The Columns Bar, inside the same-name hotel which used to be a boarding house during World War I, is simply gorgeous. The massive chandeliers and antique furniture even make the house wine feel chic. The cocktail menu includes classics done well like the sazerac and Pimm’s cup, but they also do a fun (purple) take on a gin fizz that’s made with tequila. Come for a Happy Hour, split a cheese plate with a friend, and order any of the fish dishes on the food menu. It’s also not a bad place to sit outside and day drink while you watch the Saint Charles streetcar roll by.