Verret’s Bar & Lounge

The Verret’s Bar & Lounge motto is “Calm down, cool off, cocktails” and it’s hard to imagine a more New Orleans-appropriate dive bar sensibility. Though of course it should be said that the cocktail inferred by the motto is likely something straightforward rather than some kind of artisanal, mixologist-sourced crime against alcohol.

Perhaps Central City’s best dive bar, Verett’s Bar & Lounge was relaunched under that name in 2013 though the structure’s history as a bar stretches back nearly a century. Before live as Verret’s, the space operated as The Turning Point, a locals bar with a history for being a bit less than welcoming to first-timers. Powell Miller purchased the space and set to turn that reputation around, instituting breakthrough innovations like accepting credit cards while intentionally opening the doors a bit wider than the space’s predecessor.

The fruits of that labor can be seen in an event calendar at Verett’s that revolves around communal events that include potlucks during the holidays and even grills on the bar’s back patio open for patron use. The patio itself was one of the first areas of renovation for Miller when he took over, creating an underrated slice of New Orleans just off the beaten path enough to deflect the crowds that swarm other similarly attractive outdoor drinking areas.

Verret’s Bar & Lounge sits just a few minutes walk from the St. Charles Avenue streetcar, convenient for those of us who like to hop around the city from dive to dive as long as time and sobriety allow. Sobriety is endangered by the drink selection at Verret’s that is notoriously affordable, including a set of classic cocktail options at attractive prices like negronis and Old Fashioneds. Part of Verret’s lore is the invention of a gin, St. Germaine, citrus & bitter cocktail sometimes referred to as a Gandrake, sometimes a Canedrake. You’ll have to inquire as to the proper spelling, but the mixture seems worth seeking out. Malort is also typically available here, if that is your speed.

The bar’s exterior bears the classic New Orleans blend of weathered history mixed with downright beautiful signage. In this case, the name of the bar is inscribed atop its phone number and straddling a martini glass painted on one exterior wall. A bit of neon can be found above the front door reading, “Open.” But inside is where the divey magic hits with red plush surfaces found throughout Verret’s, from the booths along one wall to the padding that lines the bar counter itself.

String lights, wood paneling, nods to local community organizations throughout the space, Verret’s checks every dive bar decoration box. On my visit, the space was decked out with tinsel in celebration of one of the city’s many parades still adorning nearly every vertical surface. Live music can be found here on occasion and a weekly food pop up is a typical weekday find, often taco-themed on, you guessed it, Tuesdays. Taken together, all of these traits fit the classic mold of New Orleans neighborhood dive bar, the kind of low-frills, regulars-heavy, still-welcoming spot found throughout the city, in this case punctuated by relentless and beautiful wood paneling both inside and out.