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$$$$ | French Quarter |
In the main dining room of this grande dame of classic Creole restaurants, ornate etched glass reflects light from charming old chandeliers while the late founder, Arnaud Cazenave, gazes from an oil portrait. The ambitious menu includes classic dishes as well as more contemporary ones, including vegetarian options. The adjoining jazz bistro offers the same food in a more casual and live music–filled dining experience. Always reliable options are shrimp Arnaud (cold shrimp in a superb rémoulade), oysters Bienville, petit filet Lafitte, and praline crêpes. Jackets are requested in the main dining room. There's also a fun Mardi Gras museum upstairs.
813 Bienville St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, USA
Known For
- On-site Mardi Gras museum
- Char-grilled oyster specialties and classic cocktails
- Jackets requested in the main dining room
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Sat., Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | |
No restaurant captures New Orleans's gastronomic heritage and celebratory spirit as well as this grande dame of New Orleans fine dining. The menu's classics include a spicy and meaty turtle soup; shrimp and tasso Henican (shrimp stuffed with ham, with pickled okra); and a wonderful pecan-crusted Gulf fish. The bread-pudding soufflé might ruin you for other bread puddings. Upstairs, the Garden Room's glass walls have marvelous views of the giant oak trees on the patio below. The weekend brunch is a not-to-be-missed New Orleans tradition, complete with live jazz—the band takes requests, so come armed with tip money. Jackets are preferred at dinner; shorts and T-shirts are forbidden, ripped jeans are not allowed, and men must wear closed-toe shoes.
1403 Washington Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Historic gem
- One of the best jazz brunches in the city
- Strict dress code (no shorts, T-shirts, or ripped jeans allowed)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$ | Garden District |
Every neighborhood needs a hangout, and the dwellers of the Garden District's elegant mansions tend to spend their time at this fabulous corner bistro, enhanced by elaborate chandeliers and a gleaming white-tile floor. The relentlessly creative chef changes the menu almost nightly, making every meal here a new adventure. The long bar downstairs fuels the lively scene, and the window seats here, looking out on Magazine Street, are always in demand. Those seeking a quieter evening head to the upstairs dining room, where chef Michael Stoltzfus has created a menu of seasonal modern-American offerings. The seafood dishes, in particular, are stellar. The kitchen opens at 5:30 pm, but the bar gets started at 4:30 pm.
2800 Magazine St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115, USA
Known For
- Creative menus focusing on stellar fresh seafood
- Warm vibe
- Nice views over Magazine Street
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$ | Bywater |
"Real food, done real good" is the motto at hipster-haven Elizabeth's, where the vinyl-print tablecloths look just like grandma's and breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. The menu offers everything from po'boys to a stellar seared duck, but the highlight is the buzzy weekend brunch served from 8 am to 2:30 pm that includes "lost bread" (also known as French toast), "redneck eggs" (fried green tomatoes with poached eggs and hollandaise), and a traditional country breakfast with a smoked pork chop (there's also bottomless mimosas, if you want to start the party early). The fried-oyster po'boy is huge and irresistible. The staff is spunky, and so is the Bywater neighborhood clientele. The praline bacon is a must. Breakfast is served every weekday as well, also from 8 to 2:30, and has almost the same options. Reservations are accepted only for dinner.
601 Gallier St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70117, USA
Known For
- One of the city's best brunch experiences
- Famous praline bacon
- No breakfast or brunch reservations accepted so expect a wait
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner weekends, Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Uptown |
Hidden on a quiet residential corner, this bustling bistro could have been transported directly from Provence. The menu continues the French theme, but with a Louisiana attitude. Featured proteins often include crispy quail, mussels in tomato broth, duck confit, and Royal Red shrimp. Chef Aaron Burgau developed close connections with growers and fishermen while managing a local farmers' market, so his kitchen is stocked with the best. He knows what New Orleanians like to eat, and his Uptown neighbors, a mix of affluent young and older couples, have rewarded him with a full house nightly.
6078 Laurel St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118, USA
Known For
- Romantic date night
- Local produce
- French delicacies
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner Sun. No lunch Sat., Wed., and Thurs., Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | Central Business District |
With its elegant table settings and canvases depicting the lives of British nobility, the Grill Room on the second floor of the Windsor Court has always been a beacon of class and an elegant setting for special occasions (keep your eyes peeled: celebrities in town for local film shoots often snag tables here). The creative Cajun- and Creole-influenced dinner menu allows guests to customize a three- or five-course tasting dinner, with insightful and unusual wine selections by sommelier John Mitchell, who draws from a deep cellar with an extensive Bordeaux collection. There's also a $23 plate special offered at lunchtime weekdays, and jazz brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. If you're looking for a splurge meal in town, this is it.
