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Where to Dine Solo in New Orleans

Where to eat when you’re on a date with yourself

by Beth D'Addono and Clair Lorell Updated
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LUVI.
| LUVI
by Beth D'Addono and Clair Lorell Updated

Dining solo can be an oasis of calm in an otherwise frantic day. A chance to center, savor, and regroup without the distraction of making small talk. For a committed eater, it’s also the chance to taste exactly what is craved, without having to accommodate anyone else’s whims. That said, the best place to dine alone isn’t usually in the middle of a crowded dining room, surrounded by starry-eyed couples, shrieking children, and rowdy groups. Here are some fab options that welcome solo diners and offer cozy seating for loners in the dining room and bar, from grabbing a bowl of pho to enjoying a seven-course tasting menu.

Did we miss your favorite spot to dine solo? Let us know.

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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.

Clancy's Restaurant

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This Uptown bastion of French-Creole cuisine is well known for its lively bar scene, and for good reason. Clancy’s is the kind of place where everybody knows everybody, so expect a few stares. That said, the bartenders are friendly, the food is traditional and good and the drinks are potent.

6100 Annunciation St, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 895-1111
(504) 895-1111
Bill Addison/Eater

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LUVI Restaurant

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LUVI is home to some of the best sushi in town, so settle in at chef Hao Gong’s curved raw bar and get ready for a treat. The Shanghai native, who worked for years at Sake Cafe, delivers brilliant takes on raw and nearly raw fish, paired with the likes of cucumber and yuzu vinegar and pink dragon fruit. Shanghai comfort food also soars — dumplings, dan dan noodles, and bam bam chicken are just a few winners to try.

5236 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 605-3340
(504) 605-3340
The chef’s counter at LUVI
Katherine Kimball/Eater NOLA

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Bearcat Cafe Uptown

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Bearcat is well-suited for a solo breakfast or lunch, with ample, coffee-shop-style seating and options like chia pudding tofu scramble and chai pancakes with pecans, as well as a vegan-friendly menu. For lunch, sandwiches and bowls satisfy without weighing down.

2521 Jena St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 309-9011
(504) 309-9011
Bearcat Cafe Uptown

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Dakar NOLA

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While a fine-dining tasting menu restaurant might not be your first thought when planning a solo dinner, the vibe is different at Dakar NOLA — the whole point is for the meal to be communal. Seated with others, and sharing one of the most memorable dining experiences possible, it’s nearly impossible to leave without making a new friend or acquaintance, not to mention a deep appreciation for chef Serigne Mbaye’s elegant Senegalese cuisine.

3814 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 493-9396
(504) 493-9396
Randy Schmidt/Eater NOLA

Also featured in:

Cafe Degas

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There are only four seats at the bar at this Bayou St. John fave, a haven of French bistro fare and warm hospitality. Snag one, and enjoy Cafe Degas’ specialties including duck breast salad, onion soup, and crab salad.

3127 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 945-5635
(504) 945-5635
The outdoor facade and front entrance to Cafe Degas on Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans’s Faubourg St. John neighborhood. William A. Morgan/Shutterstock

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Juan's Flying Burrito - LGD

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All four locations of locals favorite Juan’s Flying Burrito offer friendly bars where you can often catch fellow solo diners chowing down on chips and burritos. The original on Magazine Street in the LGD is dimly lit and relaxed; solo diners can grub out in peace here.

2018 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 569-0000
(504) 569-0000

Also featured in:

Lilly's Café

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Being a longtime New Orleans lunch favorite, the dining room at Lilly’s on any given weekday is frequently occupied by solo diners slurping restorative bowls of pho on their lunch break, or before heading into their service jobs. You’ll never feel silly occupying a table here; the staff is warm and friendly and the dining room is spacious.

1813 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 599-9999
(504) 599-9999

Also featured in:

Palm&Pine

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Palm&Pine has ideal seating for solo diners: at the bar up front, and at the chef’s counter lining the open kitchen at the back of the restaurant. The chef’s counter is a particularly entertaining option, offering an inside look at how the restaurant’s creative menu of dishes blending flavors from the American South, Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America comes together. This way, there’s no need to share the corn babies, specials like shrimp mousse-stuffed squash blossoms, and dessert — the sweet course is one of the best in town.

