15 Best Restaurants in New Orleans
Nestled in the heart of Louisiana, New Orleans is a vibrant hub of culture, music, and of course, food. With a rich history that blends French, African, and American influences, Creole cuisine is unforgettable. From mouthwatering gumbo to delectable beignets, the streets of New Orleans offer a tantalizing array of flavors and aromas. Use our list to experience the unforgettable dining scene that makes New Orleans a true haven for food lovers.
Top 15 Best Restaurants in New Orleans
Here is the list of the Top Best 15 Restaurants in New Orleans:
- Commander’s Palace
- Pascal’s Manale
- August
- Cochon
- Galatoire’s
- Herbsaint
- Shaya
- Brennan’s
- Dooky Chase’s Restaurant
- Coquette
- Bayona
- Antoine’s
- Peche Seafood Grill
- Compere Lapin
- La Petite Grocery
1. Commander’s Palace
Location: 1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
A renowned Garden District landmark, Commander’s Palace has been around since 1893, impressing residents and visitors with its refined Creole dishes. The restaurant boasts lots of courtyard seating, and its decor reveals to guests the city’s rich history. Some of the specialties here include turtle soup, pecan-crusted gulf fish, and Creole bread pudding.
Hours
- Mon-Wed 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM;
- Thu-Sat 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM,6:00 PM – 9:30 PM;
- Sun 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
2. Pascal’s Manale
Location: 1838 Napoleon Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
Pascal’s Manale is home to the first barbecue shrimp, created by Pascal Radosta, nephew of founder Frank Manale. It is one of the oldest restaurants in the city, opened in 1913 that has been continuously owned by the same family. The restaurant pleases with its delectable Italian-Creole cuisine and romantic setting.
Hours
- Closed Sun-Mon;
- Tue, Sat 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Wed – Fri 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
3. August
Location: 301 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Chef Corey Thomas’s upscale eatery serves modern Louisiana cuisine in a sophisticated setting. The building is a historic 19th-century in the Central Business District, and each dish is beautifully plated and bursting with flavor.
Hours
- Mon-Sun 5:00 – 9:00 PM
4. Cochon
Location: 930 Tchoupitoulas St New Orleans, LA 70130
Chef Donald Link at Cochon uses locally sourced ingredients to create the traditional Southern dishes he grew up with. The authentic Cajun flavors impress at this swanky restaurant located inside a renovated warehouse. Choices such as the fried alligator and braised pork cheeks are adventurous and cooked to perfection.
Hours
- Mon-Sun 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
5. Galatoire’s
Location: 209 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Opened in 1905, Galatoire’s is one of the most famous New Orleans institutions. The restaurant is classy and elegant yet hosts a vibrant and lively atmosphere. From oysters Rockefeller and escargot to fresh omelets and maple leaf ducks, the menu is mouth-watering and expertly crafted.
Hours
- Closed Mon – Tue
- Wed-Sun 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
6. Herbsaint
Location: 701 St Charles Ave New Orleans, LA 70130
Another New Orleans staple by Chef Donald Link, Herbsaint, is the Link Restaurant Group’s flagship. Led by Chef Tyler Spreen, the kitchen combines Creole and Italian elements with fresh, locally sourced seafood to create the inspiring dishes that earned Chef Link a James Beard award in 2007.
Hours
- Mon – Thu 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Fri 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Sat 5:00 – 10:00 PM
- Closed Sun
7. Shaya
Location: 4213 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
This James Beard award-winning restaurant offers modern Israeli dishes with a New Orleans twist. From fried chicken hummus to labneh cheesecake, the menu awes and inspires with delightful flavor combinations and lots of shareable options. For an escape from the overwhelming (yet delicious) amount of Creole fare in the city, Shaya takes a Middle Eastern approach and truly makes an impression.
