11/26/07

Great place to hang out and watch the game

by sphynxella

Great bar - and the bartenders can not be beat! Over 200 years old, so lots of atmosphere - definitely a place to check out the next time you go to NOLA!

• Pros: Interesting old building with great atmosphere and fantastic service
• Cons: It's on Bourbon Street

No hallucinogenic drinks anymore, but lots of historic flavor at this former speakeasy.

by Contributor

The Scene
The bar in this historic building should not be confused with the Absinthe Bar, a once-popular but now-defunct Bourbon Street music joint currently reincarnated as a daiquiri shop. This bar shares its name with the building itself, a landmark built in the early 1800s that also houses two Italian restaurants. There's a real historic feel here: William Makepeace Thackeray, Oscar Wilde, Sarah Bernhardt and Walt Whitman have passed through these doors.

The Draw
The site of a speakeasy during the Prohibition era, this is a popular tourist attraction and local watering hole. Don't come here expecting to order the namesake drink, however; it's illegal, as it's known to cause blindness and madness. Sip the signature Absinthe Frappe instead. It's made with Herbsaint, annisette--which tastes similar to Absinthe (or so we're told)--and soda water.

10/14/02

Nice

by rachelhawk71

Service was great - we went early and it wasn't very crowded. Friendly bartenders. Pretty coppertop(?) bar. Ignore my food rating - we didn't eat.

• Pros: Atmosphere, Service

07/29/02

You'll end up there

by NOLALover

The moto of this place is "Everyone always ends up at the Old Absinthe House" and you will! We did!

It was very cozy and the bartenders were great. I loved them calling everyone "baby" or "sweetie".

The fire is very nice on a cold day. Don't forget to staple your card up on the wall.