Legend has it that New Orleans came up with the concept of brunch. If that’s the case, then let’s just claim perfecting the Bloody Mary while we’re at it. New Orleans is known for crafting an incredible array of cocktails and because “it’s a marathon, not a race”, our local restaurants have mastered the art of the life-saving Bloody Mary.
The only thing we love more than serving up the best cocktail is competing for the title of best cocktail, and The Bloody Mary Festival at The Howlin’ Wolf this weekend is a celebration of this friendly, albeit bloody, throwdown!
This weekend, The Bloody Mary Liberation Party is bringing New Orleans two days of garnished competition along with tasty bites, live music, and more! While Saturday has already sold out, Bloody Mary aficionados can still scoop up tickets to one of the two-hour sessions on Sunday, sometimes referred to as “Sunday Funday” or the absolute perfect day to be drinking a Bloody, or two… or three.
So if you go gaga for garnishes or think a Bloody is an essential way to get your veggies, we’ve piled up a virtual toothpick with drool-worthy pics and reviews about the restaurants participating in the Bloody Mary Festival!
*Photos sourced from Yelp do not reflect drink recipes being served but the quality of expertise that can be expected from these wonderful participating restaurants.
Ruby Slipper Cafe
200 Magazine St New Orleans, LA 70130
“Soooo good!!! The Bloody Mary was great and spicy. The atmosphere was very casual. Really great place for an excellent breakfast.”
-Yelper Viveca W.
Red Fish Grill
115 Bourbon St New Orleans, LA 70130
“The oysters and shrimp were fantastic. I could have just camped out at the front of that display. And the Bloody Mary was amazing.”
-Yelper Candy B.
Dat Dog
3336 Magazine St New Orleans, LA 70115
“Dat Dog also makes a seriously awesome and underrated Bloody Mary. They make house infused bacon vodka; ask for a Bloody Mary with this and you’ll be in heaven.”
-Yelper Aaron M.
Brennan’s
417 Royal St New Orleans, LA 70130
“A New Orleans classic. This place does not disappoint. Impeccable service and brilliant brunch. Get the Bloody Mary!”
-Yelper David R.
K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen
416 Chartres St New Orleans, LA 70130
“The service was impeccable and not overly solicitous. I had their special Bloody Mary which was amazing and my boyfriend got the Sazerac – which he loved!”
-Yelper Erin H.
Oceana Grill
739 Conti St New Orleans, LA 70130
“Service was amazing, everyone is so nice and polite. Bloody Marys are awesome as well. Would come back again for sure! Highly recommend.”
-Yelper Kelley F.
Ole Saint
132 Royal St New Orleans, LA 70130
“If you’re in the French Quarter, this bar is a must!! Star is the best bartender in the area. This bar has a great mix of local charm with tourist intrigue.”
-Yelper Patrice G.
Daisy Dukes
121 Chartres St New Orleans, LA 70130
“This is about their epic Bloody Mary. This Bloody Mary is everything. Don’t get a Bloody Mary anywhere else because it won’t have a damn crawfish romantically draped over the side of a fancy mason jar.”
-Yelper Z P.
Red Dog Diner
3122 Magazine St New Orleans, LA 70115
“A must stop in the Garden District! My quest for the best Bloody Mary in NOLA has succumbed to the Back Alley Bar in the Red Dog Diner. The Hair of the Red Dog, dare I say, is quite possible the best Bloody Mary I’ve ever had?!”
-Yelper Chrystal G.
Maison
508 Frenchmen St New Orleans, LA 70116
“Best Bloody Mary I’ve ever had. Awesome Cajun Mac ‘n Cheese too. We went back 3 days in a row just for those two things… Bonus is they almost always have awesome music playing at all times of the day!”
-Yelper Danielle D.
Salon Restaurant by Sucré
622 Conti St New Orleans, LA 70130
“Simply beautiful. This place got a lot of things right but one thing they absolutely hit out of the park was the decor and ambiance!”
-Yelp Elite Simi M.
Ms Linda Green “Yakamein Lady”
New Orleans, LA 70119
“So much flavor, so many spices, it cleared my sinuses up and made my taste buds dance! Keep it coming Ms. Linda! This is some good stuff!!”
-Yelper Tania Z.
Spotted Cat Food & Spirits
2372 St Claude Ave New Orleans, LA 70117
“Had a wonderful brunch here… Server was very attentive with our bottomless mimosas. The live music was nice. Everyone enjoyed their food immensely! Definitely recommend for an affordable and delicious brunch.”
-Yelper Jen K.
Roosevelt Hotel Bar
116 Roosevelt Way New Orleans, LA 70112
“Had a great time hanging out here on Sunday while killing some time between lunch and dinner. Watched a little football and had some killer Bloody Marys.”
-Yelper Joshua N.
Royal Merchant Trading Co
3000 Magazine St Ste 201 New Orleans, LA 70115
“New spice importer who will be popping up around New Orleans… She had a variety of peppercorns, Hungarian paprika, black sesame seeds, dried ginger root and more. I like that the spices are dated and that you can buy small quantities to ensure peak flavor.
-Yelp Elite Jen L.
Another Broken Egg Cafe
2917 Magazine St New Orleans, LA 70115
“I’m a huge fan of their classic Eggs Benedict and Bloody Mary! I would highly recommend Another Broken Egg Cafe to residents and visitors!”
-Yelper Heather M.
Tsunami Sushi
601 Poydras St Ste B New Orleans, LA 70170
“This is hands down my favorite sushi place in New Orleans. Happy hour is amazing. We get there at three and enjoy all the way go six… They are allowed to be inventive which leads to cool drinks and new dishes”
-Yelp Elite Yeashan R.
Other businesses who will be providing tasty bloodies are El Guapo Bitters, The Bloody Buddy, and Geaux Creole. We’ve compiled a handy-dandy collection here so you can find these Bloodys again next time your hangover is hankerin’ for a cure. May the best Bloody win!
