75+ years of cocktails with a spin
Carousel Bar history
It’s the only carousel you have to be 21+ to ride—if you’re lucky enough to grab one of its 25 seats. The Carousel Bar in Hotel Monteleone has been delighting visitors to New Orleans with its famous revolving bar since 1949.
But the history of the Carousel Bar actually began a decade prior.
Carousel Bar history
It’s the only carousel you have to be 21+ to ride—if you’re lucky enough to grab one of its 25 seats. The Carousel Bar in Hotel Monteleone has been delighting visitors to New Orleans with its famous revolving bar since 1949.
But the history of the Carousel Bar actually began a decade prior.
From the Swan Room to circling seats
Before the spinning bar in New Orleans turned its first circle, the Monteleone was already a hot spot. The Swan Room, a swanky supper club opened in 1938, hosted performers like Liberace and Andy Griffith and drew New Orleans society. Like the Waldorf Astoria’s Peacock Alley, Hotel Monteleone’s Swan Room was a place to see and be seen.
A decade later, the hotel unveiled a bar that redefined spectacle: 25 stools circling slowly on 2,000 steel rollers powered by a quarter-horsepower motor. Built adjacent to the Swan Room, the Carousel Bar was designed to look like a whimsical carnival ride, with a red-and-white striped canopy and stools that carried guests in a slow circle around the room (one rotation every 15 minutes).
The effect was equal parts playful and glamorous, an amusement-park ride recast for grown-ups, where cocktails replaced cotton candy and the slow spin of the stools made even an ordinary drink feel like part of the show.
From the Swan Room to circling seats
Before the spinning bar in New Orleans turned its first circle, the Monteleone was already a hot spot. The Swan Room, a swanky supper club opened in 1938, hosted performers like Liberace and Andy Griffith and drew New Orleans society. Like the Waldorf Astoria’s Peacock Alley, Hotel Monteleone’s Swan Room was a place to see and be seen.
A decade later, the hotel unveiled a bar that redefined spectacle: 25 stools circling slowly on 2,000 steel rollers powered by a quarter-horsepower motor. Built adjacent to the Swan Room, the Carousel Bar was designed to look like a whimsical carnival ride, with a red-and-white striped canopy and stools that carried guests in a slow circle around the room (one rotation every 15 minutes).
The effect was equal parts playful and glamorous, an amusement-park ride recast for grown-ups, where cocktails replaced cotton candy and the slow spin of the stools made even an ordinary drink feel like part of the show.
Signature sips from Carousel Bar history
Every legendary bar has a drink (or two) it calls its own. At the Carousel, that starts with the Vieux Carré, created in the 1930s by the Monteleone’s head bartender Walter Bergeron.
Inspired by the French Quarter’s cultural mix, it blends rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, and bitters—a cocktail that tastes like New Orleans history in a glass. While Bergeron invented the Vieux Carré before the Carousel Bar was born, patrons still consider it to be home to the strong, spirit-forward cocktail.
The Carousel has also given the world The Goody, a rum-and-citrus concoction from the 1950s, while pouring countless Sazeracs and Ramos Gin Fizzes (classics that keep the Crescent City’s cocktail culture spinning).
Even Britain’s royals have made their mark. The American Bar served the beverages at Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation ball at The Savoy, and for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, bartenders filled an entire fountain with celebratory punch.
Signature sips from Carousel Bar history
Every legendary bar has a drink (or two) it calls its own. At the Carousel, that starts with the Vieux Carré, created in the 1930s by the Monteleone’s head bartender Walter Bergeron.
Inspired by the French Quarter’s cultural mix, it blends rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, and bitters—a cocktail that tastes like New Orleans history in a glass. While Bergeron invented the Vieux Carré before the Carousel Bar was born, patrons still consider it to be home to the strong, spirit-forward cocktail.
The Carousel has also given the world The Goody, a rum-and-citrus concoction from the 1950s, while pouring countless Sazeracs and Ramos Gin Fizzes (classics that keep the Crescent City’s cocktail culture spinning).
