Pat O'Brien's

Pat O'Brien's is a French Quarter institution at 718 St Peter Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, one block from Bourbon Street and a short walk from Jackson Square. Founded in the 1930s and established at its present address in the early 1940s, it is credited as the birthplace of the Hurricane, the rum, passion-fruit and citrus cocktail served in a tall hurricane-lamp-shaped glass. The story usually told is that postwar rum surpluses pushed the bar to create a drink that moved large volumes of rum; the Hurricane became the bar's trademark and a standard souvenir order for first-time visitors. The venue is built around three main spaces. The dueling piano bar is a loud, request-driven room where two pianists trade songs, take tips and lead sing-alongs, usually running through the evening into late night. A quieter indoor patio bar and lounge offers a more relaxed setting, and the open-air courtyard is famous for its flaming fountain, which glows at night and appears in countless photographs. Cocktails beyond the Hurricane include rum punches, Sazeracs, frozen drinks and a standard beer and spirits list, with prices moderate for the Quarter, roughly ten to twenty US dollars per drink, and a basic food menu is available. The crowd skews toward tourists, bachelorette and group celebrations, and visitors from out of state, with some locals dropping in for the courtyard. Dress is casual; shorts and sandals are common. There is no cover charge, and reservations are generally not taken for the piano bar, so lines can form at the door on Friday and Saturday nights and during Mardi Gras season, conventions and major events. Hours run from the afternoon until late at night daily. As in the rest of the Quarter, drinks can be taken to go in plastic cups. Bottle service is not part of the model, and the draw is the festive atmosphere rather than exclusivity.