I visited Drip Affogato Bar during the COVID-19 pandemic when it was still a coffee and ice cream shop in the Warehouse District. While I’m not a fan of coffee (sorry, java lovers!), I’m definitely an ice cream connoisseur, so I remember going there once or twice for a scoop of ice cream. One time, I got coffee-flavored ice cream, which is kinda ironic since I don’t care for the real deal, ha-ha.
After a while, the location turned into a sushi bar, so I assumed that the little coffee shop went out of business. But as I was searching online for ice cream parlors to add to my bucket list, I discovered that Drip Affogato was still going strong but with a new style and an eclectic menu on Camp Street, but most importantly?
A dessert restaurant and bar.
A Sweet and Boozy Speakeasy
Imagine a speakeasy that serves not only booze but also small-batch gelato made in house, mounds of cotton candy piled onto glowing goblets, and cakes so decadent that you’ll probably wind up in a sugar coma.
While Drip Affogato’s technically not a speakeasy, the bougie interior and unique desserts will make you feel like you’re in one.
After celebrating my cousin’s birthday at Gianna’s, my family and I strolled down Camp Street where we were greeted by a neon blue sign hanging over a door that said “Drip.”
We had a reservation for 8:45 p.m., but the staff was able to take us in an hour early (lucky us!), so we didn’t have to sit and wait in the muggy heat.
Prepare to be enraptured by the interior. Drip Affogato is furnished in New Orleans-inspired art decor and plush couches. Catchy club music fills the air, befitting the late-night vibes. The dimmed lights complement the bar’s relaxed, sexy atmosphere. A faint aroma of cinnamon (which I tolerated surprisingly well) fills your nostrils, beckoning you to your table.
Desserts Beyond Your Wildest Dreams
Drip Affogato specializes in affogato (literally meaning “drowned” in Italian), an Italian dessert where steaming hot espresso drenches vanilla gelato. Their speciality affogato sundaes, which are clearly inspired by New Orleans culture, include the Big Easy, 84 World’s Fair, Gris Gris, and Pontchatoula Fest, among a few others.
Of course, you can swap the espresso with booze if you’re feeling bold. There’s a bar at Drip Affogato, so you’re in luck! But you can also get a cocktail if the idea of alcoholic ice cream doesn’t appeal to you.
I don’t drink very often, but when I do, I usually stick with fruity cocktails. Drip Affogato has a unique selection of cocktails to go with your dessert, so I knew there would be something for my taste buds. I ordered the Flo$$in cocktail, which is citrusy champagne and Domaine de Canton topped with a cloud of glittery strawberry-flavored cotton candy.
If you’re just simply coming for the gelato, you can get a single (or double) scoop of tiramisu, lemon pie, and ruby chocolate (among other flavors) and build your own sundae. Or, if you can’t make up your mind, you can sample a flight of two, three, or four scoops!
As I mentioned earlier, I don’t drink coffee, but I eat ice cream, so I opted for the chocolate pie gelato drizzled with dark chocolate and topped with a shortbread cookie. The gelato was creamy and filled with chunks of chocolate pie crust. Needless to say, it was so creamy and mouthwatering that I wanted to order another round.
In the end, I ordered a triple chocolate cake. I’ll admit, I probably should’ve ordered vanilla bean or strawberry gelato with the cake, but all in all, it was very rich and full of good, chocolatey goodness!
Final Thoughts on Drip Affogato
Before we left, one of our family friends ordered a goblet of glittery cotton candy, which was also strawberry-flavored! And did I forget to mention earlier that the cotton candy is so soft that it melts in your mouth? Well, now I’m telling you!
There was also a non-edible spicy surprise on the very top of that huge cloud. P.S. I’m not telling you!You’ll have to visit Drip Affogato to see for yourself.
I must warn you: Drip Affogato is not for the littles! Kids must be 10 and up in order to visit. IMO, I’d say it’s for people 18 and up since the restaurant has adult themes (we did get a spicy surprise with our cotton candy after all).
But don’t worry: there are plenty of ice cream shops that are family-friendly! I will write about these places in future posts.
Drip Affogato also has a private seating area behind a wardrobe that kinda reminded me of the movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but unfortunately, we didn’t get to see it. I’ll have to take a peek when I try this place again.
Anyway, we made a great choice going to Drip Affogato. It’s a fun, trendy spot for late-night coffee, gelato, and dessert cocktails. It’s no surprise that this place is buzzing with younger folks (although I can promise you that dessert-lovers from all walks of life will be drawn to it).
I hope to come back to Drip Affogato for my birthday. Maybe I’ll be brave and try an affogato myself!