Arnaud's French 75 Bar

The French 75 was named for the French 75mm field gun — the drink was supposed to hit with similar force. At Arnaud's French 75 Bar, the version served contains cognac, champagne, lemon, and sugar, and many consider it the best in the world. The bar won the James Beard Award for outstanding bar program. Arnaud Cazenave, a French wine salesman who immigrated to New Orleans in 1902, opened his restaurant on Bienville Street in 1918. The restaurant has always had a bar, which stayed open during Prohibition. For part of its history, the bar was men-only and known as the Richelieu Bar. The bar was renovated in 2003 and took the name French 75 Bar. The bar is a small, dark, wood-paneled space off the main dining room, decorated with Carnival memorabilia from a century of Arnaud's krewe participation. Germaine Wells, Cazenave's daughter who took over management of the restaurant at his death in 1948, was active in Mardi Gras and served as queen of several krewes. Her collection is now housed in the Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum within the restaurant. In 2010, Esquire included the French 75 Bar as one of fifteen bars worthy of a visit as a destination. Cocktail attire appreciated.