Issuu

NEW ORLEANS MAGAZINE JANUARY 2026

BEST DIVE BARS

TOPS OF THE TOWN 2026

ELLA BRENNAN AWARDS

MYNEWORLEANS.COM

JANUARY 2026

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 1

2 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 3

4 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 5

Contents

JANUARY 2026 | VOLUME 60 | NUMBER 4

Features

Standards

Dive Bars

Iconic New Orleans spots BY BETH D'ADDONO

Tops of the Town 2026 Winners

Ella Brennan Hospitality Award Winners

On the Cover

Martine's Lounge Photographed by Joseph Vidrine

MyNewOrleans.com

More Ways to Connect

Book Club

Marquee

Bar Tab

The Dish

Style

Persona

Modine

Home Inspiration

Growing Pains

Travel

Table Talk

Nosh

Cheers

Vintage

Insincerely Yours

The Ammari Brothers BY JAY FORMAN

New Year, New Celebrations

BY ASHLEY MCLELLAN

From the Editor

Best Reads, Events and More Top Things to Do Best Bars, Drinks and More News from NOLA Kitchens Closet Staples Jacob Landry and Kyle Huling The Gender Gap Health is Wealth

Welcome Home? Route 66 Bookish Breakfast Spice Kick Roll the Dice 1903

Carnival Rituals

New Orleans Magazine, (ISSN 0897 8174) is published monthly by Renaissance Publishing, LLC., 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005; (504) 828-1380. Subscription rate: one year $24; no foreign subscriptions. An associate subscription to New Orleans Magazine is available by a contribution to WYES-TV/Channel 12. Periodicals postage paid at Metairie, LA, and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to New Orleans Magazine, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005. Copyright © 2026 New Orleans Magazine, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The trademark New Orleans and New Orleans Magazine are registered. New Orleans Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos, and artwork even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The opinions expressed in New Orleans Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the magazine managers or owners. Official digital reprint and framed content is only available from Renaissance Publishing, LLC by calling (504) 828-1380. 6 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 7

FROM THE EDITOR

Associate Publisher Kate Henry Editorial

Editor Ashley McLellan Creative Director Tiffani Reding Amedeo Digital Media Editor Kelly Massicot Style Editor Andy Myer Contributing Writers Jyl Benson, Cheré Coen, Lee Cutrone, Fritz Esker, Scott Gold, John Kemp, Misty Milioto, Liz Scott Monaghan, Elizabeth Pearce, Eve Crawford Peyton, Mike Scott, Melanie Warner Spencer Advertising

s we ring in 2026, many of us may do so by gathering with our friends at our favorite neighborhood bar or pub. New Orleans has many noteworthy bars, and for communities across the city, they have become a respite, providing a space to connect with our neighbors, enjoy some libations and good eats, a space to celebrate wins and mourn losses. For our January bar issue, we celebrate not only the new year, but these (sometimes) well-worn, certainly iconic dive bars and lounges. This month we also shout out our Tops of the Town winners for 2026. The honorees in this group are voted on by you, our readers, and we are excited to highlight all of the amazing businesses, restaurants, museums and festivals that make up the fabric of New Orleans. Congratulations to all of the winners and runners up, and thanks to all for voting! We keep the celebration going with our profile of the annual Ella Brennan Hospitality Award winners. This year, the honor goes to Marv, Zeid and Richy Ammari of Creole Cuisine Cares for their work in bringing aid, nourishment and fellowship to New Orleanians in need and beyond. Each year, the Ella Brennan Award recognizes “a lifetime commitment to the hospitality industry through extraordinary leadership, personal and professional accomplishments, and philanthropic contributions to the community.” Cheers to the Ammari brothers for their well-deserved honor. We have much to celebrate across the city. And while most people’s holiday cheer is fading, ours is just getting started. This issue highlights not only our 2026 winners and honorees, but also features plenty of winter menus, activities, news, recipes and more that will carry us through the month, right into Carnival in February. Cheers to the new year and cheers to New Orleans!

Vice President of Sales and Marketing Kate Henry, Kate@MyNewOrleans.com Account Director Meggie Schmidt Senior Account Executives Erin Chiartano, Brooke Genusa Account Executive Jennah Dillon, Lauren McCanse Sponsored Content Coordinator Jeremy Marshall Marketing

Marketing Manager Haley Nash Video Media Producer Mallary Wolfe

Renaissance Publishing Production

Manager Rosa Balaguer Arostegui Senior Designer Ashley Bravata Designer Czarlyn Ria Trinidad Circulation

Distribution John Holzer Administration

Office Manager Emily Ruiz Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne

New Orleans Magazine

Printed in USA A Publication of Renaissance Publishing 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005 MyNewOrleans.com

Subscription information 504-830-7231

Send us a line! Have something you want to share with us? Email ashley@myneworleans.com.

8 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 9

MyNewOrleans.com

More Ways to Connect We're not just in print. Find us online, on social media and in your inbox.

Subscribe Start the New Year Right! Get 10% off a new subscription.

Carnival Cake Madness Round one of our King Cake Competition starts January 6! Place your vote in our March-Madness-Style bracket and help us crown the best local King Cake. myneworleans.com/king-cake-madness

Plan Your Dream Day Our sister publication, New Orleans Bride, hosts the next Bridal Show on January 8 at 5 p.m. at the InterContinental New Orleans. neworleansbride2026.eventbrite.com

*Must order online, new subscribers only expires January 31, 2026.

Newsletter Sign up now to stay up-to-speed on the best restaurants and things to do in the Big Easy!

Broadway Bound Enter to win two tickets to "Water for Elephants: The Broadway Musical" at the Saenger Theatre. myneworleans.com/sweepstakes

@neworleansmagazine

10 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

BR A C KET

Catch the Latest Tune in to Season 7 of "Beyond the Beads!" Our #1 podcast dives into the traditions and modern celebrations of New Orleans Carnival. myneworleans.com/ mardi-grasbeyond-thebeads

@neworleansmag

Book Club

BY ASHLEY MCLELLAN

Award Winners Local books that top the lists and more

NPR’s Best

Events

In December, National Public Radio released its list of favorite books for 2025. Two notable New Orleans favorites made the cut.

Saturday, Jan. 3 Celebrate author J. R. R. Tolkien’s birthday with a special “Hobbit Day,” 2 to 3:30 p.m., at the Milton H. Latter Memorial Library branch Uptown. The event will include games, crafts and activities perfect for “Lord of the Rings” fans of all ages. Nolalibrary.org

The list highlighted the latest release from New Orleans native Michael Lewis for his editorial direction of collected political essays, “Who is Government: The Untold Story of Public Service.”

Southern Cooking Kick the new year off by leveling up your home cooking with this encyclopedic collection of southern recipes from culinary historian Michael W. Twitty. “Recipes from the American South” features a compendium of more than 260 iconic dishes, from Texas caviar to red eye gravy, she-crab soup, Cajun pig’s ears pastry, mint juleps and much more. Each recipe is extensively researched and includes its history and impact on the region’s community and cuisine. Of the book, James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur and humanitarian José Andrés notes, “Michael Twitty is an inspiring storyteller who pulls you in with his deep and personal understanding of history, culture, ingredients, and people. He has written an instant classic – a must-have reference book peeling back the layers of American Southern cooking.”

12 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

Also recognized was James Beard Award-winning Chef Nina Compton’s colorful cookbook and memoir “Kwéyòl / Creole Recipes, Stories, and Tings from a St. Lucian Chef's Journey: A Cookbook.”

Book Awards

The National WWII Museum announced the creation of its annual book awards, which “will recognize the most outstanding nonfiction books on WWII history published each year while supporting authors in their scholarly endeavors and promoting the field of WWII historical research,” according to a recent press release. Awards will be given to 2026 publications in two nonfiction categories: the Best Book in WWII History Award, and the Best Debut Book in WWII History Award. According to the release, “Respective prizes of $50,000 and $10,000 will support awardees’ continued research, writing and contributions to the library of World War II.” Submissions will be accepted now through Dec. 31. Finalists and award winners will be announced in 2027. For more information on nomination criteria and the submission process, visit nationalww2museum.org/ bookawards.

