It’s no secret that New Orleans is the epicenter of delicious cuisine, culture, and exciting events in Louisiana. From scrumptious shrimp remoulade to a perfect Po’ Boy sandwich, Haute Cuisine is not to be missed. But, there’s no shortage of amazing restaurants and bars to try, so we thought we’d make a list of our top six favorite historical restaurants in New Orleans. So, join the flocks of tourists and award-winning chefs and come on down to The Big Easy to sample some delicious local cuisine.
Laissez les bon temps rouler and bon appetit, y’all!
Antoine’s (1840)
This year has been a big one for us here at Antoine’s Restaurant and we are so proud and happy to be able to have enjoyed such a wonderful 175th anniversary in the best city in the world! Thank you to all who helped us celebrate and who helped make it all happen. Cheers to what the new year, our 176th in business, will bring! As the oldest restaurant in town and one of the five oldest in the US, Antoine’s is a gorgeous French Quarter restaurant (located at 713 St. Louis Street) that has quite a reputation to live up to. Despite its landmark status, staff and kitchen still work hard to ensure every diner has an amazing meal. Classic NOLA dishes like Oysters Rockefeller or Eggs Sardou are among the delights listed on the menu, while the bar does a Sazerac to perfection.
Reservations are recommended and the dress code is smart casual with jackets preferred for men in the evening.
Tujague’s (1856)
DSC_2924 by Tom Hilton licensed under CC by 2.0
Brrr… It’s cold outside! Come warm up with some of our Creole Gumbo. The second-oldest restaurant in New Orleans, Tujague’s is a French Quarter restaurant (at 823 Decatur Street) that carries on traditions that began when carriages crowded the city’s cobblestone streets. Enjoy a cocktail at the original stand-up bar, now in its second century! The shrimp remoulade and brisket po-boys are two of its most popular offerings (not to mention the drinks mixed with skill behind the bar). With the historic and refined atmosphere, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled to another century and get to sample some amazing local food!
Reservations are recommended and the dress code is smart casual.
Commander’s Palace (1893)
Commander’s Palace Restaurant by T.Tseng licensed under CC by 2.0
Family-owned Commander’s Palace has been wowing palates with exquisite Haute Creole dishes and utterly genteel service since 1893, making it the third-oldest restaurant in New Orleans. With chefs such as Paul Prudhomme, Emeril Lagasse, Jamie Shannon, and now Tory McPhail among its kitchen alumni, this revered Garden District restaurant dripping with awards and accolades (located at 1403 Washington Avenue) is arguably the city’s most popular and historically significant place to eat. Dining here is something like a dream come true – and a most delicious dream at that.
Reservations are recommended, while the dress code is business attire with jackets preferred for men.
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Galatoire’s (1905)
Galatoires – Oysters Rockefeller by David Veksler licensed under CC by 2.0
Galatoire’s is rowdy and raucous. It is also rarefied and refined. Maybe all the revelry is simply because folks feel understandably jubilant to be eating the epitome of Haute Creole cuisine in this historic and iconic Bourbon Street restaurant (at 209 Bourbon Street). Despite its location on one of the most infamously touristic streets in the world, 90% or more of Galatoire’s clientele are usually gleefully indulgent locals exuding pride to reside in such a bon vivant town.
The restaurant has a no-reservations policy, so queue up early to avoid disappointment, especially for Friday lunch, when it’s a safe bet the place will be packed to the rafters and buzzing with boozed-up excitement. The dress code is business casual for lunch. No shorts or T-shirts, and jackets are required for gentlemen starting at 5 p.m. nightly and all day Sunday.
Arnaud’s & the French 75 Bar (1918)
Arnaud’s Dining Room by Gary J. Wood licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Thank you to everyone who kicked off their weekend early with us yesterday, with our French 75’s first every happy hour! We look forward to many more happy hours with you! Friday’s 3:00-5:30 p.m. 1/2 off glasses of wine & a $5.00 signature cocktail. A major plus, our bar snacks are available! Arnaud’s & the French 75 Bar is a 99-year-old grande dame of Haute Creole cuisine that opened in 1918 and continues to woo patrons with its regional fish and seafood and local flair. The restaurant’s bar, French 75, was a hot spot during Prohibition, offering private rooms for imbibing customers. Today, the speakeasy ambiance remains with a cozy catacomb of nooks lined along the restaurant’s spine. A small ensemble of jazz performers serenades diners at their table nightly as well as for Sunday Jazz Brunch.
Reservations are recommended and the dress code is business casual (collared shirts required for men, no shorts, t-shirts, or flip-flops are permitted).
Broussard’s (1920)
Established in 1920, Broussard’s is an elegant French Quarter setting for fine dining with a menu focused on elevating down-home dishes through culinary refinement (find it on 819 Conti Street). There’s a pretty courtyard for intimate al fresco dining and a most magnificent bar for exploring an inspired range of cocktails that are as historic as they are tasty.
Reservations are recommended and the dress code is smart casual for the dining area (no dress code for the bar).
Have you been to any other great historic eateries in The Big Easy? Let us know in the comments below.
