Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone (New Orleans)

Sat night were had reservations at Brennan's, and since I was ready before the rest of the crew I wandered over to Hotel Monteleone to grab a pre-dinner cocktail at their famous Carousel Bar, conveniently only a block away on Royal St.  I'll let them describe it in their own words:

The Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone is the only bar in New Orleans that revolves around the room. It overlooks famous Royal Street through large fan windows and has long been a favorite of both locals and tourists. 
Originally installed in 1949, the 25-seat carousel bar turns on 2,000 large steel rollers, pulled by a chain powered by a one-quarter horsepower motor. While the bar always rotates at the same speed, visitors who have imbibed for a while often claim that the bartender has turned up the motor’s speed.
In the early days of the Carousel Bar, the hotel was the home to the famous Swan Room, a nightclub where celebrities such as Liberace performed. It wasn’t unusual for the performers to join their friends for a nightcap after their shows...
In addition to the rotating bar, the adjoining room features quiet booths and tables where live entertainment is offered nightly at the piano.

It may sound cheesey but it was kinda charming in an old school way, and they craft fine cocktails.  It was kinda fun.

I started with the classic New Orleans cocktail the Sazerac.












I then tried on the bartender's counsel a drink invented at the bar in 1938, the Vieux Carré, meaning "Old Square", whch is an alternative name for The French Quarter.

Vieux Carré

• ¾ oz Cognac
• ¾ oz rye whiskey
• ¾ oz sweet vermouth
• ¼ oz Benedictine
• dash Peychaud's Bitters
• dash Angostura Bitters

Stir and strain over rocks, lemon twist garnish

It was then time for dinner at Brennan's, where I enjoyed the Frog's Legs Meunière and Soft Shell Crab Pecan:


























And since they were invented at Brennan's, we finished with the Bananas Foster: