The Top Restaurants In New Orleans You Must Visit
Hungry for a city that sings with flavor at every corner? New Orleans plates up centuries of culture with spice, soul, and pure joy, and you can taste it in every bite. From steamy gumbo to buttery chargrilled oysters, each restaurant tells a story you will remember long after the music fades. Ready to plan the most delicious itinerary imaginable?
1. Commander’s Palace
Step into a turquoise landmark where jazz brunch feels like a weekly holiday. The turtle soup arrives steaming, perfumed with sherry, and the bread pudding souffle floats like a sweet cloud. Service is polished yet playful, inviting you to lean into celebration.
Order the pecan-crusted fish and watch flavors dance between buttery and bright. The courtyard palms rustle, clinking glasses echo, and everything gleams under Garden District charm. It is a rite of passage, a warm welcome, and a memory you will relive.
2. Dooky Chase’s Restaurant
Walk into living history where art, activism, and Creole cooking share a table. The gumbo here is deep and comforting, layered with roux and stories that stick with you. Fried chicken crackles, red beans hum with smoky notes, and hospitality feels like a hug.
This is where you savor culture as much as flavor. Lunchtime crowds gather with purpose and pride, passing plates and memories. You leave full and grateful, carrying a taste of New Orleans that lingers kindly.
3. Cochon
Rustic wood beams and the glow of the hearth set the tone for serious Southern comfort. Start with cracklins, still warm and audibly crisp, then dive into boudin with mustard that wakes your palate. Wood-fired oysters bring smoke, butter, and breadcrumbs together beautifully.
Every dish feels handcrafted, from rabbit and dumplings to hearty gumbo. The energy is relaxed, but the flavors are bold and memorable. Bring friends, share everything, and let the kitchen guide your appetite.
4. Herbsaint
Herbsaint balances French technique with New Orleans swagger. You will want the housemade spaghetti crowned with a glossy fried egg, its yolk turning sauce into silk. Small plates sparkle, cocktails feel smart, and the dining room hums with confident charm.
From duck confit to seasonal Gulf fish, everything lands with intention. Service is calm and attentive, never fussy, always tuned to your pace. It is where weeknights feel special and special nights feel effortless.
5. GW Fins
Seafood steals the spotlight with nightly changing menus and pristine sourcing. Start with lobster dumplings that burst with delicate sweetness, then try the famous scalibut for silk-meets-sear perfection. Servers guide you to the best seasonal catch with confidence and warmth.
Expect precise cooking, clean flavors, and sauces that step back so fish can shine. The room glows softly, making celebrations feel easy. If seafood is your love language, this is fluent and persuasive.
6. Willie Mae’s Scotch House
The line forms early for the city’s most talked-about fried chicken. Shatteringly crisp, juicy to the bone, it needs little more than hot sauce and a grin. Butter beans and cornbread round out the plate with comfort and truth.
Inside, the mood is neighborly and real. You feel part of something bigger as plates pass and stories swap. It is simple, soulful, and worth every minute you waited.
7. Peche Seafood Grill
Fire and Gulf bounty define the experience at Peche. Start with smoked tuna dip and a pile of saltines, then hand over decisions to the whole grilled fish of the day. The open hearth adds char and depth to every bite.
Vegetables get equal love, roasted and bright. The room feels casual but focused, perfect for sharing plates and stories. If you crave smoke-kissed seafood, this place delivers with confidence.
8. Cafe du Monde (French Market)
Beignets and chicory coffee are a must, day or night. Powdered sugar floats like confetti as hot pillows of dough land at your table. You dust your shirt, laugh, and sip the slightly bitter brew that balances the sweet.
Touristy, yes, but it is joy on a plate. Grab a seat, listen to street music, and watch the Quarter glide by. Simple pleasures rarely feel this celebratory.
9. Galatoire’s
Old school elegance meets Bourbon Street spectacle at Galatoire’s. Shrimp remoulade zings, crab maison luxuriates, and servers in white jackets keep the tempo crisp. Friday lunch is theater, where regulars own the room and celebrations spill into the afternoon.
Expect tradition done with conviction. Butter, lemon, and herbs star across seafood classics, and everything feels timeless. Dress up a little, lean into the ritual, and enjoy the show.
10. Bywater American Bistro
A neighborhood gem where creativity feels comfortable. Seasonal plates highlight local produce and Gulf seafood with thoughtful textures and bright acidity. You taste care in every detail, from house breads to desserts that finish with finesse.
The vibe is relaxed but intentional. Sit at the bar for a front row view of the line, or settle into a cozy table. It is the kind of place you wish sat on your block.
11. Brennan’s
Breakfast at Brennan’s is a New Orleans tradition worth waking up early for. Begin with eye opening cocktails and buttery biscuits, then settle into eggs Hussarde or shrimp and grits. Save room for bananas Foster, flamed tableside in a caramel curtain.
The pink facade promises festivity and the service follows through. Elegant rooms glow, conversation sparkles, and everything feels cinematic. It is breakfast as theater, delicious from overture to finale.
12. Jacques-Imo’s Cafe
Wild, colorful, and completely itself, Jacques-Imo’s throws a party on every plate. Start with alligator cheesecake, then chase it with fried chicken or shrimp Creole. The corridor seating and crowded rooms feel like a street parade indoors.
Expect big flavors, bigger portions, and loud joy. You might make friends at the next table before dessert lands. It is messy, memorable, and deeply New Orleans.
13. Antoine’s
Antoine’s is tradition layered across generations. Order oysters Rockefeller where it was born, then wander through storied dining rooms that feel like a museum you can taste. Sauces are rich, presentations stately, and service moves with practiced grace.
Come for the history, stay for the comfort of classics done right. The kitchen respects time and technique, delivering depth without hurry. It is a gentle reminder that some flavors never fade.
14. Emeril’s
Emeril’s helped define New New Orleans cuisine with swagger and precision. Sit at the food bar to watch the kitchen dance, then dive into bold sauces and playful textures. Dishes riff on Creole roots while pushing flavors forward.
Service is upbeat, pacing is smooth, and the wine list plays well with spice. You feel the city’s energy in every plate. It is a reunion with a classic that still hits hard.
15. Toups’ Meatery
Come hungry for Cajun comfort and serious charcuterie. Cracklins crunch loud enough to turn heads, while boudin brings pepper and warmth. Plates arrive generous, rustic, and deeply satisfying without apology.
Whiskey fans will love the shelves, and the patio sets an easy mood. Service is friendly, guiding you through rich flavors and smart sides. It is a meat lover’s haven with neighborhood soul.
