clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Overhead view of a plate of sausage risotto rimmed with brown sauce and topped with fennel and herbs.
Seasonal risotto from MaMou.
Randy Schmidt/Eater NOLA

The Best Restaurants in the French Quarter

Where to eat iconic muffulettas, po’ boys, bananas Foster, and oysters Rockefeller in New Orleans’s French Quarter

View as Map
Seasonal risotto from MaMou.
| Randy Schmidt/Eater NOLA

The French Quarter is the oldest square mile in New Orleans and home to more restaurants and bars per square block than any other neighborhood. This guide is a varied cross-section of restaurants in the neighborhood, from historic places that sell iconic dishes (Johnny’s Po-Boys and Brennan’s) to cocktail destinations (Jewel of the South and Manolito) to special occasion restaurants (Restaurant R’evolution and Galatoire’s).

Consider this list a starting point for exploring French Quarter gastronomy. There are surprising and delicious treasures along the way, so don’t be shy about trying them all. Looking for drinks only? Check out these essential French Quarter bars. For a different approach to the neighborhood, here are 29 iconic French Quarter dining experiences, a bucket list of tried and true dining and drinking situations in the Vieux Carre.

Did we miss your favorite spot in the Quarter? Leave a comment or send an email.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Palm&Pine

Copy Link

Palm and Pine has firmly established itself as a French Quarter essential after a few years on the scene. Its refreshing, ever-changing food offerings mix Southern, Central American, and South American flavors with fine dining techniques and innovative pairings while becoming known for special menus, a late-night happy hour, and Caribbean-inspired cocktails. Try the crudo and corn babies to start, dishes like chicken fried Texas quail and Oaxacan duck mole for entrees, and jump at seasonal specials. Dessert is a must-order.

Oaxacan mole from Palm and Pine.
Palm and Pine

Killer PoBoys

Copy Link

Killer Poboys still rocks its original location at the rear of the Erin Rose bar, but the spot on Dauphine (next to the Museum of Death) has an expanded menu and a little more breathing room. The po’ boys range from barbecue chicken confit with coffee barbecue sauce and ranch slaw to seared gulf shrimp with coriander lime sauce to black beer debris. Vegetarian options, like a sweet potato po’ boy with black-eyed pea and pecan spread and braised greens or a whiskey grilled cheese, are available and excellent — vegetarian or not.

Barbecue Chicken Confit Po’ Boy
Barbecue chicken confit po’ boy.
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Jewel of the South

Copy Link

On the quieter outskirts of the Quarter, cocktail enthusiasts will are delighted to find an enchanting 19th-century Creole cottage that houses this beautiful cocktail bar and restaurant. Have a seat at the bar or in the Jewel of the South courtyard and sip some of the very best cocktails in town, and in the country — the tavern just won the 2024 James Beard Award for Oustanding Bar. While the drinks may have top billing due to its cocktail-expert founders, the food is also not to be missed, with tasting menus and other special dinners available from time to time.

Brandy Crusta from Jewel of the South.
Denny Culbert/Jewel of the South

Galatoire's

Copy Link

The front of the house is as important as the back of the house at this historic restaurant. Locals ask for their waiter by name upon entering the family-run staple that has long been known for lines down the street for Friday lunch. Word to the wise: The overall experience is perhaps more responsible for its popularity than the food itself, so ask your waiter what to order and take that suggestion. Soft-shell crab is a must when it’s available. 

Friday lunch at Galatoire's
Friday lunch at Galatoire’s.
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

GW Fins

Copy Link

Fish is serious business at GW Fins, where chef Michael Nelson is a leading proponent for Gulf-to-plate dining and using the entire fish in innovative ways. The menu changes constantly, based on what fish is fresh and always sustainable, but recent menus can be viewed on the website. The lobster dumplings are delicious little clouds and are almost always on the menu, as is the Scalibut, its famed scallop-encrusted halibut dish.

Outside GW Fins.
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Arnaud's Restaurant

Copy Link

Arnaud’s is known for a few things. 1. It’s a historic restaurant in the French Quarter. 2. Its James Beard Award-winning bar, the French 75 bar. 3. The souffle potatoes with béarnaise sauce are among the best that can be found, anywhere. What’s not as well-known is that the rest of the restaurant’s dishes also impress. Try the oysters Ohan, which are baked with eggplant and andouille. Whatever you do, end your meal with a fire show and order the cafe brulot.

