The Big Easy
Best restaurants in New Orleans (2025)
I always try to diet before a trip to New Orleans because 50% of the time I’m there, I’m eating, and the other 50% I’m drinking.
JK there’s atonof amazing, non-hedonistic things to do but the food is a big part of the culture. It’s how Southerners show you you’re welcome there, and their food is filling, and not low-cal by any means.
All this is to say it doesn’t matter because few cities in America match New Orleans when it comes to culinary heritage. The
city’s food is a living history lesson, shaped by French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and Native American influences that blended over centuries to create Creole and Cajun cuisine.
Gumbo and jambalaya tell stories of cultural exchange, while po’boys and red beans and rice speak to the ingenuity of making the most with what was available. Many of the city’s signature dishes were born from humble beginnings, crafted by resourceful cooks stretching simple ingredients into deeply flavorful meals. Over time, these traditions evolved into a rich dining culture, where neighborhood joints stand alongside storied institutions that have been serving locals for over a hundred years. In New Orleans, eating isn’t just a necessity – it’s a way of preserving identity, celebrating resilience, and honoring a past that still flavors every plate.
So what are the best restaurants in New Orleans in 2025?
Antoine’s Restaurant is an icon in New Orleans, where history and Creole cuisine blend to offer an unforgettable experience. Established in 1840, this French Quarter institution is the oldest family-run restaurant in the United States, serving signature dishes like Oysters Rockefeller, which Antoine’s famously invented. With its opulent dining rooms, vintage chandeliers, and storied ambiance, Antoine’s transports guests back to the grandeur of 19th-century New Orleans. This legendary restaurant offers a true taste of the city’s culinary heritage and the essence of Creole tradition.
The history
New Orleans’ oldest restaurant was founded by a French immigrant in 1840, and has managed to survive the Civil War, both World Wars, Prohibition, the Great Depression and Hurricane Katrina.
The experince
The rooms are decorated uniquely and extravagantly, with photographs of notable musicians, politicians, military personnel, sports figures, royalty, including George Bush, Bill Clinton, Franklin Roosevelt, Pope John Paul II, Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise, Kate Hudson, Jimmy Buffet, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Hope, and Bing Crosby, etc. If it’s not too busy the staff will take you on a quick tour by request.
Culinary specialties
Birthplace of culinary classics such as the Rockefeller Oysters, Eggs Sardou (poached eggs over artichoke bottoms with anchovies, topped with hollandaise sauce), and Pommes de Terre Souffles (marvelous puffed potatoes that Antoine’s helped popularize).
The menu
Not super cheap but standard pricing for an upscale NOLA restaurant, with entrees ranging form $30-$50 (see menu). They do have $38 3-course Jazz Brunch menu 10:30AM – 2:00PM on Sunday and a $45 3-course Coolinary Dinner menu every night.
My tab
Make a reservation here.
The History
The Experience
Culinary Specialities
The Menu
They have an al a carte brunch menu, a 3-course Coolinary menu for $45, and a 5-course dinner menu is about $70. I’m not sure if they do a la carte dinner or not.
Make a reservation here.
Country Club
The History
The Experience
Culinary Specialities
The Menu
Cafe Du Monde
Cafe Du Monde is the quintessential New Orleans experience, famous for its iconic beignets and rich, chicory-laced coffee. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, this historic cafe has been delighting locals and tourists alike since 1862. Open 24 hours a day, this is where you get fluffy, powdered-sugar-dusted beignets amid the chaos of late-night Jackson Square.
The History
The Original Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand was established in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market, a traditional coffee shop, and hasn’t veered too far from its roots. Pre-pandemic it was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week – closing only for Christmas Day and the occasional Hurricane. The workers are ready to serve beignets and cafe-au-lait-all-day for the earlier-risers, as well as the late-nighters. Now, under the new world order, it closes at 11:00PM, which is really sad.
The Experience
Cafe du Monde has 2 personalities – one is awake at 7:00 AM reading a book and enjoying a coffee and a beignet. The other is shit-faced at 2:00 AM, straight from Barley Legal, spilling powdered sugar on his friends’ laps, trying to soak up the last of the liquor before crawling home to his Airbnb. I always recommended trying both, but now you gotta get it done by 11:00.
Culinary Specialities
The menu consists of dark roasted Coffee and Chicory, Beignets, White and Chocolate Milk, and fresh squeezed Orange Juice. The coffee is served Black or Au Lait. If your French is rusty, Au Lait means that it is mixed half and half with hot milk. Beignets are square French -style doughnuts covered with powdered sugar. In 1988 Iced Coffee was introduced to the cafe. Soft drinks also made their debut that year but nobody cares about soda.
If you need to bring something back to someone and they’re a coffee drinker or a pastry enthusiast this is the spot.
The Menu
See here for both in-house and takeaway.
Cafe du Monde does not take reservations – and it’s always crowded so be prepared to stand in a well-worth-it line.
Commander’s Palace
Commander’s Palace is located across from the Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District and has been a New Orleans landmark since 1893.
It’s super not cheap. But if you have cash burning a hole or a new SO that you want to impress, this is the go-to destination for Haute Creole cuisine and whimsical Louisiana charm, and the tasting menus are impressive. They’ve won seven James Beard Foundation Awards and is a NOLA culinary legend.
The History
Founded by Emile Commander, the restaurant became a gathering spot for the city’s elite. Over the years it changed ownership and evolved, with the Brennan family taking the helm in the 1970s, transforming it into the world-renowned dining destination that it is today.
Commander’s Palace is famous for introducing jazz brunch to the city and claims to have brought iconic dishes like turtle soup and bread pudding souffle to the forefront of Creole cuisine.
The Experience
Culinary Specialities
Turtle Soup au Sherry: A classic Louisiana favorite, this rich and hearty soup is prepared with veal fond, egg, and crushed lemon, and is traditionally finished tableside with a splash of aged sherry.
Shrimp and Tasso Henican: This dish features wild Louisiana white shrimp stuffed with house-made tasso ham, accompanied by pickled okra, sweet red onions, five-pepper jelly, and Crystal hot sauce beurre blanc, offering a harmonious blend of spicy and savory flavors.
Pecan-Crusted Gulf Fish: A testament to the restaurant’s commitment to local ingredients, this entrée presents Prosecco-poached jumbo lump crab over spiced New Roads pecan-crusted fish, complemented by roasted corn, asparagus, grilled kale, melted leeks, and a whiskey-spiked crushed corn cream.
Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé: Dubbed “The Queen of Creole Desserts,” this signature dessert combines the richness of traditional bread pudding with the lightness of a soufflé, finished tableside with warm whiskey cream.
The Menu
Ãla Carte Menu: Commander’s has a range of appetizers, soups, salads, entraes, and desserts that you can do a la carte, but if you come all the way here you should do a tasting menu.
Tasting Menu: The Chef’s Playground Tasting Menu is priced at $110 with an optional $70 wine pairing.
Make a reservation here.
St Roch Market
St. Roch Market is a dynamic food hall and cultural hub located in New Orleans’ vibrant Bywater neighborhood. Housed in a beautifully restored historic market building, St. Roch Market brings together a diverse array of local vendors, offering a curated selection of cuisines that reflect New Orleans’ multicultural flavors. From fresh seafood and gourmet Creole dishes to inventive vegan options and artisan cocktails, this food hall is a haven for food lovers seeking variety and quality under one roof.
More like a fancy food hall, this place is great if you want casual dining with lots of options, without having to sacrifice quality. Local chefs create innovative and varied food in 11 restaurant stations, centered around award-winning craft cocktail bar, The Mayhaw.
Bacchanal Food Wine & Spirits
Bacchanal is a little off the beaten path (in the 9th Ward) and I think we ran into it by accident the first time we went there but we definitely seek it out now. They don’t have much info on the website but they describe themselves as “an experience laboratory where food, music & culture collude with Holy Vino to create the most unique evenings you will ever experience in New Orleans Ninth Ward.”
This is how I describe it: You walk into what looks like a run down liquor store from the outside –
and then on the inside it looks like a cute-but-dusty artisanal wine and spirits shop –
you pick out some drinks and some cheeses and they “plate it” (make it into a cheese board) with olives, pickles, toasted bread, chutney, mostarda & seeds. Then you go outside, where it gets even cuter –
Some restaurants that I came across and plan to try when I go in March but haven't been to yet:
The Vessel – Restaurant in a church.
Brennan’s – Famous for the Foster Freeze
Court of Two Sisters – Jazz Brunch buffet 7 days a week 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The Bower – Don’t remember where I found this one but it looks good
N7 NOLA – French wine bar that was a horse carriage stable, then a tire shop
Lolas – Came across this on a food show – cute, chic southern outdoor seating vibe
Gris Gris – New Orleans Magazine’s “Best Balcony”, “Best Happy Hour”, and “Best Brunch,” and the chef is a badass-looking vet dude
Paladar 511 – Really cool-looking open kitchen concept
If you’re headed to the Big Easy check out this complete guide to your next New Orleans trip, and see some of our favorite hotels, below:
Best hotels in NOLA
Airbnbs are a great option in New Orleans, especially if you’re traveling with a group – you can find charming homes with courtyards, balconies, and plenty of space to spread out. But New Orleans also has some truly exceptional hotels that offer local charm, history, and personality you won’t get from a rental. Here are three standout picks for every budget:
Affordable: Lafitte’s Hotel & Bar
A creaky, romantic guesthouse on Bourbon Street housed in an 1849 mansion, complete with wrought iron balconies and ghosts (allegedly). It’s across from the oldest and coolest bar in the country and not far from the action.
Price: $120–$200 per night
Vibe: Haunted charm meets French Quarter romance
Booking.com Rating: 8.4 / 10
Neighborhood: French Quarter
Upper-Mid: The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel
This historic hotel oozes classic Southern glamor – from the gilded lobby to the rooftop pool and famed Sazerac Bar. It’s luxurious, walkable to the French Quarter, and part of the Hilton family.
Price: $250–$400 per night, Or with ~70,000–90,000 Hilton Honors
Vibe: Gilded age glam meets modern luxury
Booking.com Rating: 8.7 / 10
Neighborhood: Central Business District
Luxe: Windsor Court Hotel
A New Orleans classic with timeless elegance, a rooftop pool, and some of the largest rooms in the city. It’s a favorite for weddings, special occasions, and anyone seeking refined Southern hospitality just a short walk from the French Quarter.
Price: $300–$450 per night
Vibe: Grand, polished, and timeless
Booking.com Rating: 9.0 / 10
Neighborhood: Central Business District
Check out more NOLA hotels here:
If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans check out our complete guide to how to do it right.
As always, if you have any questions or want specific recommendations leave them in the comments and I’ll respond.
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