Top, Best & Fun Rooftop Bars in Harvey

"GQ's Golden Dish Award for Eggs Sardou, Commander’s Palace’s legacy speaks for itself. Located in the Garden District, Commander’s Palace is thought to be the original spot for a jazz brunch and patio dining. For contemporary Louisiana food and alfresco dining, look no further than Commander’s Palace."

"1403 Washington Ave., (504) 899-8221; www.commanderspalace.com. Duck fat-seared bluefin tuna is served with Meyer lemon grilled greens and sweet potato boulangere with miso-lemon grass veal bone jus and foie gras ganache. Reservations recommended."

"You can’t miss the grand turquoise Victorian restaurant Commander’s Palace when you’re strolling through the Garden District and it shouldn’t be skipped!. Enjoy a fine Creole dining experience that makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time."

"Po-boys have always made great outside eats, and Parkway has embraced the alfresco push wholeheartedly by essentially creating an entire outdoor restaurant. Diners can set up at one of Parkway’s plethora of patio tables (tented for rainy days) to down one of the city’s best sandwiches. Hits are too many to count, from exquisitely fried shrimp (make it a surf and turf by adding roast beef and gravy) to hot sausage."

"This Bayou St. John po' boy staple is a favorite among locals and tourists in the know. The fried shrimp is a classic, but it's the Thanksgiving po' boy that has locals lining up around the block on Wednesdays in November. Bonus: An excellent Reuben and gumbo."

"The beloved Parkway reopened in May with a limited takeout menu of its favorite po-boys, sides, and desserts. Call for parking lot pickup, Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m."

"Click your heels three times, and you’ll end up at the Ruby Slipper Cafe on the edge of the Garden District. Wake up, and rally at this boozy brunch spot, with a little vodka in your iced coffee or a little OJ in your mimosa. Go ahead, and order another round while you snack on pig candy bacon bites – your bananas foster pain perdu and crawfish & grits benedict will help you sober up."

"The family-owned restaurant with four locations around New Orleans spotlights house signature items like Chicken St. Charles, Eggs Cochon and Bananas Foster Pain Perdu. Prices start around the $9 range, topping out around $15. The spot doesn’t take reservations."

"There are around ten locations for the Ruby Slipper Cafe now, with six of them in New Orleans. This is the place to go for a hearty Southern brunch!. Address: 200 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130"

"This Garden District gem has the vibe of a neighborhood bistro but the menu of a forward-thinking, adventurous kitchen. The small list changes regularly to reflect what’s fresh and local, as well as what creative twists chefs Kristen Essig and Michael Stoltzfus have come up with. Entrées have included black drum in vegetable sauce with fennel sausage, Mexican street corn-style okra and red snapper with butter beans."

"The soft glow from hanging chandeliers and exposed brick walls set the stage for a relaxed, romantic meal. Make a reservation or enjoy an impromptu memorable meal at their 14-seat bar where the beer and wine lists are just as impressive as the always-changing menu. 2800 Magazine St., (504) 265.0421"

"If you just happened by 12 Mile Limit, you’d assume from the nondescript exterior and ordinary interior (low ceilings, pool table) that you’re at a regular New Orleans neighborhood bar. But the owner, one T Cole Newton, is a very respected alumnus of the city’s craft cocktail scene, credited with bringing mixology to the masses in one of the new waves of lower-key cocktail bars that have popped up in New Orleans. The cocktail menu coaxes you in with drinks made from only a few ingredients, but with weird unexpected twists that elevate the selection."

"This New Orleans favorite has taken the Best Gumbo title in the Best of New Orleans poll every year since 1999. Order their award-winning seafood, okra and chicken-andouille gumbo, or other Creole dishes, like po-boys and bread pudding. Customers can sit inside in the large dining area with high ceilings and beautifully painted walls, or outdoors in the courtyard surrounded by greenery."

"It wouldn’t be a visit to New Orleans without a bowl (or two, or three) of the city’s signature dish. Gumbo represents New Orleans in more ways than one, from its many-layered flavors and textures to the blend of cultural cooking styles that contributed to its creation. While there are certainly favorites like jambalaya and red beans and rice on the menu, it’s all about the gumbo."

"But as the restaurant’s name suggests they’re very good at gumbo and it’s one of the few places in the city where you can often find a veggie version of it. The vegetarian/vegan option changes daily so I’d recommend calling them before you visit. I had the rice and beans which didn’t sound too intriguing but according to my friend it was almost better than her seafood gumbo."

