Great place for having a mixed drink outside. Weekends should be avoided because they often have weddings. They also very much need to revamp their wine list, it's horrible! Drink prices are also a bit steep. Would be great if they could add some bar snacks. It's definitely a fun place to stop by for an after work drink.

One of the best bars in town. A local favorite. The porch is perfect for sipping Mint Juleps and Mojitos in the warmer months (April ? October sometimes including Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, or March), while the bar is excellent for cuddling up to a nice, warm glass of your favorite brown liquor. This bar is not known for being a beer or wine bar but tries to accommodate all customers. Terrific atmosphere and plenty of dimly lit corners for more intimate settings. The Columns is usually complemented with excellent bar staff (ask for ?Big Mike?). The hotel also serves a mean Sunday brunch. Highly recommended.

I love to sit on the front porch BUT I have to say the bar is very limited. The wine is horrible & expensive and the wine glasses are all those cheap small glasses with a thick lip. How can you charge $10 for a glass of bad wine & then server it in a tiny cheap glass.

BUT the porch is great, sitting out overlooking Saint Charles can't be beat if you want to sit outside.

For good wine go down the street to the Delachaise!

Happy Hour on Fridays from 5-7pm. Slower in the summer, packed during the school year. It's nicer than your average bar, but you don't have to get decked out. Waitresses can be slow but it's nice to not have to go back and forth to the bar if you don't want to. Be forewarned though, sometimes your favorite drink will suddenly not be in the "happy" category of happy hour if the "computer" says so, so your $2.50 Amaretto Sour will suddenly be $6.50...which can add up if you're not expecting it. Then again, $2.50 mimosas on a New Orleans porch after a long work week is definitely a treat.

They have a happy hour special on Fridays: champagne for $2 a glass. Lovely garden around the side, with a fountain. At the bar, the 'regulars' line up nightly. The balcony upstairs is supposed to be for hotel guests only, but on slow nights they don't stop you from wandering up there. The decor is fantastic, the rooms are dark and inviting, with an indescribable old fashioned feel. The crowd can get annoying, a lot of well-heeled preppy college kids/networking young working professionals... depeends on the night. You won't be getting anything cheap here... the martinis are made with care, though. Sip a mint julep after work on the porch, on a summer evening. You'll see why several movies were filmed here - this place is all about atmosphere.