Old Absinthe House, New Orleans

The Old Absinthe House at the corner of Bourbon and Bienville Streets is a legendary bar, whose façade bears the grandeur of history as if history itself put on a waistcoat, ordered a drink, and decided to stay... Built in 1807, the building began life not as a shrine to booze, but as a family-run importing firm. Over time, however, commerce gave way to cocktails, and the place became one of the French Quarter’s most iconic drinking establishments.

Its great claim to fame is absinthe, the anise-flavored spirit with a reputation so theatrical it practically demands its own spotlight. Served here in the old Parisian style, absinthe became the drink of artists, writers, dreamers, and anyone who felt reality could use a little editing. In particular, Oscar Wilde once famously described its effects as a journey, in which, after the first glass, you see things as you wish they were; after the second — as they are not; and finally, you see things as they truly are — which, in his opinion, was the most horrible thing in the world. Cheerful fellow...

For years, absinthe was banned in the United States, which only made it sound more mysterious, more dangerous, and probably more attractive to exactly the wrong people. Today, it is legal again, so visitors can sample the infamous green libation without any restrictions.

The Old Absinthe House has survived wars, changing fashions, and Prohibition — that awkward national chapter when bars suddenly had to pretend they were doing something else. Inside, its walls are crowded with memorabilia, photographs, and mementos, as if the building has been collecting gossip for more than two centuries and refuses to throw anything away.

Look around, and you will find copper, wood, marble fountains, and the kind of timeworn atmosphere that cannot be manufactured convincingly. Politicians, pirates, artists, celebrities, and ordinary thirsty mortals have all passed through here. So step in, raise a glass, and remember: in New Orleans, even the walls may know more stories than they are willing to admit...