Entry No. 40 — the New Orleans file — filed under: speakeasy
Cure
Set in a converted firehouse on Freret Street, well uptown of the tourist core, Cure is widely credited with sparking the modern New Orleans craft-cocktail movement when it opened in 2009. Its high-ceilinged, apothecary-style room and rigorously balanced original drinks earned it the James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program in 2018. It rewards the trip away from the Quarter with a quieter, neighborhood-serious drinking experience.
The story
In 2009, when much of the city's drinking culture outside historic strongholds still leaned heavily on highballs in plastic geaux-cups, Neal Bodenheimer and his team quietly took over a vacant, high-ceilinged firehouse on Freret Street. Opening a rigorous, apothecary-style cocktail den well uptown of the French Quarter was a gamble on a stretch of Freret that was still largely asleep. It paid off: Cure effectively sparked the modern New Orleans craft cocktail revival from inside a brick vehicle bay.
The interior feels less like a trend and more like a permanent institution—towering dark wood shelving, dim warm glow, and precise rows of glass tincture bottles. By the time Cure brought home the James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program in 2018, national bar culture had spent a decade catching up to what uptown locals already knew: the most serious, balanced drinks in town weren't on Bourbon Street, but miles away under a converted firehouse roof.
What it's like
Stepping off Freret into the dim, cool firehouse immediately strips away the city's thick humidity. The room carries a quiet, neighborhood-serious murmur, though it fills up quickly around happy hour and early evening. Grab a seat directly at the long bar rather than a table—watching the bartenders manage ice clarity, precise measurements, and house-made tinctures is half the point. If the seasonal menu feels intimidating, tell the bartender a spirit or flavor profile you normally avoid and let them construct something off-menu to prove you wrong.
The move: Take the streetcar or a ride uptown to the old firehouse, sit at the long bar, and ask the bartender to build you something off-menu around a spirit you've never tried.
- 📍 Freret
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 4905 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Hours: Added 2026-06-22 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Prytania Theatre Midnight Movies — Pair an early cocktail on Freret with a late-night screening at Louisiana's oldest single-screen movie house less than a mile south.
- Rendezvous Tavern — Trade Cure's polished, award-winning bar program for a round of pinball and cheap local beers at this long-running dive on Magazine Street.
- YAYA Glassworks (YAYA Arts Center) — Visit the Central City glassblowing studio in the afternoon before heading slightly further uptown for evening drinks.
Good to know
Where in New Orleans is Cure located?
It sits at 4905 Freret Street in the Freret neighborhood, well uptown from the French Quarter and the Central Business District.
How do I get there from downtown or the Quarter?
You can take a short rideshare or ride the St. Charles streetcar uptown, hopping off near Napoleon Avenue and walking a few blocks over to Freret.
Does Cure offer food alongside drinks?
Yes, they serve a full menu of small plates and refined bar bites designed specifically to pair with their cocktail and wine list.
Do I need reservations?
Walk-ins are standard for bar seating and the outdoor space, though booking ahead via their website is smart if you have a larger group during weekend peak hours.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · jamesbeard.org · neworleans.com · Yelp · punchdrink.com
last checked: 2026-06-22