Cocktail Connoisseurs, French Flair and a Little Mischief at Bar Marilou

Marcel Proust walks into a bar…

But it’s not 1917 and it’s not in France. It’s now, and it’s in New Orleans and it’s a new spirited sanctuary — a curious refuge where romance, rebellion and a bit of joie de vivre tango and trellis their way across the French-inflected fare and room’s idiosyncratic details. Bienvenue à Bar Marilou.

The brand new bar — serving libation and food at Maison de la Luz, our newest sibling guest house in the heart of New Orleans — was built on the bones of the former law library of the old City Hall Annex and pays tribute to its history with an extensive, curated selection of books ranging in genre and edition. Opened in partnership with acclaimed Parisian hospitality group Quixotic Projects of beloved Candelaria, Le Mary Celeste, Hero, Glass and Les Grands Verres, Bar Marilou marries its French roots with a love of New Orleans’ legendary cocktail history, European apéritif culture and the warmth of Caribbean spirit.

Here, we get to know the creative braintrust behind Bar Marilou — Carina, Josh and Adam of Quixotic Projects — appropriately, of course, à la Proust Questionnaire.

FAVORITE VIRTUE?

Carina: Kindness
Adam: Empathy
Josh: Desire and follow-through

CHIEF CHARACTERISTIC?

Carina: Generosity
Adam: Sincerity
Josh: Dreamin’ man

APPRECIATE THE MOST IN YOUR FRIENDS?

Carina: Humor
Adam: Picking up the phone
Josh: Shared sense of humor

MAIN FAULT?

Carina: Anger issues
Adam: Netflix
Josh: Lack of understanding

FAVORITE OCCUPATION?

Carina: If it’s someone else’s occupation, architecture
Adam: This one
Josh: Window washer

IDEA OF HAPPINESS?

Carina: A cold beer
Adam: Time with friends and family
Josh: Not needing more

IDEA OF MISERY?

Carina: Being late
Adam: A 9–5
Josh: When the wine runs out

IF NOT YOURSELF, WHO WOULD YOU BE?

Carina: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Adam: 🤔
Josh: Fitzcarraldo

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE?

Carina: In the forest
Adam: Mongibello
Josh: Mexico

FAVORITE COLOR?

Carina: Orange
Adam: Green
Josh: The color of Le Canon Rosé by Hirotake Ooka

FAVORITE FLOWER?

Carina: Ranunculus
Adam: Rosemary flowers

FAVORITE PROSE AUTHORS?

Carina: Mario Vargas Llosa, Gabriel García Márquez
Adam: John Kennedy Toole
Josh: James Joyce, Carson McCullers, George Orwell, Graham Greene

FAVORITE POETS?

Carina: Octavio Paz
Adam: Theodor Seuss Geisel
Josh: T.S. Elliot, Rainer Maria Rilke

FAVORITE FICTIONAL HEROES?

Carina: Sherlock Holmes
Adam: Dr. Gonzo
Josh: Ignatius J. Reilly

FAVORITE PAINTERS & COMPOSERS?

Carina: Atahualpa Yupanqui, Seu Jorge, Caetano Veloso, Clara Luciani, Toyin Ojih Odutola
Adam: Gustav Klimt & Giuseppe Verdi
Josh: Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Bar Marilou is now open at 544 Carondelet Street, from Sunday–Wednesday, 4pm–12am; Thursday–Saturday from 4pm–2am, with a Daily Apéritif Hour from 4pm–6pm.