Couvant

Couvant, associated with the Eliza Jane Hotel (also designed by Stonehill Taylor), is housed within the original bitters factory that manufactured the famed Peychaud Cocktail Bitters, among others. The restaurant combines classic New Orleans style and French flair into an industrial space. Upon entrance, guests are met with a charming black-and-white tiled floor in the front lounge with bar-style seating along historic windows looking out onto Magazine Street. The classic brasserie unfolds into a more modern space, with concrete flooring throughout the main dining area.

The dining room features a combination of seating arrangements — from saddle brown leather channel-tufted banquettes to French-style bistro seating with butcher block table tops peppered throughout. A small, quartz topped oyster bar decorated in black-and-white tile stands as another nod to the brasserie’s French inspiration. The historic bitters factory reveals itself in exposed brick walls behind the bar and in the restaurant’s private areas, including a private dining room that opens up to outdoor seating.

Small arched passageways join the restaurant and hotel’s interior courtyard. Inspired by the influence of Spanish architecture and design on New Orleans, the courtyard is located within the center of the hotel and is surrounded by original brick walls and abundant, overgrown foliage. A black-and-white patterned cement tile fountain with a custom Venus-inspired sculpture by local artist Brent Barnidge takes centerstage with a neon “Bisous” sign above.