Even Britain’s royals have made their mark. The American Bar served the beverages at Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation ball at The Savoy, and for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, bartenders filled an entire fountain with celebratory punch.
Behind the Carousel Bar
Working here takes athleticism. As longtime bar manager Marvin Allen explains: “Once you get used to it and know the guests are spinning around you, it’s no different than a regular bar. The biggest challenge is getting in and out, which you have to jump over”. There’s no entrance or exit to the bar, so bartenders literally vault the bar to start their shift. According to Allen, when you can’t make the jump, it’s time to retire.
How to get a seat at the Carousel Bar
If you’re looking to live a piece of the Carousel Bar’s history, you’ll have to plan strategically. With only 25 stools circling the famous rotating bar, seats are some of the most coveted in the French Quarter. Here’s how to up your chances:
- Arrive early: The Carousel Bar opens at 11:00 AM, and this is your best shot at grabbing a stool before the crowd sets in.
- Aim for the lull: Mid-afternoon (around 2:00–4:00 PM) is usually quieter than evenings or weekends.
- Be patient: Once guests land a carousel seat, they often stay for hours, so expect to wait.
If the stools are full, the adjoining lounge offers booths, tables, and nightly piano music. You’ll still get the Carousel atmosphere—just without the spin.
How to get a seat at the Carousel Bar
If you’re looking to live a piece of the Carousel Bar’s history, you’ll have to plan strategically. With only 25 stools circling the famous rotating bar, seats are some of the most coveted in the French Quarter. Here’s how to up your chances:
- Arrive early: The Carousel Bar opens at 11:00 AM, and this is your best shot at grabbing a stool before the crowd sets in.
- Aim for the lull: Mid-afternoon (around 2:00–4:00 PM) is usually quieter than evenings or weekends.
- Be patient: Once guests land a carousel seat, they often stay for hours, so expect to wait.
If the stools are full, the adjoining lounge offers booths, tables, and nightly piano music. You’ll still get the Carousel atmosphere—just without the spin.
The Carousel’s ongoing reinvention and lasting legacy
The Carousel has reinvented itself several times throughout the years without losing its magic. In 1992, management replaced the carousel’s circus-tent design with a central hub that more closely resembles a traditional carousel, adorned with carved jesters and lit by a fiber-optic ‘night sky’.
Another major renovation in 2011 expanded the lounge with a chandeliered ceiling and new color scheme, while keeping the iconic carousel intact. Through it all, the ride has kept turning—slow enough to savor your drink, quick enough to remind you this isn’t just a bar, it’s an experience.
“When I started here, the Carousel was an icon, but it wasn’t the worldwide icon that it is now. People rediscovered us and made it the destination bar that it is, for locals and for worldwide visitors.”
Marvin Allen – Bar Manager
The Carousel’s ongoing reinvention and lasting legacy
The Carousel has reinvented itself several times throughout the years without losing its magic. In 1992, management replaced the carousel’s circus-tent design with a central hub that more closely resembles a traditional carousel, adorned with carved jesters and lit by a fiber-optic ‘night sky’.
Another major renovation in 2011 expanded the lounge with a chandeliered ceiling and new color scheme, while keeping the iconic carousel intact. Through it all, the ride has kept turning—slow enough to savor your drink, quick enough to remind you this isn’t just a bar, it’s an experience.
“When I started here, the Carousel was an icon, but it wasn’t the worldwide icon that it is now. People rediscovered us and made it the destination bar that it is, for locals and for worldwide visitors.”
Marvin Allen – Bar Manager
Nicole Bump
Nicole is a seasoned content strategist and writer with 15+ years of experience turning complex ideas into compelling stories. As founder of Bump Inbound, she helps brands connect with audiences through thoughtful strategy, sharp planning, and standout writing.
Photo Credits
Wikimedia Commons
Will Shenton
Chris.j.cook
COLOURPICTURE PUBLISHERS INC.