Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29

Love lattitude the skull and bones is strong and delightful. The bartenders are very talented and I always get good service when I go there

As my date and I sat at the bar sipping on our delightful classic tiki cocktails, I couldn’t help myself but to say, «If I had three of these drinks I could honestly believe I was somewhere else — far away from the stresses of my life.»
Here are the reasons I believe that
1. The bar has literally been transformed from the ceiling to the floor and decorated with the best of the tiki world.
2. The cocktails are authentic (take it from a cocktail nerd) and they won’t budge on the receipts. But don’t worry there are plenty to choose from and the bartenders will guide you.
3. The bathrooms are larger than some apartments in Uptown and so clean.
4. The courtyard of the attached hotel is an oasis.
5. The food — a Hawaiian/​island mashup… This is multi-​stepped. First as a gluten free/​dairy free eater life can be challenging — but they have options. My favorite option for an entrée is the green curry. It is the kind of curry you want all the time but won’t cook at home because the intensity of scent would permeate your underwear. Second, the yuka chips. Simple, but delicious. 3. The kimchi ketchup — I know, right — is worth licking your plate for.
6. The world fades away there.
This is great hidden gem with a decent happy hour that is generally filled with people I am pleased to be around.

Jeff Berry has created an amazing Tiki Bar/​Restaurant in the French Quarter and my reaction is BRAVO Sir!!! Everything is top notch and in a city that is world renowned for its cuisine, Jeff and team are bringing some amazing culinary treats to an already inundated town of dining delights. Lots of people think of Tiki drinks and turn up their noses as too sickly sweet and sticky. I had a friend refer to them as «Throw up Juice». Ick. And no doubt there are WAY to many bartenders out there creating these abominations and serving them up as Mai Tais or Zombies. If you want to the truly researched, and authentic Tiki drinks, THIS is one of the best places in the world to come.

The drinks here were so great we went twice within 24 hours! Chill spot, great tiki décor. If you notice the details — their host stand looks like the hull of a boat! Super chill and nice servers.
SHORT HOISTS
* Missionary’s Downfall (fresh mint & diced pineapple blended w/​honey, lime, peach brandy, & choice of light rum or vodka. $ 12) — 5 stars
Sooooo good! I went w/​the light rum, by the way (makes sense, it’s a tiki bar!). Loved the thick texture. Sweet and tropical, but not overly so. The mint was subtle and balanced out the sweetness well. Best drink of my trip to New Orleans!
* Colada Con Nada ($ 7) — 4.5 stars
Also fantastic. Great texture, great balance of flavors. I couldn’t even tell it was non-​alcoholic!
* Pontchartrain Pearl Diver (an «ice buttered rum»: honey-​butter-​spice mix blended w/​passion fruit, lime & Jamaica rum. $ 11) — 4 stars
Also great. A little sweeter than the Missionary’s Downfall, and a little more straightforward (no twist of the extra mint flavor). Still a lovely thick texture, very well mixed drink!
* Latitude 29 (aged demerara rum, passion fruit purée, madagascar vanilla bean syrup, orange, pineapple and lemon. $ 11) — 4 stars
More of a tart flavor — definitely the passion fruit stands out. Still very good, though I liked the Pontchartrain a little more, and the Missionary’s Downfall much much more!

Great fun vibe in this place. The cocktails are really boozy! They have a happy hour but sadly we missed it. We booked a table but we didn’t really need to on a Sunday evening. We all chose dumplings to start and they were great. Our mains came really quickly afterwards and we were really stuffed! I enjoyed my cheeseburger and fries, though they were a little salty and not enough cheese for me. My friends really enjoyed their duck and the crab pancakes that they chose. Sadly we couldn’t manage dessert.

