Cold Drinks at the Hot Tin
The Pontchartrain Hotel on tree-lined St. Charles Avenue has completed some lobby renovations just in time to welcome festival crowds for a daytime drink in between festival days. One big change is that you'll have an easier time getting up to the deluxe rooftop bar Hot Tin, which provides unparalleled views of downtown to the east and the sunset to the west.
For some time, those wanting to experience the decadence and drama of Hot Tin would be obliged to take the elevator up just short of the rooftop bar, then hike up a few flights on foot. Now, you can take the Hot Tin-emblazoned elevator straight to the hot spot. While there can easily be a line just to get up to Hot Tin in the evenings, daylight hours are much more approachable and the views are even more stunning in the sunlight. Bright rays of Louisiana sunshine filter through the wide open patio doors onto the antique trinket-filled space, making for an even more indulgent backdrop. You can enjoy perusing the strange collections at your leisure and find the perfect spot to take that FOMO-inducing social media picture.
Take your cocktail out onto one of the two patios to soak up the sun. The Hi-G is a playful twist on that childhood favorite Hi-C, but this one is made with hibiscus, pinot grigio, lime, grapefruit soda, and a tongue-tingling splash of cava. The Rita Hayworth will bring out the inner smoldering goddess within you with its combination of tequila, smoky chipotle chiles, apricots, and a dried lime that you can munch like a chip.
Before and after your Hot Tin trip, the Bayou Bar on the side of the lobby entrance offers a lovely view of St. Charles Avenue, complete with passing street cars. Bayou Bar offers wonderful signature cocktails like The Ferdinand, a Sazerac rye drink washed in beef fat and rinsed with absinthe. This is also the perfect place for a small or large bite of food while awaiting the live music happening most nights of the week beginning at 8 p.m.