"A Thunderbird pie is topped with roasted chicken, Chisesi ham, applewood-smoked bacon, caramelized onions, green onions and roasted red pepper aioli."

"Located on the corner of St. Louis at Royal Street, the Rib Room has been the haunt of literary greats and the politically infamous for over 50 years. The Rib Room’s rotisserie remains a focal point of the menu of classic to contemporary dishes."

"Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, 621 St. Louis St., (504) 529-7045; www.ribroomneworleans.com. Pan-seared Gulf fish amandine is served with sauteed garlic kale and parsley potatoes. Reservations recommended."

"The Bearcat Cafe in Uptown lets you decide by indicating healthy or less healthy items on the menu. This modern sit-down cafe offers an array of fresh breakfast and lunch options. There are also selections of coffees from Equator Coffee Co, a wide variety of loose-leaf teas, and house-made bottled beverages."

"The Fly is a favorite spot for New Orleans locals, a strip of frontage along the Mississippi River behind Audubon Zoo. On weekends, people flock in droves for grilling, crawfish boils, sunning and sports. Set up camp steps from the Mississippi and watch the big boats maneuver through the currents."

"7724 Maple St., (504) 518-6735; www.facebook.com/catalinosllc. Kak’ik is Guatemalan turkey stew made with tomatoes, onions and cinnamon served with corn tortillas and rice."

"Every day they’re open is Sundae Best at Hotel Peter & Paul in the Marigny, the sweet spot founded by ice cream whisperer Erica Buher. Situated in the hotel’s former convent space, the cozy little shop spotlights her handmade custard-style ice creams in spunky flavors like peanut crackle and jam, lemon bar, and honey and chocolate covered Zapps. There are vegan options too — a range of sorbets and best of all, homemade hot fudge."

"Port Orleans Brewing Co. focuses on having the highest standard of quality and creating the finest selection of craft beers with consistent taste. Flagship brews include the Riverfront Lager (a moderately sweet golden lager with a peach nose, a soft malty character and a crisp finish), the Kennerbrau Kolsch (a slightly fruity German-style ale with a light toasted wheat flavor) and the Bucktown Brown Ale (a smooth ale with hints of caramel, chocolate and coffee). The brewery offers seasonal and a rotating selection of beers on tap."

"The plates are made to pair with the beers at Port Orleans Brewing’s casual taproom & adjoining brewery. Additionally, they’re just a few blocks down from NOLA’s taproom. During my visit, there were 15 beers on tap, ranging from classic lagers to boozy and complex bourbon barrel-aged brews."

"Open for just under a year, The Courtyard Brewery has already changed the New Orleans beer game. It provides a very different—but still excellent—craft beer experience from the nearby Avenue Pub. Co-founder Scott Wood brews and sells his own beers amongst a variety of hand-picked guest taps."

"New Orleans has long been the stronghold of Dixie and Abita beer, but recently several new breweries have moved in on their territory. The two best options are Urban South and NOLA Brewing, both located on Tchoupitoulas Street. Both offer lively bars and delicious craft beer."

"So with that being said, I’ve listed out a complete guide to New Orleans breweries. You might notice some of the breweries are lacking in details. Unfortunately those are the ones that I did not have time to visit."

"Atelier Vie is a craft distillery that produces a hefty lineup of spirits including Euphrosine Gin #9 Bottled in Bond; a standard version of Euphrosine; and a nine-month, barrel-aged version called Barrel-Finished Reserve. The Atelier Vie lineup also includes Louisiana Single Malt; Riz, a Louisiana rice whiskey; Calio Rum and Barrel Aged Calio Rum; Orphan Street Brandy and Orphan Street Brandy “El Jefe” Edition; Toulouse Green, a traditional-style absinthe distilled with Louisiana wormwood; and Toulouse Red, an American absinthe colored red with hibiscus. Atelier Vie also bottles Buck 25 Vodka and Orphan Street Bourbon."

"Founded in 2011, Atelier Vie produces vodka, gin, whiskey and even absinthe, from its South Broad Street location in Mid-City New Orleans.Atelier Vie’s two varieties of absinthe include the traditional green absinthe and a red version colored and flavored with hibiscus flowers. Try: Louisiana Single Malt Whiskey, Calio Rum, Orphan Street Brandy, and Euphrosine Gin, which took the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition."