New Orleans is a city that has a history unlike any place else in the United States of America. It's filled with beautiful architecture, a strong sense of history, and some of the best food in the country. From its historic neighborhoods to its unique food and music, the Crescent City is one-of-a-kind. And there's no better representation of NOLA's uniqueness than the picturesque French Quarter.
Also known as the Vieux Carré, the French Quarter is the historic heart of New Orleans. While there, you'll find beautiful buildings that have survived from the days of both French Louisiana and Spanish Louisiana in the 1700s. Anyone who visits the French Quarter will also find some of the best and oldest restaurants in the entire city. Here is a list of the best French Quarter restaurants you should try while in the Big Easy.
10 Best French Quarter Restaurants in NOLA
1. Broussard's Restaurant & Courtyard
819 Conti St., (504) 581-3866
broussards.com
Feeding New Orleans for over 100 years, Broussard's Restaurant & Courtyard not only boasts a charming and historic setting, it also offers a fantastic selection of dishes. Whether you're looking for a delicious brunch spot or the perfect place for an intimate evening dinner, Broussard's is the perfect option for you. Their menu offers New Orleans staples like sausage gumbo, Southern fried chicken and waffles, and Bananas Foster, as well as more adventurous options like mushroom and gruyere chicken roulade and blue crab tagliatelle.
Broussard's also offers the ability to host your wedding or private event at their restaurant. So if you're a tourist or a local, Broussard's is the place to go to experience classic New Orleans charm and classic Southern cooking!
2. Antoine's Restaurant
713 St. Louis St., (504) 581-4422
antoines.com
Nothing says New Orleans like Antoine's! Opened in 1840, the restaurant is known locally and nationally for its Oysters Rockefeller, Eggs Sardou, and Pommes de Terre Soufflées. Unsurprisingly, Antoine's has been a visited location for many celebrities throughout history, including Brad Pitt, Jimmy Buffet, and even Bing Crosby, just to name a few.
Their diverse cocktail and food menu can introduce tourists to the delicious nature of New Orleans cuisine, or, simply, make native New Orleanians feel at home. The seafood gumbo, shrimp Creole, and pecan bread pudding are all popular options that will leave guests satisfied. Antoine's Restaurant is a must-see for locals and tourists alike!
3. Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St., (504) 525-2021
galatoires.com
Nationally recognized by companies like Town&Country, Forbes, and The New York Times, Galatoire's is a bucket-list restaurant while in NOLA. Founded in 1905, the restaurant has sought to maintain and preserve it's original culinary practices so that each guest may experience its classic New Orleans cuisine.
Their menu offers a fantastic selection of food from French delicacies like escargot and foie gras to Louisiana favorites like andouille gumbo and crawfish étouffée. If you've never had a classic New Orleans dish, or are simply missing your hometown's cooking, than Galatoire's is a fantastic option!
4. Crescent City Brewhouse
527 Decatur St., (504) 522-0571
crescentcitybrewhouse.com
One of the best microbreweries in the city, Crescent City Brewhouse serves innovative New Orleans cuisine with premium, locally-made beer. Order a beer flight so that you'll have the chance to try many of the restaurant's quality brews like the Imperial Pilsner, Red Stallion, Black Forest, and more.
Along with beer, Crescent City Brewhouse also provides wine, cocktails, and special "brewtails" that feature their different brews. Seafood lovers will absolutely enjoy the restaurant's oyster bar, which features fresh raw Louisiana oysters. Other Louisiana classics like shrimp and grits, fried alligator, and boudin balls are also available.
5. Desire Oyster Bar
300 Bourbon St., (504) 553-2281
sonesta.com
Located inside in the Royal Sonesta Hotel, Desire Oyster Bar is known best, obviously, for its high-quality oysters. There are a ton of different ways to enjoy the restaurant's oysters, such as raw, chargrilled, fried, in a po-boy, and more.
Desire Oyster Bar has so much more to offer than just oysters. Other delicious seafood dishes include Louisiana crab cakes, shrimp remoulade, blackened catfish, and seafood gumbo. The restaurant also serves classic NOLA dishes such as jambalaya, red beans and rice, étouffée, and many different kinds of po-boys.
6. Evangeline
329 Decatur St., (504) 373-4852
evangelineneworleans.com
Located right by Bienville Place, Evangeline has some of the best Cajun food that you'll find outside of Acadiana. The restaurant also has a large outdoor courtyard that's perfect for sipping craft cocktails with your friends and family.
At Evangeline, you'll find great tasting and very filling Cajun and Creole plates like crawfish and grits, alligator Creole, and more. Make sure to order the Acadiana sausage sample appetizer in order to try the restaurant's andouille and boudin sausages. Evangeline also offers brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
7. Jimmy J's Cafe
115 Chartres St., (504) 309-9360
jimmyjscafe.com
For one of the most colorful establishments in the French Quarter, Jimmy J's cafe is definitely worth a visit. Opened in 2011, the restaurant is known best for its all day breakfast menu that incorporates elements of New Orleans and Southern cuisine.
If you come in for breakfast, or even lunch, make sure to order Jimmy J's beignet sticks, cochon eggs Benedict, Bananas Foster French toast, or some of the other creative breakfast plates that are on offer. Grab a hot cup of coffee or tea and enjoy one of the funkiest breakfasts you'll ever experience while in New Orleans.
8. Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro
720 Orleans Ave., (504) 523-1930
orleansgrapevine.com
Like a lot of establishments in the French Quarter, Orleans Grapevine is housed in a beautiful, historic building that dates back to the early 1800s. Mindful of the building's past and loving renovated to have a relaxed atmosphere, the restaurant helps transport visitors to old New Orleans.
As the name implies, Orleans Grapevine has an extensive wine list and each glass pairs exceptionally well with all of the fine dishes the restaurant serves. The black angus house filet, double cut pork chop, and roasted duck breast are all fantastic. Seafood lovers absolutely need to order the scallops or the blackened crawfish caprese.
9. New Orleans Vampire Cafe
801 Royal St., (504) 581-0801
nolavampirecafe.com
Open to vampires and mortals alike, New Orleans Vampire Cafe serves fantastic NOLA cuisine just a short walk from Jackson Square. Lavish dishes like filet mignon, steak tartar, and well put together charcuterie boards await any who dare to enter the restaurant.
New Orleans Vampire Cafe has taken all kinds of precautions to make sure that all local nosferatus are welcomed and comfortable. The restaurant uses gold utensils instead of silver, and there are "blood bag" cocktails that will keep the walking dead throughly refreshed. Make sure to safe room for the blood orange cream brûlée.
10. Vampire Apothecary
725 St. Peter St., (504) 766 - 8179
vampireapothecary.com
Vampire Apothecary is a perfectly spooky spot that not only has delicious food and drink but also offers special vampire services including personal fang making, magic shows, and tarot and psychic readings. Their delightful, botanical, high-tea takes place the last Sunday of every month and mixes mystical spiritual practices with an English high-tea experience.
Their menu has a line-up of light-bites like spicy beet-pickled eggs and more hardy options like the pan seared ribeye. Similarly, their chocolate bats are especially festive and unique! This spot is the perfect place to relish in the creepy-ness of the French Quarter, especially for those who fall on the more-spooky side.
Great Places to Eat in NOLA's Vieux Carré
The French Quarter is the best place to be in the city to experience old New Orleans. Whether you're living it up on Bourbon Street or visiting the historic French Market for some goods, there's plenty to do, see, and eat while in the Quarter. So make sure to be some of the restaurants in the list the next time you're in the Vieux Carré. You'll be tasting some of the best food New Orleans has to offer.