Josh Brasted

Restaurant R'evolution

Copy Link

Chefs John Folse and Rick Tramonto came together to open this over-the-top, special occasion restaurant in the Quarter over a decade ago. Each glorious, well-appointed room represents a different influence on New Orleans cuisine. The sweeping menu includes the famed Death by Gumbo, caviar service, and quail three ways: Southern-fried, boudin-stuffed, and absinthe-glazed. Be warned: R’evolution will raise the bar on what you expect from dining, but it’s expensive so don’t get addicted.

Trio of quail: Southern-Fried, boudin-stuffed, and absinthe-glazed.
Restaurant R’evolution

One of the most refined options on the list, Bayona has been charming diners since Regina Keever and chef Susan Spicer opened the doors in 1990. Set in a 200-year-old Creole cottage in the heart of the Quarter, Bayona drips with romance, but the vibe is casual and inviting. Spicer’s award-winning global cuisine and a great wine list are ideal for a special weekend lunch or a leisurely dinner on the patio.

The carriage way and entrance at Bayona.
Bayona

Brennan's

Copy Link

Famous for breakfast, Brennan’s stuns all day long under the leadership of owner Ralph Brennan and head chef Ryan Hacker. Ten years ago, the historic restaurant went through a massive, multi-million dollar renovation that extended the bar area and brought the whole place up to date after ownership changed hands. No longer the old dowager of the French Quarter, this restaurant is now relevant and dazzling. But, by all means, try the bananas Foster. It’s well-known for a reason.

Breakfast At Brennan’s Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Since opening in late 2022, chef Tom Branighan and sommelier Molly Wismeier’s whimsical Parisian brasserie has quickly become one of New Orleans’s most exciting restaurants. Despite its humble, intimate corner space, it’s a fine-dining and wine heavyweight, informed by both Branighan and Wismeier’s extensive experience around the country and in New Orleans. Among the many elegant dishes, highlights include risotto with sauce Périgourdine, fennel sausage, and beet shoots; an escargot tartlet with suet and romesco; a salmon mi-cuit with buttermilk dill cream and carraway; and poisson a la Florentine with caviar beurre blanc and a parmesan wreath.

Escargot tartlet, blue crab remoulade, and fennel sausage risotto. 
Randy Schmidt/Eater NOLA

Irene's

Copy Link

This family-owned Creole Italian restaurant remains New Orleans’s gold standard for homey, cheesy Italian goodness. Open since 1992, Irene’s is much loved for its lasagne Bolognese and crispy duck St. Philip. Although it now accepts reservations, cutting down on the wait for a table, it’s still fun to have a martini in the piano bar before tucking into a feast.

Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29

Copy Link

When tiki historian Jeff Beachbum Berry opened this fun upscale lounge in the Quarter in 2014, the cocktail world rejoiced. The award-winning bar program from the leading authority on tiki culture features dozens of resurrected tiki drinks, from Sinatra’s favorite sipper to crazy communal wonders. The cool, laid-back atmosphere and in-the-know staff have made it a favorite in the local service industry, as well as attracting national attention from entities like Tales of the Cocktail and Miracle Christmas, which has partnered with Berry for the now-annual Sippin’ Santa pop-up.

Customers sit at a bar while a bartender makes drinks.
Latitude 29.
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Napoleon House

Copy Link

This 200-year-old French Quarter landmark was once the home of a New Orleans mayor who offered the spot to Napoleon as a refuge during his exile (but the little guy never made it). Today, Napoleon House is the essential spot in town for a Pimm’s Cup, and it’s run by the Ralph Brennan restaurant group, so the food is also on point. The muffuletta here comes controversially pressed, but it’s one of the best in town, so give it a try. 

Inside Napoleon House.
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Johnny's Po-Boys

Copy Link

Johnny’s is an unassuming classic, a counter-service spot with red and white checkered tablecloths and humble, paper-wrapped po’ boys. Stop in for a quick lunch and choose from over 30 kinds of sandwiches, like a shrimp and oyster po’boy or a Jack Cheese melt — it also serves a great breakfast.