Saturday, Jan. 10 Enrich beginning readers with Magical Story Time for Kids at Baldwin & Co., 10 to 11 a.m. Children will enjoy a special reading, interactive fun, as well as take home a book of their own with pre-registration. Baldwinandcobooks.com Tuesday, Jan. 13 Join in a virtual conversation, 1 to 2 p.m. with author and political commentator David Brooks with the New Orleans Public Library’s ongoing author series. Brooks will discuss his book “How to Know a Person.” Attendees are invited to submit questions as well for a Q&A session. Nolalibrary.org Friday, Jan. 16 Word smiths and book lovers will want to mark their calendars for a special author event featuring Stefan Fatsis, author of the New York Times bestseller “WORD FREAK,” at Octavia Books, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Fatsis will present and sign his book “Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat to) the Modern Dictionary.” Octaviabooks.com Saturday, Jan. 17 The New Orleans Public Library hosts its “Teatime Reading Nook,” 3 to 4 p.m., at the Cita Dennis Hubbell branch. Read and discuss short stories while enjoying tea and cookies with friends. Nolalibary.org

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 13

Marquee

BY FRITZ ESKER

Check all event websites for the most up-to-date information.

Winter Cheer

Top things to do in January 9-18

“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” Westwego Performing Arts Theater presents a play that humorously explores dating, love and marriage through sketches and songs. jpas.org

9-25 Dec. 30-Jan. 4

“Hell’s Kitchen” Musician Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen” musical, playing at the Saenger Theater, tells the story of Ali, a teenage girl in New York City who finds herself through her music. saengernola.com

Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc This parade celebrating Joan of Arc and New Orleans’ French heritage travels through the French Quarter, starting and ending at the French Market. joanofarcparade.org

January 1

Allstate Sugar Bowl This year’s Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdowe is a quarterfinal in the College Football Playoff series. allstatesugarbowl.org

9-11 Phunny Phorty Phellows Carnival season kicks off on Twelfth Night as Phunny Phorty Phellows takes their annual streetcar ride down St. Charles Avenue. phunnyphortyphellows.com 14 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

13-14

“Shen Yun” Classical Chinese dance is paired with multimedia effects and all-original orchestral works in this performance at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center. jpas. org

Fan Expo New Orleans This year’s Fan Expo New Orleans boasts a stellar lineup of celebrities, including “Lord of the Rings” stars Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, actors Helen Hunt, Mike Colter,and Jennifer Beals, and more. fanexpohq.com

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass & Other Delights Living legend Herb Alpert bring his renowned brass band to the Orpheum Theater. orpheumnola.com

23-25

“Hadestown” The Grammy Awardwinning musical comes to the Saenger, telling the intertwined stories of two sets of lovers: Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades and Persephone. saengernola. com

Fortune Feimster Comedian Fortune Feimster brings her “Taking Care of Biscuits” tour to the Orpheum Theater. orpheumnola.com

“Disaster!” Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts hosts this hilarious spoof of 1970s disaster films featuring earthquakes, tidal waves and more. rivertowntheaters.com

“Richard Thomas in Mark Twain Tonight!” Richard Thomas brings the legendary author Mark Twain to life at the Saenger Theater in this one-man show originally written and performed by legendary actor Hal Holbrook. saengernola. com

“An Intimate Acoustic Evening with Gregory Alan Isakov” Indie-rock folk singer Gregory Alan Isakov performs at the Orpheum Theater for one night only. orpheumnola.com

The Black Jacket Symphony Presents Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” Jefferson Performing Arts Center hosts the Black Jacket Symphony’s performance of Pink Floyd’s iconic album. jpas.org

Rockin’ 1000 Rockin’ 1000 is a global collective that features 1,000 musicians from around the world playing together, with its U.S. debut at Caesars Superdome. caesarssuperdome.com

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 15

BY ELIZABETH PEARCE

Coffee Klatsch Coffee Roaster Applied Arts has opened a new cafe in the Bywater and serves a coffee to appeal to every palate. In addition to a traditional espresso drinks menu, all of their beans--from very light roast to dark French roast--are available to enjoy as pour overs, so guests can savor the terroir of each bean. In addition to serving several single origin roasts, co-owner Melissa Stewart often features at least three or more beans in her blends. While some roasters use lower quality beans for blends, Syewart sees blends as an opportunity to create a new flavor beyond a single bean origin. Applied Arts is not only a roaster. Everything served in the café is made in-house, including all of the syrups for the espresso drinks, as well as their bread and pastries. Hungry patrons can try their Norwegian inspired Smørbrød sandwiches, featuring in-house cured fish. 600 Piety St., 504-648-7345, appliedartscoffee. com.

PHOTO CREDIT PAUL BEROZA

Bar Tab

Winter Warmers Award-winning Uptown favorite Saffron merges Indian heritage with Louisiana’s rich culinary traditions. The new winter bar menu reflects the restaurant’s mandate, featuring ingredients popular in Indian cooking in cocktails in surprising ways. Been Around the Block uses locally made Cheramie Rum Blanc with flavors like tamarind, mango, peanuts and cinnamon. They all combine for a deep and rich variation of a Mai Tai. Crosby, Stills and Mash mixes Still Austin Rye, Rio Viejo Oloroso sherry, sweet potato and ghee, and was inspired by Beroza’s grandma’s sweet potato casserole with marshmallows. Holi Trini-tini highlights the “Indian Trinity” of garlic, ginger and onions. Bird in the Hand is a mezcal Junglebird with a twist of chai, while Down by the Riverside, with banana, coconut, Oloroso sherry, cardamom, is “a tropical and nutty Manhattan pulling flavors from the coastal regions of south India.” Guests can enjoy the drinks which are thoughtfully paired with the restaurant’s dishes. 4128 Magazine St., 504-323-2626, saffronnola.com

Mood Lifter There’s a new addition to Frenchmen Street’s lively scene. Mélange by Cali Sober Market is the street’s first non-alcoholic and THC beverage bar. The bar, located above the music club, Bamboula’s, welcomes all guests, from those looking to drink less alcohol or those who are sober. Mélange by Cali Sober Market serves thoughtfully crafted drinks that offer the look and taste of traditional cocktails. However, unlike many non-alcoholic substitutes, these drinks leave guests with a transformative experience, because they include natural substances that boost the drinker’s mood. Mélange literally offers an elevated drinking experience: Guests can enjoy all the fun (without the hangover) on the bar’s own balcony overlooking Frenchmen Street. 516 Frenchmen St., melangeonfrenchmen.com.

Mid-City Debut Charmant restaurant is a new addition to Mid-City’s dining scene. Owners Chris and Bonnie Borges, husband-and-wife hospitality veterans, invite guests to enjoy the European bistro fare in the way that suits them best, from a festive brunch to small bites and a glass of wine after work. “Our goal was to build the kind of place we’d want in our own neighborhood,” Chris Borges said. “Charmant” means “lovely” or “captivating” in French, and hints at both the restaurant’s character and the Charmat sparkling-wine process featured in their wine program. General Manager and Sommelier Bonnie Borges’s mantra is “Wine should invite conversation, not intimidation” and has created a wine list that’s “exciting but accessible.” Lead Bartender Kyle Godwin’s cocktail menu runs the gamut from breakfast cocktails like Citrus & Silk with vodka, Amaretto, orange juice and cream, and The Breton Sound with blackberry and Earl Grey-infused gin, lemon and mint. Their dinner cocktails include Pear Pressure, a twist on a margarita with spiced pear purée and a fall-inspired syrup, and Duck, Duck, Vermouth, which uses duck fat-washed bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth. As the weather cools, their outdoor patio is perfect for either end of that drinks menu. 514 City Park Ave., 504-381- 4573, charmantnola.com.

