The Carousel Bar Spinning Inside Hotel Monteleone

Located inside Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, The Carousel Bar has been a long-standing feature of New Orleans since 1949. According to the hotel, it was the city’s first rotating bar and remains the only one.

Guests fill The Carousel Bar on a Saturday night as the 25-seat carousel makes its steady rotation.

The bar is circular with 25 seats arranged around the center, and the entire structure completes one rotation every 15 minutes. As it turns, guests’ views shift from the bar’s interior to the surrounding lounge and other parts of the room. The carousel-style top includes mirrors, carved faces, decorative panels, and lights.

The Carousel Bar operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not available, and seating fills quickly, especially during busy hours and weekends. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. and features live entertainment from Wednesday through Sunday. Many visitors time their stop to enjoy a set of live music or to experience the rotation while seated at the bar.

The rotating bar sits within a larger lounge that includes booths, tables, and sofas around the perimeter. Even when the main seats are full, additional seating is available in the surrounding space, and guests can still enjoy the atmosphere and order drinks from the bar staff.

Guests listen to live jazz performed in the lounge next to The Carousel Bar.

Reaching the bar is straightforward. After entering the hotel through the main doors, the entrance to the bar area is located to the right. If those doors are closed, continuing farther into the lobby and turning right again leads to the same place.

Because of its location inside Hotel Monteleone, The Carousel Bar is an easy stop for visitors exploring the French Quarter. Its steady rotation, central seating, and extended hours make it a well-known destination in the city’s hospitality scene.

The Carousel Bar is located at 214 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130.

Article and Photos By: Noah Kuxhausen

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