Ticonderoga Club

Getting a seat at this coveted, 10-seat bar is about as difficult as navigating the downtown connector at rush hour. The bar is laden with year-round Christmas lights, and almost always requires a reservation to snag a stool. But the hassle is worth it for an international medley of tasty dishes that make us forget we aren’t fine dining. Plus, the lack of windows and exposed brick walls help to deaden the chaos of neighboring Krog Street Market. You’ll only have to deal with their modish crowd of regulars—including that dude who grew a mustache after seeing the new Top Gun. But that, too, is barely noticeable once you dig into their spiced pork while sipping on their Ticonderoga Cup concoction (rum, cognac, and sherry), served in a glass so cold it’ll stun sensitive teeth.

photo credit: Gavin Guidry