New Year, New Look New Orleanians who want to dial back their drinking after the holidays (and before Mardi Gras) can enjoy local non-alcoholic libation, Mockly, which is launching a new flavor with a new look. Their Citron Café Noir has a cold brew–base and features cocoa, fennel and lemon flavors. All Mocklys are meant to be enjoyed on their own, and Citron Café Noir is no exception. However, it can also serve as the perfect espresso martini mixer/base, if you are imbibing. Drinks are now available in 8.4 oz cans, (perfect for parade watching) which lowers the amount of sugar and calories per serving. Mockly has updated some of their previous drink names, which now include Blueberry Floral Spritz, Herbal Tangerine Elixir, and Pomegranate Ginger Tonic. While the packaging and names may have changed, the recipes remain untouched. drinkmockly.com 16 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 17

BY MELANIE WARNER SPENCER

Breakfast is Back! The long-awaited takeover of the Uptown restaurant space in the Octavia Books building, formerly occupied by Toast and Scrambled, happened in October and, by December, Cafe Malou was already basking in the glow of write-ups from various local publications and the grand dame of Southern shelter magazines, Southern Living. Cafe Malou, which continues the space’s history of breakfast fare, is the brainchild of restaurateur Mani Dawes, who many will remember from the now-shuttered Uptown restaurant, Kenton’s, owned and operated by her and her husband Sean Josephs. The couple closed the popular restaurant in 2018, and this reporter still isn’t over it. The new venture, named after Dawes’ grandmother, an Opelousas native, is positioned to serve as a salve to those of us still grieving over Kenton’s. Like Kenton’s, the design is all clean lines and charm. To achieve the look, Dawe worked with architect Graham Hill, Logan Killen Interiors and Kalimera Construction with the millwork by Thomas Edick Design and earthenware by Christie Little. Artwork throughout the space is by Dawes’ mother, artist Nancy Dawes. For the menu, Dawes worked with chef Matt Greco. Expect delectable baked eggs, sandwiches, breads from Bellegarde, coffee from Applied Arts and, if you crave breakfast cocktails, BYO booze. cafemalou.com

18 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

Smokey Spirits and Tacos The former Rosella in Mid City is now home to a second location of the CBD hotspot Espíritu Mezcaleria & Cocina. Chef Oscar Gonzales will head the Mid City kitchen, as well as continuing his tenure in the CBD. Gozales hails from Monterrey, Mexico and has stocked the menu with enchiladas, fajitas and street tacos. Naturally Mezcal will dominate the bar menu. espiritunola. com

Gluten-Free, but Spicy Fun Continuing the takeover theme, when Rosalita’s at 3304 St. Claude Avenue in Bywater closed last year, Beaux Church and Dillian Theriot filled the vacancy with their take on gluten-free Cajun via Frissons. Get Cajun staples like gumbo plus vegan and traditional boudin. frissonsnola.com

All Hail the King of Cakes As soon as the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 5, King Cake is once again legal. We all have our favorite places to score and our favorite flavors: Enter King Cake Hub. This year, the Hub — which carries over 70 cakes from different Greater New Orleans-area bakeries — has new digs at 3300 Gravier St. in the Central Business District. The move posits the popular King Cake broker in a larger space with easy access and more parking, according to a social media announcement. One of the many entities whose cakes are available at the Hub is the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). This year, culinary arts students and faculty collaborated with Chef Emeril Lagasse on a banana cream pie King Cake (available Jan. 6-18) and Chef Frank Brigtsen on the strawberry tres leches King Cake (available Jan. 19-29). Two favorites from last year are also back, “The Goddess,” born of a partnership with Krewe of Muses, and NOCCA’s gluten-free cinnamon and satsuma almond King Cake. Get the NOCCA King Cakes online, at NOCCA or King Cake Hub. Proceeds from NOCCA’s King Cake program support the Culinary Arts department. kingcakehub. com, noccamarketplace.com

KAT KIMBALL PHOTO

The Dish

Buon Appetito In final takeover news, Evviva very quietly opened in the former Franklin spot in the Marigny earlier this year and has been getting rave reviews. Chefs Rebecca Wilcomb and Marcus Jacobs helm the kitchen. Both are alums of Herbsaint and have married their seemingly disparate styles at Evviva, which is operated by Heather Lolley and Humberto Suazo (owners of Bywater’s Galaxie Tacos). Evviva is an Italian saying that translates to “hooray,” “hurrah,” or “long live” according to Google’s AI summary. At the restaurant, it translates to delicious, casual Italian dishes. evvivanola.com

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 19

Style

BY ANDY MYER

Closet Staples

Start the new year on a confident note with timeless essentials you will reach for again and again.

Raymond Weil’s heritage Tocatta watch is a testament to Swiss watchmaking, with an elegant art deco face and slim rectangular design that adds a touch of class to any look, from sporty to formal. Available at Aucoin Hart, aucoinhart.com.

A chic set like Greyson’s Phoenix wide-leg trousers and blouse can be worn on almost any occasion. Crafted from Italian Elastine, the pair works for a day of travel, business meeting or dinner, depending on how you mix them. Available at Greyson, greysonclothiers.com.

Made in Italy from fine Italian leather, this “modern-day Mary Poppins bag” is a classic tote for anyone on the go, whether it’s a day at the office or a weekend escape. With both a shoulder strap and top handle this versatile bag will be a daily favorite. Available at BENE, benehandbags.com.

The Dominique Knee Boot from Reformation is crafted from bovine leather that wears very well with time. With a pointed toe and sturdy slanted block heel this pair looks great with jeans or slacks, a dress or skirt and is comfortable enough for all-day wear. Available at Reformation, reformation.com. Grizzley Crew’s lightweight, 100% cashmere sweater in taupe is the layering piece you can depend on all year long. From spring and summer evenings in a chilly restaurant to fall and winter days at the market, it works with almost any outfit. Available at Pied Nu, piednunola.com. 20 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 21

Persona

BY KELLY MASSICOT | PHOTO BY THERESA CASSAGNE

Jacob Landry and Kyle Huling

Urban South Brewery

hile many a cocktail found their start in New Orleans, the Crescent City is now also a great place for beer lovers. In post-Hurricane Katrina, the city now plays host to nearly 20 breweries. One of the city’s best, Urban South Brewery, is celebrating 10 years in operation this March, with more than $1 million in community reinvestment and over 80 local jobs. Co-owners Jacob Landry and Kyle Huling love what they do and their ability to give back to those who have been dedicated to their brand.

Q: When you first embarked on this journey 10 years ago, what was the vision? Jacob Landry: The goal was to grow volume. With the laws here, you really have to scale if you want to make any money, because so many distributors [are] taking their cut, and retailers [are] taking their cut. We had to really plan for volume. I charted other breweries throughout the country that had done X amount of volume over the first five years, and that was really the only horizon we were looking at. We hit the numbers that we set out to within three years, so we had some early signs of what we were doing. And then in that second half, COVID hit. We’ve had so many challenges that we could have never anticipated, but it’s rewarding to be on this side. 22 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

Q: What do you think the two guys that started this 10 years ago would think about where you’re at now? Kyle Huling: I think they’d be pretty amazed. Like Jacob said, I think we had the vision. Everything was on paper that we wanted to do, but then to actually execute it. Who would have known about a pandemic and everything in between? But we had a vision for wanting to be one of the best breweries in the southeast and one of the fastest growing and biggest, and we did it. So, I think they’d be pretty proud. Q: Why is it important for Urban South to invest into the community? Landry: It comes pretty naturally. Kyle grew up in New Orleans. I grew up

in Louisiana. I spent a decade working in public service, in education. For us, it’s pretty essential to be leaders in the community. And, honestly, it’s one of the most rewarding parts of owning a business and growing to the scale that we have. We have the resources to be able to help organizations that are that are working in our community. Not to mention it’s kind of an ethos within our brewing community, because we’re scrappy. Most craft breweries that exist today, they all worked really hard, and for very low margin to get where they are. So, we understand the struggle. And when you have the opportunity to give back, it’s it feels natural.

Q: Do you think there are any misconceptions about breweries and brewing beer in New Orleans or Louisiana? Landry: The reality still in Louisiana is that 95% of the beer people drink is made by international brewers that don’t invest in our community. I think that’s the reality. So, if there’s any misconception, it could be that the success of the relatively few of us means that we’re making a dent in Louisiana beer. I want people to know that when they drink Louisiana beer, they’re investing in their community in that way that is really not happening when they drink macro beer made around the world and not made in their backyard. Huling: The craft brewing industry was growing consistently up until fairly recently, and even in Louisiana, we’ve had craft brewery closures in the past couple years. It’s not all been sunshine and roses. There’s been challenges along the way. And there’s some brewers that haven’t made it.

in a city where these things are completely unanticipated, unexpected. We get no heads-up from any utility companies that they’re going to cut our very basic services on any given day. So that’s a that’s a real challenge that I think is relatively unique to New Orleans.

