The Evangeline Swamp Room

This casual French Quarter-inspired Chinatown cocktail bar from the folks behind Little Jewel of New Orleans serves stiff, straightforward takes on Crescent City classics, including a well-executed French 75, a generously poured Sazerac and a bubbly, frothy Ramos Gin Gizz. Relatively affordable prices ($12–18) and a TV hung behind the bar translate into a fun, accessible neighborhood hangout and alluring pit stop for Dodger fans during baseball season. On my visit, I enjoyed the Cajun (a.k.a. spicy Bloody) Mary, which the Evangeline Swamp Room tops with a pickled okra and grilled shrimp. There’s also a menu of delicious, deep-fried bar bites that includes charbroiled oysters, frog legs and crawfish macaroni and cheese—all the better to soak up all that booze.