Where To Find "Yummy Cocktail Local Hip Casual Vibes" in New Orleans
Specifically those vibes and absolutely no others.
I say the following at the top of every list I produce, but I feel it’s especially important to preamble this one: this is not a comprehensive New Orleans dining list.
New Orleans is one of the country’s great food cities, if not the country’s Great Food City. I, having visited less than a handful of times, watched some travel shows, and done a bit of research, cannot produce a comprehensive dining list of New Orleans. Hell, I can’t produce a comprehensive dining list of LA, and I’ve been here 30 years. And that’s in addition to my fundamental disbelief in anything being, or claiming to be, comprehensive — which we don’t need to go further into here.
Instead, this list was built specifically for a couple friends of mine as a product of Off We Go to Eat (where I build personalized food recommendation lists for people I like). The prompt, paraphrased: “We’re in New Orleans for three days and two nights. For dinner we’re looking for ‘yummy cocktail local hip vibes,’ and for lunch ‘casual local fun.’” They did indeed go on to enjoy the vibes, explore locally, and have fun.
So with that, here’s my “Yummy Cocktail Local Hip Casual Fun Vibes” list for New Orleans; which might be the only New Orleans food list not to feature any beignets.
(Though to immediately undermine that, I do recommend both Cafe du Monde and Morning Call.)
Enjoy.
Breakfast & Brunch
Molly’s Rise & Shine (11th Ward, 2368 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130). Molly’s is a brunch joint from the fine folks of Turkey and the Wolf (see Lunch). There’s comforting, filling breakfast to be had here, especially anything in between or on top of or having anything to do with biscuits. Magazine St makes an excellent walk in both directions, full of many many shops and cafes and eccentrically decorated yards and porches.
Bacchanal (Bywater, 600 Poland Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117). Here’s the thing with Bacchanal: my parents have been here and loved it, which is nice for them, but tells me that Bacchanal can’t be that cool. Then again, my cool NOLA friends (who are so cool) also love it, which tells me it might be that cool. Breaking the tie are a few chefs and food folks I follow on Instagram who’ve also been there in the last year and all loved it (and not only loved it, but practically yelled from the rooftops that it totally rules), so Bacchanal, I think, really must be that cool. Who could have guessed my parents would go to a cool place?
Anyway, Bacchanal is a bombastic wine bar/cheese store/backyard patio hangout with live music and sneaky-delicious small plates. A place where anyone with a heart and a stomach and some semblance of a brain can have a great time. Probably the easiest recommendation on this list. Also open for lunch, dinner, the whole day long. Basically, go whenever!
Lunch
Turkey & The Wolf (11th Ward, 739 Jackson Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130). Turkey & The Wolf is not just a neighborhood sandwich-focused restaurant — it is also the purveyor of the country’s best restaurant merch. You’re probably here for the stuff between the bread — the famous Bologna, the famous grilled collards, the famous Tomato — and it’s tremendous, unique stuff, but there’s also a fantastic supporting cast of sides and specials here not to be missed, with plenty of somethings for everyone. They also have cocktails, and they are also great.
Bearcat CBD (Downtown? 845 Carondelet St, New Orleans, LA 70130). Bearcat is a real cutey-brunchey-lunchey-hippy-vibey place with an expansive, accommodating, yet substantial menu. I tried to go with my cool NOLA friends but it was busy. But it looked cool, and their menu really is drool-inspiring.
Napoleon House (French Quarter, 500 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130). Napoleon House is a legend, an old-as-old-gets tavern in the middle of the Quarter that, miraculously, resists the tourist trappings and lives up to its reputation. You’re here for the muffuletta — that glorious, olive oil-soaked cold cut discus of a sandwich — and also very solid versions of classic NOLA fare. Get a Pimm’s Cup and some gumbo, maybe some red beans and rice, and you’ll be happy. Great for lunch or a nice afternoon snack, or a late dinner. Nowhere’s bad to sit — there’s something fascinating to look at no matter where your eyes wander — but the courtyard is where it’s at.
Dinner
Saint John (French Quarter, 1117 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116). I had an all-time great dinner here with some friends the last time I visited New Orleans. It’s fine dining, but new fine dining (as opposed to dusty decrepit fine dining), and fun new fine dining at that. It’s Creole in the Quarter — and of the many, many restaurants to offer Creole in the Quarter, you could hardly do better, and could easily do far worse. Get the fish.
