Best & Cool Bars in New Orleans

"GQ's Golden Dish Award for Eggs Sardou, Commander’s Palace’s legacy speaks for itself. Located in the Garden District, Commander’s Palace is thought to be the original spot for a jazz brunch and patio dining. For contemporary Louisiana food and alfresco dining, look no further than Commander’s Palace."

"A favorite for visitors and locals alike, Commander's Palace is a New Orleans landmark known for its award-winning Creole fare and elegant jazz brunch. MoreCallReserveStart Your ReservationWebsite"

"A neighborhood bakery dating back to 1911, which added the “poor boy” to the menu when it was invented in the 1920s. While the place closed in 1993, current owner Jay Nix resurrected the landmark Parkway Bakery & Tavern in the early aughts, serving some of the finest po-boys in town."

"This Bayou St. John po' boy staple is a favorite among locals and tourists in the know. The fried shrimp is a classic, but it's the Thanksgiving po' boy that has locals lining up around the block on Wednesdays in November. Bonus: An excellent Reuben and gumbo."

"The beloved Parkway reopened in May with a limited takeout menu of its favorite po-boys, sides, and desserts. Call for parking lot pickup, Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m."

"Click your heels three times, and you’ll end up at the Ruby Slipper Cafe on the edge of the Garden District. Wake up, and rally at this boozy brunch spot, with a little vodka in your iced coffee or a little OJ in your mimosa. Go ahead, and order another round while you snack on pig candy bacon bites – your bananas foster pain perdu and crawfish & grits benedict will help you sober up."

"The family-owned restaurant with four locations around New Orleans spotlights house signature items like Chicken St. Charles, Eggs Cochon and Bananas Foster Pain Perdu. Prices start around the $9 range, topping out around $15. The spot doesn’t take reservations."

"Opened by chef Mike Stoltzfus and his wife Lillian Hubbard in December 2008, Coquette is a Garden District stunner, from its gleaming floors and crisp linens to its architectural details and warm exposed brick walls. Chef Stoltzfus proffers innovative southern cuisine with an emphasis on locally sourced product and pastry chef Zak Miller does the same, with an emphasis on unexpected twists that elevate dessert into something ethereal. He uses seasonal fruit, fresh herbs and surprising flavors like smoke and heat to bring something special to the table."

"This Garden District gem has the vibe of a neighborhood bistro but the menu of a forward-thinking, adventurous kitchen. The small list changes regularly to reflect what’s fresh and local, as well as what creative twists chefs Kristen Essig and Michael Stoltzfus have come up with. Entrées have included black drum in vegetable sauce with fennel sausage, Mexican street corn-style okra and red snapper with butter beans."

"Pastry chef James Kubie does beautifully plated and oh so tasty desserts at this Garden District stunner, including a black tea semifreddo, coconut cake with tamarind, cashew, and sesame, and more incredible wonders that compliment chef Mike Stoltzfus' intriguing Southern menu."

"While you could easily spend another day or two in the heart of the city, I recommend getting out to the countryside and seeing another part of Louisiana: the Bayou. Most swamp tours are located at least an hour outside of the center and offer round trip transport at an extra charge. We went with Cajun Encounters on aboat ride through the famous Honey Swamp. While on the tour, we spotted multiple (!!) alligators as well as several species of birds, raccoons, and more."

"Gulf shrimp Ya-Ya pasta includes grape tomatoes sauteed in Cajun pesto over penne pasta and is served with garlic toast. Reservations accepted. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily."

"This beer bar is open 24/7 and is as cozy and intimate as you’d expect to find in a European pub. This bar has to have one of the city’s longest beer lists… And considering how long it took the craft brewery movement to catch on in New Orleans, this pub has beer an oasis for craft beer fanatics for years. Along with a great beer list, and friendly staff, there’s an upstairs bar that is every whiskey-drinker’s wet dream come true."

"Every streetcar ride should take you to a neighborhood beer joint. So this makes an excellent spot to hop off the St. Charles Streetcar. Owner Polly Watts has carved out a name for this place with her terrific selection of craft beers, many of..."