Hours
- Sun – Thu 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Fri-Sat 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
8. Brennan’s
Address: 417 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Brennan’s is famed for its decadent brunch, with upscale Creole dishes such as duck confit hash and buckwheat crepes. Their dazzling happy hour, known as “Bubbles at Brennan’s,” features a champagne sabering in the courtyard from Thursdays to Mondays at 5 PM. The historic French Quarter building is bright pink and unmissable.
Hours
- Mon-Sun 9 AM- 2 PM; 6 PM – 10 PM
- Happy Hour Thu – Mon 9 AM – 6 PM
9. Dooky Chase’s Restaurant
Location: 2301 Orleans Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119
This iconic New Orleans institution was established in 1941, and the Chase family continues to own and operate it today. Be sure to check out the lunch buffet, which changes daily and serves authentic and flavorful favorites such as gumbo, red beans, and rice and sausage.
Hours
- Tue – Fri 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Fri – Sat 5:30 – 9:00 PM
10. Coquette
Location: 2800 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Coquette is a chic and sophisticated Garden District restaurant that specializes in unique Southern cuisine. They offer fun and exciting experiences such as a five-course blind tasting and “no menu Tuesdays.” The restaurant earned Chef Michael Stoltzfus a James Beard nomination in 2020. Try the Gulf seafood stew or braised octopus to invigorate your tastebuds and delight the senses.
Hours
- Mon-Sun 5:30 – 9:00 PM
11. Bayona
Location: 430 Dauphine St New Orleans, LA 70112
Bayona is a highly acclaimed fine dining restaurant opened in 1990 by Chef Susan Spicer. It is located in a charming 1769 cottage in the middle of the French Quarter. The restaurant often has special events and celebratory deals; for example, special Julia Child dinners occur annually on Aug. 18 and 19.
Hours
- Closed Sun-Mon
- Tue – Wed 5:00 – 9:00 PM
- Thu – Sat 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM
12. Antoine’s
Address: 713 Saint Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Antoine’s is the oldest continuously operating family-owned restaurant in the United States, founded by Antoine Alciatore in 1840. The institution is the birthplace of multiple classic dishes, including Oysters Rockefeller, Eggs Sardou, and Pommes de Terre Souffles. The walls are rich with history, and the dishes are quintessential New Orleans staples.
Hours
- Mon – Thu 5:00 – 9:00 PM
- Fri – Sat 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM
- Sun 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM
13. Peche Seafood Grill
Location: 800 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Peche, another James Beard-winning restaurant by Chef Donald Link, Stephen Stryjewski, and Ryan Prewitt, displays and capitalizes on the abundance of Gulf seafood the city is privy to. The restaurant serves up modern, unique dishes inspired by Spanish and South American cooking, made with old-world cooking methods and Southern flair.
Hours
- Mon – Sun 11 AM – 10 PM
14. Compère Lapin
Address: 535 Tchoupitoulas St New Orleans, LA 70130
Compère Lapin, named for the mischievous rabbit of Caribbean and Creole folktales, is situated within the Warehouse Arts District and showcases Caribbean flavors in New Orleans fashion. Chef Nina Compton, owner, and operator, fuses her French classical training and Italian experience with the dishes she grew up with to put a new spin on traditional Caribbean meals.
Hours
- Mon-Sun 5:30 – 10:00 PM
15. La Petite Grocery
Address: 4238 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
La Petite Grocery is located in a building that is more than a century old that has been home to many beloved New Orleans establishments. In 2004, Chef Justin Devillier turned it into La Petite Grocery, a cozy yet lively classic New Orleans eatery. It won him the 2016 James Beard Best Chef award and continues to be highly acclaimed and loved by the community.
Hours
- Mon-Wed 5:00 – 9:30 PM
- Thu 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:30 PM
- Fri – Sat 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 10:30 PM
- Sun 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:30 PM
Conclusion
If you happen to find yourself in the captivating city of New Orleans, be sure to follow this guide to uncover the comforting yet exciting dining scene the city has to offer. Discover new flavors and dishes and let the city’s magic enchant you. The soul of New Orleans will certainly leave a lasting impression on your palate and in your heart.
