13 Best Spots For Frozen Cocktails In New Orleans, According To A Former Local

It's no secret that partying on Mardi Gras with a stiff drink in hand is as integral to the culture of New Orleans as the world-renowned gumbo restaurants or warm and fluffy beignets from Café Du Monde. The libations of the city represent resilience and cultural amalgamation just as much as the food, and no drinks are as famous in New Orleans as frozen cocktails — from Hurricanes to Hand Grenades. Unsurprisingly, the coldest drink fathomable is the most popular option in a city that's hot, hot, hot all summer long. Here, you'll find legendary drive-through daiquiri spots – where you can cruise up and snag a frosty drink on the fly — and bars that serve frozen concoctions by the gallon.

As a regular New Orleans visitor and former local, I've had the pleasure of exploring the city's cocktail scene, from dingy dives to bougie bistros. The city's bars offer an eclectic variety of frozen drinks (all deemed "daiquiris" in the Big Easy, with or without rum, so let's not split hairs) tailored for tourists and others that residents revere. I'm sure you can guess which are the best. In this list, I'll take you to some of my favorite spots, where the atmosphere is laid-back and local, and the drinks are as cool as those tending the bar. Here, beverages are crafted with the same spirit as the city: Strong, refreshing, and generous.

R Bar, in the Royal Street Inn near Frenchman Street, is a come-one, come-all joint. Tourists often visit the bar while on a pub crawl, but R Bar is much more of a local spot. This is the type of bar where you can show up by yourself, take a seat, and leave with a group of lifelong friends. On Mondays, locals flock to the bar for the $10 haircut-and-a-shot deal — a very on-brand event for New Orleans. But if you'd prefer to keep your locks intact, there are plenty of other reasons to imbibe at R Bar that don't involve scissors.

A classic fixture at R Bar — prompting tourists to add the spot to a crawl and keeping locals coming back repeatedly — is the bar's rotating frozen cocktail on tap. You can usually find either a frozen pineapple mojito — crafted with all the traditional mojito ingredients plus a tropical addition blended into a frozen slush — or the Agave Gardens — a delicious frozen concoction made with peppery, smokey mezcal and cucumber, lemon, and jalapeño juice. R Bar opens at 3 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m. on weekends, closing whenever.

royalstreetinn.com/bar

(504) 948-7499

1431 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116

If you're from the Crescent City, you've almost certainly been to a Melba's. This fast-casual joint with two locations is a NOLA staple known for low-priced po'boys absolutely brimming with fried seafood or stacked with loads of deli meat. While Melba's caters to tour groups, showcasing some of the best in New Orleans fare, the eatery is usually packed with locals looking to snag a quick, satisfying bite on the cheap.

Po'boys aren't necessarily the only focus at Melba's. The eatery offers a huge selection of potent frozen daiquiris to enjoy in-house or on the go, including unique flavors like the 9th Ward, Black and Gold, and Dirty Banana. One Melba's location shares a space with a laundromat, so you can enjoy an icy cold, fruity drink while waiting for clothes to be cleaned — turning a tedious chore into the day's most anticipated event. We can't forget the cherry on top: In typical NOLA fashion, both Melba's locations are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

melbas.com

Multiple locations

Everything that makes the Ninth Ward special in the hearts of New Orleans residents is represented at Bud Rips. This divey and distinct beatnik bar is home to live music, a weird and wonderful crowd, and some of the best frozen concoctions in the city. Enjoy weekly specials like taco Tuesdays and Wednesday bingo for a little midweek excitement, and be sure to stash away a few extra bucks to rock out on the jukebox.

