Carousel Bar

Lonely Planet review

At this smart-looking hotel bar, inside the historic Monteleone, everyone's a comic until they realize the barkeeps have heard 'em all before. No, you don't get to sit on a painted horse. Hey, how come the stools don't go up and down? What!? No blaring mechanical orchestra?! The circular bar does revolve and it is canopied by the top hat of the 1904 World's Fair carousel, complete with running lights, hand-painted figures and gilded mirrors.

Wednesday night is Louis Prima Night, with John Autin and Julie Jules standing in for Louis and his gal Keely Smith. It takes 15 minutes for the Carousel's bar to complete each revolution. If it's spinning too fast for you, then you really ought to ease up on the sauce, pal. Careful on your way out.