At bars, I am a sucker for excellent service and boy does this place live up to my expectations! Aside from the drinks being wonderful (as most other reviewers have raved about), I was most impressed with the service! My friend and I decided to grab a drink here last night and showed up around nine and immediately found open space at the bar. After looking at the complicated and long (also impressive) drink menu, my friend ordered a whiskey and I told the very pretty and nice bartender to make me whatever she wanted because the drink menu was too long for me to decide myself. I told her I like tequila and since I was only going for one drink, something sweet would be fine. After essentially putting on a show to make my drink, she gave me some sort of tequila, homemade grenadine, and soda water concoction (off the menu) that she said was part of a series of drinks from around the globe they were doing. It was delicious! I was so impressed with the service and the quality of drinks. My friend loved his whiskey as well, but I imagine anyone who loves whiskey would love any of the choices that Bar Tonique offers. I also love that it is on Rampart, so probably not as busy as some other bars in the quarter. All in all, a great place! I will be returning soon.
Review Source:During our whirlwind tour of NOLA, we decided to start night 2 a little bit more classy. I love cocktails, and this place has billions of them (and are more than happy to craft whatever you desire). I was like ummm I like grapefruit and bubblyy so they just made the Kelly's Surprise bubbly for me.
The bartenders are really busy, the place is very popular. It's a bit off the beaten path (aka not in the middle of the French Quarter) and a much nicer scene. As always, you can take that drink  to go, just pour it in a plastic cup and tada, road soda!
First impression: my! the bartenders are so dramatic in making these fancy schmancy drinks!
Drink menu is ridiculously extensive and overwhelming for a first timer. I went with a champagne cocktail and was underwhelmed considering the elaborate description, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I had wine thereafter and the cab was delish and the pour was more than generous. All the males I was with had a continuous stream of dark & stormies so I think they were all fans.
I enjoyed the dark mood lighting. Music wasn't so loud you couldn't have a conversation. Bathrooms were clean. Clientele was not sketchy or creepy. Didn't enjoy that they still allowed smoking inside but I'm sure the smokers did.
New Orleans does not have any open container laws, so while in town, my friends and I decided to hit up a liquor store and get some ciders to walk around with. Â While talking about how much I like ginger beer, a random guy dressed like a bum was listening in to our conversation. Â He injects with, "if you boys like ginger beer, you have to try Bar Tonique". Â Thanks random New Orleans bum. Â We think nothing of it, but happen to look it up on Yelp. Â Well, yelp reviewers rate it really highly. Â So after checking out the lousy to fairly lousy bars on Bourbon street, my friends and I decided to give Bar Tonique a try. Â
We start walking from Bourbon Street to Rampart St. Â The walk was not reassuring that this place would be good. Maybe it was "New Orleans" 4.5 starts and not "New York" 4.5 stars. Â If that means anything. Â The area goes from kind of residential to kind of rundown. Â But we still press on. Â
Well, we finally get there and wow.. were we impressed. Â This little unassuming bar had the absolutely best drinks in New Orleans. Â It was so good, that we came back again the next day. Â They have a thick menu of complicated drinks. Â It was almost overwhelming when trying to decide what to drink. Â I had their version of a Dark and Stormy with homemade ginger syrup. Â It was absolutely amazing. Â May have been the best dark and stormy I have ever had. Â I also tried the Blanche Dubois (golden girls) another great drink. Â And when I did not know what to drink, the bartender made recommendations based on spirits that I liked. Â The bartender was knowledgeable, friendly, but not too overly up in my business.
The prices were decent... not too much at all... especially for the quality of drinks and service.
If I am ever back in NOLA, I will be sure to come back here. Â Thanks liquor store bum!
A+++++++++ Highly recommend. Â Would return again!
Best Bar in NOLA. A bit on the outskirts so seemed to have a more local and quiet feel :) AWAY from the Bourbon St. nonsense.
We went there two nights in a row ~ bringing a large party with us the 2nd time.
The bartender seemed overwhelmed at our 2nd trip there because there seemed to be a huge influx of bachelor and bachelorette parties at the time, but she kept cool and collected. She was the only one serving and did not seem to be expecting so many people! (Good problem to have ;) )
We did have to wait a bit for drinks but the wait was so worth it and we stayed for 2 rounds.