Relax on a sunny summer Saturday afternoon outside Bud Rips with one of two unconventional frozen beverages that make the bar a must-stop on a Bywater bar crawl. Try a frosty whiskey sour infused with passionfruit flavor or, for a spicy treat, indulge in the bar's frozen green drink. This unique beverage — as funky as the bar itself — is made with mezcal, cucumber, and jalapeño. Bud Rips opens in the afternoon and closes shop at 3 a.m.

instagram.com/budripsnola

(504) 945-5762

900 Piety, New Orleans, LA 70117

When you're inevitably tired of New Orleans' grungy dives — as charming as they may be — then Cure awaits. The bar was granted the coveted James Beard Foundation's award for Outstanding Bar Program in 2018 and continues to stun locals and visitors alike with its sophistication and exceptionally crafted cocktails. Take a stroll down lively Freret Street in NOLA's Garden District with a frozen adult beverage from Cure and marvel at the beautiful architecture and the city's famous eclectic nightlife. Or, for a memorable night out, enjoy the ambiance from a seat at the bar, where bougie meets cozy.

Cure is home to exceptional seasonal cocktails and daiquiri specials that — in true New Orleans fashion — come in a half-gallon size to take on the go. The bar mixes things up daily with its daiquiri delights, offering flavors from mint tea to passionfruit coconut, giving Hemmingway's Havana a run for its money. Cure opens every day in the late afternoon, closing at 11 p.m. on weeknights and at 12 a.m. on weekends.

curenola.com

(504) 302-2357

4905 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115

If you're a vegan in New Orleans, you've undoubtedly experienced Sneaky Pickle. This casual eatery is known for serving low-cost, plant-based cuisine with a Vietnamese flare made with local, farm-to-table produce. Enjoy a meal and a beverage on the patio on a cool afternoon in the Bywater, or settle into the cozy dining room while delicious smells waft from the kitchen. Come nightfall, the restaurant takes on the title Bar Brine, and the drinks begin to flow.

Enjoy a specialty frozen cocktail from the rotating menu at Sneaky Pickle's Bar Brine to pair with the artfully crafted meals. You can sometimes find the Last Waltz, a unique beverage made with luscious Luxardo maraschino cherries, absinthe, grapefruit, and lime. You might get lucky and show up when King Chill is on tap. This otherworldly concoction is crafted with vodka, velvet falernum, butterfly pea flower, orgeat, and citrus for a burst of refreshing king cake-esque flavor for Mardi Gras. The bar also cranks out exceptional varieties of NOLA's favorite tipples, like the Hand Grenade — a potent drink with a fascinating history — or the classic rum-laden Hurricane. Sneaky Pickle's Bar Brine is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

yousneakypickle.com

(504) 218-5651

3200 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117

If your idea of a good time involves barbecue and a stiff, frozen cocktail, then make The Joint your home away from home. The eatery has acted as the city's top barbecue destination since 2004, with an energetic atmosphere at the bar that will keep you coming back for more meat and mayhem. The cozy Bywater location includes outdoor seating and a rustic interior space for the perfect laid-back lunch in the afternoon and nutty nightlife come evening.

Even if you're not feeling barbecue, The Joint is the place to be on a scorching afternoon. The bar is stocked with a list of unique, refreshing beverages, including those of the frozen variety. The restaurant rotates through a plethora of frosty cocktail options on tap, always keeping things fresh to please the regulars. Its rotating list includes flavors like the blueberry mint mojito, vodka pink lemonade, and zesty gin limeade, all served ice cold and potent. The Joint opens daily at 11:30 a.m., closing at 9 p.m. on weeknights and 10 p.m. on weekends.

alwayssmokin.com

(504) 949-3232

701 Mazant St, New Orleans, LA 70117

As a former resident of New Orleans and a lover of all things frosty, I've compiled this list based on my personal experiences in the Crescent City. I have visited the majority of the establishments mentioned and thoroughly enjoyed a frozen cocktail (or six). Spots on this list that I haven't had the chance to experience firsthand were included based on reputable articles and reviews. This compilation showcases some of my preferred bars, cafes, and restaurants, all united by one common factor: Their exceptional frozen drinks.

While personal taste inevitably influences one's choice of beverage, I've set aside my biases and flavor preferences. Instead, I prioritize establishments that boast a diverse range of drink options, uphold exceptional reputations, and utilize premium ingredients — all with an outstanding ambiance. After all, a delicious drink is significantly enhanced by the environment in which it's enjoyed. I trust that you'll find my selections accurately capture the laid-back essence of the Big Easy, both in their beverage offerings and overall atmosphere.