The bar on the roof of the historic Pontchartrain Hotel serves up one of the most stunning, unique views of the city alongside an impressive selection of cocktails, champagne, and other potables; the refreshing Spritzer Named Desire is a favorite. The Bayou Bar downstairs serves food for a pre or post-rooftop meal.

Formerly Monkey Board, the Ingenue is on top of the Troubador Hotel, offering one of the best impressions of a Las Vegas rooftop to be found in New Orleans. Featuring artist Gabe Flores’ bright, graffiti-style artwork and expansive views of the city from the 17th floor, the cocktails match the new decor: colorful, girly, and over-the-top. Bar bites include a few flatbreads — veggie, fig and prosciutto, and shrimp and arugula — as well as crawfish bread, interestingly, wings, and funnel sticks for something sweet.

The third-floor rooftop terrace of the Catahoula Hotel is less about the panoramic views of the city taller spots around town offer and more about its lush, hideaway vibe and elegant wood decor. The tropical oasis includes a Peruvian-inspired cocktail menu heavy on pisco, rum, and mezcal, courtesy of Odd Birds, the Florida-born bar now taking up residency at the hotel. Fuel up on arepas, yucca fries, and empanadas.

Visitors can kick back with a mojito or a local beer on draft at this upscale spot for downtown professionals. Snacks include boudin balls, wings, and a club sandwich. The bar swings open to the public from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Perfect for a post-work drink.

There’s almost always something going on at Alto, the Ace Hotel’s rooftop bar and pool, from DJs to special brunches. The summertime favorite is open to the public daily for lunch, dinner, and drinks (with a fee on weekends), serving an Italian-leaning menu of pizza, salad, and wings; and a drink menu with excellent frozen craft cocktails.

Mambo’s is from the owners of nearby Oceana Grill, so it’s similarly tourist-oriented; still, it has the distinction of being Bourbon Street’s only rooftop bar. It serves a mix of cliche Cajun and Creole specialties on all three floors, but the rooftop is the gem, with a front porch feel and seating for 50 people. Check out the Voodoo Room inside on the third floor, featuring work by local artists.

Located on the penthouse level of the Marriott’s SpringHill and TownePlace Suites downtown, Vue is one of the newer rooftops open to the public in New Orleans, with sweeping views of the French Quarter and Mississippi River. With a full bar and plenty of cocktails, there’s also a food menu with small plates, flatbreads, sliders, and desserts. The aesthetic is sleek and modern, with white, red, and blue touches. Be prepared for regular private event closures.

Capulet is a bar and restaurant during the week and event space and popular wedding venue on weekends, and oh yeah did we mention the rooftop? The spot recently got a new food and drinks menu, launching a great happy hour at the same time and live entertainment, whether a drag show or live music, Monday through Thursday. Customers that head up to the rooftop can order from a QR code at their table and staff brings up food and drinks.