Q: What’s the best part of your job? Huling: I’d say it’s seeing the random person that you don’t know in the grocery store shopping for beer and grabbing our stuff off the shelf, filling their baskets with Paradise Park or Holy Roller. Walking into a friend’s house and they’re having a crawfish boil, and they’ve got all sorts of different beverages, but you see their cooler filled with your beer. It’s pretty satisfying. Landry: Seeing Paradise Park cans on the ground at Mardi Gras. When you become part of the garbage of a city, really, or a part of the fabric of it, right? Across the Gulf Coast, between New Orleans and our operations in Pensacola, we employ about 90 people. And so that’s really cool, really rewarding. That there’s 90 people that not only have chosen to work with us, but we also get to provide their livelihoods [is rewarding.]

Q: What are the biggest challenges you face? Landry: The scale that we do things at is not super efficient. Right now, aluminum tariffs are a huge problem. There’s a 50% tariff on imported aluminum, and we just don’t make enough in the U.S. So that’s going to cost us the Q: It’s like picking a favorite child, but do equivalent of two jobs this year in you have a favorite beer that you make? additional costs that we bear. We Huling: That’s a great analogy, pay for it. Either that or we have because that’s the way I think to pass it along to consumers, and about it. It’s just like your favorite we’re just not ready to do that child, it could be hour to hour, day given the inflationary environ- to day, you know, depending upon ment that consumers have dealt their moods and your moods. with for the last few years. Margin Landry: It’s a very hard quesand costs, those are tion. But at the end of huge. It’s a really chalthe day, Paradise Park is lenging city to work in, our best-selling beer and Lagniappe as well. Saturdays are Favorite Cocktail really was a hit from day our biggest days in the one. And then Holy Roller Landry: Old Fashioned tap room and, just this is the only beer that we Huling: Bloody weekend, the power make today that we made Mary goes out twice. Two on day one. So those two Job if you weeks ago, water was weren’t doing beers are certainly ones South? cut for the most of a Urban that I just keep coming Landry: Back back to. morning and screwed to teaching or politician up our entire produc- Huling: Selling tion schedule. So, we’re beer

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 23

Modine Gunch

ART BY LORI OSIECKI

The Gender Gap Mysteries of the other half

was thinking about how different we ladies are from men. I don’t mean the obvious differences. Wash out your mind. I mean like if a lady sees a old classmate or somebody else she knew a long time ago, she might say, “Giselda! Oh, look at you! So petite! You haven’t changed a bit. How do you do it?” But a man will say, “Fred! You fat old (bad word) (starts with f). How’s it hangin’?” And both Giselda and Fred are happy. But you reverse them greetings, and tell Giselda she’s a fat old bad word, and Fred he’s petite, they will both walk off hoping not to see you for another 20 or 30 years. And ever notice how, when women take group pictures, if we’re in the front row, we auto-

matically bend our knees and sort of squat, so we won’t block the people behind us? Sometimes we do this when we don’t even have anybody behind us. Men never do. They just stand there looking blank until somebody tells them to smile — and no, it ain’t funny to sneakily extend their middle finger. I was telling my mother-in-law Ms. Larda about this while we are talking on the phone and drinking our morning coffee, like we do sometimes. She is getting ready to have her picture taken with the Parish Altar Angels for the church bulletin, and she says she’s glad I told her this, and she ain’t going to squat, and all her fingers will behave themselves. “Speaking of the Altar Angels, I got news,” she says. “We are expanding.” “So what’s new bout that?” I ask. “Very funny. This ain’t about weight, Modine. Every single human being in this entire city is getting fatter, and that will keep

24 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

up until Mardi Gras.” Well, yeah. I know this. People everywhere else in this country stuff theirselves from Halloween through Thanksgiving through Christmas, but on New Year’s Day, they make resolutions to lose weight. And they do. But in New Orleans, we keep up the eating all the way through Mardi Gras. And after that we don’t eat hardly anything during the 40 days of Lent, which probably saves us from actually exploding in the streets. “This got nothing to do with that,” says Ms. Larda. “There are a lot of Angels now, and we decided we need to expand our good works. So we’re going to start participating in healthy bosom month or whatever they call it.”

I happen to know it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and it’s way off in October. I tell her that. “Yeh, and you are supposed to wear pink that month. So I got to get some pink clothes to wear by then.” “Wonder why they chose pink,” I say. “I asked the very same question at our board meeting. There are 12 of us on the board, and we always meet over dinner in a private room at this restaurant I ain’t going to name. “Anyway, I ask why pink, and somebody says, ‘Because nipples are pink.’ And somebody else says, ‘Mine ain’t pink. They’re more beige.’ And automatically, we all look down inside the fronts of our shirts trying to see the color of our nipples. “Well, just at that moment, the waiter stepped into the room to ask if everything was all right. But he sees us all staring down our shirts and he turns around and leaves. “So if you hear anybody talk about the Angels being perverts, please set them straight,” she says. “I’ll tell them you were all just checking your nipples for a good cause,” I say. “Correct,” she says. I guess that’s another thing men don’t do.

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 25

Home Inspiration

BY AMY MARIE GABRIEL

Health Is Wealth

Set the tone for a farmers market mentality with a splash of rich green Fresh Herbs paint from Behr Paint Company. behr.com. Let the healing power of quartz amplify your energy and increase mental clarity by way of a Halcyon rectangle sconce finished in antique burnished brass by Kelly Wearstler. Visual Comfort & Co., 3535 Magazine St., 504-389-7854, visualcomfort.com. Proof positive that well-being can still be whimsical, outfit your kitchen with a vibrant wallpaper like Disco Lemons. The end effect of substituting glittering disco balls for fruit amidst verdant vegetation will bring inspired vitality to your living space. thepatterncollective.com.

Take time for some mindful meditation in a natural rattan Michelangelo Daybed. Based on designs circa the 1950s and 1960s, the timeless lounge aesthetic is crafted for relaxation. sundayshop.co.

A playful addition to any table or bookshelf, a spherical mood moss orb brings a grounding touch of lush earth to your interiors. Jade, 324 Metairie Rd., 504-875-4420, jadenola.com.

26 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

Make bathing a ritual not a rush in a single slipper clawfoot bathtub, shown here in the Bancha colorway, made elegant with traditional gold claw feet. Customization options abound. watermarkfixtures.com.

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 27

Growing Pains

BY EVE CRAWFORD PEYTON | ART BY JANE SANDERS

think I knew, on some level, that having my daughter back home from college for winter break would not be the same as it was when she lived here full-time. Of course it would be different. It’s supposed to be different, right? That’s the point. But still, I thought, as I shopped for her favorite snacks and made up her bed with fresh sheets, that it would be pretty damn close. And it was, sort of. Her friends trooped through the house, once again filling the space with laughter and chaos. The sink overflowed with dishes. Plans changed 27 times and then changed again. TikToks blared behind her bedroom door. She and her younger sister bickered and then snuggled up together under a pile of blankets to bingewatch "Stranger Things" for the fourth time. But it also wasn’t the same, not at all. We struggled with boundaries and rules. “I know you don’t have a curfew in college,” I told her, “but here, I at least need to know when to expect you home so I know when to worry. That’s basic respect.” We lost our tempers as we tried to remember how to live together,

Welcome Home? Surviving winter break with a part-time adult

how to share a bathroom and compromise on the thermostat settings and coordinate meal times. There were also quieter frictions, like the way she scattered her stuff around the house, then bristled when I asked her to pick it up, reminding me that she now lives on her own and knows how to clean up after herself. “Then do it,” I thought but held my tongue, not wanting to escalate things. And then there were the times when she’d disappear into her room for hours, FaceTiming friends from campus, laughing at private jokes with people who now know her daily life better than I do – people I don’t even know, unlike her childhood friends, whom I’ve watched grow up. One of my favorite childhood

28 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

books, "The Summer of the Swans," described it perfectly: “It was as if her life was a huge kaleidoscope, and the kaleidoscope had been turned and now everything was changed. The same stones shaken, no longer made the same design.” The stones are the same – our house, our family, our dogs, our favorite recipes, our holiday traditions – but the design has shifted. It feels comfortingly familiar to have her home … and yet also shockingly, dramatically different. Everything is recognizable, but nothing falls into quite the same pattern. And thinking about that, about what changes and what persists, reminded me of something I read years ago about fetal microchimerism, where a baby’s cells remain in the mother’s body for decades.