That hostess was not hosting, a person who is the face of this restaurant… Instead she made us feel like spending our money elsewhere. All these restaurants «rules». I mean RELAX!!! Eating out is supposed to be enjoyable and have an ambiance, she totally ruined my experience. Living in NYC has taught me, the foodie that I am, that I have many options when it comes to dining. I don’t NEED to eat at your restaurant. This host was not friendly or accommodating by any means.
AND…why couldn’t I go to the bar grab a drink? Most restaurants allow you to go to the bar, there were open seats at the bar. She told us if our party showed up they wouldn’t be able to join us at the bar/​bar tables?!?
The only thing she offered, wait 20 minutes, which wasn’t long, however, honestly she didn’t care if we came back or not. She said and I quote, «you don’t have to come back».
So I won’t be back ever, and I’ll make sure to never mention your restaurant to anyone in NYC or the world (yep the world, I’m mad! ;) In fact, people will just read my review and see for themselves.
Ohhhhh AND the restaurant we decided to eat at which was much more accommodating, and delicious mentioned to us that the place is always empty and she’d heard of them being able rude to others. Hmmmmmmmmmmm and only open a year?! Good luck!!!

Loved the atmosphere. Just a little underwhelmed with the drinks and appetizers. Not exactly cheap, either. Everyone was very friendly though. I’d give it another try.

I’ve been a tiki bar fangirl for over half my life, so I was all up for this experience even if (and I’ll be honest here even if I sound all tiki-​snobby) I didn’t know how authentic it would feel this far away from a beach and on the heels of a trip earlier this month to Hawaii. But OMG, this place delivered.
Fantastic ambience, every more fantastic authentic strong and tasty cocktails (which weren’t too sweet, which as well all know is more often than not the downfall of an island-​inspired cocktail)…and exceptional food. I had the steak frites, which I know, I know, don’t sound very exciting, but it was the perfect flavors and amount. Or the drinks and whole chill island vibe just made it feel perfect.
Please don’t miss out on this place.

***This review is only for the cocktails.***
In all honesty, I’ve never been a big fan of Tiki drinks. I’ve usually found them to be too sweet, often cloying, for my liking. However, after Esquire Magazine named Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 one of the Best Bars in America for 2015, I knew I had to, at least, give it a try. Located in the Bienville House Hotel, Beachbum Berry’s was unmistakably a Tiki bar in its appearance, but thankfully avoided overwhelming its customers with cliché Tiki décor. Since it was around 3:30 PM on a Saturday, the place was pretty dead except for us and a few other patrons seated alongside us at the bar.
Looking over the interesting and varied drink list, unsurprisingly, the vast majority of the cocktails were rum-​focused. That said, I found a whiskey-​based one, the Paniolo ($ 10), made with an unspecified Kentucky bourbon, macadamia nut liqueur, lime juice, housemade cranberry syrup, and a dash of molé bitters that caught my eye. Yes, the drink fell on the sweet side of the spectrum, but it was restrained and nicely balanced with all of the other things going on in my glass. I really liked my cocktail.
Beachbum Berry’s didn’t change my mind that Tiki drinks straddle the line of being too sweet for my personal taste. However, the bar staff was obviously skilled in their craft and served up one the best Tiki drinks I’ve ever had. I’d definitely come back for more the next time I’m in town, but only if I was in a Tiki state of mind.

Outstanding, understated tiki bar in New Orleans’ French Quarter.
This place destroys the tiki bar on the corner (Tiki Tolteca).
Nice ambiance and great tiki drinks (wasn’t crazy about the Cuban sandwich I ordered but this review is for the drinks).
It’s nice to visit a tiki bar in which the bartenders really know their craft.
I think this place certainly belongs in the conversation with some of the best tiki bars in the country that I’ve visited (Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago, La Mariana in Honolulu, and Tiki Ti in Los Angeles).

Ridiculously fun. Off the beaten path. Comfortable. A few regulars. Amazing creative drinks with fun stories. The ice in the drinks is all different. I’ve never seen ice in so many diff shapes and they have reasons why! Ask. Seriously… go tiki.

