Located across from Gasa Gasa on Freret Street, Sunnies should be your new go-to spot, with a beautiful pool, fire pit, incredible drinks and delicious food.
Since the spot opened recently, pool access is completely free. Starting in spring, passes will cost $25, with $10 toward food and drinks.
The drinks at Sunnies really shine, from the cocktails to frozen options. I had the Night Tripper for $13 which had mezcal, Amaro Averna, Suze, Licor 43 and orange cream citrate stirred and served on the rocks. This was a fun twist from the usual drinks I’ve tried with mezcal, which are normally heavy on citrus juice.
The Big Dill was super unique as well, for $13 with Norden Aquavit, sugar, lime, pickle brine and sparkling water — shaken and served in a Collins glass. This would be my go-to order for sipping poolside; the saltiness from the pickle brine replenishing my electrolytes.
The frozen drinks put a twist on the classics you’re used to having. The Frozen Carajillo for $14 combines Hey! Cafe cold brew with vodka and Licor 43 for a more flavorful twist on an espresso martini with notes of citrus and vanilla. The Not Yo Mama’s Colada for $15 combines Cristal rum, Amaro di Angostura, coconut, pineapple, lime and orgeat. This packed the punch of what I love in a pina colada but elevated it with the complimentary flavors, especially the orgeat.
Sunnies also has non-alcoholic options, including beer and mocktails. They also have Hey! Cafe cold brew on tap for $6, which is perfect if you’re looking to mix up the usual coffee shops and get some sunshine while getting work done. They also have happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. with a rotating menu of eight to 10 classic cocktails for $7.
I started my meal with the ahi tuna crudo for $19 which was layered with cucumber, radish and fresh citrus, topped with basil, fennel macadamia crumble and finished with an aji Amarillo and poppy seed dressing. The crumble was a unique addition that went well with the tuna, and everything in the dish piled on the banana crackers made for a balanced bite. I was left wishing for a little more dressing, but the components of the dish were so fresh and paired well together.
For my main dish, I ordered the lobster and shrimp rolls for $21 with chilled North Atlantic lobster and Gulf shrimp lightly dressed with lemon, nestled in shredded iceberg in a brioche roll. This dish comes with two decently sized rolls — great portions for the price — and were loaded up on the lobster and shrimp filling. The filling was fresh and flavorful with onion and herbs that paired well with the soft bread.
Finally, I ordered the Island Glow dessert for $11, which the menu describes as a silky ube cheesecake drizzled with raspberry puree. This was a crustless cheesecake with a layer of plain cheesecake as the base layer. The ube flavor was present but not overpowering, with the cheesecake delivering on the silkiness promised. The raspberry paired well with the dish as well.
The date night deals at Sunnies speak for themselves. All day on Mondays, you can get two shrimp and lobster rolls, fries and a drink for $21. With even more events — water aerobics and poolside workout classes on the weekend — there’s always a great reason to stop by Sunnies.
This meal and drinks were paid for by Sunnies.