It feels like that in our home, like the echo of her will persist long after we have painted over the silly doodles that adorn her walls, long after we’ve moved out the last of her clothes and shoes and makeup and knickknacks. She still lives here – she will always have a place here, of course – but she also doesn’t still live here. Her childhood clothes – her favorite outgrown T-shirts, her camp shorts, her smocked baby dresses – are here. Her favorite hair products are back in her dorm room in New York. We are firmly in the in between, and I can feel it in my bones like the shift in the seasons. It’s a physical ache, like one that comes from hard work and that you tell yourself means you’re getting stronger. But it aches nonetheless. Her childhood is over. Her adulthood is beginning. Both versions of her live alongside each other in this house. And they live in me, too. After all, I still carry her cells from when she was a fetus, literally close to my heart, a reminder that no matter how far she goes, no matter how the design shifts, some part of her will always remain here, woven into me, into us, into home.

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 29

E V I D

BARs 30 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

Step into New Orleans iconic

neighborhood bars By Beth D’Addono Photography by Joseph Vidrine

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 31

A dive bar is a lot like acall badyourself ass. You can one, but really, it’s a title that has to be earned. “The thing is that most dive bars didn’t start as dive bars,” said Neal Bodenheimer, a James Beard Award winner who has helped shape the New Orleans cocktail scene for decades and co-chairs Tales of the Cocktail. “There are obviously manufactured modern dive bars that exist today, but we’ll throw those out. A true dive bar was once someone’s pride and joy and exactly on trend. Over time the bar and a lack of reinvestment, eventually it started to feel more seedy than of-the-moment. That is how a dive bar is made.” ¶ “To me, a dive bar is a true neighborhood bar,” said award-winning bartender Abigail Gulla, creative director at Bar Loa in the International House Hotel. “It has a sense of authenticity that welcomes all sorts of people. It’s shabby or shabby chic. It’s not trying too hard and it still somehow pleases everybody.” ¶ For Suzanne Accorsi, who owns two, Pal’s Lounge in Mid-City and Martine’s in Old Metairie, the definition of a dive bar has evolved “It used to mean skuzzy, but now it just means a comfortable, welcoming neighborhood place. A ‘Cheers’ bar. You don’t have to be worried about what you look like. You can get a good cocktail, not just a beer and a shot and terrible wine. It’s a place to relax.” ¶ This line up of dives covers a lot of ground — and will inspire fighting words for fans of the ones that missed the list. (Chuck’s Sports Bar! Ms. Mae’s! Brothers III Lounge!) Venture hence to one of these dens of (over) consumption for affordable drinks, adept bartenders, inspired advice and rambling conversations about the meaning of life. What are you waiting for?

32 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

Marigny The Phoenix

If Sam and Norm were wearing leather instead of khakis, the show would be called The Phoenix instead of “Cheers.” This friendly Marigny spot is HQ for the Lords of Leather krewe, the Cavaliers Motorcycle Club, and the New Orleans Bear and Bear Trappers Social Club. Check the merch shop. Folks of all persuasions are welcome -—the place is super friendly — but the Eagle bar upstairs is historically only for the boys. 941 Elysian Fields Ave., phoenixbarnola.com, @phoenixbarnola

R Bar

Marie’s Bar & Kitchen

Bailey Smith sees the role of a true dive bar as serving community with friendly, quick service at multiple prices levels. “It’s an easy place to be,” he said, and he should know, he owns two, the R Bar steps from Frenchmen and Bud Rip’s in Bywater. Whether it’s serving $10 haircuts with a shot, regular Friday crawfish boils in season, hosting pool leagues or lively game days, the R Bar fills the bill. It’s also a gathering place on Mardi Gras day, when walking parades in astonishing costumes overflow into the street. Check out the killer jukebox — just what you’d expect at a place owned by the guitarist with The Morning 40 Federation. 1431 Royal St., @rbarnola

Eating at a dive bar can be a death wish. Not at Marie’s in the Marigny, where Chad Barlow took over the kitchen three years ago, ushering in an era of the finest slap burgers in town, now craved by a legion of regulars. The quarter-pound medium-well burgers are juicy, crispy on the outside and dressed with a secret sauce modeled after what’s slathered on an In-N-Out Burger. The bar’s been Marie’s since owner Mark Hoerner bought the old Smitty’s in 2011 and renamed it for one of his father’s girlfriends. This is a bar that welcomes all, both two-legged and four, with a gregarious cohort of locals that hang around for the cheap beer, games of pool and endless cutting up. All generations come here too, making Marie’s the perfect bar to age in place. Life is good. 2483 Burgundy St., @mariesbarandkitchen

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 33

fr en ch QU AR TE R

34 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

Chart Room

Looking to drink cheap in the Quarter? The Chart Room is the obvious choice. Embrace the seediness of this well-worn super-friendly pub on the corner of Chartres and Bienville, where you never know what kind of character will be on the next barstool. Yes, the floor is sticky. But retreating into the Chart Room’s dim inner sanctum is the best way to avoid the crowds, walking tours and random humanity that fill the sidewalks. In other words, this is an outstanding spot for the curmudgeonly to people watch and listen to tall tales fly. Prices are great and cash is king, although you can charge $30 and up, so buy a round or two. Open ‘til 4 a.m., for the so inclined. 300 Chartres St., @chartroomnola

Erin Rose

Frozen Irish coffee is the gateway drink to heaven at Erin Rose, the French Quarter pub that is an unofficial landing pad for attendees of Tales of the Cocktail. Grab a pint or a whiskey and pass time from day to night. When it’s time, refuel with a debris po’boy

from the Little Killer Poboys window in back before heading out into the night. Or drink like a local and stay for hours while catching up with an old friend. Bloody Mary’s are outstanding eye openers. 811 Conti St., erinrosebar. com, @erinrosebar

Golden Lantern

Known as headquarters for Southern Decadence, this Royal Street hub of queer and neighborhood community serves strong drinks and lots of insider info helpful to a newbie for deciphering the ‘hood. Bloody Mary’s are epic, as is the potent

Rose Kennedy, which is what a first timer will learn to call a vodka soda, splash of cran. A Lantern Trash T-shirt may be the best souvenir ever. 1239 Royal St., thegoldenlanternneworleans.com, @goldenlanternbar

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 35

METAIRIE MARTINE’S LOUNGE Suzanne Accorsi must have dive bars in her blood. When the Pal’s owner heard that the old shot and beer Martine’s was for sale a dozen years ago, she bought it. The idea was to hold onto the bar’s chill vibe while upping the cocktail game. Mission accomplished, with creative drinks, a good beer list, Guinness on tap and crawfish boils during the season. Although the bar doesn’t serve food, lots of nearby places like Felipe’s will deliver. Then there’s the fun stuff like sing along group karaoke, trivia smack downs and holiday parties. And the place is smoke-free in Jefferson Parish, y’all. 2347 Metairie Road, @martineslounge

Ninth Ward Saturn Bar

The rickety Saturn Bar almost didn’t survive the pandemic. Owned by the Broyard family for three generations, the stress of COVID-19 forced them to sell the bar. Fortunately, this Ninth Ward dive was purchased in 2021 by two regulars, Heather Lane and Phil Yiannopoulos. The couple vowed to preserve the bar’s gritty dignity, amp up the live music calendar and double down on the community focus. The place is still a shambling warren of oddities and local lore, due to a great extent to the late owner O’Neil Broyard, who took it over in 1960 and had a keen eye for the obscure. Once a corner store, the Saturn is now a community hub and home to oddball and ongoing events, like chess playing, clothing exchanges and punk music weekend. From its classic Boo Radley exterior to its storied history hosting the likes of Mick Jagger back in the day, the Saturn Bar is an original dive bar experience. 3067 St. Claude Ave., @thesaturnbar

ST. ROCH

St. Roch Tavern

Tucked away catty corner behind the St. Roch Market, the Tavern is a neighborhood gem, a place for Thanksgiving potlucks, live music and haircuts every Tuesday. Drinks are strong and potent, there’s live music, often without a cover, both pool and pinball and good food. One of the regulars, architectural historian Nora Goddard published a short history of the bar a few years ago, turns out the joint has existed under one name or the other, in this location since the 1890s. Good juju through the ages. 1200 St. Roch Ave., @strochtavern

Tremé Bullet’s Sports Bar

Expect a warm, welcoming crowd at Bullet’s, the sports bar and party spot on A. P. Tureaud Avenue, a street named for the civil rights attorney credited with fighting Jim Crow laws in Louisiana. Although Bullet’s doesn’t host live music as often as it used to (miss those Original Pinettes!) folks still shake their booty to a soundtrack of old school R&B. Along with locals from the neighborhood, you’re as likely to find Aussies on holiday or hipsters from Brooklyn in the diverse crowd. And you order set ups from the bar — half-pints that come with a mixer, a bowl of ice and cups — the original bottle service without the stupid price. 2441 A.P. Tureaud Ave., @bullets_sportsbar

Algier’s Point Algier’s Old Point Bar

Algiers Point has become quite the dining destination in recent years, but for the neighborhood and folks in the know, the Old Point Bar has always been a reason to cross the river. Known for live music four nights a week, a lively dance floor and generous pours, the Old Point has appeared in some 60 movies, prized for its gritty exterior and no-frills vibe. That doesn’t impress the regulars, who stand by their bar every day, for birthday parties, potlucks and $2 Tuesdays. 545 Patterson Road, oldpointbarnola. com, @oldpointnola MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 37

E G N U O L 'S L A P

38 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

MID-CITY If it’s good enough for Dame Helen Mirren…The actress told Kelly Clarkson in 2024 that Pal’s is the “best bar in New Orleans.” Enough said. But Bayou St. John neighbors already loved the place, thanks to its regular pop ups, 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. hours and owner Suzanne Accorsi’s steady hand on the wheel since she bought the bar 24 years ago. Ask Accorsi what makes a dive bar great, and she’s clear that it’s a tricky definition. “It’s more a feeling than a concept I guess,” she said. “I’d say we’re imperfectly perfect.” For the first timer, know that there’s a buzzer to push to get in the door. Once you’re in, it’s Cheers all the way. 949 N. Rendon St., @palsloungenola

12 Mile Limit

T. Cole Newton opened 12 Mile Limit on a residential street in Mid-City to prove a point. The longtime bartender, who honed his cocktail chops at Commander’s and Coquette, believed there was a place for affordable, honest-to-goodness cocktails at a dive bar. Now operated by longtime bartenders Megan Devine and Danielle Maurin, 12 Mile remains a bastion of some of the best pours in town, at prices that don’t break the bank. There’s even a $5 classic cocktail of the night, pours including margaritas, Bee’s knees and whiskey sours. Fun ongoing events include a regular queer dance party, karaoke, open mic comedy night and trivia, all adored by a gaggle of neighborhood fans. Of course, the bar is community facing, with events like the recent ICE protest that included letter writing to local officials and donations to the ACLU. 500 S. Telemachus St., twelvemilelimit.com, @12milelimit

Finn McCool’s

The crowd of locals and ex-pats at this easy to love divey sports bar cheer on the New Orleans Saints — even now. But football also equates to matches from the English Premier League along with other rowdy soccer games, rivalries that turn Finn’s into a most lively destination. Same goes when the dart leagues are in the house. The bar, which is celebrating its 24th year, offers more than a dozen beers on top (including Guinness, naturally) and some 40 whiskey options from which to choose. Fuel up on fish and chips, spicy meat pies, a hefty burger and of course, Scotch eggs made with minced sausage, baked eggs and breadcrumbs. 3701 Banks St., finnmccools.com, @ finnmccoolsnol

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 39

Remember these bars that ain’t dere no more?

Circle Bar, Uptown; Café Brazil, Marigny; The Funky Butt, French Quarter; The (original) Milan, Uptown; Breakaways R&B, Marigny; Johnny White’s, French Quarter; Donna’s, French Quarter; The Mermaid Lounge, Warehouse District; The Shim Sham Club, French Quarter; Friar Tuck’s, Uptown; Wit’s Inn, Mid-City

It may look like a falling down shanty from the outside, but Snake & Jake’s on Oak Street is a dive bar extraordinaire, a shrine to cheap drinks and tripping hazards. The storied darkness — only a few strings of red Christmas lights cast a dim glow in the place — is the number one reason why nobody plays darts. “We don’t care who you are, just tip well,” said longtime bartender Juan Parke, who is clear that all are welcome. “Think of us as a rec room for malcontents.” Owner Dave Clements bought the bar with his friend Tony Tocco in 1992 and is now the sole owner, since Tocco sold his share to buy the restaurant Atchafalaya with his wife Rachael in 2008. Snake & Jake’s is the kind of place you have to know about — there’s no sign. Just look for the fake wreath wrapped in lights and the Regal Beer mural and you’re in the right place. If the eau de urinal gets to you, there’s a lovely backyard courtyard complete with a big old live oak tree for fresh air. 7612 Oak St., snakeandjakes.com, @snakeandjakeschristmasclub

40 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

Uptown

It feels like losing a bestie. ¶ When a favorite bar closes, it’s more personal than just losing a place to drink. It’s about missing the memories we made, the people we met, how we see ourselves fitting into that scene. ¶ Cheers to these 10 bars that ain’t dere no more. They are missed.

SNAKE & JAKE’S CHRISTMAS NGE CLUB LOU

Cooter Brown’s

Wonderfully ironic that Cooter Brown’s is located at the end of the line, the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line, that is. This cavernous sports palace has some of the best bar food in town, when a body needs it the most. Adored for its neighborhood vibe, extensive sports coverage, tasty raw oysters and fried seafood, Cooter Brown’s also crushes it when it comes to the coldest beers and AC in the heat of summer. 509 S. Carrollton Ave., cooterbrowns.com, @cooterbrownsnola

IRISH CHANNEL

Pete’s Out in the Cold Used to be, there was no sign outside this desolate looking Irish Channel firemen’s haunt on Sixth Street, a place notoriously not welcoming to all. Pete’s, a former speakeasy with a surprisingly handsome bar that dates to 1931, started to change when Autumn Town, a public defender by day, took over the bar as primary owner in 2021, with realtor Adele Hunt extending the lady boss reach in 2022. Town lives three houses from the bar, which seemed like an eyesore when she bought her house. She invested in Pete’s to be sure the bar stayed local and dug into the neighborhood. It’s been a rough road — Ida ripped off the roof and then there was COVID — but the bar is thriving. There’s a weekly Barcelo Gardens Monday farmer’s market from 5 to 7 p.m., pet adoption events (say “Hi” to Foxy the bossy bar cat), regular bingo, food pop ups and a DIY Bloody Mary bar on Sunday mornings. Oh, and Pete’s wins the title of cleanest dive bar by a mile. 701 Sixth St., @petesirishchannel MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 41

by wa te r

42 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

Vaughan’s Lounge Like every outstanding dive bar, Vaughan’s is rooted in the neighborhood, a beacon of oddball predictability even as this corner of Bywater continues to change. Dating to 1959, it’s been Cindy Wood’s bar since 1981, run with her partner Chris Songy, the gentle giant in the kitchen usually making something tasty to put on the bar. A stomping ground for the local Who Dat nation, Vaughan’s is a place for raucous weddings and holiday parties and shake your brass late nights on Thursdays. Kermit Ruffins was the first musical star, in residence for 18 years, back in the day when cabs wouldn’t venture to the Bywater for late night pick-ups. Corey Henrey and the Treme Funktet took over when he left in 2013. The resident white chihuahua El Chapo clearly rules the roost. Bring cash, but not a lot. Drinks are cheap and potent. 4229 Dauphine St.

Tuff Break Loser’s Lounge It’s no coincidence that the door handle at Tuff Break Loser’s Lounge is a meat cleaver. The proprietress is Leighann Smith, who co-owned Piece of Meat, the butcher shop turned steakhouse in Mid-City, where that handle

used to live. She’s been knocking around bartending and keeping Turkey and the Wolf in bologna since POM closed in 2023. When the Junction on St. Claude closed in 2024, her Bywater pal bar guy Brandon Burkhart proposed the idea of buying it. The partners

made the space their own, ripping out the wildly uncomfortable wooden booths and taking over the former kitchen to create inviting nooks and crannies. Some of the old beer lines now dispense five batched draft cocktails, leaving 15 brews on tap. Fun

stuff like Vixens and Vinyl dance parties, DJs, trivia and drag bingo keep things interesting. Pop ups like burger church in the backyard feed the crowd. Community connection and support rule. It feels good in here. 3021 St. Claude Ave., @tuffbreaknola

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 43

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | 44 | JANUARY 2026

As always, New Orleans has so many great things to shout out loud about.

