Anna Giordano
Anna's | New Orleans
SEPTEMBER 2022
When Anna Giordano was in college, she took a trip to New Orleans with her mom. She distinctly remembers the two of them hanging out on the porch of Mimi’s in the Marigny, one of the city’s most beloved industry hotspots. After graduating, Giordano felt pulled back to New Orleans—she set down roots and found a job at an art gallery. She picked up a bartending gig at Meauxbar to make some extra cash, but quickly realized that she had a knack for making cocktails. With the encouragement of Meauxbar’s beverage director, Christopher Brian, Giordano kept at it, training behind some of the most iconic French Quarter bars like Bar Tonique and Jewel of the South. In 2018, she was hired as beverage director of Longway Tavern, taking full reign of the cocktail, wine, and beer list.
As Giordano’s career developed, she became a regular at Mimi’s, often stopping by for post-shift bites. When the bar shuttered in 2020, Restaurateur Robert LeBlanc of LeBLANC+SMITH took over operations of the space and offered Giordano the opportunity to make it her own. Named after Giordano herself, Anna’s is two bars in one—upstairs is more laid back, focusing on Giordano’s love of sherries and vermouths, while downstairs is a straight-up dive bar. Both floors remain as industry-friendly as ever, echoing Mimi’s come-one-come-all vibe. Giordano also hosts Salon d’Whatever upstairs, a gallery that spotlights and supports local artists in the restaurant community.
