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No visit to New Orleans is complete without a chicory-laced café au lait paired with the addictive, sugar-dusted beignets at this venerable institution. The tables under the green-and-white-stripe awning are jammed with locals and tourists at almost every hour, for very good reason. If there's a wait, head around back to the takeout window, get your coffee and beignets to go, and enjoy them overlooking the river right next door or in Jackson Square. The most magical time to go is just before dawn, before the bustle begins and can hear the birds in the crepe myrtles across the way. The metro-area satellite stores (there's even one at the airport now) typically lack the character of the original, although the newest addition in City Park is quite charming.
800 Decatur St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70116, USA
Known For
- World's most famous beignets
- Local landmark status
- Long waits and 24-hour service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$ | Warehouse District |
Around the corner from its big brother Cochon, Butcher packs its own Cajun punch with an upscale sandwich menu that dials up the flavor on local classics. With house-cured meats and olive salad, the muffuletta reveals exactly how delicious Italian-Creole can be, though the pork-belly sandwich, with refreshing mint and cucumber, also brings customers back. In addition to sandwiches, there are meaty small plates and a rotating selection of wines, beers, and well-made cocktails. There are a few tall tables for dining in, or you can get your sandwich to go. Before leaving, stock up on boudin, bacon pralines, and other to-go Cajun delicacies—all much better souvenirs than anything for sale on Bourbon Street.
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Pork-belly sandwich
- To-go treats
- Delicious cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Reservations not accepted, Credit cards accepted
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$ | Uptown |
At Dat Dog, the sprawling stand is painted in primary hues, as if the work had been outsourced to a talented kindergarten class, and the Hawaiian shirt–clad staff bustle about with the enthusiasm of amateur actors staging a musical. The menu is all about hot dogs, and frank options range from standard German wieners to Louisiana alligator sausages. Even fish eaters and vegetarians have options (the apple sage "sausage" is deceivingly meaty). The long list of toppings includes guacamole, wasabi, and andouille sauce. And what goes better with a brat than an ice-cold brew? Luckily, the menu offers an exhaustive list of domestic and international beers. There are additional Dat Dog locations at 3336 Magazine Street and 601 Frenchmen Street.
5030 Freret St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115, USA
Known For
- Creative hot dogs
- Rowdy crowds
- Local draft beers
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No credit cards, Reservations not accepted
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$$$ | Warehouse District |
Chef Donald Link (also of Cochon, Cochon Butcher, and Pêche Seafood Grill) turns out food that sparkles with robust flavors and top-grade ingredients at this casually upscale restaurant. Small plates and starters such as a daily gumbo, charcuterie, and homemade pastas are mainstays. Don't overlook the rich and flavorful Louisiana shrimp and fish ceviche. Also irresistible is the Muscovy duck leg confit with dirty rice and citrus gastrique. For dessert, banana brown-butter tart will ensure return trips. The plates provide most of the color in the lighthearted, often noisy, rooms. The wine list is expertly compiled and reasonably priced. The restaurant serves an abbreviated "bistro menu" between lunch and dinner.
701 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Homemade pasta
- Muscovy duck leg confit with dirty rice and citrus gastrique
- Convivial crowds
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat., Credit cards accepted
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$$ | French Quarter |
A rough-edge classic in every way, this no-frills eatery is a prime source for briny, chilled Gulf oysters; legendary shrimp, oyster, and roast-beef po'boys; and tender, expertly seasoned red beans and rice. Even locals can't resist, although most opt for the less crowded, if less charming, suburban branches (there's one in Metairie). Expect lengthy lines here in the French Quarter, often a half block long. Crowds lighten in the late afternoon, making Acme a choice respite for a mid-afternoon snack of a dozen on the half shell washed down with an Abita beer.
724 Iberville St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Some of the best and freshest oysters in the French Quarter
- Long lines
- Local specialties
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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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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$ | Carrollton-Riverbend |
At Bellegarde Bakery, far from the popular tourist sites, Graison Gill and his team freshly mill all of their flour on-site, producing bread and baked goods for some of the top restaurants in New Orleans. A commitment to local and single-origin ingredients embodies the ethos of the whole operation. In 2019, they opened their first storefront and customers can now purchase these baked delicacies for themselves, as well as get a glimpse into milling and baking process as they drink a cup of fresh-brewed coffee.
8300 Apple St., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Known For
- Sourdough bread
- Quality ingredients
- Baking classes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. 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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$ | 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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$ | French Quarter |
Open around the clock for late-night treats, Café du Monde has been serving up café au lait and beignets for more than a century. If the open-air café is crowded, go around back to the take-out window and enjoy your treats on the Mississippi riverfront.
