(Photo: Jewel of the South | Google Maps)
Bars in the French Quarter may be closed to the public, but one business decided to sell admission to private reservations to keep the drinks flowing.
Jewel of the South, located at 1026 St. Louis St., is selling tickets to drink at the bar for a cause: to stay the hell open and not go out of business.
Gov. John Bel Edwards issued an order closing bars statewide. Later that month, New Orleans Mayor suspended to-go alcohol sales as an additional measure to curb spread of COVID-19, effectively shutting down all bars in the city.
The reservation only policy parallels the city’s phased safety guidelines and is the first stage toward the goal of fulling reopening.
The bar has a GoFundMe page raising $15,000 in relief funds for furloughed staff.
From Aug. 13 to Sept. 20, Jewel of the South will sell admission to its series, Cocktail Hour Experience: Santini and the Muses, featuring a curated drink menu designed for those who like to “indulge and feel at ease.”
Tickets are $45 per person and reservations can be made for two to eight people and each ticket includes cocktails and a various assortment of snacks. The kitchen is not yet fully operational, although the bar will have food available for purchase.
Seating includes a “spacious” table in the courtyard or a table in the valued dining room. Drink sessions could last as long as 90 minutes, depending on group size. Non-alcoholic drinks are available for non-imbibers.
Cocktail hours run from 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here. Tickets must be booked in advance.
Additionally, face coverings and temperature are required before entering the establishment. Hand sanitizer is provided to every group and staff is tested for the coronavirus twice each week.
For more information, visit jewelofthesouth.com.
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