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Eating your way across New Orleans is one of the best things you can do when you’re in the “Big Easy.” So I created this foodie destination guide for New Orleans.
I highly recommend doing a food and cocktail tour during your trip to New Orleans. This will let you sample local foods, learn about the history of the city’s cuisine, and get recommendations from a local guide.
Plan an Epic Trip To New Orleans
Many New Orleans restaurants require reservations, so book as early as possible to get a table.
Know Before You Go: in New Orleans, it’s legal to have an open container of alcohol outside of a restaurant. So you can take any drink to-go, and you can stop at takeout windows for refills while you walk around the city.
Ready to discover your new favorite restaurant? Then here’s the ultimate foodie destination guide for New Orleans!
Breakfast and Brunch
Cane & Table – American, Bar, $$. Come here for brunch and the classic daiquiri (which isn’t a frozen drink).
The Ruby Slipper Café – American, Cafe, Vegetarian Friendly, $$-$$$. The innovative Benedict menu here is second to none, and you have to try a bloody Mary.
Toast – French, Cafe, $. Come here if you want a sweet breakfast. This spot specializes in crepes and aebleskivers – round Danish puffed pancakes smothered in sauces such as lemon curd, caramel, jam, chocolate, maple syrup, or Nutella.
Slim Goodies Diner – American, $. This is the epitome of Southern comfort breakfast food. Be sure to try the sweet potato pancakes!
Brennan’s – American, Cajun, Creole, $$$$. This elegant restaurant is worth the splurge. Fun Fact: the bananas foster dessert was invented here!
Elizabeth’s Restaurant – American, Cajun, Creole, $$-$$$. This restaurant can be summed up in two words “praline bacon.”
Dinner and Lunch
Red Fish Grill – Oysters, Seafood, $$. Make sure you order the Alligator Sausage & Seafood Gumbo and the Cat 5 Hurricane.
Napoleon House – Creole, $$. Try the Muffuletta sandwich, chicken and andouille sausage jambalaya, and the Pimm’s Cup cocktail.
Sofia – Italian, $$-$$$. This is the best pasta and pizza in town, and you can create your own spritz.
Tsunami Sushi – Japanese, Seafood, Sushi, $$-$$$. This trendy restaurant is serving up the best Asian cuisine in town. I’m still dreaming about the truffle salmon!
Bywater American Bistro – American, Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly, $$-$$$. This converted industrial space specializes in American food with a Caribbean “flare.”
Commander’s Palace – Come for the traditional fine dining and stay for the 25-cent martinis at this mansion-turned restaurant – note: there’s an enforced dress code – collared shirts, closed-toed shoes, etc.
Cocktails
Dickie Brennan’s Tableau – Creole, $$$. The must-try cocktail here is the French 75. Rumor has it that the upstairs room of this restaurant is where part of the Louisiana Purchase was drafted.
Peychaud’s – Drinks, $$-$$$. If you want to sit in a fancy garden drinking a bougie drink, then this cocktails-only (no food) hot spot is for you.
The 21st Amendment at La Louisiane – You’ll love this Prohibition-inspired lounge with top-notch craft cocktails that New Orleans’ most notorious mobsters once owned.
Cure – American, Bar, $$-$$$. This firehouse-turned-dimly-lit-cocktail-lounge is credited with pioneering the craft cocktail movement in New Orleans.
Patrick’s Bar Vin – Wine Bar, $$-$$$. Calling my fellow winos! Make a beeline for this wine bar for an extensive selection of wine by the glass and fabulous charcuterie boards.
Henry’s Gin Bar – Gin Bar, $$$. In 1888, this Cabinet Saloon was where the Gin Fizz was invented!
Jazz Clubs
Snug Harbor Jazz – This venue is an intimate, historical backroom that’s home to some of the best jazz performances on Frenchman Street.
The Blue Nile – As one of the longest-standing clubs on Frenchman Street, you can see some Jazz legends here, and the venue makes you feel like you’re part of the band.
The Spotted Cat – This club has two or three bands every night, seven nights a week. It has a grimy yet posh ambiance that makes you feel like you’re back in 1920s New Orleans.
Dessert
Cafe Du Monde – Bakery, Cafe, $. No trip to New Orleans would be complete without stopping at this iconic landmark for the city’s famous Beignets.
Sucré – French Bakery, $$. New Orleans has a lot of great patisseries, but this make-you-feel-like-you’re-in-Europe shop takes the cake.
Creole Creamery – Ice Cream Parlor, $. You can’t go wrong with any of the scoops, sundaes, and malts here.
Leah’s Pralines – Dessert Shop, $. This old-fashioned, third-generation family-owned shop is famous for its homemade pralines. If you have a sweet tooth, come ready for a sugary wonderland!