800 Decatur St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70116, USA
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$ | Central Business District |
The house-roasted coffee here is delicious, but added takeaways are the cute alligator-themed mugs and memorabilia to take home (a "congregation" is the collective name for a group of alligators); the fresh pastries; and the hearty breakfast and lunch options, like the pickled greens and poached egg on toast.
644 Camp St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$ | French Quarter |
In a quiet corner of the French Quarter, you'll have to look for the quaint Croissant d'Or Patisserie. Once you've found it, you'll understand why locals and visitors return to this colorful pastry shop for excellent and authentic French croissants, pies, tarts, and custards, as well as an imaginative selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches (don't miss the hot croissant sandwiches with creamy béchamel sauce). You can get your goodies to go, but try to get a table during the busy breakfast hours for great people-watching. During Carnival season they bake a traditional French-style king cake filled with almond paste. The café is open from 6 am to 3 pm.
617 Ursulines St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70116, USA
Known For
- Croissaint sandwiches
- Authentic French pastries
- King cake during Mardi Gras
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No dinner, Reservations not accepted, Credit cards accepted
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$ | Faubourg Marigny |
This casual counter-service eatery is a good place to fuel up while exploring the Marigny and next-door Bywater. Traditional Vietnamese dishes like banh mi sandwiches, pho, and spring rolls meet the American South with additions like BBQ pulled pork and smoked brisket or wonton chips with crab dip. Beers from local breweries are on draft.
2372 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70117, USA
Known For
- Bang Bang shrimp
- Excellent pho and spring rolls with a Southern twist
- Local craft beer
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$ | Bayou St. John |
Just off Esplanade Avenue, Fair Grinds Coffeehouse is the neighborhood spot for fair-trade coffee, tea, and snacks—including vegan treats. There's an upstairs balcony for alfresco dining, and live music at least twice a week.
3133 Ponce de Leon St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70119, USA
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$ | Mid-City |
This convivial spot is more than just your average corner bar: it streams European soccer games (opening as early as 7 am to do so) and hosts a popular trivia night on Monday. The kitchen serves sophisticated pub food.
3701 Banks St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70119, USA
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$ | Bywater |
Both a convenience store and a lunch counter, this friendly neighborhood institution is the perfect place to stop for a cold drink and a delicious carry-out po'boy.
3231 Dauphine St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70117, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner
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$ | Bywater |
Inside this gas station–turned–taco shop, meats are spit-roasted and masa is crafted by hand. The casual, open-air space serves counter-service tacos and snacks inspired by Oaxaca and Mexico City, but much of the focus is on the large bar, where seasoned local talents craft rum, mezcal, and tequila-based concoctions.
3060 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70117, USA
Known For
- Al pastor tacos
- Handmade tortillas
- Fantastic margaritas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
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$ | French Quarter |
The allure of Hermes Bar is that you'll have your pick of the classic dishes that made Antoine's (founded in 1840) famous, without committing to a full-price meal in its austere dining room. Elegant bar snacks such as oysters Rockefeller, shrimp rémoulade, and fried eggplant sticks make just as grand a meal, with the added benefit of a front-row view of the Bourbon Street crowd. Expertly mixed old-school cocktails, such as the Sazerac and Ramos gin fizz, are a tradition here. Hermes is connected to Antoine's, but there is a separate entrance next door. It's open until midnight on weekends. Daily happy hour specials are available from 4 to 7 pm.
713 St. Louis St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Great cocktails
- Classic small bites
- Elegant setting at reasonable prices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted, Credit cards accepted, No dinner Sun.
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$ | Faubourg Marigny |
The gyro sandwich with a side of Belgian fries (and indulgent housemade aioli) here is a satisfying meal for those looking to make a late night at the St. Claude Avenue clubs and bars that surround this casual hipster establishment. Vegetarians and vegans will be pleased by the selection of falafel, hummus, and other plant-based choices as well.
2315 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70117, USA
Known For
- Great fries
- Plenty of vegetarian options
- One of the city's best gyros
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$$ | French Quarter |
Named after former Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long, who went by the nickname "Kingfish," this stylish French Quarter restaurant pays homage to the Jazz Age, with its pressed-tin ceilings and suspendered bartenders (the excellent craft cocktail list was written by local legend Chris McMillian). Drinks do not disappoint, and as for food, expect Southern-inspired small plates with a local twist, like mirlitons (a type of squash) stuffed with cornbread dressing and smothered in an arugula and mushroom Alfredo sauce.
337 Chartres St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130, USA
Known For
- Snazzy cocktails
- Small plates of modern Southern cuisine
- Jazz-friendly atmosphere
