Carousel Bar New Orleans Menu & Prices 2026

The Carousel Bar & Lounge is a famous revolving bar inside the Hotel Monteleone at 214 Royal Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The bar's platform -- including all 25 seats -- rotates slowly, completing one full revolution every 15 minutes. It has operated since 1949 and is one of the most iconic bars in the United States. It was a favorite haunt of Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, Truman Capote, and Ernest Hemingway.

The Vieux Carre ($17) is the signature drink -- it was invented at the Hotel Monteleone by head bartender Walter Bergeron in the 1930s and is one of the defining cocktails of New Orleans. Also highly recommended: the Hotel Monteleone Sazerac ($16), the French 75 ($16), and the Obituary Cocktail ($16). If you want a classic New Orleans taste in a single glass, start with the Vieux Carre.

Cocktails at the Carousel Bar run roughly $14 to $22 as of 2026. Signature cocktails like the Vieux Carre and Sazerac are around $16-$17. House spirits run $12-$15 per pour; premium and rare whiskeys go $18-$22+. Wine by the glass is $13-$16; beers are $7-$9. Bar bites range from $14 to $24. The bar is mid-to-upscale by New Orleans standards -- consistent with a landmark hotel bar in the French Quarter.

The Vieux Carre was invented by Walter Bergeron, head bartender at the Hotel Monteleone, in the late 1930s. The name means 'Old Square' in French -- the Creole term for the French Quarter. The cocktail blends rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, and both Peychaud's and Angostura bitters. It is one of the classic New Orleans cocktails and is documented in the International Bartenders Association's list of historically significant cocktails.

The Carousel Bar does not enforce a strict dress code, but as a landmark hotel bar in the French Quarter, smart casual is the norm -- collared shirts and clean footwear are appreciated. The bar draws a mix of hotel guests, tourists, and locals, so the atmosphere ranges from casual daytime visitors to more dressed-up evening guests. Extremely casual beach or pool attire may be turned away during peak evening hours. Confirm with the hotel directly for current policy.

The Carousel Bar typically opens daily at 11:00 AM and serves until midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 1:00 AM Friday and Saturday. Hours can vary for private events, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and other New Orleans festival periods. Always confirm current hours directly with the Hotel Monteleone at (504) 523-3341 or via hotelmonteleone.com before visiting.

Yes -- the Carousel Bar offers a bar bites menu including Gulf Shrimp Cocktail ($22), Oysters on the Half Shell ($22), Charcuterie Board ($24), Deviled Eggs ($14), Truffle Fries ($14), and a Cheese Plate ($18). It is primarily a cocktail bar, not a full-service restaurant -- for a complete dinner, the Hotel Monteleone also has Criollo Restaurant on property.

The Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone is celebrated for its literary history. Among the most famous regulars: Tennessee Williams (who set a scene there in his autobiography), Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and Truman Capote. The Hotel Monteleone is officially designated a Literary Landmark by the Friends of Libraries USA. The city of New Orleans' broader literary tradition -- which includes Walker Percy, Lillian Hellman, and Anne Rice -- is closely tied to this bar and hotel.

The Carousel Bar is located at 214 Royal Street, Hotel Monteleone, in the heart of the French Quarter. It is a short walk from Jackson Square, Bourbon Street, and most French Quarter attractions. Street parking in the French Quarter is very limited -- the hotel has a valet; several paid garages are nearby on Iberville and Burgundy streets. Walking is the recommended approach from most French Quarter hotels. The hotel is also easily accessible via the Canal Street streetcar stop and short walk down Royal Street.