300 Gravier St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Elegant dining room
- Splurge-worthy tasting dinners
- Extensive wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential, Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | French Quarter |
Though some people believe Antoine's heyday passed before the turn of the 20th century, others wouldn't leave New Orleans without at least one order of the original oysters Rockefeller—baked oysters topped with a parsley-based sauce and bread crumbs. Other notables on the bilingual menu include pommes de terre soufflées (fried potato puffs), poissonamadine or meuniere (fish prepared in toasted almond or brown butter-and-lemon sauce), and baked Alaska. Tourists are generally shown to the front room, but walking through the grand labyrinth is a must. Be prepared for lackluster service. A jacket is preferred, but casually dressed diners can order most of the classic menu at the adjoining Hermes Bar.
713 St. Louis St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Old-school charm
- Historic oysters Rockefeller
- Slightly stuffy atmosphere (dress up or sit at the adjoining Hermes Bar)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Reservations essential, Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Uptown |
Even with reservations, expect to wait for weekend brunch at this Uptown institution, but your taste buds will thank you later. Locals tend to linger over sultry Creole creations like étouffée omelets and house-made sausage, a DIY Bloody Mary bar, and jumping live jazz on Saturday and Sunday. At dinner, the food is just as delicious, but the vibe is more romantic. The shrimp and grits are a standout, but there are plenty of other excellent choices. As a bonus, the expertly cultivated wine list shows plenty of options for under $50.
901 Louisiana Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115, USA
Known For
- Bloody Mary bar
- Jazz brunch
- Excellent shrimp and grits
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Tues. and Wed., Reservations essential
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$ | Uptown |
Eat in an airy dining room overlooking Audubon Park golf course, or relax with a drink on the veranda.
6500 Magazine St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$$$ | French Quarter |
On one of the French Quarter's busiest corners is Dickie Brennan's biggest and flashiest restaurant yet (he also owns Palace Café and Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse), and it's a solid hit with seafood aficionados and—you guessed it—bourbon lovers (there are five flights to choose from and a vast selection of 90 American whiskeys to boot). The raw bar is prime real estate, with its sterling oysters on the half shell, chilled seafood platters, and antique, decorative oyster plates, but the elegant main dining room is more appropriate for digging into the Creole catalog—charbroiled oysters, boiled shrimp, and Gulf fish "on the half shell" with lump crab meat. Take your frozen bourbon-milk punch in a go cup.
144 Bourbon St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Bourbon-milk punch
- Classy raw bar
- Diverse bourbon flights
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$$ | French Quarter |
This luxuriously appointed restaurant, located in a gorgeous, salmon-pink, circa-1795 building, serves lavish breakfasts, served by pink-bow-tied waiters, that include "eye openers" like Caribbean milk punch to start the day, alongside hearty but elegantly prepared dishes such as eggs sardou with crispy artichokes and accoutrements such as coffee-cured bacon and house-made English muffins. Don't miss sumptuous desserts, like the flaming bananas Foster, which was reportedly created here.
417 Royal St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Tourist-heavy atmosphere
- Creole brunch
- Legendary bananas Foster
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | French Quarter |
If local restaurants were judged solely by the beauty of their courtyards, Broussard's would certainly be a standout, but the food here is also outstanding. Expect dishes like crispy shrimp toast with pickled okra slaw; Creole crab croquettes; and broiled redfish with a rosemary-and-mustard crust. Fight the good fight for an outdoor table close to the fountain, and don't skip dessert. A three-course Sunday brunch features live jazz.
819 Conti St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, USA
Known For
- Charming courtyard
- Sunday jazz brunch
- Excellent broiled redfish
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Tues.–Thurs., Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Bywater |
The latest project from chef Nina Compton, Top Chef contestant and owner of popular Compère Lapin in the Warehouse District, is a real neighborhood place, a friendly yet refined bistro where friends can get together to enjoy a good meal. The atmosphere here is upscale and dinner is on the pricey side, but there is a warm and homey quality to the experience.
2900 Chartres St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70117, USA
Known For
- Pasta and curries
- Tasty shared plates
- House-bottled negronis
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch weekdays
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$ | Bywater |
This is everything you could want from a neighborhood coffee shop: delicious coffee, premium baked goods, and hearty sandwiches and comfort food for a quick breakfast or lunch. The pies are great around the holidays, as are the king cakes during Carnival season. The café often displays local art for sale on its walls, and hosts events and small concerts.