Bartender was very kind and chatted us up a bit, sharing some mixology knowledge.
Visit if you want a great mixed drink and a quieter atmosphere.
My absolute favorite bar in New Orleans
The bartenders are like artists making delicious alcohol-based art. Â
Super-legit and fairly priced - I just kept trying drink after drink off the extensive menu - and was never disappointed. Â
I try to stay abreast of different cocktails and ingredients when out at cocktail bars but this place had tons of stuff I had never even heard of... and it all worked.
Service was friendly without being forced.
Was recommended to the bar by a random dude in a liquor store... best bar recommendation from a random dude in a liquor store ever.
Go there when in NOLA.
Awesome cocktails! After two different occasions spent at Bar Tonique with two different bartenders and many different cocktails ordered, I was impressed by nearly all the drinks I ordered. Being the ever-hated tourist trying desperately to fit in, I chose some of the reputed NOLA cocktails (Sazerac, Ramos Gin Fizz, Brandy Milk Punch) on my first visit. The foam top on their Gin Fizz was the tallest and cleanest I had seen among the cocktail-geared bars I visited in the French Quarter and Warehouse districts.
Presentation aside, I enjoy a harder drink and found their Sazerac very much to my liking. If you are looking for something with an even stiffer feel, the Vieux Carre may suit you. I also ordered their Whiskey Kiss, Aviation, Caipirinha - more along the lines of sours each with their own subtleties. I found them all to be pleasant if not downright superb.
I would take the above with some reservations if you feel as though "cocktail connoisseur" belongs on your resume. Given what I'd heard about New Orleans and its association with cocktails, my recent trip to NOLA was the first time I've tried a wide variety of cocktails. A dark brew or neat glass of top-ish shelf whiskey or scotch has always been my preferred drink. This being said, I feel as though Bar Tonique offered some of the best crafted drinks in town.
Bar Tonique is a smaller-scale venue with several tables and about 15 seats at the bar. The more intimate feel was perfect for a less-rambunctious night out with a few friends. Service at Bar Tonique was great. The bartenders were attentive, friendly and just cool. Sonali offered a complimentary shot at the end of the night and I happily accepted. I will definitely be back.
There's a reason why Bar Tonique is the top-rated bar in New Orleans. Actually, there are many...
1. Craft cocktails. That means no neon green plastic yard glasses. No test tube shots. And none of the wasted patrons that come along with it.
2. It's small, intimate, dark - but not seedy.
3. Friendly bartenders workin' fast. James P and another fella were behind the bar and were pounding out drinks to a full house with smiles on their faces. And they took the time to chat. Jim made me a few drinks after I suggested something "limey and with gin" and "orangey with gin." I appreciate how he was eager and excited to whip up something special. None of that holier-than-tho mixologist 'tude you see in other places.
4. Drinks were reasonably priced, considering the quality. The craft cocktail menu averages about $7-6. They also had a great selection of beers and wine.
Thank you, Yelp, for helping me find Bar Tonique. It certainly impressed my friends in tow, and we all agreed it's one of our preferred bars in NOLA.
See ya soon, BT!
I had Bar Tonique in my bookmarks to try for over a year. And I finally get there and they can't make any custom soda because their machine is broken. I did have a lovely old fashioned but the staff seemed over stressed and cranky. Maybe that was the broken machine?
I would definitely give this bar another shot on a less crowded & smokey evening.
It's hard to spend money in a place with poor service. It took over ten minuted for the bartender/mixologist to make eye contact. She was dry and monotone. A regular was shocked when she required payment as opposed to a tab & she gave a flip response. If there was no extensive menu and time spent locating a parking place, I would have left. I am very disappointed that my encounter differed tremendously from the reviews that are posted.
Review Source:An utterly unassuming bar for well-made cocktails on the northern border of the French Quarter. Â There's an unexpectedly elegant if low-key sign, but once inside, its a dark, cube-shaped space, walls lined in brick, with a small but functioning fireplace. Â The bar is the focal point, dominating the center of the space, backed by a large mirror that brightly (and sometimes eerily) reflects a single, low-hanging chandelier. Â All around the mirror are shelves of spirits and modifiers, mingled with chalkboards. Â The boards extensively detail the menu, including spirit lists, cocktails, wines, beers, and specials by day of the week. Â There are some interesting non-alcoholic choices in the form of housemade sodas; indeed, almost but not quite enough to divert me from their cocktails.
Bar Tonique is intimate, where sitting at the bar is all but given, although a group could share the cozy table by the window after getting drinks at the bar. Â A comfortable level of background music in this small space with a clientele that seems interested in quietly enjoying a drink adds up to a chill ambience that is quite a respite from many bars in the area.
Their cocktail choices favor old classics, separating out the true cocktails (composed of bitters, water, spirit, sugar) and categorizing other mixed drinks under terms both familiar to me (slings, sours, punches) and not (succulents, coolers, possets). Â Classy choices, and those we tried were well-made and balanced.
A great bar option in the French Quarter area, offering a relaxing and down-to-earth vibe, with very good cocktails.
4 stars for the atmosphere and being away from bourbon street....the drinks, although not the absolute best hand crafted cocktail I've ever had, they were pretty stiff so I can't complain.
Music was good and not too loud that you couldn't hear one another. The bartenders we encountered were very nice so maybe we came here on a good night.....
I wouldn't walk down rampart at night to get here, rather come off a side street from the quarter or take a cab. Three of us ladies walked down rampart around 9 and made it safe but the street lighting is pretty bad around there so better safe than sorry......
My new favorite bar in NoLA. Â Vieux Carre is perfect here. Â I wish their happy hour was longer, but I don't think they could handle the customer volume they would get if it was. Â The dark n stormy is also great here, though I actually think Rum House makes a better one.
I took off a star for the bathroom. Â It is quite horrible.
I like that this is a dark and cozy little spot right off of N. Rampart--an underused area, IMO. I also like their $5 happy hour. The bartender could be friendlier. It must be in a Lonely Planet guide or something, because almost everyone in there was a tourist. They weren't bad tourists, though, and it was cool to hear their stories about back home. It definitely felt less pretentious than the comparable Cure. My friend didn't like her sazerac but my aviation was A-OK.
Worth checking out!
THE perfect respite from the absolute madness and unpleasantness of Bourbon Street.
My friends and I decided to stroll down Bourbon Street on the Saturday night of St. Paddy's among absolute pandemonium in the street. All sanity was lost there and we made a beeline straight to Lafitte's, which wasn't that pleasant and the bartenders were rude. Trusty Yelp let me to Tonique, and I'm so happy it did.
The bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable, and extremely welcoming. The other patrons are friendly if you are, but don't pry if you don't want to be spoken to. The seating arrangement is good for a date or a small group. Loved it here. I will definitely return on my next visit to New Orleans.
Tip: The area can be a bit dodgey late at night, so have the bartender order you a taxi.
If you're looking for a hand crafted cocktail in a dive-esque atmosphere, look no further, you've found your jackpot! Came here based on so many great Yelp reviews, and my fellow Yelper's did not steer me wrong. Â
The cocktail list is amazing and during the week, you can snag one for $5 (if it's on the list), which is a great deal.
The bartender used all fresh ingredients and it was nice to see her making layered, muddled or mixed drinks like a pro. Unlike some other bars on Bourbon, she did not ask me what was in a Manhattan, when I ordered one. I plan on this being my first stop during my next visit.
Just a few hours before catching a flight home, and with some time to kill, we meandered over here for a quick drink--and to check off another spot on our long list of 'must do' haunts in Nola. The bar was pretty much dead, but it was 2pm on a Tuesday so that isn't too surprising! Lucky for us, it was happy hour! And what an amazing happy hour it is--$5 for select cocktails. And these are good well crafted drinks, not your run of the mill beverage. The bartender was friendly as well and was busy making their homemade simple syrups. The space was cute and cozy and I imagine this is a great spot on a Friday night. Would definitely return!
Review Source:This place is nothing fancy and it's tucked in a small space on the outer edge of the French Quarter, but  well worth a visit. The hand crafted cocktails are some of the best in New Orleans. Literally every drink I have tried here is amazing. You have to love a small bar that makes their own Orgeat syrup.
Review Source:Locals seemed to like this spot. My buddy and I seemed to be the minority tourists here.