Restaurants With a View
Restaurants With a View
Jack Rose Roof – Lounge, Bar, $$. Previously called Hot Tin, this whimsical bar and restaurant on the roof of the historic Pontchartrain Hotel has some of the best views in the city.
The Monkey Board – Bar, $$-$$$. Enjoy fun frozen drinks and tropical cocktails surrounded by bright, graffiti-style artwork and sweeping views.
The Rooftop at The Roosevelt – Hotel Pool Restaurant, $$$. Non-guests of The Roosevelt can only access this bar by renting a private cabana that can hold up to eight people. So get your crew together to lounge in style above the city.
Rosie’s on the Roof – Bar, Pub, $$. This Irish bar has a casual vibe, live music, and you have to try the crab Beignets.
Cheap Eats
Willie Mae’s Scotch House – American, $. No trip to the South would be complete without an excellent friend chicken meal, which this restaurant will give you.
French Toast – American, Cafe, Vegetarian, $$. If you want a great breakfast at a great price, then this is the place for you.
Coop’s Place – American, Cajun, Creole, Bar, $$. Coop’s is more of a dive bar than a restaurant, but the food is still excellent and excellently priced.
Parkway Bakery & Tavern – Quick Bites, American, Bar, $. You can’t visit New Orleans and not try a Po Boy, and the Po Boys here are hard to beat.
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Is there anything you’d add to this foodie destination guide for New Orleans? Let us know in the comments!
Recommended Tours in New Orleans
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Foodie Destination Guide for New Orleans
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Orleans good for a solo trip?
Yes! New Orleans is one of the best destinations for solo female travelers in the U.S.
What is the best time of year to go to New Orleans?
February – May is New Orleans’ peak travel season when most of the major festivals – including Mardi Gras and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – take place. Tourist numbers and accommodation prices will be at their highest during these months, and you’ll need to book up to a year in advance.
Many of the city’s most popular attractions close during Mardi Gras, so if sightseeing is a priority, plan a trip that doesn’t coincide with the event. Springtime weather is warm, with average high temperatures ranging from the low 70s to the mid-80s.
June – August is hot and humid (temperatures can get into the high-90s). The heat keeps most people away, so you can find some great accommodation rates in these months. This is also the rainiest season, so make sure to pack rain gear and know that rain doesn’t cool the city off; it just makes it more humid.
September – November is the low season because this is hurricane season. So accommodation rates will still be relatively low, and the temperatures will be pleasant in the 80s – mid-70s.
December – January is the shoulder season. Temperatures will range from the 60s to 70s, and the city will be decorated for the holidays.
Is New Orleans safe to walk alone?
I felt very safe during my trips to New Orleans. But, as with any destination, you need to take precautions to keep yourself safe. Don’t walk by yourself at night, stay in a secure and well-located hotel or vacation home, use slash-proof, lockable, and RFID-protected bags and purses, and always have a charged cell phone with you.
Can I visit New Orleans without a car?
Yes, New Orleans is a very walkable city, and rideshares are easy to find. To save money and time, I recommend choosing accommodation within walking distance of the majority of places you want to visit.
What is there to do on a solo trip to New Orleans?
1. Do a walking tour of the French Quarter that includes Bourbon Street, St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, Faulkner House Books, and Pirates Alley.
2. See a show at a jazz club.
3. Do a food and cocktail tour.
4. Party on Frenchman Street.
5. Visit the JAMNOLA museum and/or the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Party on Bourbon Street.
6. Have a picnic in City Park. Or if it’s December, see the Celebration in the Oaks light show at City Park.
7. Ride a streetcar.
8. Do a walking tour of the Garden District that includes St. Charles Avenue and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.
9. Go on a French Quarter ghost tour.
What do I need to know before going to New Orleans?
When you visit New Orleans, I urge you to educate yourself about the history of slavery in the U.S. Many of New Orlean’s plantations, statues, and historic landmarks are dedicated to raising awareness about racism. So please don’t ignore this history; learn from it.
How many days do you need to visit New Orleans?
Give yourself at least 3-4 days to explore New Orleans. This will give you plenty of time to experience the historic downtown, enjoy the food and music scenes, and take a day trip.
What should I not miss in New Orleans?
1. Do a walking tour of the French Quarter that includes Bourbon Street, St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, Faulkner House Books, and Pirates Alley.
2. See a show at a jazz club.
3. Do a food and cocktail tour.
4. Party on Frenchman Street.
5. Visit the JAMNOLA museum and/or the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Party on Bourbon Street.
6. Have a picnic in City Park. Or if it’s December, see the Celebration in the Oaks light show at City Park.
7. Ride a streetcar.
8. Do a walking tour of the Garden District that includes St. Charles Avenue and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.
9. Go on a French Quarter ghost tour.
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This foodie destination guide for New Orleans is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this guide are entirely my own. Some of the links in this foodie destination guide for New Orleans are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission from this foodie destination guide for New Orleans.
