Pat O'Brien's, New Orleans

Make sure to put Pat O'Brien's at the top of your New Orleans to-do list. This historic establishment, located in one of three 18th-century buildings in a row, is a testament to the city's rich history when it was a thriving French city.

Pat O'Brien, known as "Pat", needed a larger building for his club called Tipperary. In 1942, he purchased the current building, which features an old bricked carriageway entrance and aged slate flooring. In the late 1970s, the Oechsner family acquired the business, which has since expanded to include four independently owned franchises, two restaurants, an online catalog, and a bottling plant. The main bar complex on Saint Peter Street boasts five bars and an outdoor dining courtyard.

Pat O'Brien's offers a vibrant atmosphere where you can dance to the tunes of dueling twin baby grand pianos in the Piano Lounge or relax in the courtyard, captivated by the flaming water fountain. The establishment proudly claims to sell more alcohol per square foot than any other in the country. Its signature drink, the Hurricane, gained popularity in the 1940s after being introduced at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. During World War II, the shortage of whiskey, bourbon, and scotch due to wartime demands led to the creation of the Hurricane. To boost demand for rum products, a clever liquor salesman concocted a mixture of light rum, dark rum, fruit juices, grenadine, and sugar. The drink was shaken with crushed ice and garnished with a cherry and orange slice, served in a glass shaped like a hurricane lamp. The Pat O'Brien's Hurricane glass has become a highly sought-after city souvenir, and most locals own at least one. The menu also includes other drinks, such as the Cyclone and Tornado, each served in its own uniquely shaped glass.

Over the years, Pat O's has welcomed numerous celebrities, including Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Tip O'Neill (Speaker of the House), Sean Connery, Dick Butkus, the Manning football family, and country music star Kenny Chesney. Shelly Oechsner Waguespack, vice president, appreciates celebrity visits but emphasizes that locals are the lifeblood of the establishment.

A visit here is a quintessential New Orleans watering hole experience that you shouldn't miss, either.