308 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 814-6200
(504) 814-6200

Also featured in:

Bourbon House

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The bar is an awesome spot to people-watch at this solid Dickie Brennan restaurant on Bourbon Street. Then again a table by the upstairs rail on the balcony is also an ideal perch to eat crab cake Louis and charbroiled oyster pasta.

144 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 522-0111
(504) 522-0111
Bourbon House
Bourbon House
Bourbon House/Facebook

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Compère Lapin

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Chef Nina Compton’s award-winning restaurant in the Old No 77 Hotel & Chandlery features a bustling bar, a communal table, and two tops along the windows, all ideal for a solo snacker. Compere Lapin is a busy place with tons of action, thanks to stupendous cocktails and a menu of French Caribbean Creole delights. The cold-smoked tuna tartare is a keeper.

535 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 599-2119
(504) 599-2119
Inside Compere Lapin
The bar seating at Compere Lapin
Josh Brasted/Eater New Orleans

Also featured in:

Brennan's

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Retreat to Brennan’s Roost Bar, a tropical oasis with painted flamingos, parrots, and macaws. Savor the likes of baked oysters, tea-brined chicken wings, and cheddar gougères during Bubbles at Brennan’s, the special offered Monday through Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the bar and lovely courtyard.

417 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 525-9711
(504) 525-9711
brennans
Brennan’s
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Also featured in:

Bennachin

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If you’re exploring the French Quarter, Bennachin is one of the most welcoming options for solo diners, both in atmosphere and food. Comforting Gambian and Cameroonian specialties, many vegetarian-friendly, are 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.

1212 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 522-1230
(504) 522-1230
Bennachin

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Arabella Casa Di Pasta

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This quiet St. Claude Avenue pasta staple has a long, comfortable bar and friendly bartenders, great for a casual solo outing of fresh pasta and Italian small plates. As a bonus, it’s super affordable, so there doesn’t have to be an occasion in order to take yourself out.

2258 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 533-9223
(504) 533-9223
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Also featured in:

The Franklin

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This suave neighborhood spot in the Marigny is a local favorite for reliable dining and good drinks and wine. The Franklin’s bar is the best, a relaxing spot to munch on snacks and drink martinis during happy hour. A menu of interesting starters (frog legs, tuna tartare) is a swell alternative to eating an entree.

2600 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 267-0640
(504) 267-0640
The Franklin Burger
The Franklin/Official Photo

Also featured in:

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Clancy's Restaurant

6100 Annunciation St, New Orleans, LA 70118

This Uptown bastion of French-Creole cuisine is well known for its lively bar scene, and for good reason. Clancy’s is the kind of place where everybody knows everybody, so expect a few stares. That said, the bartenders are friendly, the food is traditional and good and the drinks are potent.

6100 Annunciation St, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 895-1111
(504) 895-1111
Bill Addison/Eater

LUVI Restaurant

5236 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115

LUVI is home to some of the best sushi in town, so settle in at chef Hao Gong’s curved raw bar and get ready for a treat. The Shanghai native, who worked for years at Sake Cafe, delivers brilliant takes on raw and nearly raw fish, paired with the likes of cucumber and yuzu vinegar and pink dragon fruit. Shanghai comfort food also soars — dumplings, dan dan noodles, and bam bam chicken are just a few winners to try.

5236 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 605-3340
(504) 605-3340
The chef’s counter at LUVI
Katherine Kimball/Eater NOLA

Bearcat Cafe Uptown

2521 Jena St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Bearcat is well-suited for a solo breakfast or lunch, with ample, coffee-shop-style seating and options like chia pudding tofu scramble and chai pancakes with pecans, as well as a vegan-friendly menu. For lunch, sandwiches and bowls satisfy without weighing down.

2521 Jena St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 309-9011
(504) 309-9011
Bearcat Cafe Uptown

Dakar NOLA

3814 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115

While a fine-dining tasting menu restaurant might not be your first thought when planning a solo dinner, the vibe is different at Dakar NOLA — the whole point is for the meal to be communal. Seated with others, and sharing one of the most memorable dining experiences possible, it’s nearly impossible to leave without making a new friend or acquaintance, not to mention a deep appreciation for chef Serigne Mbaye’s elegant Senegalese cuisine.

