44 Best Restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana

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 crepes. Jackets are requested in the main dining room. There's also a fun Mardi Gras museum upstairs.

Dining at Café Degas is like being at a sidewalk café in Paris. The outdoor seating overlooks picturesque Esplanade Avenue (as does some of the indoor seating), and the inside dining area even has a tree growing through the center. 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 5 pm. Wednesday evening often features live music, and all bottles of wine are 30% off on Thursday during dinner.

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.

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.

"Real food, done real good" is the motto at 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 lively 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.

With its elegant table settings and canvases depicting British nobility, the Grill Room on the second floor of the Windsor Court is a beacon of class and a lovely setting for special occasions. Keep your eyes peeled: celebrities in town for local film shoots often snag tables here. The creative modern American dinner menu features seasonal dishes including lamp chops with curry aioli and grilled squid with romesco sauce. Expect insightful and unusual wine selections from a deep cellar with an extensive Bordeaux collection. There's also a $35 plate special offered at lunchtime weekdays, and jazz brunch on weekends. If you're looking for a splurge meal in town, this is it.

Flower shops sometimes bloom into intimate fine-dining establishments in New Orleans, and this one, with just-bright-enough lighting and a sturdy mahogany bar, has caught on in a big way with the locals. In the kitchen, chef-owner Justin Devillier draws on contemporary American tastes, using Louisiana raw materials whenever he can. He's been quietly developing a reputation across the country, winning a coveted James Beard Award in the process. Standout items include the blue-crab beignets, the Gulf shrimp and grits with smoked bacon, and the creative (and extraordinary) alligator Bolognese, though many locals return to the red-leather banquettes for the signature burger and a round of cocktails.

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, with featured proteins like braised beef ragù, mussels in an apple and white wine broth, and pecan-crusted Gulf fish. 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.

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.

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 boudin sausage, a DIY Bloody Mary bar, and jumping live jazz on weekends. At dinner, the food is just as delicious, but the vibe is more romantic. The shrimp and grits are a standout, as is the blue crab raviolo, but there are plenty of other excellent choices. As a bonus, the expertly cultivated wine list shows plenty of options for under $50.

Renovated and under new ownership by famed restauranteur Dickie Brennan, visitors in Audubon Park can eat in an airy dining room overlooking the park's golf course, or relax with a drink on the veranda.

Once you find the place---tucked behind the other businesses in this complex---it's easy to see why Birdy’s is a local favorite for brunch. The covered outside patio is perfect for large groups, and there’s something for everyone: from a long list of specialty coffees, juices, and cocktails, to satisfying egg plates and several salads that are anything but boring. In front of the building, its sister restaurant, The Bower, serves locally sourced New American cuisine for dinner.

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.

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 the world's best brandy 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.

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.

Chef Nina Compton---Top Chef contestant, James Beard Award winner, and owner of popular Compère Lapin in the Warehouse District---is at the helm of this friendly, yet refined bistro that offers hearty, approachable dishes. Expect comforting, but flavorful dishes like branzino with puttanesca, eggplant Parmesan, and saucy, herby pastas.

There's no shortage of charming courtyards in the French Quarter, but the candlelit, ivy-covered stone carriageway at Café Amelie is one of the most romantic places to get a gourmet meal. The Louisiana-inspired entrées feature hearty portions of lamb steak, pork chops, and fresh seafood. While it's hardly a tourist trap, it's no secret to visitors so book your reservation far in advance. 

The only way to get closer to the Mississippi River at the outdoor patio of this fifth-floor restaurant is to dive in, and the spectacular views are what snagged chef Donald Link to partner with the Four Seasons New Orleans for this French Creole showplace. Try any of the expertly cooked steaks on offer, like the rib-eye spinalis or Kobe strip steak.

A meal at The Chloe delivers modern, exciting takes on Creole classics. Memorable appetizers like the shrimp and pork dumplings and alligator wings are followed by a strong line-up of entrées---the duck confit and the blackened butter-crusted drum are just two great choices. Eat inside in the cozy dining area, outside by the pool, or in the front overlooking St. Charles Avenue and its famed streetcar line.

The retro Commons Club at Virgin Hotel is a fabulous setting to experience an enticing menu of southern and Mediterranean-influenced plates. Ask for a seat in the Shag Room and bar area, where a riot of colors and textures mingle. There is an occasional drag brunch, though without set dates.

Nestled in the Eliza Jane Hotel, Couvant offers a modern and creative take on French cuisine while staying true to the classics like duck confit and boeuf bourguignon. The upscale but approachable interiors with low lighting, crushed velvets, and black and white tile floor set the mood for a comfortable dining experience.

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.

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 plenty of Champagne.

A coastal Mediterranean menu unfolds in a stylish, Instagram-worthy setting in this Kimpton Fontenot flagship restaurant. Expect modern, seafood-heavy takes on classics, like the sea urchin carbonara and crawfish risotto. There is a thoughtful selection of wines and beers to accompany your meal.

This bar, courtyard, and dining room is a dog- and family-friendly spot for a margarita, fried seafood, or a southwestern-style snack. The menu pays homage to surfing pioneers with bios and specialty dishes. On weekends, tables are cleared near the bar for impromptu dance parties.

This lively French Creole brasserie is a popular go-to on game days, given its proximity to both the French Quarter and the Superdome. The Gulf-centric seafood lineup includes oysters, boiled shrimp, Peruvian scallops, and Maine lobster. The dark chocolate mousse with toffee is a treat.

What happens when a fine-dining chef opens a po'boy joint? You get delicious local shrimp and hand-cut French fries, alongside nontraditional sandwich options like chicken livers with coleslaw and vinaigrette, or fried shrimp and oysters covered in cheddar cheese and bacon. Despite the ambitions in the kitchen, this restaurant still feels like a low-key neighborhood hangout. The crowds are equal parts working class and professional, with a good number of families. The po'boy is New Orleans's own version of fast food, but here the waits can sometimes stretch to half an hour. It's wise to avoid peak meal times, or, if you're not in a hurry, order an Abita beer and settle into a seat on the patio. During brunch, they have bottomless drink options for a reasonable price.

James Beard Award--winning chef Alon Shaya's love letter to Louisiana and the local dishes of his adopted city has culminated in Miss River, an airy restaurant nestled in the Four Seasons Hotel. Split a buttermilk-fried chicken for the table, presented whole and hand-carved, with chef Shaya's wife Emily's award-winning red beans and rice as a side. When the weather is good, dine alfresco in the spacious garden patio.

In this second restaurant from Turkey and the Wolf chef Mason Hereford, attention is turned to the classics of breakfast food. Decorated with '80s and '90s pop culture memorabilia, Molly's Rise and Shine feels like a trip down memory lane, and so do its riffs on McMuffins and bagel bites. Though there is ample seating, be prepared to wait in line. Come early since the restaurant does sell out of its most popular dishes.