Fives sits in the Lower Pontalba Building on St Ann Street, a National Historic Landmark completed in 1851 and among the oldest apartment buildings in the United States. The bar takes its name from the old-fashioned slang for a five-pack of cigars, a reference to Simon Hernsheim, the 19th-century tobacco merchant and philanthropist for whom the Columns – the group’s flagship property – was originally built. The space was previously home to the local tourism board and required a full buildout to become a functioning bar, with the design team working within the constraints of a historic building to create something both functional and characterful. Eight sketches by American printmaker and painter Gerald Gooch line the perimeter, and a vintage chandelier hangs above the oval green marble bar, which is flanked by absinthe fountains and seats 25, with two outdoor tables overlooking Jackson Square.

A custom tap tower with eight unmarked handles serves three draft beers and five draft cocktails, with glycol-chilled lines running 25 feet to a keg cooler camouflaged as ordinary cabinetry. Two menu cocktails – the Ti Punch and Columns Martini – are served on bronze platters as interactive builds. The cocktail menu divides into World Classics, New Orleans Classics, House Creations, and Martinis, with the whole bar team involved in the creative process through monthly all-hands meetings. Off-menu, the bar produces miniature Sazeracs made with bone marrow-washed rye, served as a luge following the Bone Marrow dish. Seasonal lagniappes rotate throughout the year – during the holiday period, guests depart with a complimentary coquito. The back bar carries particular depth in agave spirits, all ethically produced with minimal or no additives, and an absinthe collection of around a dozen bottles sourced from across the world. The wine programme, curated by Jorge Rodas, focuses on small-production and low or no intervention bottling at accessible price points.

One of the bar’s bartenders is also an oyster farmer in Grand Isle, and several local oysters and ingredients arrive hand-delivered by the people who produce them. The menu typically includes something clarified, something fat-washed, and a range of infusions, supported by a batching programme and the draft cocktail system to ensure consistency across service. Regular guests receive Friend of a Friend discount cards to share with others. Used glass is recycled through Glass Half Full, which processes it into gravel and sand for coastal restoration and disaster prevention.

Music is managed through SPECTRE, a Paris-based bespoke curation service that adjusts playlists to suit the mood and pace of service throughout the day, with a dedicated programme for Mardi Gras and carnival season. Shortly after opening in 2023, Fives hosted daily bar takeovers throughout Tales of the Cocktail week, drawing on relationships with bars across the country and establishing the format as a regular monthly fixture.