No one is having more fun than the folks in the kitchen at Saint-Germain. This funky wine bar is inside a small converted double-shotgun right along St. Claude Avenue in the Bywater. (Don’t be distracted by the Sugar Park Pizza sign out front—you’re in the right place.) You can experience this place two ways: stop by for a glass or bottle of something biodynamic in the wine garden out back, or buckle up for a wild, reservation-only, 10-course tasting menu.

Like many smaller restaurants in residential spots in New Orleans, Saint-Germain feels like a friend’s house. The only giveaways it's not are the sign from this location’s former incarnation (a pizza joint called Sugar Park) and a more subtle signage of the new name on the door. Inside the double-shotgun building, a long wine bar leads out to a casual courtyard and a dining room that seats about 16, a nod to the bistro side of the business.

This laid-back French-style wine bar stocks unusual grapes from unusual places for its small bar and serene backyard. It’s like discovering a magical place quite literally hiding in plain sight—there’s no current signage, but the exterior is still marked by the old Sugar Park neon sign blazing out front. Wines by the glass range in provenance from France and Oregon to Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

Walk up to Saint-Germain in its unassuming little bungalow on St. Claude Avenue in Bywater, and you might think you were in the wrong spot. The Sugar Park sign that graces the front of the people harks back to the neighborhood spot that used to live on this busy little stretch of road, which includes neighbors Reds Chinese and Domino bar. But inside, you'll find a sweet bar on one side and a cozy dining room on the other, the brainchild of Drew DeLaughter and chefs Blake Aguillard and Trey Smith, whose resumes include the likes of Michelin three-star restaurant Saison in San Francisco and Bayona, Restaurant August and Mopho in New Orleans.

Welcome to Saint-Germain, a charming bistro and wine bar nestled in the heart of Bywater, where Parisian flair meets New Orleans charm. While the restaurant inside features a multicourse prix-fixe menu, for those looking for natural wines and snacks, you can post up at the wine bar inside or in their delightful courtyard out back. Indulge in their ever-changing menu featuring daily creations and specialties straight from the culinary heart of Paris.

For those who want a full gastronomical experience, Saint-Germain needs to be on the itinerary. This dinner-only restaurant serves a 10-course tasting menu that focuses on creating a warm and welcoming experience that makes patrons feel like they’re dining at a personal friend’s home — who happens to be a world-class chef. Often the chef provides tableside service and engages with patrons, which is why this is a reservation-only establishment.

The homey charm that characterizes Saint-Germain’s petite dining room now extends to its back patio. While the prix fixe tasting menu is only available inside (by reservation), outdoor seating is first-come, first-served and features the tasty delights of the bar menu. That menu changes frequently but may include options like tempura fried fish with tarragon tartar or a fried chicken sandwich with rouille and slaw.

My personal favorite (and located in my very own neighborhood, the Bywater), dinner at Saint-Germain feels like you’ve flown to Europe for the evening. Their twelve-seat dining room is home to a five-course tasting menu experience (that’s right, it’s all a surprise!) loaded with seasonal flavors. With nearly everything being made from scratch in-house, you will not find fresher food anywhere in the city.

Saint Germain is a cozy, intimate restaurant that has quickly gained a reputation for its inventive and refined approach to dining. Tucked away in the Bywater neighborhood, Saint Germain offers a unique and personal dining experience with a focus on modern French cuisine. The restaurant is known for its tasting menu, which changes frequently to showcase the freshest ingredients and the chef’s creativity.

We essentially had no money when we opened Saint-Germain, so we left the sign. Fortunately, diners we’re able to find us and came to eat. As time went on, we didn’t really see a need to change the sign, so we just left it,” laughs Trey Smith, co-owner and chef, who runs this tasting experience inside a little house on Saint Claude Avenue.

Saint-Germain may be the newest kid on the block, but it’s très magnifique. A Parisian-style wine bar and 16-seat, reservation-only bistro in the Bywater, it focuses on organic and biodynamic natural wines. It’s the brainchild of three chefs who wanted to bring the laid-back feeling of France to New Orleans.

All but hidden in a Bywater double shotgun, Saint-Germain is a double-barreled proposition. It is a low-key neighborhood wine bar with a big open patio and a small menu of well-tuned bar snacks. All of this is fused to an ambitious, reservations-only bistro that occupies just one small room of the house.

Enjoy tastings together at Second Vine Wine , Pluck Wine Bar, Saint-Germain , The Tell Me Bar, or Ole' Orleans Wines and Spirits . We also have a wide selection of restaurants with strong wine programs.

- Rating: 4.4/5 (77 reviews)- Price level: $$$$- Address: 3054 St. Claude Ave. New Orleans, Louisiana - Categories: Wine Bars, French- Read more on Yelp