Another great visit to Latitude 29 this past visit. After a long day of work, took a co-​worker and his wife here for a drink. We needed a place that would be fun, but not crazy, and this being their first visit, they loved the tiki vibe, good service, and great drinks.
This time around I ordered the Zombie, and IMHO, it was much better than the Latitude 29 drink I had on my last visit. The Zombie had barks of cinnamon crammed into it, which was awesome. My friend ordered the Aquadesiac for them to share, which was a festive drink with a li’l plastic mermaid hanging out on a mint leaf. (There was a ton of fresh mint in their drink).
A bunch of people were hanging out, laughing, but the place is a nice retreat from Bourbon Street craziness. The menu looks great, but I never seem to be free (when I’m working a conference) to enjoy it– but noted for my return to Latitude 29!

My group has recently switched to Latitude 29 for all of our tiki bar needs. They’re so close to the office and the foods are amazing and the drinks are exciting!
It’s comfortably dark and close, the atmosphere is really like a (nice) hole in the wall beach bar. If you’re not paying attention you’d never knew you were at the Bienville. I’ve never sat on the dining area side… Always at the bar or bar adjacent. Preferably at the bar because the bartenders are awesome. They make magic and witty banter look easy. Also, there are several Steven’s… I think. Or a really confusing running joke.
I mentioned that the drinks are exciting… All the ice is special ice, like fun shapes and themes and edible flowers. My friend ordered something really cute and then found that her ice was actually an awesome snoball-​ish volcano straw thing. We may have been more excited about that that we were about the drink (which was delicious, btw).
Several things on the menu list extremely similar components, we thought that meant they’d taste similarly too. They do not. Completely different amazingness from the dumplings and the dumpling burger. There’s an earthy something in those dumplings… the sauce… Dip the burger in the sauce. Just do it. It makes it even better.
Presentation is here is great, I took pictures. I never take pictures, but everything was so cute!

Beach Bum Berry’s is well worth the visit and repeat visits. It is five stars in my books for these reasons:
1. They have a fun and creative vibe that is unique. In doing so they have managed to blend fun with class in an atmosphere that is approachable to both the casual and dedicated rum fans.
2. They are not your two mix or classic cocktail place like almost everywhere else. They put time and energy into creating classics of their own. The Latitude 29 with its banana-​leaf wrapped glass is its own classic.
3. The staff are extremely helpful, willing to answer any/​all questions and engaged in the Tiki theme.
I am glad I visited here and cannot wait to come back.

Updating with an ode to the new magical vegan green curry dish that now graces the menu!
I used to be addicted to the tofu bánh mì (the very best I’ve ever had in a city full of excellent tofu bánh mì) but now Lat 29 put a green curry cauliflower bowl on the menu and it’s a delight. The cauliflower is roasted, slightly blackened so that it’s very crisp and chewy. It’s the perfect compliment to the rich curry sauce and the chick peas, mushrooms and rice that accompany it. I typical devour the entire thing, as hard as I try to eat it slowly and worship each bite. Truth be told, I could drown in that green curry and die a happy death.
I’m the duchess of this joint, so you know you can trust me on this…

Such an awesome tiki bar located on the outskirts of the French Quarter, my friend and I were so enamored with the quality of the cocktails here that we came back after dinner for a second round.
My Zombie and classic Mai Tai were both fantastic and expertly crafted by our bartender, Andrew. Neither were overly sweet and they both possessed an underlying dryness that lent to an excellent balance of flavors behind the potency of all the rums used. My friend’s Pontchartrain Pearl Diver turned out to be just as derricious despite some initial hesitation about the heaviness of the house-​made honey-​butter-​spice mix — complex with a perfect amount of richness.
Suffice it to say, we had a seriously fun time here and the décor certainly brought back memories of all the tiki bars I’ve visited on the Hawaii islands.