Dungeon level illumination. Not crowded. They just ran out of gin fizz when we got there so we both for veiux carres... quickly found out we were not big fans.I would rate it higher but for our drinks.
It's quieter so if your looking for seats, drinks and an intimate conversation this place is for you.
While this bar may not look like much from the outside (and indeed may not look like much from the inside, either), it's actually one of the best places to get a real cocktail in the French Quarter.
This bar is small, dark and smokey, dominated by the horseshoe bar in the center. It was standing room only on my visit, which in reality means like 25 people. The wall behind the bar is covered in chalkboards listing a quite impressive selection of spirits and cocktails. One thing I noticed was that the prices were actually quite reasonable! There were a ton of things I wanted to try, but on Mondays Pimm's Cups are on special for $5, so I took advantage of getting one of my favorite cocktails on the cheap.
It was fun watching the lone bartender work. She was pretty damn busy, and it took a while to get a drink, but she was constantly moving, making real, multi-step cocktails with the rhythm and grace of somebody who is at the top of her game. Everybody in my group enjoyed their drinks quite a bit!
There's not a ton of seating, and we were lucky to be able to get spots and one of the maybe 3 tables in the place. I wouldn't want to come here and stand, so I can see turning around and leaving if it was too crowded. But to be able to belly up to the bar in what looks like a dark, forgotten watering hole and end up with a craft cocktail in your hand? That's pretty great. Yay Bar Tonique.
Just fantastic! Â This bar is the perfect mix of dive and cocktail bar. Â Located on the north side of the French Quarter, this haunt is completely inconspicuous, just a small sign out front is the only indication of the jewel inside. Â The bar itself is dark and intimate with stools around the bar and then some couches along a couple of the walls. Â
I was told before going that it was probably the best bar in the French Quarter, and I have to say (acknowledging my limited time spent here) that it was my favorite. Â As soon as we arrived I loved it. Â Everyone was amassed around corners of the bar and huddled on the couches carrying on often loud and jovial conversations. Â The entire staff was the lady behind the bar that moved quickly around her space, taking orders, running tabs, and most importantly, serving up craft cocktails and beers. Â All of the drinks were listed on chalk boards around the back of the bar and the opposing wall, hand scripted and just messy enough to set a tone of ease. Â I opted for a Gimlet as something fresh and citrusy sounded most to my liking, and the bf got a Pimms Cup, which was on the nightly special. Â Outstanding! Â A dive-esque bar that serves up quality craft cocktails...and for way cheaper than drinks like that usually go for, averaging $7-8. Â Also, if there is something that sounds good off the menu or you just want something to be made in your honor using a few ingredient of your choosing, they'll do it, they're that good.
We were there for a couple of rounds and no one was disappointed with anything that was ordered. Â We all gathered on one of the couches and just really enjoyed ourselves. Â When we decided it was time to move on our tabs were up quickly and I left feeling like my entire experience here was almost perfect. Â Tonique is certainly a 'must do' for any of my future trips to New Orleans and a definite recommendation to anyone who inquires!
Jesus' tits! How did writing a review of this place escape me?
Mea culpa, baby. This dark den of decent cocktails and indecent patrons offers most anything and everything you could ask for from a bar. Great bartenders who are passionate about their craft and take no crap from anyone. Not one, but two fireplaces for  nursing a drink, catching up with friends or tryin' to get your romance on (BTW, Bacon Bloody Mary is fun to say, but I'm not drinking one anytime soon.).
Geez, now I want to go to there.
This probably my favorite bar in New Orleans. You won't find many tourists here, primarily locals. It has a great NY feel to it and the drinks are bomb! They have specials of the day which are usually good. But you can't go wrong with any drink here. The menu is big enough that everyone will find something they like.
My only issue with Tonique is that once and a while the bartenders/bar back can get kind of attitude-y. But since I come here with people, not to talk to the bartenders so this usually a non-issue.
In the 10 months since my last review for Bar Tonique I've:
-been here more times than my check-ins indicate
-became Duchess despite my lack of check-ins
-came to realize that it's my favorite bar in the French Quarter (with Pravda being a close second, however Bar Tonique has better bathrooms where encounters with courtyard creepy crawly visitors are not gonna happen).