Johnny’s Po-Boys
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Sylvain

Copy Link

This charming and romantic spot in the French Quarter is known for its exceptional ambiance and satisfying, unexpected food, from a top-notch fried chicken sandwich and a Champagne and fries special to refined versions of Southern classics with an Italian influence. Sylvain’s beauty lies in the unpredictable and ever-changing twists weaved throughout the menu — and it’s all good.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Stanley

Copy Link

Stanley manages a near-impossible feat in the French Quarter: Serving great examples of essential New Orleans cuisine without being a tourist trap. A longtime locals favorite for creative breakfast and bloody marys, it’s also one of the neighborhood’s best destinations for gumbo and red beans.

Open Thursday through Monday.

Inside Stanley.
Inside Stanley.
Nikki Mayeux/Eater NOLA

Manolito

Copy Link

Manolito is a Havana-inspired bar and cafe from a trio of top New Orleans restaurant and bar proprietors, and the vibe and drinks reflect the expertise behind it. Though the main attraction at Manolito would have to be its cocktails, the Cuban-inspired menu is absolutely worth your attention. One of Manolito’s best signature cocktails is the Jazz Daiquiri — made with Jamaican rum, lime, agave nectar, Creme de Cacao, and coffee beans, but all the drinks are fantastic. This spot is not to be missed, and now has more seating thanks to a newly-introduced courtyard.

Bennachin

Copy Link

If you’re exploring the French Quarter, Bennachin is a welcoming, casual option for comforting Gambian and Cameroonian specialties, many vegetarian-friendly, served in a cozy, funky space with eclectic furniture and colorful art covering the walls. It’s BYOB, but Sidney’s Wine Cellar is a few blocks away.

Bennachin, the restaurant’s signature dish.
Randy Schmidt/Eater NOLA

Coop's Place

Copy Link

For a super casual, inexpensive way to experience the flavors and attitude of New Orleans, stop in at Coop’s Place (no reservations). Keep your phone in your pocket, as you’ll get grief for having it out, and settle in for some good-natured (and yes, slightly gimmicky) banter with your server. Gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and Cajun fried chicken are the specialties here, and don’t expect anything fancy — it’s a nice break from the fine dining tilt of the French Quarter.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Cane & Table

Copy Link

Cane & Table offers something altogether different in the Quarter, mixing tropical, historical, and romantic touches for an enchanting atmosphere. Known for its menu of standout Caribbean cocktails, the food is excellent too, with Cuban, Jamaican, and Garifuna flavors informing small plates of crab croquetas, pork skins, and grilled octopus and entrees like arroz con pollo, fish rundown, and zarzuela de mariscos, a Catalan seafood stew. Now open seven days a week.

The courtyard at Cane & Table.
Randy Schmidt/Cane & Table

Dian Xin

Copy Link

Dian Xin has met the French Quarter’s need for excellent, traditional dim sum and fiery Sichuan flavors. From the original owners of Little Chinatown in Kenner, Diane Ceng and her family operate this simple but popular kitchen on Decatur Street with a two-page menu of bao, soups, chive cakes, jianbing, and shu mai, a solid neighborhood comfort food destination. There’s now a second location with new offerings on Conti, also in the Quarter.

Xiao Long Baos at Dian Xin
Dian Xin/Yelp

Palm&Pine

Palm and Pine has firmly established itself as a French Quarter essential after a few years on the scene. Its refreshing, ever-changing food offerings mix Southern, Central American, and South American flavors with fine dining techniques and innovative pairings while becoming known for special menus, a late-night happy hour, and Caribbean-inspired cocktails. Try the crudo and corn babies to start, dishes like chicken fried Texas quail and Oaxacan duck mole for entrees, and jump at seasonal specials. Dessert is a must-order.

Oaxacan mole from Palm and Pine.
Palm and Pine

Killer PoBoys

Killer Poboys still rocks its original location at the rear of the Erin Rose bar, but the spot on Dauphine (next to the Museum of Death) has an expanded menu and a little more breathing room. The po’ boys range from barbecue chicken confit with coffee barbecue sauce and ranch slaw to seared gulf shrimp with coriander lime sauce to black beer debris. Vegetarian options, like a sweet potato po’ boy with black-eyed pea and pecan spread and braised greens or a whiskey grilled cheese, are available and excellent — vegetarian or not.

Barbecue Chicken Confit Po’ Boy
Barbecue chicken confit po’ boy.
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Jewel of the South

On the quieter outskirts of the Quarter, cocktail enthusiasts will are delighted to find an enchanting 19th-century Creole cottage that houses this beautiful cocktail bar and restaurant. Have a seat at the bar or in the Jewel of the South courtyard and sip some of the very best cocktails in town, and in the country — the tavern just won the 2024 James Beard Award for Oustanding Bar. While the drinks may have top billing due to its cocktail-expert founders, the food is also not to be missed, with tasting menus and other special dinners available from time to time.

