8 Best Restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana

Traditional Sicilian gelato, spumoni, cannoli, pastries, and candies are the attractions at this quaint little sweetshop, now over a century old. The crisp biscotti, traditional Sicilian desserts, and the lemon and strawberry ices haven't lost their status as local favorites. The shop closes at 9 pm on Sunday and 10 pm every other day (except Monday when they are closed). If you go in the evening, plan to stand in line and chat with locals, along with many smiling kids. On your way out, look for the brass plaque on the door that marks how high the water reached after the levees broke during Katrina in 2005.

What owner Elizabeth Hess started as a coffee shop and bakery has evolved into a full-on café that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Besides a robust coffee program and baked goods, you'll be able to find well-made salads, cheese plates, sandwiches, and pastas. There is a happy hour every Tuesday to Saturday, from 4 to 6 pm.

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 French croissants, pies, tarts, and custards, as well as an imaginative selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches. 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 7 am to 3 pm.

There's no name more synonymous with a sno-ball than the Hansen family, who invented the flavored (and finely shaved) cups of ice and have been serving it to sweat-drenched New Orleanians since 1934. Honored by the James Beard Foundation with an American Classic award, Hansen's welcomes locals and tourists alike that line up outside the busy shop from March through October. The line moves quickly, but if you want to avoid it, arrive early

Along with po'boys, you can find just about every type of grilled, fried, and gravied specialty famous in New Orleans here, served with plenty of sides, 24 hours a day. Not everything is the best in town, but the food is cheap and fresh at any hour. Late night, you’ll be in good company among locals coming in for a hot plate.

This is a charming little stop on the way down St. Claude Avenue. The friendly owner can fix you a cappuccino (or a hot-pressed panini), while you decide which flavor of freshly made gelato to choose.

This revamped food hall offers visitors a chance to sample from a wide array of flavors. Expect a mosaic of local food artisans dishing both local favorites as well as global cuisine, ranging from Malaysian and Burmese to Mexican and Italian. There's also a chic oyster bar, bottles of wine, and a generous happy hour.

A quick coffee and snack from this popular, sunny locale is just as enjoyable as their long, decadent brunches. Try any of the epic "biscuit situations."