Bachelor party + Bar hoppin'

Ben is leaving on Friday for the weekend to attend a bachelor party in New Orleans. I imagine it's going to go a little something like this...

Despite my reservations and his better judgement {i

n light of everything that has recently happened with his hand}, he has decided to go.

I can't say that I blame him though.

I would want to go if all of my friends were convening in the Big Easy for a bachelorette party. As such {and because Spring Break is upon us and maybe you will want to go drink your way through NOLA}, I'm finishing the last of my New Orleans posts {as promised} and put together the list of libation destinations {what to drink and where to drink it} around New Orleans.

Best places to grab a drink:

Pat O'Brien's - Enjoy the idyllic courtyard ambience and be sure to check out the dueling piano bar. {Hint: You can send your song request written on a napkin with a small tip up to the pianists and the whole crowd sings along.} What to order: Skip the well-known Hurricane and try a Mint Julep

Old Absinthe House - A historic New Orleans tradition and an after work hot spot for locals. Don't forget to leave your business card behind on the wall. What to order: Green Fairy

Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone - Take a ride on this indoor, revolving carousel bar located inside a historic New Orleans landmark hotel. The name says it all. What to order: Vieux Carre

Sazerac Bar - Step back in history to the days of Huey P. Long, Louisiana's most famous governor, to the Sazerac Bar. Although it is also known for it's namesake cocktail that was invented here, Long was known to frequent the bar in the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel and order his favorite morning after concoction the Ramos Gin Fizz. What to order: Ramos Gin Fizz

The Columns Hotel - Grab a drink with friends among the live oaks at this historic hotel while overlooking St. Charles Avenue and the streetcar line. A popular hangout for locals around happy hour. What to order: Bloody Mary

Napoleon House Bar - Housed in a historic landmark and mentioned in my previous post for the muffaletta. Turns out, it's worth stopping in for a drink, too. What to order: Pimm's Cup

Tujage's - An completely stand-up, cypress bar and an old New Orleans tradition for everyone from politicians to labor workers. What to order: Grasshopper

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shoppe - The oldest bar in New Orleans and definitely has that creepy, haunted New Orleans vibe going on. There's a beer garden out back. What to order: The Hurricane

Tony Seville's in Pirate's Alley - Known as the old pirate's hangout where they still celebrate the tradition today. What to order: Absinthe Frappe

Bar UnCommon - A swanky hangout with a good mix of old and new New Orleans cocktails. What to order: Clover Club, but if Chris McMillian is working, then ask him to mix up something a little old fashioned, too.

Crescent City Brewhouse - The French Quarter's only micro-brewery that features music and food in a relaxed atmosphere. What to order: Abita Beer

Tropical Isle - One of those touristy must-try stops on Bourbon Street. What to order: Hand Grenade

Brennan's - Head to Brennan's for a morning-after brunch and a little hair of the dog. What to order: Brandy Milk Punch

The Gold Mine - Fun when you are ready to get your groove on and hear some live music. What to order: Flaming Dr. Pepper

The Bombay Club - Looking for a low-key way to start off the night? Head to Bombay for the upscale atmosphere, plush leather chairs, dark wood bar and mouth-watering martinis. What to order: The Cajun King Martini

Swizzle Stick Bar at the Loew's Hotel - Complete with a '50s-'60s vibe and nod to the swanky elegance of days gone by. What to order: Sazerac

The Avenue Pub - Nestled in the Garden District and boasting 47 beers on tap, this English-style pub is a salute to New Orleans history of brewing beer. What to order: A local or regional beer like NOLA Hopitoulas or Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan

French 75 Bar at Arnaud's - What used to be a gentleman only area is now a bar that is both masculine and sophisticated and features specialties from a bygone era. What to order: Herbsaint Frappe

St. Joe's Bar - Located uptown, the inside of the bar is a shrine to Catholicism and the outdoor patio is a shrine to a Japanese garden...go figure! What to drink: Blueberry Mojito

Bar Tonique - Specializing in great cocktails and unique ingredients with a candle-lit bar, its a good place to gather with friends and grab a drink. What to drink: Blanche DuBois a favorite of New Orleans literary Tennessee Williams.

Cure - Airy and modern. You'll be intrigued enough by the names of their cocktails to try everything on the menu. What to drink: The Rose Hinted Glass, Ghosts of My Life and New Orleans #2...too many to choose, so just try them all!

Whew...I need a drink now. To speed this, I'm going to have to forego typing long descriptions, so here's my down and dirty if you are looking for other features {besides the booze}.

Best places to hear live music:

Maple Leaf Bar - Uptown

Cafe Negril - Marigny - Great place to hear reggae

Carrollton Station - Uptown

d.b.a. - On Frenchmen Street

Tipitina's - Check out the traditional fais do do on Sundays

Best place for jazz and blues:

Preservation Hall - French Quarter

Funky Pirate - French Quarter

House of Blues - French Quarter

The Blue Nile - Marigny

Check Point Charlie's - Marigny

Spotted Cat - Marigny

Snug Harbor - Marigny

Feelings Cafe - Marigny

Best places to hang:

Bull Dog - Two locations Uptown and Mid-City

Mimi's in the Marigny - Marigny

Dos Jefes - Uptown cigar bar with live music acts, too.

Best places to get your groove on:

Cats Meow - If you like to sing karaoke or just watch others take center stage, this is an awesome place to do it. The staff usually gets up and sings musical interludes to entertain the mostly touristy crowds.

Grit's Bar - Lively college and grad school crowd. Uptown

The Gold Mine - French Quarter

Bourbon Street Blues Company - French Quarter

Cafe Brasil - Marigny

Altitude 33 - Atop the World Trade Center, downtown near the Hilton Riverside & Harrahs. This dance club/lounge has 360 views of the entire downtown New Orleans, plus a revolving floor, means you never have to leave your seat for an entire view of downtown NOLA.

Again there are just so many bars and good things to drink - too numerous to name everything {although clearly I've come close}.

Now, if only they had a cure for the hangover that you are sure to have once you've hit all of these bars and drank all of those cocktails.

I just hope that Ben doesn't come home after this weekend looking like this...