Napoleon House

Napoleon House is a cafe and bar at 500 Chartres Street, at the corner of St. Louis Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. Housed in a building dating to 1814, it takes its name from a local legend that the city's mayor offered the property as a refuge for the exiled Napoleon Bonaparte, a rescue plan that never came to pass. With its weathered plaster walls, high ceilings, shuttered windows and an interior courtyard, it is among the most atmospheric historic bars in the city.

The food is simple, Creole-influenced pub fare. The signature dish is the muffuletta, a round Italian-style sandwich of cured meats, cheese and olive salad that Napoleon House serves warm, a version many visitors consider the definitive one. The Pimm's Cup, a gin-based British cocktail with cucumber and lemonade, has become the house drink and is emblematic of the bar. Gumbo, red beans and rice and other New Orleans standards round out the menu, and the portions are modest rather than elaborate.

The dining room and bar have a dim, lived-in, slightly faded character, with classical music often playing in the background. Noise levels are conversational, and the mood is relaxed and a little theatrical. The courtyard is popular on warm days. There is no dress code. The beverage programme is built around classic cocktails and beer rather than a wine list, and the Pimm's Cup and Sazerac are the standard orders. Prices run roughly US$18-30 per person, making lunch a good-value way to enter a landmark building.

Napoleon House is a walk-in establishment, and the phone number is (504) 524-9752 for questions. Hours are typically lunch and dinner most days, so visitors should confirm times on the website. Courtyard tables and the cooler evening hours are popular, and weekends and festival periods can fill the room. Arriving mid-afternoon or early in the evening is the most reliable approach, and the location is within easy walking distance of Jackson Square.