3624 Dauphine St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70117, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed. No dinner
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$$ | Mid-City |
Dining at Café Degas is like being at a sidewalk café in Paris, even though the restaurant is completely covered: there's a tree growing through the center of the dining room, and the front windows overlook picturesque Esplanade Avenue. The fare here is a mixture of French-bistro cooking and what you might find at a countryside inn—homemade pâtés, onion soup, steamed mussels, steaks, and crème brûlée. Daily specials are always creative and ingenious, and an evening here is inevitably romantic. Every Wednesday and Thursday, diners can enjoy a happy hour, with pâté, cheese, and appetizer and drink specials from 3 to 6 pm.
3127 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70119, USA
Known For
- Romantic setting
- Authentic French food
- Great pâté and charcuterie
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | Uptown |
Set back from Magazine Street in a gorgeous converted town house (eating on the large veranda on warm evenings is especially a treat), the sophisticated menu showcases (mostly) local seafood, as well as the best East and West Coast oysters. The whole roasted fish and anything from the raw section of the menu are always good choices. Non-seafood entrées and sides include roasted carrots, bacon fried rice, and airline chicken.
3607 Magazine St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115, USA
Known For
- Whole fish
- Fresh oysters
- Charming setting
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Thurs.
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$$$ | Central Business District |
Those tired of the white-tablecloth restaurants with decades-old menus of shrimp rémoulade and redfish renditions that populate so much of the New Orleans fine dining scene will be especially pleased with Compère Lapin, a unique and distinctly contemporary ultra-fine dining experience. At the root of Chef Nina Compton's cooking are the comforting flavors and spices of St. Lucian and Italian home kitchens, but presentation and execution of her dishes are that of a top-notch professional chef. Notable favorites are the conch croquettes, Caribbean seafood pepper pot, and semolina gnocchi. The ambience of the airy dining room, with lofted ceilings and hip, minimalist decor, is romantic and quiet at times, but loud and clubby when the popular craft cocktail bar is busy.
535 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Sweet potato gnocchi and conch croquettes
- Hip, minimalist decor
- Inventive cocktails
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$ | French Quarter |
At this cozy (read: small) restaurant in the heart of the French Quarter, diners are wowed by the inventive and globally inspired cuisine, though the service is a bit eclectic, too. Menus change regularly, but may feature apple cheddar French toast and beet burrata kale salad for lunch, or a bacon sundae with pecan-praline ice cream for dessert. The staff weave through the tight space with the grace of gymnasts, keeping the crowds both well fed and well lubricated with specialty cocktails. Tables are set outside when the weather's nice.
307 Exchange Pl., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Tasty French toast and sandwiches
- Outside dining in nice weather
- Vegetarian options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., Reservations not accepted
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$$$$ | French Quarter |
Celebrated local chef Justin Devillier (of Le Petite Grocery fame) brings an entirely new concept to the French Quarter with Justine. With a nightly DJ, boisterous brunches, and loads of neon and Instagrammable spaces, the emphasis here is more on a festive experience than the food itself (though the Parisian bistro menu has its strong points). Justine herself, a marble statue and the restaurant's patron saint, gazes over the zinc bar top imported from Paris, and Ellen Macomber's dual mural-collages of Paris and New Orleans make the back room dazzle. Expect classic French fare like moules frites, steak tartare, and a daily selection of East Coast and Gulf oysters.
225 Chartres St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Boozy brunches
- Chic aesthetic
- French bistro classics
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.
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$$ | Uptown |
French chic for the budget-minded is the style at this welcoming neighborhood bistro, where during peak hours there might be a half-hour wait for a table. Woven café chairs on the sidewalk and awnings that resemble metro-station architecture evoke the Left Bank of Paris, and the Gallic focus is also evident in dishes like the filet mignon, served with a choice of several classic French sauces. Other good options are the pâté maison, moules-frites, and the lavish dessert crêpes. The cheese plate is filled with fromage from beloved local cheese shop St. James Cheese Company. Space is a little tight in the oddly configured dining areas, but the whimsical paintings and profuse greenery combine to create an inviting feel.
1410 Robert St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115, USA
Known For
- Tasty crepes and moules-frites
- Intimate, slightly crowded setting
- Classic French vibes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Sat., Reservations not accepted, Credit cards accepted