3814 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 493-9396
(504) 493-9396
Randy Schmidt/Eater NOLA

Cafe Degas

3127 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

There are only four seats at the bar at this Bayou St. John fave, a haven of French bistro fare and warm hospitality. Snag one, and enjoy Cafe Degas’ specialties including duck breast salad, onion soup, and crab salad.

3127 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 945-5635
(504) 945-5635
The outdoor facade and front entrance to Cafe Degas on Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans’s Faubourg St. John neighborhood. William A. Morgan/Shutterstock

Juan's Flying Burrito - LGD

2018 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

All four locations of locals favorite Juan’s Flying Burrito offer friendly bars where you can often catch fellow solo diners chowing down on chips and burritos. The original on Magazine Street in the LGD is dimly lit and relaxed; solo diners can grub out in peace here.

2018 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 569-0000
(504) 569-0000

Lilly's Café

1813 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Being a longtime New Orleans lunch favorite, the dining room at Lilly’s on any given weekday is frequently occupied by solo diners slurping restorative bowls of pho on their lunch break, or before heading into their service jobs. You’ll never feel silly occupying a table here; the staff is warm and friendly and the dining room is spacious.

1813 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 599-9999
(504) 599-9999

Palm&Pine

308 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Palm&Pine has ideal seating for solo diners: at the bar up front, and at the chef’s counter lining the open kitchen at the back of the restaurant. The chef’s counter is a particularly entertaining option, offering an inside look at how the restaurant’s creative menu of dishes blending flavors from the American South, Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America comes together. This way, there’s no need to share the corn babies, specials like shrimp mousse-stuffed squash blossoms, and dessert — the sweet course is one of the best in town.

308 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 814-6200
(504) 814-6200

Bourbon House

144 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130

The bar is an awesome spot to people-watch at this solid Dickie Brennan restaurant on Bourbon Street. Then again a table by the upstairs rail on the balcony is also an ideal perch to eat crab cake Louis and charbroiled oyster pasta.

144 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 522-0111
(504) 522-0111
Bourbon House
Bourbon House
Bourbon House/Facebook

Compère Lapin

535 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Chef Nina Compton’s award-winning restaurant in the Old No 77 Hotel & Chandlery features a bustling bar, a communal table, and two tops along the windows, all ideal for a solo snacker. Compere Lapin is a busy place with tons of action, thanks to stupendous cocktails and a menu of French Caribbean Creole delights. The cold-smoked tuna tartare is a keeper.

535 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 599-2119
(504) 599-2119
Inside Compere Lapin
The bar seating at Compere Lapin
Josh Brasted/Eater New Orleans

Brennan's

417 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Retreat to Brennan’s Roost Bar, a tropical oasis with painted flamingos, parrots, and macaws. Savor the likes of baked oysters, tea-brined chicken wings, and cheddar gougères during Bubbles at Brennan’s, the special offered Monday through Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the bar and lovely courtyard.

417 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 525-9711
(504) 525-9711
brennans
Brennan’s
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Bennachin

1212 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116

If you’re exploring the French Quarter, Bennachin is one of the most welcoming options for solo diners, both in atmosphere and food. Comforting Gambian and Cameroonian specialties, many vegetarian-friendly, are 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.

1212 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 522-1230
(504) 522-1230
Bennachin

Arabella Casa Di Pasta

2258 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117

This quiet St. Claude Avenue pasta staple has a long, comfortable bar and friendly bartenders, great for a casual solo outing of fresh pasta and Italian small plates. As a bonus, it’s super affordable, so there doesn’t have to be an occasion in order to take yourself out.

2258 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 533-9223
(504) 533-9223
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

The Franklin

2600 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70117

This suave neighborhood spot in the Marigny is a local favorite for reliable dining and good drinks and wine. The Franklin’s bar is the best, a relaxing spot to munch on snacks and drink martinis during happy hour. A menu of interesting starters (frog legs, tuna tartare) is a swell alternative to eating an entree.

2600 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 267-0640
(504) 267-0640
The Franklin Burger
The Franklin/Official Photo

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