The bar and restaurant on the roof of the historic Pontchartain 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.

Monkey Board is on top of the Troubador Hotel, and it does 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, it also might be one of the best rooftops in town; food comes from weekend pop-ups, so be sure to check in advance if you’re banking on eating. A couple of fun frozen drinks, tropical and classic cocktails, happy hour deals, and late-night weekend hours round out the offerings.

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 cozy, hideaway vibe. The tropical oasis includes a tiki-inspired cocktail menu, live music, and elegant wood decor. The rooftop bar is open to the public Friday and Saturday nights, and is available for private events.

NOPSI’s rooftop bar that once served as a post-work haven for downtown workers is back after a pandemic hiatus, and it’s now open to the public 1 to 8 p.m. daily (weather permitting). Snacks include fairly standard poolside fare — spinach and artichoke dip, flatbread, and the classic, a club sandwich — and good cocktails. Weekend events are a big thing here, so check Instagram for info.

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.

Midnight Revival is the new cocktail bar in the newly revamped Frenchmen Hotel is, bringing a classy live music venue to the street famously littered with them. Sure to draw Frenchmen revelers and locals alike, the ground floor bar hosts nightly music and serves a menu of tropical-leaning cocktails, which extends to a rooftop bar, open to the public just in time for spring.

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.