Bar Tonique

This was probably my favorite bar in New Orleans. Sazerac bar has good cocktails but it’s stuffy. Empire is wonderful, and has the best cocktails, but it’s a little too fancy for my taste. This place has fantastic cocktails but a comfy, almost dive-​bar feel to it. It’s just the best.
Oh, and real friendly bartenders. But if I got to work in a place this awesome I’d probably be pretty friendly too.

Wow wow wow. Listen. Or read the words I write. Do you like gin? Do you like homemade syrup? This place blew my mind and my gin expectations. Dark stormy, Moscow mule with home infused syrup. I just can’t recommend any higher ANYWHERE. My favorite was a special
secret cocktail by the bartender from mobile Alabama. This is a MUST stop for any craft cocktail person. Stop and don’t bother seeking elsewhere.

I’m the friend in question in ECS’s review. Just like him, I’m creating a Unilocal account to respond. Because yall should know 1) those two are loony tunes. 2) I couldn’t care less that the bartender– a very good friend of mine– opened that sample bottle with his mouth. 3) those bitters weren’t in the drinks that these people walked out on, which the bartender pretty calmly explained numerous times. They were in my drink, and again I didn’t care AT ALL. But hey, those free drinks were great, so thanks for that!
I love this bar, have been coming here for years and the staff they have right now is awesome. If you’re the type to listen to whack-​job Unilocal reviews, by all means stay away. I don’t want to drink alongside you and I doubt the bartenders want to deal with you. One of the things that sets this bar apart is that their utter lack of pretension. Never change guys, see you soon!

If you want a cocktail with people who should all be your best friends, this is the place. I’ve never had a drink that was less than perfect from Tonique and the bartenders are just the best. Whether it’s Mark, Will, Anna, Tony, Colin, or just any of them, this place is filled with the masters of the NOLA service industry and attracts a crowd that confirms it’s a ¹⁰⁄₁₀.

ALERT: This is my new favorite bar. If I lived here I would be a regular fo’ sho’.
Equal parts classy and gritty. Expertly made cocktails. Dark, chill environment with 2 fireplaces and a circular bar. Cocktail menu that includes the year each drink was invented (swoon). I just love everything about this place.
It’s the kind of place where the bartenders are obviously lightyears cooler than you, but you don’t even care because they mix drinks so damn well.
Tonique also has great daily drink specials. But honestly, this isn’t the kind of place you go for a bargain drink. Their prices are definitely fair, but you go here for the quality. A special price is just an extra perk.
I’ll definitely be back on my next trip to NOLA.

One of the best cocktail bars in NOLA. Outside of the tourist trap and very sexy people. Very recommended.

This bar was recommended by a local and let me tell you is great. Red the bartender is great. High scale drinks with a lower price tag. I got the mint julep, sazerac and both were amazing.

Love this place. Were from out of town and a friend recommended it. Delicious cocktails without the snootiness. Super reasonable prices too.
My only problem was that they usually only had one bartender at a time… meaning s/​he was often swamped. The cocktails were still so delicious though that we went back multiple times, just made sure we had a bit of patience!

If you are looking for stronger and more creative custom craft cocktails this is as good as it gets in NOLA. It is also really affordable!
Skip bourbon street’s overpriced, overhyped and overly sugary crap cocktails and walk 4 short blocks over to see my buddy Mark. You won’t be disappointed!
Mark and Colin are true artists with their cocktails. I didn’t look at a menu, I simply was able to list 3 – 4 of my favorite drinks and a base spirit and let them come up with stuff for me.
They made me their take on an old fashioned with Mescal and St. George Green Chili liquor: amazing! They made me two lovely bourbon and apéritif based cocktails, (one a variation of a Sazerac) and lastly something so good I had to ask them for the recipe. It’s called a Martinez. If you like gin, or even if you don’t — Ask for it!
This place isn’t fancy, they were playing classic rock in a traditional bar type setup that is smaller and more intimate. The only thing that matters here is great cocktails.

One of my fav mixology bars in NOLA. Bartender was awesome, knows her stuff! Will def come again and recommend people to come.

WHAT HAPPENED. Loved coming here to get phenomenal cocktails. Just had two drinks that weren’t worth serving on Bourbon street during a 3 for 1.
Hopefully an off day and they return to their former glory.