My drink of choice here that I alluded to in my previous review, is Kelly's Surprise and I think the surprise might just be the teeny tiny curl of lemon zest. I don't know why that makes me infinitely happy, but the bar geek in me starts to think about what cool tool is used to create such a delicate garnish. Then I get embarrassed, thinking back to my bartending days when I zested with all the finesse of my two left thumbs.
It's all good though. I'll just leave the zesting and drink-making to the capable 'tenders at Tonique.
Just rediscovered this French Quarter gem.
It had been a while since I made my way to Bar Tonique, and I was so glad I did. There really is nowhere else in the quarter where I can get good mocktails and excellent service. The Indian lady was incredibly knowledgeable and forthcoming with her recipes and experience making different drinks. It's rare in a bar setting to find someone so accommodating, but at Tonique, all the bartenders have a way of speaking to you like you're the only customer in the room. I didn't get to stay for very long, but the two drinks I had were incredible and thanks to my bartender I left in a better mood than I arrived with.
Yay!
Dark, smokey and lovely. A cozy little craft cocktail bar tucked away. Â I loved the menu and how much easier it was for me to find something that I liked, based on my tastes. I went off the "succulents" and got the Blood and Sand, it was perfect: strong and delicate.
The inside was definitely social but not obnoxious, it seems like a neighborhoodish type of place with the bartenders drinking, smoking and talking.
The next time I'm back here, I'll definitely revisit for some debauchery. And drinks.
Well thank you for noticing, these pants *are* fancy. I do feel kinda fancy pants here, though actually it's only the expertly made cocktails, and the name of the place that seem all, "Well, laaa-tee-dah!"
I found this French Quarter spot to be really friendly, comfortable, casual and cozy; all the good environs and with very good drinks t'boot. I'm a fan of what's doing at the bar: East India, Ramos Gin Fizz, and Blanche DuBois punch, for sure.
Sidenote: I hope that there's a glorious juicy gin punch in honor of Blanche Devereaux in Georgia, somewhere out there...
Bar Tonique offers a beautiful selection of true cocktail, sours, slings, punches, mixed drinks a plenty, and they're so well-made. They're all fresh-squeezing juices, and house-making syrups, it's coming off special, and that's the fanciness factor.
Besides their daily $5 drink specials, Bar Tonique's happy hours- Noon to five weekdays- Â feature select cocktails for $5 too. Let's just say that I went from never having drank a Moscow Mule or a Pimms Cup in my life to leaving Bar Tonique a bit of an expert on em... and without breaking the bank.
If you like dark - very dark - and slightly smoky bars with a menu organized around taste and composition profiles of cocktails, plus lots of fresh ingredients and strong bar talent, Bar Tonique is the spot for you.
The menu is heavy on the cocktails, of course (although it originally popped up for me in a wine bar Yelp search, I would not say that's Bar Tonique's forte). The cocktails themselves are thoughtfully organized not only into categories like slings, sours, and possets, but the categories themselves carry descriptors that offer nuance into just what this drink is, whether some combination of strong, weak (succulently or chargedly so), bitter, aromatic, and so on. The wine world is one I feel at home in and whose history and language I know, so I really enjoyed having not just an excellent cocktail menu but one that gave me a little more insight into the fascinating world of mixology.
And the drinks were lovely! We each had only one, but they were fresh and creative and balanced and certainly rivaled any I've had here in Seattle, home of several fantastic bars and craft bartenders. I had the Red Light Fir (how could anyone resist the lure of Douglas Fir in a glass, seriously?!), which only helped to cement my new knowledge that sours and "true" cocktails are where my taste leads me consistently. But it took me quite a time to decide on my one drink; Bar Tonique has the drink menu I wish I could return to explore.
If and when I'm back in NOLA, I'll revisit for sure. There are different $5 specials daily, and in a nice community gesture they have industry discounts after 11 pm and non-profit employee discounts before 8 pm. The two bartenders working that night were skilled, efficient, and despite the increasing level of busyness, managed to check back consistently to see if we liked our drinks or needed anything else. Bar Tonique even has a very thoughtful menu for non-drinkers (the Temperance drinks!), and if you're a designated driver you can have yours for free. Another nice touch; something for everyone, and a place that (almost) everyone should be sure to add to their must-visit bar list.