Here is our list of the Tops of the Town as selected by our Readers

44 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

2026

By Ashley McLellan Photography by Jeffery Johnston

Top Pet Daycare Winner: Pawlins Finalists: Camp Bow Wow, Zeus’ Place

Top Happy Hour Winner: The Husky Finalists: Barracuda, Domenica, Fountain Lounge

Top Antiques Store Winner: M.S. Rau Antiques Finalists: Consign Consign, Dop Antiques, Floor 13 Top Bakery Winner: Ayu Bakehouse Finalists: Gambino’s, La Boulangerie, Langiappe Bakehouse

Top Craft Brewery Winner: Urban South Brewery Finalists: Miel Brewery & Taproom, Second Line Brewing

Top Local Drug Store Winner: Castellon Pharmacy Finalists: Majoria Drugs, NOLA Discount Pharmacy

Top Craft Cocktail Bar Winner: Cure Finalists: Drip Affogoto Bar, Jewel of the South, The Sazerac Bar

Top Dry Cleaner Winner: Young’s Dry Cleaning Finalist: Russell’s Cleaning Services

Top Bed and Breakfast Winners: Canal Street Inn, Park View Historic Hotel

Top Dessert Menu Winner: GW Fins Finalists: Arnaud’s, Pigeon and Whale

Top Children’s Boutique Winner: Pippen Lane Finalist: Little Miss Muffin

Top Dive Bar Winner: Pete’s Out in the Cold Finalists: Erin Rose, Pal’s Lounge

Top Event Planning and Parties Winners: Pigeon Catering and Events, Z Event Company Top French Bread Winner: Leidenheimer Baking Co. Finalists: Celtica Bakery, La Boulangerie

Art & Eyes Art & Eyes is obsessed (in the best way) with custom, high quality, unique eyewear. Each pair of glasses is crafted by skilled designers from around the world. Frames are fitted specifically for the wearer and are guaranteed to make a fashionable impact on your overall look. The boutique store is located Uptown on Magazine Street and showcases not only prescription and nonprescription frames, but also sunglasses, accessories and more. 3708 Magazine St., 504-891-4404, artandeyesneworleansla.com.

Top Florist Winner: Grow With Us Florist Finalists: Dunn and Sonnier, Flora Savage

Top Ice Cream/ Gelato Winner: Angelo Brocato Finalists: Creole Creamery, Lucy Boone Ice Cream

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | 45 | JANUARY 2026

Top Place to Buy Eyewear Winner

Top Pizza Winner: Zee’s Pizzeria Finalists: Forbidden Pizza, Pizza Domenica, St. Pizza

Top Furniture Store Winner: Doerr Furniture Finalists: Hurwitz Mintz, Merchant House

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | 46 | JANUARY 2026

Top Garden Supply Winner: Perino’s Home and Garden Center Finalist: Harold’s Plants

Top Gulf Coast Hotel Winner: Pearl Hotel Finalists: Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort Top Gym Winner: New Orleans JCC Finalist: New Orleans Athletic Club

Top Home Accessories Winner: Eclectic Home Finalists: Hazelnut, Judy at the Rink

Top Jeweler Winner: Aucoin Hart Jewelers Finalists: Boudreaux’s Jewelers, Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry

Top Local Sandwich Shop Winner: Stein’s Market and Deli Finalists: Francolini’s, Turkey and the Wolf

Top Hot Dogs Winner: Dat Dog Finalist: Lucky Dog

Top King Cakes Winner: Manny Randazzo King Cakes Finalists: Caluda’s King Cake, Dong Phuong Bakery

Top Local Shoe Store Winner: Orleans Shoe Company Finalist: Feet First

Top Hotel Bar Winner: The Sazerac Bar Finalists: The Carousel Bar, The Chloe, The Polo Lounge

Top Men’s Clothing Store Winners: Perlis Clothing, Rubensteins Finalist: Iron Horse Clothier

Top Place for Casual Breakfast Winner

Ruby Slipper Café Every day New Orleans’ homegrown Ruby Slipper Café feeds crowds of hungry diners looking for the best casual breakfast (and brunch) across the area locally, as well as locations in Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, North and South Carolina via its sister company Ruby Sunshine. From fried green tomatoes to its iconic biscuits, French toast and pancakes, plus seasonal offerings throughout the year, Ruby Slipper has you covered for a delicious way to start the day. rubybrunch.com

Top Burgers Winner: Port of Call Finalists: Bub’s Burgers, Company Burger

Top Coffee House Winner: French Truck Coffee Finalists: Hey! Café, Mojo Coffee House, Trumpet and Drum Coffee House

Top Golf Course Winner: TPC Louisiana Finalists: Bayou Oaks at City Park, English Turn Golf and Country Club

Top Place for Cajun Winner: Cochon Finalists: Mosquito Supper Club, Toups Meatery Top Place for Casual Breakfast Winner: Ruby Slipper Cafe Finalists: Bearcat Café, Birdy’s Top Place for Chinese Winner: Miss Shirley’s Finalists: Dian Xian, Five Happiness Top Place for Creole Winner: Dooky Chase Restaurant Finalists: Li’l Dizzy’s Café, Tujague’s Restaurant Top Place for Doughnuts Winner: Joe’s Café Finalists: Baker’s Dozen, Café Du Monde, District Donuts

Top Place for a Margarita Winner

Barracuda Top Museum Winner: New Orleans Museum of Art Finalists: National WWII Museum, Ogden Museum of Southern Art Top Neighborhood Restaurant Winner: Katie’s Restaurant Finalists: GW Fins, High Hat, Mandina’s Top New Orleans Festival Winner: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Finalists: French Quarter Festival, Hogs for the Cause

Top Place for a Margarita Winner: Barracuda Finalists: Juan's Flying Burritos, Santa Fe, Superior Grill Top Place for a Power Lunch Winner: Mr. B’s Bistro Finalists: Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, Galatoire’s Top Place for Barbecue Shrimp Winner: Mr. B’s Bistro Finalists: GW Fins, Pascal’s Manale Top Place for Brunch Winner: Arnaud’s Finalists: Atchafalaya, Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace

Barracuda Taco Stand has grown from its first original location on Tchoupitoulas Street to locations in Algiers on the West Bank as well as Baton Rouge and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The menu includes fan favorite chips and dip, tacos, queso and more, all crowned by its “Top”of-the-line margaritas. Whether you like a classic marg or are up for a twist with a spicy version or seasonal “marg of the moment,” Barracuda has become the go-to place for many looking for great food and fun. eatbarracuda.com

Top Place for Fried Chicken Winner: Willie Mae’s NOLA Finalists: Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, Popeye’s Fried Chicken Top Place for Gumbo Winner: Mr. B’s Bistro Finalists: Gumbo Shop, Munch Factory Top Place for Indian Winner: Saffron Finalists: Lufu, Taj Mahal Top Place for Italian Winner: Vincent’s Italian Cuisine Finalists: Irene’s, Mosca’s Restaurant, Venezia Top Place for Japanese Winner: Yakuza House Finalists: Mikimoto, Yo Nashi Top Place for Local Gifts Winner: Fleurty Girl Finalists: Hazelnut, Home Malone, Little Miss Muffin Top Place for Mexican/ Southwest Winner: El Gato Negro Finalists: El Pavo Real, Juan's Flying Burritos, Taqueria Corona

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | 47 | JANUARY 2026

Top Place for Fine Dining Winner: GW Fins Finalists: Commander’s Palace, Restaurant August

Top Spa Winner: The Windsor Court Spa Finalist: Waldorf Astoria Spa

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | 48 | JANUARY 2026

Top Place to Buy Liquor and Wine Winner: Martin’s Finalists: Dorignac’s, Really Really Nice Wines

Top Jazz Club Winner: Snug Harbor Finalist: The Spotted Cat Top Museum Winner

New Orleans Museum of Art Top Place for Tacos Winner: Barracuda Finalists: Juan's Flying Burritos, Val's

Top Place for Raw Oysters Winner: Pigeon and Whale Finalists: Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar, Seaworthy, Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar

New Orleans Museum of Art’s permanent collection includes nearly 50,000 works including paintings, glasswork and ceramics, photography, Japanese and African art and more, plus an ever-changing line-up of events and visiting exhibitions. Adjacent to the museum is the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden which showcases more than 90 sculptures on 12 acres nestled in the middle of New Orleans City Park. While visiting the museum and sculpture garden, top off a visit with a bite to eat, coffee or glass of wine at Café NOMA located inside the museum. 1 Collins Diboll Cir., 504-658-4100, noma.org.