Off bourbon and a lot more intimate. You might think you’re in the lower east side of NYC. Great vibe, awesome drinks and beautiful bartenders heart, body, soul and… Hair ;)

I’ve been to Bar Tonique 3 or 4 times and had a nice experience… Tonight? Not so much. I went there with a friend and when we bellied up to the «not SO crowded bar», the bartenders were engaged making drinks and aloof that new patrons had arrived… Which is fine, I get that we weren’t there the whole night. A short, curly-​haired bartender finally looked at us, kept shaking her cocktail shaker… With a freehand, literally threw a menu at us on the bar.
No, «Hey, be right with you!» or «One second y’all!»…
So we left after wasting 20 minutes of our evening…
I’ll go back, because I’m a glutton for punishment and good cocktails… If it happens again? A much more insidious review will follow… (Just be warned; you may not be accepted…)
***I’ve lived here for 8 years***

My favorite bar in the city. Awesome (and cheap) cocktails, great atmosphere and service. One of the few bars in French Quarter that feels authentic– no hand grenades nonsense.

Words cannot describe how much I adore Bar Tonique. My boyfriend and I spent the weekend in Nola and this was recommended to us by a «locals guide» made by our Air BnB host, Andrew. We went before dinner and the place was bustling with patrons. The people behind the bar work with such precise motions and speed that they knocked drink orders out before your eyes without making you feel rushed. I don’t know how they managed to have just the right amount of people in the bar at all times; it was never empty, but it was never so crowded that you were mushed next to strangers, vying for the bartender’s attention.
I ordered the Dark & Stormy which had a dynamic flavor profile, spicy, citrus-​y, sweet, perfect. My boyfriend got the Old Fashioned and that thing could knock someone’s socks off. It was smooth, strong and everything an Old Fashioned should be. I really love that they use FRESH ingredients. I watched on as the bartenders muddled fruits and made the garnishes for drinks on the spot. That fresh orange twist really makes a difference.
We left for dinner after a few drinks and after making a new friend from Alabama. When dinner was over, this place was so flawless that we went back. I wish I wasn’t a boring twelve hour drive away because this place would be my main spot.
The prices are not bad, around 10ish for a drink that packs a punch in flavor and alcohol content. They also have free non-​alcoholic drinks for designated drivers that they make out of house-​made syrups and bitters and I think that is so awesome. I wish more bars did this.
When I travel back to Nola, this is probably the first place I am going back to. Love you, Bar Tonique!!!

Good drinks and cool ambiance! Had a delicious caipirinha and a side car. A nice speakeasy place with lofty style.

A happy hour that starts at noon every weekday does not surprise me for NOLA, but lucky for you this is actually a great happy hour. Cool bar, great drinks, amazing prices… yeah, I’d come here at noon for that (which I actually did). The best thing about an early happy hour are that early drinkers are usually quite the characters, so be prepared to meet some fun, interesting locals here.
$ 5 Cocktails:
Aviation, Frenchmen’s Dark & Stormy, Sazerac, Pimm’s Cup, Moscow Mule, Whiskey Old Fashioned
Weekly $ 5 Specials:
Monday — Pimm’s Cup
Tuesday — Whiskey Flights
Wednesday — Moscow Mules
Thursday — Caipirinhas
Friday — Punch Special
Saturday — Bacon Bloody Marys
Sunday — Mai Tais

When you need a break from the madness of Bourbon Street, Bar Tonique is a nice little oasis. Great feel inside Cozy, grotto feel, brick and a fire place. Great for cocktails… Moscow Mule was yum. Romantic nice spot to lounge with your old lady.

Bar Tonique is amazing. They have a large list of cocktails and every one I’ve had is delicious. The classic Sazeracs and Old Fashioneds are wonderful as are their own creations. They play cool music, the people here are chill and there are usually no tourist types!
Regarding the cocktails they also make their own syrups and use some of those to make temperance non-​alcoholic drinks. So, you can take a nice cocktail in a to go cup, but you should probably hydrate a little with a to go ginger beer or celery soda.
Also, I should mention the New Orleans smoking ban elevates this place to 5 stars.

This place is so comfortable to be inside and hang out with friends. They have a great happy hour and each day there are specials. My favorites are Tuesday for the War of Whiskeys (you pay about $ 25 for 5 – 6 shots of all different types of whiskey to try) and then Wednesday for the $ 5 Moscow mules. Here they use fresh ingredients and muddle, concoct and mix every drink into perfect yumminess.
The only down side to this place can be the service. But don’t come here if you’re in a hurry or just an impatient individual. Drinks this good take time to make. Just make sure the bartenders acknowledge your presence.