A spectacular bar, off the (over) beaten path further towards French Q/Frenchmen st. Beautiful inside, with quality drinks thrown at you at a marvelous pace. I spent a heady afternoon sucking down bacon bloody marys (only on Saturdays!!!) and straight chilling with the kind and lovely folks.
Feeling bold, I waved my arms and asked the bartender to "make me something good, I dunno!" and she is the best, and she made a Blanche DuBois, and it was perfect.
Very rarely is this kind of tomfoolery tolerated in New York, let alone welcomed. I made semi-serious plans to move Nola-ward that very afternoon.
This USED to be one of my fave spots for cocktails... no longer. Â In the past year or more with the cocktail fever it was discovered by the hipster crowd and not so hip but think they are. Â Originally it was a pre-prohabition bar. Â Meaning for the most part they didn't carry or make anything post-prohibition. Â One night I watched the manager try to explain to a newbie that they didn't carry a certain whiskey... the girl didn't get and tried ordering the same drink THREE TIMES!!! Â Well, this is no longer. Â They've seriously expanded their selection. Â Other cocktail fever places are around but Tonique has something the others don't... it's has true Quarter atmosphere. Â It's small, dark and a gritty chic. Â I remember this place when it was a fancy gay boy bar well before the storm. Â The bathroom doors are still painted lush lacquer red. *le sigh*
If you go on a weekend night be prepared to squeeze in. Â Also be prepared to wait a while for your libation(s) bc it takes time to mix these cocktails. Â Oh and be mindful of the people who are sitting at the bar. Â No need to push and knock them around bc they have prime real estate.
Note: Yo Mama's happily delivers here... take full advantage of this to keep your drink going!
Cheers!
Calling these "drinks" is an insult. Â The cocktails here are amazing, the Ramos gin fizz being at the top of the four cocktails we had. Â The service was 3 stars (at best), but the cocktails indeed made up for most of the discrepancy, putting them at a solid four. Â The low point in service was after a patron ordered 3 Moscow Mules, and she made two. Â You'd think she'd be apologetic, and hurry the next one out. Â You'd be wrong. Â After he walked away to give his friends the drinks, she said "I don't care, not my problem" an continued to talk to a regular and make several other drinks before finally after about 15 minutes getting the final drink, without an apology. Â
I like the fact that they do everything old school, right down to shaving the ice to order, making their own syrups, and mixing some of their bitters, but it almost borders on gimmicky when mixed with the I don't actually care attitude of the staff. Â I suppose if you are good at what you do, the other stuff doesn't matter as much (and thats why they are getting a 4), but I am not in any hurry to get back and be subjected to the depressing bitchiness.
Just about perfect. Â The weekend of August 17-19 marks the first weekend that I spent in New Orleans without long bouts of hangovers and I have Bar Tonique to thank. Â The drinks were made with quality ingredients and with care for how they were made. Â The first time I went in there, I was concerned about a reservation I had at a restaurant so don't go in there for a quick drink because I don't think that it exists...
The sometimes apathetic bartender was a bit of a downer but she was outshone by all the other bartenders and great clientele in the bar. Â
So, just order from the $5 blackboard special and enjoy yourself. Â As an added bonus, there is a Banksy 4 or 5 blocks away on Rampart if you want to make a day out of it.
ps - I suggest going early on Saturdays if you want to ensure getting a bloody mary.
Are you looking for a well crafted cocktail? Â A gin and tonic made with house made tonic, perhaps? Â Well, then this is your place!
The cocktail list is full of interesting drinks, delightful descriptions and tempting libations. Â I could happily drink my way through the whole menu given enough time and coinage. Â The drinks are not exorbitantly expense, just not cheap. Â But they are made with quality ingredients and the effort can be tasted. Â The drinks are exactly what I look for in a cocktail; well balanced, strong and tasty. Â
I will give a bit of a warning to those looking for a candy apple green martini, a hand grenade or a really cheap drink: don't come here. Â You won't find what you're looking for and you won't like the drinks. Â
While the drinks are top notch, the atmosphere is a bit dank. Â One of the bartenders was nice, while another seemed more interested in drinking herself than serving customers. Â I'm a huge fan or the drinks, the service, not so much.
However, next time I'm in NOLA I will stop by for gin & tonic or a gin fizz or any drink with gin in it because I like gin.