Fives Bar

Verdict

Fives Bar earned a spot on Resy's Leading of the Hit List for 2025 and took Esquire's Leading Martinis in America the same year. That double recognition in a single calendar year makes it the most credentialed cocktail bar in New Orleans right now, and the strongest case for booking if you want a drinks-led special occasion on St. Ann Street. The room, the martinis, and the location in the French Quarter put it squarely in the upper tier of the city's bar scene — and it books easier than most venues with this kind of press momentum.

The Space

Fives Bar sits at 529 St Ann St in the French Quarter, a few steps from Jackson Square. The address alone signals something: this is a bar built for the kind of evening where the walk to and from matters as much as the drinks themselves. The physical space rewards special-occasion visits more than a quick pop-in. If you are planning a celebration, a first proper date, or a pre-dinner drinks stop before somewhere like Bayona or Commander's Palace, Fives Bar gives the evening a sharper opening note than most bars in the Quarter can manage.

Daytime vs Evening

The Resy and Esquire recognition was built on the evening program, and that is where Fives Bar makes its strongest argument. Evening visits here align with the French Quarter at its most atmospheric, and the martini program — the thing that earned Esquire's attention nationally , fits the rhythm of a slower, more deliberate night out rather than an afternoon stop. That said, the bar's location in the Quarter means it draws a mixed crowd across the day; if you are visiting during the current spring season and want to catch the room with more breathing space, earlier visits tend to be quieter before the evening crowd builds. For a lunch-adjacent drinks stop, Fives Bar works, but you will get less of what makes it worth the recommendation at that hour. Book for the evening and treat it as the main event or a strong pre-dinner act.

What to Order

The martini program is the reason Esquire named it among the leading in the country in 2025. Order one. The specific list is not confirmed in our data, but any bar earning that credential is running a program where the classics are handled with precision , expect a well-sourced gin or vodka selection, proper technique, and glassware that takes the drink seriously. Beyond the martinis, the broader cocktail list should be assumed to match the ambition of the awards. No menu specifics are confirmed in our data, so check current offerings directly with the venue.

Booking and Logistics

Booking difficulty is rated easy, which is a genuine advantage given the 2025 award cycle. Many bars with this level of press attention in New York or San Francisco , think venues in the same conversation as the bar programs at Le Bernardin or the calibre of scene around Lazy Bear , would require advance planning. Fives Bar in New Orleans is more accessible. You can likely secure a spot with a few days' notice, or potentially walk in during the current spring period outside peak weekend hours. Hours and booking method are not confirmed in our data , check directly or via Resy, where the venue has a confirmed presence on the Hit List. The French Quarter address means parking is the usual challenge; walk or take a rideshare.

Who Should Book

Fives Bar is the right call for couples on a special occasion, visitors who want a serious cocktail bar rather than a tourist-facing Bourbon Street experience, and anyone whose evening plan includes a proper dinner afterwards at somewhere like Saint-Germain or Zasu. It is less suited to large groups looking for a high-volume party bar, though the easy booking difficulty suggests the space can absorb a range of group sizes. Price range is not confirmed in our data, but a bar at this award level in New Orleans typically runs competitive with mid-to-upper-tier cocktail bars nationally , expect to spend more than a dive bar and less than a hotel rooftop program in a major market. For a fuller picture of where Fives Bar sits in the city's drinking scene, see our full New Orleans bars guide. If you are planning the broader trip, our New Orleans restaurants guide and our New Orleans hotels guide cover the full picture.