Few cities eat like New Orleans. Creole and Cajun traditions, Gulf seafood and a deep love of a long meal make dining one of the main reasons people visit. This guide to the best restaurants in New Orleans covers breakfast through late-night bites, from century-old dining rooms to neighborhood po-boy counters, all within easy reach of The Jung Hotel & Residences on Canal Street.
Tip: Popular restaurants book up quickly, especially on weekends and during festivals. Reserve ahead, and check current hours before you go.
Start the Day Right: Breakfast and Coffee
- The Daily Grind Coffee Co.: Right in our lobby, serving specialty coffee, pastries and grab-and-go items every morning. See dining at The Jung Hotel.
- The Jung Restaurant: Our on-site restaurant serves breakfast with New Orleans flavors Thursday through Sunday.
- Café Du Monde: The famous French Market café has served café au lait and beignets for generations. Expect a line, and powdered sugar everywhere.
- Brennan's: On Royal Street, the pink-walled home of Bananas Foster is a special-occasion breakfast or brunch.
Classic Creole Dining in the French Quarter
The French Quarter is home to some of America's oldest restaurants, and a dinner at one of them is a New Orleans tradition.
- Antoine's: Founded in 1840, it's credited with creating Oysters Rockefeller.
- Galatoire's: A Bourbon Street institution known for its lively Friday lunches and classic French Creole menu.
- Arnaud's: Elegant dining rooms, souffléed potatoes and the French 75 Bar next door.
These French Quarter restaurants are just a short walk from Canal Street.
Garden District Elegance
Commander's Palace is one of the city's most celebrated restaurants, famous for turtle soup, bread pudding soufflé and weekend jazz brunch. Ride the St. Charles Streetcar to the Garden District and make an afternoon of it.
Po-Boys, Gumbo and Neighborhood Favorites
Some of the best meals in New Orleans come on butcher paper.
- Parkway Bakery & Tavern: A Mid-City favorite for roast beef "debris" and fried shrimp po-boys.
- Mother's Restaurant: A downtown staple near Poydras Street for po-boys, jambalaya and Creole comfort food.
- Dooky Chase's Restaurant: A Tremé landmark tied to the civil rights movement and the legacy of Chef Leah Chase, known for its Creole cooking and fried chicken.
- Willie Mae's Scotch House: Celebrated for some of the best fried chicken in the country.
Oysters and Gulf Seafood
Raw, chargrilled or fried, oysters are essential New Orleans eating. You'll find oyster bars throughout the French Quarter, and Gulf shrimp, crawfish (in season, roughly late winter through spring) and redfish appear on menus all over town. Ask your server what's fresh that day.
Romantic Restaurants in New Orleans
For a date night or anniversary, look for candlelit courtyards in the French Quarter, the historic dining rooms of the city's grand Creole restaurants, or a jazz brunch in the Garden District. Pair dinner with live music on Frenchmen Street and you have the perfect evening. Planning a couple's trip? See our New Orleans weekend getaway itinerary.
Drinks and a Nightcap
New Orleans gave the world the Sazerac and the Vieux Carré cocktail. Learn the history at The Sazerac House, a short walk from Canal Street, then end the evening at our own Lobby Bar, serving handcrafted cocktails, fine wines and small bites Thursday through Sunday. In summer, the Rooftop Pool Bar adds seasonal drinks with skyline views.
Eat Well, Stay Central
With the Canal Streetcar outside our door and the French Quarter steps away, The Jung Hotel & Residences makes it easy to eat your way through the city and come back to a comfortable room. Want to work up an appetite? Browse our list of the best things to do in New Orleans.
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