Classic Establishment
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Guide
The Most Classic New Orleans Restaurants
All the must-try places and essential meals for any visit to the Big Easy.
Classic Establishment
Review
Bar Tonique
When you need a break from Bourbon Street, but can’t leave the Quarter, head to Bar Tonique for a quality $6 cocktail, and no bachelor parties.
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Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop
There are a lot of terrible bars on Bourbon Street, but Lafitte’s isn’t one of them. Grab a voodoo juice, enjoy the patio, and be glad you ended up here.
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The Carousel Bar & Lounge
The Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone is indeed a bar on a moving carousel, and while it can feel a bit gimmicky, you should still grab a drink here.
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Tipitina’s
Tipitina’s is one of the best spots to see live music in New Orleans, and it regularly hosts some of the biggest brass shows in the city.
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Sazerac Bar
Go to the Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel to start the night with a cocktail, or whenever you need a break from nearby Bourbon Street.
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Apple Barrel Bar
Apple Barrel Bar on Frenchmen is one of the smallest bars on the street, and one of the best spots around for live music.
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Maple Leaf Bar
The Maple Leaf in Uptown is a great bar to see some live music, often until 4am, and it hosts the Rebirth Brass Band every Tuesday.
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Kermit’s Treme Mother in Law Lounge
You could mistake Kermit’s for any neighborhood corner store, but this is one of the best bars in New Orleans for live music.
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Parkway Bakery & Tavern
For the best po’boy in New Orleans, head to Parkway in Mid-City and you won’t be disappointed.
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Cafe Du Monde
Cafe Du Monde is one of the touristy spots in town, but the famous beignets are worth the line.
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Pêche
Peche in the Warehouse District is a great spot for big groups, like when you and your 20 closest friends want to have a few drinks and eat seafood.
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Jacques-Imo’s Cafe
Jacques-Imo’s in Uptown is part-restaurant, part-party, and one place in New Orleans that could never exist anywhere else.
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Cochon Restaurant
The wood-fired oysters at Cochon are one of the single best things you can eat in New Orleans, and their cocktails are pretty good, too.
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Galatoire’s
Galatoire’s is an old school spot in the French Quarter known for tuxedo-clad servers, classic Creole food, and their very boozy Friday lunch.
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Casamento’s
You should eat your weight in oysters while in New Orleans, and Casamento’s on Magazine Street is the number one spot to do just that.
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Brennan’s
If you only have brunch once in New Orleans, make sure it’s at Brennan’s in the French Quarter.
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Dooky Chase Restaurant
Dooky Chase's is a New Orleans institution and one of the best places for Creole food in existence.
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Commander’s Palace
When you want a taste of true, classic New Orleans, grab lunch and 25-cent martinis at Commander’s Palace in the Garden District.
Guide
The Most Classic New Orleans Restaurants
All the must-try places and essential meals for any visit to the Big Easy.
Review
Arnaud's
Arnaud's is a classic Creole restaurant in the French Quarter that has been serving up great food, cocktails, and live jazz since 1918.
Review
Gautreau’s
The biggest draw at Gautreau’s, an Uptown French spot, is their garden, which is the perfect atmosphere for a sort-of fancy dinner.
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Brigtsen’s
Brigtsen's is an Uptown restaurant that feels like you're in another time period. They serve old-school Creole dishes and the space has a Victorian cottage vibe.
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Pat O’Brien’s
With a flaming fountain, huge patio, and dueling pianos, Pat O’Brien’s is the go-to day drinking and late-night bar in the French Quarter.