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The making of Arnaud’s Café Brûlot.

The Essential French Quarter Dining Guide

The neighborhood has everything — historic Creole cafes, elegant cocktail havens, hole-in-the-wall po’ boy shops, and decadent fine-dining

by Clair Lorell Updated Jun 20, 2024, 9:29am CDT

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The making of Arnaud’s Café Brûlot.

| Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

by Clair Lorell Updated Jun 20, 2024, 9:29am CDT

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 Arnaud’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.

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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.

MaMou

Since opening in late 2022, chef Tom Branighan and sommelier Molly Wismeier’s whimsical French restaurant has quickly become one of New Orleans’s most exciting restaurants. Despite its humble, intimate corner space, it’s a fine-dining and wine world 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.

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942 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Visit Website

Escargot tartlet, blue crab remoulade, and fennel sausage risotto.

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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.

Open in Google Maps

1212 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Visit Website

Bennachin, the restaurant’s signature dish.

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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.

1218 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116

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Xiao Long Baos at Dian Xin

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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.

1113 Decatur St (Ursulines), New Orleans, LA 70116

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The courtyard at Cane & Table.

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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.

1109 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116

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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.

1026 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70112

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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.

508 Dumaine St, New Orleans, LA 70116

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A frozen drink in a glass with aloe leaves and a Luxardo cherry.

Also featured in:

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.

547 Saint Ann St (at Chartres St), New Orleans, LA 70116

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Palm and 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.

308 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Visit Website

Oaxacan mole from Palm and Pine.

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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.

430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Visit Website

The carriage way and entrance at Bayona.

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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.

625 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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.

417 Royal St, New Orleans, LA

Visit Website

Breakfast At Brennan’s

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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.

813 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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.

219 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Visit Website

Barbecue Chicken Confit Po’ Boy — Barbecue chicken confit po’ boy.

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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.

808 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA

Visit Website

Chicken skin crusted fish.

Also featured in:

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, classic breakfast.

511 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Johnny’s Po-Boys

Also featured in:

22 Essential Po’ Boy Shops in and Around New Orleans

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.

Open in Google Maps

777 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA

Visit Website

Trio of quail: Southern-Fried, boudin-stuffed, and absinthe-glazed.

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.

209 Bourbon St (at Iberville St), New Orleans, LA 70130

Visit Website

Friday lunch at Galatoire's — Friday lunch at Galatoire’s.

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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.

529 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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.

321 N Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Visit Website

Customers sit at a bar while a bartender makes drinks. — Latitude 29.

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MaMou

942 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Since opening in late 2022, chef Tom Branighan and sommelier Molly Wismeier’s whimsical French restaurant has quickly become one of New Orleans’s most exciting restaurants. Despite its humble, intimate corner space, it’s a fine-dining and wine world 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.

Open in Google Maps

942 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Visit Website

Escargot tartlet, blue crab remoulade, and fennel sausage risotto.

Bennachin

1212 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116

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.

Open in Google Maps

1212 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Visit Website

Bennachin, the restaurant’s signature dish.

Dian Xin

1218 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116

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.

1218 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Visit Website

Xiao Long Baos at Dian Xin

Cane & Table

1113 Decatur St (Ursulines), New Orleans, LA 70116

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.

1113 Decatur St (Ursulines), New Orleans, LA 70116

Visit Website

The courtyard at Cane & Table.

Coop's Place

1109 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116

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.

1109 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Visit Website

Jewel of the South

1026 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70112

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.

1026 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Visit Website

Manolito

508 Dumaine St, New Orleans, LA 70116

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.

508 Dumaine St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Visit Website

A frozen drink in a glass with aloe leaves and a Luxardo cherry.

Stanley

547 Saint Ann St (at Chartres St), New Orleans, LA 70116

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.

547 Saint Ann St (at Chartres St), New Orleans, LA 70116

Visit Website

Palm and Pine

308 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70112

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.

308 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Visit Website

Oaxacan mole from Palm and Pine.

Bayona

430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

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.

430 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Visit Website

The carriage way and entrance at Bayona.

Sylvain

625 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA

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.

625 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA

Visit Website

Brennan's

417 Royal St, New Orleans, LA

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.

417 Royal St, New Orleans, LA

Visit Website

Breakfast At Brennan’s

Arnaud's Restaurant

813 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA

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.

813 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA

Visit Website

Killer PoBoys

219 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

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.

219 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Visit Website

Barbecue Chicken Confit Po’ Boy — Barbecue chicken confit po’ boy.

GW Fins

808 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA

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.

808 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA

Visit Website

Chicken skin crusted fish.

Related Maps

Johnny's Po-Boys

511 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130

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, classic breakfast.

511 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Johnny’s Po-Boys

Restaurant R'evolution

777 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA

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.

Open in Google Maps

777 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA

Visit Website

Trio of quail: Southern-Fried, boudin-stuffed, and absinthe-glazed.

Galatoire's

209 Bourbon St (at Iberville St), New Orleans, LA 70130

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.

209 Bourbon St (at Iberville St), New Orleans, LA 70130

Visit Website

Friday lunch at Galatoire's — Friday lunch at Galatoire’s.

Irene's

529 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70130

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.

529 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Visit Website

Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29

321 N Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130

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.

321 N Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Visit Website

Customers sit at a bar while a bartender makes drinks. — Latitude 29.

Related Maps