Herbsaint (Warehouse District near Lafayette Square, 701 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130). Herbsaint is an upscale French-NOLA joint on all the lists. I’ve never been there, but I’d definitely like to. Expect desperately well-executed small plates that update regularly — a perfect “last night in New Orleans” dinner.
Saint Germain (Bywater, 3054 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117). The final ‘fecta of our unofficial “Saints” trifecta of dinner recommendations (tell me New Orleans is Catholic without telling me…etc). Saint Germain is a cozy wine bar with a 10-course tasting menu that accommodates dietary needs & preferences (as long as you let them know ahead of time). By many accounts, it’s a real to-do, but one that’s actually worth to-doing. Definitely make a reservation.
Jacques-Imo’s (East Carollton, 8324 Oak St, New Orleans, LA 70118). In many ways the precursor to later NOLA street party restaurants like Turkey and the Wolf, Jacques-Imo’s is creative Cajun at its most creative and Cajun. You are here to eat what Louisiana does best, with absolute abandon. It is a hell of a time; as long as you can get a reservation, or are willing to wait for a table. (If you do go and the line is wild, Seafood Sally’s is nearby and also very good.)
Cocktails / Bars / Also Dinner But Lighter / Also Lunch
Bayou Wine & Beer Garden (Mid-City, 315 N Rendon, New Orleans, LA 70119). Recommended by a friend who grew up in and worked in the city. One of New Orleans’ great dining features is the backyard (like the aforementioned Bacchanal’s), and this is an ultra-casual and spacious one smack in the middle of town near the top of the Lafitte Greenway. A little less touristed and more neighborhoody than Bacchanal or The Tchoup Yard (which is also plenty of fun), you go to Bayou purely to have a good time, occasionally more, rarely less.
Manolito (French Quarter, 508 Dumaine St, New Orleans, LA 70116). Manolito is a cozy Cuban hideaway that kinda feels like it doesn’t belong in the French Quarter, in the best way. Meaning: it’s good, it’s a genuine article, and it isn’t frequented by one million billion tourists.
Beachbum Jerry’s Latitude 29 (French Quarter, 321 N Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130). Listen, I know this place is called “Beachbum Jerry’s.” It’s apparently an incredible tiki bar; the tiki bar to end all tiki bars, even. It has good bar bites. Sounds lovely. But…tiki bars bug me. Something to do with the wholehearted appropriation of Pacific Islander iconography and culture, probably (even if it is mostly celebratory). Then again, if I can tolerate Islands, I can tolerate Beachbum Jerry’s (and boy can I tolerate Islands — the cheese fries are especially tolerable). So here it is, recommended.
Cane & Table (French Quarter, 1113 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116). Terrible name. Terrible. Name. Cane & Table…get it? Eh? Ehhhh?
But also…the food and drinks look pretty good? Plus super super cute patio seating? If you can get past the name, which is no simple ask, it might just be worth a visit. (Note: my friends can confirm it is indeed plenty worth visiting, despite the name.)
Cure (Freret, 4905 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115). Crafty cocktails in a refurbished old firehouse. If you’re nearby, this is an easy stop at any time of day.
The Spotted Cat (Frenchmen St, 623 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70117). The Spotted Cat is my favorite music spot on Frenchmen St; which isn’t saying much, as I’ve only spent about three hours, lifetime, on Frenchmen St. It was a heck of a three hours, though. If you do go to Frenchmen, follow the crowds and the good music; not just the loud music. The best bands are worth standing in a packed bar for (or just outside of it). No food!
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop (Bar) (French Quarter, 941 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116). An authentic (former) blacksmith shop and now famous watering hole, Lafitte’s claims to be the oldest bar in the US. There’s some dispute on that point, but the daiquiris, hurricanes, drunk-but-talented pianist and smiling stumbling late night crowd are indisputably a bash of a time. One of the few tourist traps where it’s actually fun to be trapped. No food!
Got any secret Yummy Cozy Local Casual Cocktail Vibes (or whatever this thing is called) tucked away that you want to share? Put ‘em in the comments and they might just make a future version of this list!
Later skaters ✌
You kissed!! That! Fish!!!