They say NOLA is known for its food, and I’m sure this establishment is one of the many reasons why that is so. Until today I had never had Polynesian food, which is a sad, sad fact. Fortunately, tonight Latitude 29 WOWed me from start to finish. From service to ambiance to impeccable food, everything was on point. We split the dumpling appetizers which were nothing short of incredible. Stuffed with mushrooms and other deliciousness, paired with a sweet dipping sauce were so amazing that I forgot that they were vegan (pork and meat options also available).
Steven was our waiter, and not only was he attentive, he was funny, friendly and added an already overall very enjoyable experience. The tiki cocktail drinks are STIFF, exotic, and flavorful.
For an entrée, I indulged on the Green Curry Bowl. Surprisingly, it was completely guilt free and vegan (tons of vegan options, but not a vegan/​vegetarian restaurant). Charred Cauliflower dusted with sumac, chick peas, carrots, mushrooms, sweet potato’d rice… perfection.
Lastly, don’t miss out on their addictive Sriracha mayo and fries, which are so ridiculously tasty!

Worried about keeping up a lively chat on your date /​drinks with friends? Come to Latitude 29 and order a couple of crazy drinks — they are conversation pieces on their own. Seriously, we talked about the shape, color, crazy ice molds and taste of our drinks for a solid ten minutes.
Then the food came (taro chips, fries, steamed dumplings) and we talked about those for awhile (taro chips and the tasty sauces served with them were my favorite).
It’s dark and bright at the same time, like a good tiki bar should be. Everyone in the joint seemed to be having a great time, in no small part due to the cheery hostess and waitstaff. FUN!

If I lived in NOLA I’d be a regular here. The drinks were amazing, the place fits the theme without being kitschy and the bartenders were all super friendly. It’s nice to see that in some cities even good cocktail bars have happy hours, though we didn’t partake of the special menu.
Beachbum Berry’s was our third cocktail bar on our first day in the city. Justin ordered the Suffering Bastard (Dutch gin, French brandy, lime cordial, bitters, ginger beer; $ 13) and I went with the namesake Latitude 29 (aged demerara rum, passion fruit purée, Madagascar vanilla bean syrup, orange, pineapple, lemon; $ 11). It took me a while to decide — the menu just looked too good — but it was definitely a winner. Just the right fruitiness and ruminess; a typical and excellent Tiki drink. Justin’s second cocktail was the Paniolo (Kentucky bourbon, Hawaiian macadamia nut liqueur, lime, cranberry, mole bitters; $ 10). Though both of his drinks were non-​traditional (i.e., not rum), they still had a certain aura to them that brought you back to the islands.
The bartenders here were probably the most friendly we met in New Orleans. They let us sample the macadamia nut liqueur on its own and it is definitely something I’d love to have in my home bar (along with macadamia nut milk, thank you Joe Van Gogh
). We also had an entire conversation on why there was no spam on the menu. I’m a little biased that I think of Hawaii when I think of Tiki, but I suppose there are a lot of other areas that don’t necessarily eat spam like we do in Hawaii. It’s a shame, but if there’s no market for it in New Orleans, there’s no sense in having it on the menu.
For our final drink we split a bowl: Lapu Lapu (gold rum, dark rum, 151 rum, falernum, lemon juice, pineapple juice, grapefruit juice, orange juice; $ 22). It was good but not as good as the Latitude 29. The sweetest part of it was running into Paul Gustings — the famous cocktail bartender, currently at the Empire Bar — while we were sipping. If you’re at a cocktail bar where other cocktail bartenders go, you know you’ve picked well. It’s like spotting NOLA beverage royalty!

Perfect spot to get some great mixed cocktails. After drinking hurricanes and grenades this spot made me appreciate the «finer» drinks.
It’s a chill –Tiki bar– themed spot. Our server was great and even offered to split the bills. We thought we were going in for just one drink but I ended up having 4 of those Royal Hawaiian ($ 8) drinks –delicious and not fruity. We didn’t try any food since we had just finished eating elsewhere but I totally recommend this spot for anyone looking to find drinks other than on Bourbon st. The crowd was completely laid back. Good atmosphere, clean place, and clean bathrooms!
Def would swing by this place again for one of their cocktails!