Jewel of the South
Chris Hannah's cocktail bar that takes the brown-spirits canon seriously without being precious about it.
French Quarter
Jewel of the South occupies a Creole cottage on the quiet end of the Quarter, far enough from Bourbon to forget Bourbon exists. Chris Hannah, formerly of Arnaud's French 75, runs one of the most thoughtful cocktail programs in the country in a room that feels like a friend's house if your friend collected antique cocktail books.
The list is rooted in pre-Prohibition technique — Brandy Crustas, Improved Whiskey Cocktails, things with names you've forgotten how to spell. Trust the bartenders. There's a small food menu that punches well above its weight; the gumbo is genuinely good.
Sit at the bar if you can. The courtyard is pleasant in shoulder seasons. Reservations help on weekends.
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