by Jonathan Baker - 319 Reviews - 185 List
There is no way to replicate New Orleans. The city has a charm, uniqueness and history all its own. The only way to truly experience the Big Easy is to plan a New Orleans vacation. But for when you need a little N?awlins fix in Atlanta to get you in the mood, we have the inspiration in these restaurants, bars and more that channel the French Quarter and beyond.
Updated: August 10, 2011
You can't talk New Orleans cocktail culture without a nod to speakeasies. And there's no more secretive bar in Atlanta than Prohibition. You enter through a phone booth (provided you know the number), and once inside you'll find a dapper crowd and classic cocktails.
Po?boys originated in the Big Easy, but that doesn't mean you can't get a mean one here in Atlanta. Star Provisions does a shrimp po?boy that just might be Atlanta's best sandwich. No, we're not kidding.
Live music fuels New Orleans nightlife. And while Atlanta may lack the Crescent City's jazz scene and street musicians, Virginia Highland's Blind Willie's makes a good substitute. The gritty (and dare we say awesome) Atlanta institution hosts live blues seven nights a week.
A Cajun seafood restaurant run by a Vietnamese family might sound odd, but one taste of the food removes all doubts. Heaps of critical acclaim (including from the New York Times) have been given to this instant Buford Highway institution. The seafood boil is the best you'll get outside of New Orleans.
The Little Five Points neighborhood is Atlanta's most creative and interesting, and its shops come in handy when it's time to pick up threads for a Mardi Gras party. Shops such as Junkman's Daughter, Pyscho Sisters and Rag-O-Rama have you covered.
If you're going to order a Sazerac in Atlanta, order it at our city's leading cocktail emporium, Holeman & Finch. The N'awlins whiskey staple combines rye, bitters and a lemon peel in an old fashioned glass that's been coated with absinthe. (Cab home not included.)
