fire really made the drink magical in the old darkened bar - exactly as it should be. I wasn't disappointed. Absinthe isn't really my drink but I can appreciate the care and atmosphere. Check it out.
My wife enjoyed the Absinthe the bartender helped her choose one that she could enjoy!
Came to try absinth for the 1st time, although not a fan of black licorice flavor, we had too. The bartender was great. She explained everything to us, we talked about the history of the bar, very friendly service.
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