"A sampler plate of boudin from Bourre includes chicken, shrimp and pork links with curried ketchup, smoked remoulade and whole grain Dijon mustard."

"The Dickie Brennan family of restaurants began in 1991 with the opening of Palace Café. This classic New Orleans restaurant, located at the foot of the French Quarter, serves contemporary Creole food in an upbeat and lively grand café. The restaurant, housed in the historic Werlein Music building is committed to evolving Creole dishes and creating new favorites."

"This classic New Orleans restaurant, located at the foot of the French Quarter, serves contemporary Creole food in an upbeat and lively grand café. As bearers of the torch keeping Creole cuisine alive and vital, Dickie Brennan and Palace Café’s culinary team are constantly evolving traditional Creole dishes and creating a few new favorites."

"Palace Cafe's "Flavor of New Orleans" cuisine is served everyday at an upbeat and lively grand café. It is owned and operated by Dickie Brennan, of the famed New Orleans restaurant family. Open for lunch and dinnerDress code: Dress JeansPhone: +1 504-523-1661"

"Stop for breakfast or lunch at the Pagoda Cafe, perfect for any coffee stop in the seventh ward. The breakfast and lunch meals are served Tuesday through Friday, though the shop is closed on Mondays. Try one of their breakfast tacos made refried beans, roasted potatoes, egg & cheese on a flour tortilla with “Villa Arcos” sauce."

"An Indian banh mi is served with mint coconut chutney on Dong Phoung French bread with roasted beets, pickled carrots, cucumbers and greens and comes with bacon, hard-boiled egg or fried lemon grass tofu."

"In New Orleans, “lagniappe” (pronounced lan-yap) means “something extra,” and that’s what we’re giving you. Here are a few more places to eat for less, in and outside the Quarter: Remoulade (309 Bourbon St.) is the casual outpost for the more upscale Arnaud’s and a good place to sample Creole flavor; Ray’s On The Ave (2005 N. Broad St.), features authentic Southern comfort food, and New Orleans Cake Café and Bakery (2440 Chartres St.) in the nearby Marigny, offers delicious, inventive breakfast and lunch fare featuring house-made breads, bagels and signature cupcakes. Also in the Marigny, located on the music club-heavy Frenchmen Street, we recommend Mona’s Cafe (Middle Eastern specialties like excellent falafel and kebabs in a super casual setting) and Dat Dog."

"Ace Hotel stands in the Warehouse District, where you can check out Alto, the hotel’s rooftop garden. Get a mix of seasonal cocktails, wines, craft beers, frozen drinks and rotating on-tap specials at Alto’s bar. Poolside dining includes a selection of Italian-inspired small plates for any growing appetites."

"Josephine Estelle is an osteria from James Beard Award-nominated chefs, Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman, and showcases their signature culinary style of combining the craft-centric philosophy of Italian cooking with flavors of the American South. Our seasonal menu--available daily for breakfast,...See More"

"Uptown/CBDBoth locations of this breakfast/lunch/coffee shop/restaurant divide their menus into “Good Cat” and “Bad Cat.” Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free items are on the “Good Cat” menu, but definitely keep reading down the page for impossibly delicious vegan queso and Buffalo cauliflower in the small plates menu. Breakfast is served all day and if you’re in the mood for a classic lunch, try the vegan grilled cheese with gazpacho."

"The Bearcat Cafe located in the Uptown District is consistently busy and well-known for their good food and high quality ingredients. Our favorite on the menu is the Crab Daddy Biscuit which involves a soft-shell crab on a biscuit served with a sunny egg and cajun gravy. You might be waiting a while for a table but there is a reason why people are willing to wait for the food here."

"This Uptown-based sit down cafe offers the best of both worlds with its good and bad cat menus. While both equally delicious and freshly prepared, the good cat menu offers full flavor with no regret. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menu items such as pancakes, tofu scrambles, black bean sausage, ranchero and much more."