Top Place for Middle Eastern Winners: 1000 Figs, Shaya Finalist: Saba Top Place for Seafood Winner: GW Fins Finalists: Pigeon and Whale, Peche Top Place for Steaks Winner: Doris Metropolitan Finalists: Charlie’s Steakhouse, Crescent City Steakhouse, Desi Vegas Top Place for Tapas Winner: Costera Finalists: Baru Bistro and Tapas, Plates Restaurant and Bar

Top Place for Turtle Soup Winner: Commander’s Palace Finalists: Brennan’s, Ralph’s on the Park Top Place for Vietnamese Winner: Tan Dinh Finalists: Lilly’s Café, Pho Tau Bay Top Place for Women’s Clothing Winner: Ballins Ltd. Finalists: Saks Fifth Avenue, UAL Top Place to Buy Eyewear Winner: Art & Eyes Finalists: Krewe, Warby Parker

Top Place to Buy Saints Accessories Winner: Black & Gold Sports Shop Finalists: Dirty Coast, Fleurty Girl Top Place to Get a Blowout Winner: Paris Parker Finalists: Bleu, Drybar Top Po-Boys Winner: Parkway Tavern Finalists: Bear’s Po-Boys, Domilise’s Po-Boys, Guys Po-Boys

Top Salon Winner: Paris Parker Finalists: Keith Noonan Salon, Salon M Top Sno-Balls Winner: Hansen’s Sno-Bliz Finalists: Chance in Hell, Plum Street Sno-Balls, Sal’s Sno-Ball Stand Top Sports Bar Winner: Cooter Brown’s Finalists: Bayou Beer Garden, Finn McCool’s, Walk-Ons

Top Sushi Winner: Sake Cafe Finalists: Tsunami, Yakuza House Top Wine Bar Winner: Really Really Nice Wines Finalists: Copper Vine, Swirl Wine Bar & Market Top Yoga Studio Winner: Spyre Finalist: Wild Lotus

Top Juice Bar/ Smoothie Spot Winner: The Daily Beet Finalists: Green Fork, Surrey’s Café & Juice Bar Top Live Music Venue Winner: Tipitina’s Finalists: The Broadside, Chickie Wah Wah

Top Theater/ Performing Arts Venue Winner: The Saenger Theatre Finalist: The Orpheum Top Pet Grooming Winner: Petcetera NOLA Finalist: Fluffy Mutt Top Outdoor Activity/Park Winner: Audubon Park Finalists: New Orleans City Park, Bayou St. John

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | 49 | JANUARY 2026

Top Children’s Boutique Winner

Pippen Lane Pippen Lane has been in the business of providing children’s clothing, books, toys, baby gifts and much more for 25 years, Located Uptown on busy Magazine Street, the shop also includes Lylian madeto-order heirloom clothing items such as Christening gowns, special occasion clothing, holiday outfits and more. 2930 Magazine St., 504-2690106, pippenlane.com.

Top Local Grocery Store Winner: Rouses Supermarkets Finalists: Dorignac’s Food Center, Zuppardo’s Family Market

Top Local Radio Station Winner: WWOZ Finalist: WWNO

Top Place to Gamble Winner: Caeser’s New Orleans Hotel and Casino

ELLA BRENNAN LIFETIMES ACHIEVEMENT IN HOSPITALITY AWARD WINNERS 2026

Marv, Zeid and Richy Ammari CREOLE CUISINE RESTAURANT CONCEPTS

BY JAY FOREMAN / PHOTOGRAPH BY THERESA CASSAGNE

50 | JANUARY 2026 | MYNEWORLEANS.COM

ost major restaurant groups in town put forward a famous chef as the face of the organization, trading on fame to promote growth and clout. But Creole Cuisine Concepts is different. Their owners the Ammari Brothers — Marv, Zeid and Richy (who passed away in 2023) — are discreet. That’s not to say they don’t have culinary bonafides — their portfolio includes such famed institutions as Broussard’s — but they put an intentional emphasis on humility and discretion, qualities that stem from their Christian faith. Their charitable endeavors have been part of their identity for a long time, but in the past few years have bloomed with their organization Creole Cuisine Cares. Because of all that they do to help those in need, the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE) recognized them with the 2026 Ella Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award in Hospitality. This award acknowledges those whose leadership, accomplishments and philanthropic contributions aid the community, and the Ammari Brothers check all those boxes. What’s more, they do so in a behind the scenes way that puts principals rather than personalities first. “We grew up in a home of giving,” explained CEO Marv Ammari of their family’s approach. “My mom was always doing outreach and feedings and just giving back. Because of her we believe that we should focus on four immediate, simple essentials: food, clothing, medicine and shelter.” This philosophy in turn guides Creole Cuisine Cares, which partners with organizations like the New Orleans Mission and the Giving Hope Retreat in Lacombe. 2024 was a banner year for their fundraising, bringing in more than $250,000, which was divided across an umbrella of organizations. 2025 is in the books now and soon we will know what their most recent efforts have raised. “Last year we directed $25,000 to the New Orleans Mission, earmarked for individuals living with diabetes,” Marv said. Along with medicine, their giving included thoughtful details like specially designed socks and shoes to enhance comfort of those suffering from this illness. Another $25,000 went to Celebration Church in St Bernard Parish, where Pastor Trevor Truitt used the gift to provide meals and fellowship to underprivileged families. And in one of their largest single efforts to date, $150,000 went to build out a kitchen at the Mission Pantry inside the Giving Hope Retreat in St Bernard Parish. “Our efforts there in Lacombe are just getting started,” Marv said. “As the foundation of New Orleans’s largest anti-hunger network, the sky is the

limit for how much the facility can really benefit the people of St Tammany Parish and beyond.” If their professional success is any judge, the needle is pointing in the right direction. What began with a single daiquiri shop has grown into an industry juggernaut which now employs more than 1,700 people across 40-plus restaurant concepts. Their reach has grown beyond the New Orleans area, expanding into Mississippi and Alabama. By any standard this is a successful restaurant group. The business got its start in 1989 when a teenage Marv took over a daiquiri business in St Bernard Parish. His brothers Zeid and Richy joined in, expanding that single Daiquiri Paradise into multiple daiquiri and casual dinging concepts throughout the 1990s. They proved shrewd businessmen, using the revenue engines of the daiquiri shops to finance real estate purchases to further expand into other dining concepts. They were on an upward trend when they, like other restaurant groups, ran into the make-or-break aftermath of Katrina. Their stewardship saw their company boom after the storm and then again after COVID-19. Today their collection includes prestige restaurants like Broussard’s and The Bombay Club. Proven upscale casual concepts like Boulevard American Bistro appear ready to expand, and they see their modern Italian restaurant A Tavola as traveling regionally as well. Their enviable real estate portfolio backs the overall enterprise. Despite their success, the brothers remain grounded and guided by their Christian faith. They are first and foremost a family business, still mourning the loss of their brother Richy. Extending outwards, their restaurant group has long had a reputation of being a good place to work in an industry that often chews people up. “The way we look at it is, it’s a family first and then it’s a business. And if we let the dollars get caught up in the middle of the family, then the family gets destroyed,” Marv said. “We always work through our issues and agree that no matter what happens, we will put family first.” Marv and Zeid see the 1,700-plus members of Creole Cuisine as extended family, meaning “when our people are going through challenges, we work with them too.” And this isn’t just PR speak — multiple industry awards back them up. “That’s what I believe makes Creole Cuisine a different kind of business to work for,” Marv explains. And that too is what makes them ideal recipients of this year’s award. “Richy was there in the beginning when we started and was part of the partnership in putting Creole Cuisine Cares together before he passed,” Marv said. As so with Ella, Richy’s spirit of giving lives on.

MYNEWORLEANS.COM | JANUARY 2026 | 51