Brandy Crusta from Jewel of the South.
Denny Culbert/Jewel of the South

Galatoire's

The front of the house is as important as the back of the house at this historic restaurant. Locals ask for their waiter by name upon entering the family-run staple that has long been known for lines down the street for Friday lunch. Word to the wise: The overall experience is perhaps more responsible for its popularity than the food itself, so ask your waiter what to order and take that suggestion. Soft-shell crab is a must when it’s available. 

Friday lunch at Galatoire's
Friday lunch at Galatoire’s.
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

GW Fins

Fish is serious business at GW Fins, where chef Michael Nelson is a leading proponent for Gulf-to-plate dining and using the entire fish in innovative ways. The menu changes constantly, based on what fish is fresh and always sustainable, but recent menus can be viewed on the website. The lobster dumplings are delicious little clouds and are almost always on the menu, as is the Scalibut, its famed scallop-encrusted halibut dish.

Outside GW Fins.
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Arnaud's Restaurant

Arnaud’s is known for a few things. 1. It’s a historic restaurant in the French Quarter. 2. Its James Beard Award-winning bar, the French 75 bar. 3. The souffle potatoes with béarnaise sauce are among the best that can be found, anywhere. What’s not as well-known is that the rest of the restaurant’s dishes also impress. Try the oysters Ohan, which are baked with eggplant and andouille. Whatever you do, end your meal with a fire show and order the cafe brulot.

Josh Brasted

Restaurant R'evolution

Chefs John Folse and Rick Tramonto came together to open this over-the-top, special occasion restaurant in the Quarter over a decade ago. Each glorious, well-appointed room represents a different influence on New Orleans cuisine. The sweeping menu includes the famed Death by Gumbo, caviar service, and quail three ways: Southern-fried, boudin-stuffed, and absinthe-glazed. Be warned: R’evolution will raise the bar on what you expect from dining, but it’s expensive so don’t get addicted.

Trio of quail: Southern-Fried, boudin-stuffed, and absinthe-glazed.
Restaurant R’evolution

Bayona

One of the most refined options on the list, Bayona has been charming diners since Regina Keever and chef Susan Spicer opened the doors in 1990. Set in a 200-year-old Creole cottage in the heart of the Quarter, Bayona drips with romance, but the vibe is casual and inviting. Spicer’s award-winning global cuisine and a great wine list are ideal for a special weekend lunch or a leisurely dinner on the patio.

The carriage way and entrance at Bayona.
Bayona

Brennan's

Famous for breakfast, Brennan’s stuns all day long under the leadership of owner Ralph Brennan and head chef Ryan Hacker. Ten years ago, the historic restaurant went through a massive, multi-million dollar renovation that extended the bar area and brought the whole place up to date after ownership changed hands. No longer the old dowager of the French Quarter, this restaurant is now relevant and dazzling. But, by all means, try the bananas Foster. It’s well-known for a reason.

Breakfast At Brennan’s Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

MaMou

Since opening in late 2022, chef Tom Branighan and sommelier Molly Wismeier’s whimsical Parisian brasserie has quickly become one of New Orleans’s most exciting restaurants. Despite its humble, intimate corner space, it’s a fine-dining and wine heavyweight, informed by both Branighan and Wismeier’s extensive experience around the country and in New Orleans. Among the many elegant dishes, highlights include risotto with sauce Périgourdine, fennel sausage, and beet shoots; an escargot tartlet with suet and romesco; a salmon mi-cuit with buttermilk dill cream and carraway; and poisson a la Florentine with caviar beurre blanc and a parmesan wreath.

Escargot tartlet, blue crab remoulade, and fennel sausage risotto. 
Randy Schmidt/Eater NOLA

Irene's

This family-owned Creole Italian restaurant remains New Orleans’s gold standard for homey, cheesy Italian goodness. Open since 1992, Irene’s is much loved for its lasagne Bolognese and crispy duck St. Philip. Although it now accepts reservations, cutting down on the wait for a table, it’s still fun to have a martini in the piano bar before tucking into a feast.

Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29

When tiki historian Jeff Beachbum Berry opened this fun upscale lounge in the Quarter in 2014, the cocktail world rejoiced. The award-winning bar program from the leading authority on tiki culture features dozens of resurrected tiki drinks, from Sinatra’s favorite sipper to crazy communal wonders. The cool, laid-back atmosphere and in-the-know staff have made it a favorite in the local service industry, as well as attracting national attention from entities like Tales of the Cocktail and Miracle Christmas, which has partnered with Berry for the now-annual Sippin’ Santa pop-up.

Customers sit at a bar while a bartender makes drinks.
Latitude 29.
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Napoleon House

This 200-year-old French Quarter landmark was once the home of a New Orleans mayor who offered the spot to Napoleon as a refuge during his exile (but the little guy never made it). Today, Napoleon House is the essential spot in town for a Pimm’s Cup, and it’s run by the Ralph Brennan restaurant group, so the food is also on point. The muffuletta here comes controversially pressed, but it’s one of the best in town, so give it a try. 

Inside Napoleon House.
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Johnny's Po-Boys

Johnny’s is an unassuming classic, a counter-service spot with red and white checkered tablecloths and humble, paper-wrapped po’ boys. Stop in for a quick lunch and choose from over 30 kinds of sandwiches, like a shrimp and oyster po’boy or a Jack Cheese melt — it also serves a great breakfast.

Johnny’s Po-Boys
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Sylvain

This charming and romantic spot in the French Quarter is known for its exceptional ambiance and satisfying, unexpected food, from a top-notch fried chicken sandwich and a Champagne and fries special to refined versions of Southern classics with an Italian influence. Sylvain’s beauty lies in the unpredictable and ever-changing twists weaved throughout the menu — and it’s all good.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Related Maps

Stanley

Stanley manages a near-impossible feat in the French Quarter: Serving great examples of essential New Orleans cuisine without being a tourist trap. A longtime locals favorite for creative breakfast and bloody marys, it’s also one of the neighborhood’s best destinations for gumbo and red beans.

Open Thursday through Monday.

Inside Stanley.
Inside Stanley.
Nikki Mayeux/Eater NOLA

Manolito

Manolito is a Havana-inspired bar and cafe from a trio of top New Orleans restaurant and bar proprietors, and the vibe and drinks reflect the expertise behind it. Though the main attraction at Manolito would have to be its cocktails, the Cuban-inspired menu is absolutely worth your attention. One of Manolito’s best signature cocktails is the Jazz Daiquiri — made with Jamaican rum, lime, agave nectar, Creme de Cacao, and coffee beans, but all the drinks are fantastic. This spot is not to be missed, and now has more seating thanks to a newly-introduced courtyard.

Bennachin

If you’re exploring the French Quarter, Bennachin is a welcoming, casual option for comforting Gambian and Cameroonian specialties, many vegetarian-friendly, served in a cozy, funky space with eclectic furniture and colorful art covering the walls. It’s BYOB, but Sidney’s Wine Cellar is a few blocks away.

Bennachin, the restaurant’s signature dish.
Randy Schmidt/Eater NOLA

Coop's Place

For a super casual, inexpensive way to experience the flavors and attitude of New Orleans, stop in at Coop’s Place (no reservations). Keep your phone in your pocket, as you’ll get grief for having it out, and settle in for some good-natured (and yes, slightly gimmicky) banter with your server. Gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and Cajun fried chicken are the specialties here, and don’t expect anything fancy — it’s a nice break from the fine dining tilt of the French Quarter.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Cane & Table

Cane & Table offers something altogether different in the Quarter, mixing tropical, historical, and romantic touches for an enchanting atmosphere. Known for its menu of standout Caribbean cocktails, the food is excellent too, with Cuban, Jamaican, and Garifuna flavors informing small plates of crab croquetas, pork skins, and grilled octopus and entrees like arroz con pollo, fish rundown, and zarzuela de mariscos, a Catalan seafood stew. Now open seven days a week.

The courtyard at Cane & Table.
Randy Schmidt/Cane & Table

Dian Xin

Dian Xin has met the French Quarter’s need for excellent, traditional dim sum and fiery Sichuan flavors. From the original owners of Little Chinatown in Kenner, Diane Ceng and her family operate this simple but popular kitchen on Decatur Street with a two-page menu of bao, soups, chive cakes, jianbing, and shu mai, a solid neighborhood comfort food destination. There’s now a second location with new offerings on Conti, also in the Quarter.

Xiao Long Baos at Dian Xin
Dian Xin/Yelp

Related Maps