New Orleans is definitely on our minds right now. After last week’s Superbowl in the Big Easy, we’ve been craving some southern hospitality, although our wallets may not stretch to some skyscanner splurging right now. Thankfully, an answer closer to home is here with Oriole bringing a taste of NOLA to London next month.

The award-winning cocktail bar in Covent Garden is set to host a Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday 1st March, complete with all the bells and whistles. We’re talking about classic New Orleans cocktails, a live brass band and several limited-edition menu specials inspired by the southern USA. Get involved.

Oriole will be throwing open the doors at 3pm, kicking off with brass band  The Fallen Heroes (who spent their formative years in New Orleans) playing 3 sets of their signature contemporary New Orleans-style music at 3pm, 4:15pm and 5:30pm outside Oriole.

Keeping everyone well hydrated, Oriole’s ground floor Bamboo Bar will be knocking out limited edition Sazerac (rye whiskey, fennel pollen syrup, Creole bitters), Roffignac (rye whiskey, raspberry eau de vie, heritage tomato cordial, soda) and Vieux Carre (rye whiskey, cognac, aged cherry brandy, sweet vermouth, clementine liqueur) cocktails – all available for one day only.

From 3pm, Oriole will be making Seafood Po’Boys (£11) – French bread topped with crispy, Cajun-spiced, breaded shrimp and finished with a creamy remoulade sauce, and Oyster Rockefeller – oysters topped with an indulgent sauce made from cream, butter, and herbs, before being finished with breadcrumbs and baked in Oriole’s charcoal oven.

Come dinnertime, Gumbo will be served. A hearty bowl of chicken with house-smoked “chorizo criollo” (Argentine-style smoked, spiced sausage), peppers, onions, spring onions and garlic, and served with white rice.

No reservations are needed for live music, cocktails, Po’Boys and Oysters Rockefeller at the Bamboo Bar (groups of 6+ can book here). Reservations for dinner can be made here.

Photo credit: Samet Ali