Travel guide
New Orleans is a food city year-round, with more than 1,400 restaurants and a menu of dishes that are part of the city's identity. Here is what to try, where to find it, and how to eat well on your trip.
New Orleans jazz, New Orleans
Next: the trip itself
Flights to New Orleans
Live fares from your airport, with bag fees shown before you pay.
Search flightsFly2Any travel brief
When to book, airport tricks, document changes and how to plan the whole trip. No fake fare alerts.
New Orleans cuisine is built on a tradition that stretches from Paris to Port au Prince and from Cadiz to the Congo. Eating fabulous food is integral to the New Orleans experience, and the city has more than 1,400 restaurants where you can do it.[6]
The city was named Best Food Destination in the world in the 2025 TimeOut, and it is a foodie destination 365 days a year. You will find Cajun and Creole dishes at many of the city's 1,400 restaurants any time.[3],[6],[8]
Cajun and Creole are two distinct ethnic groups with their own unique history, traditions, and culture. Cajun food is rustic food found along the bayous of Louisiana, a combination of French and Southern cuisines. Creole food is cosmopolitan food, created in New Orleans with European, African, and Native American roots.[8]
Creole food typically uses tomatoes and tomato-based sauces, while traditional Cajun food does not. Both cuisines make liberal use of what New Orleanians call the "holy trinity" of cooking: chopped green peppers, onions, and celery.[8]
The most common misconception is that both Cajun and Creole foods are spicy, fiery hot. Both cuisines have a depth of flavor borne of a loving blend of local herbs and often roux, and may or may not be spicy.[8]
MSY
Live fares from your airport, for your dates. Bag fees are shown before you pay.
Traditional New Orleans foods include Crawfish Etouffee, Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice, Muffaletta, Beignets, Bananas Foster, Sno-balls, and King Cakes. Here is what each one is, so you know what you are ordering.[6]
With more than 1,000 eateries, New Orleans has food and dining to please every palate. Plates can be bone china or paper, so you can go from a special-occasion dinner to a casual counter without leaving the city.[6],[10]
For a classic breakfast or a sweet stop, head to Cafe Du Monde for cafe au lait and beignets daily. Commander's Palace Restaurant is at 1403 Washington Ave, and Galatoire's is at 209 Bourbon St.[10]
If you want to eat outdoors, New Orleans is a great place to do it thanks to the tropical climate. You can also ditch the dress code and dig in at one of the city's many casual restaurants.[10]
Health-conscious travelers will be pleased to know that New Orleans offers more than fried food. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available, and many local coffee shops also serve light fare such as sandwiches and salads.[6],[7],[10]
Some of the city's best eating is slightly off the beaten path. Boucherie is tucked away off the streetcar line on South Carrollton Avenue and serves contemporary Southern cuisine. Its sister restaurant Bourree is just around the corner and offers wings, craft daiquiris, and Cajun specialties like boudin and meat pies.[5]
Chicken's Kitchen was named among the top 50 restaurants in the country by The New York Times in 2022 and serves a different menu featuring New Orleans soul food Monday through Friday, lunch hours only. Nighthawk offers Neapolitan-style pizza and cocktails by the river in Algiers Point.[5]
Other neighborhood spots worth knowing: Flour Moon Bagels is a bagel shop on the Lafitte Greenway; Aquila Bistro & Cafe is in the Lower Garden District on Prytania Street and offers breakfast and lunch as well as some grocery items; and Café Porche's outdoor sno bar serves sno-balls made with soft, shaved ice doused in a flavor of your choice.[5]
For something different, Queen Trini Lisa serves Trinbagonian Island Soul Food, Aroma Indian Cuisine serves traditional Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala, curry, mango lassi, and dhal, and Zhang Bistro serves Asian cuisine including egg drop soup, spicy Thai fried rice, and Peking duck.[5]
Food trucks are everywhere in New Orleans and are enthusiastically embraced by both visitors and locals. They span multiple cuisines and are just waiting to be enjoyed.[9]
If you want to support local businesses, you can find Black-owned restaurants in New Orleans and eat one-of-a-kind authentic New Orleans cuisine there.[6],[10]
New Orleans has a healthy selection of wine bars offering intriguing selections from all over the world. Some serve weekly wine tastings where you can try vintages before ordering a full glass.[4]
Patrick's Bar Vin and Copper Vine are a few favorite wine bars spread throughout New Orleans. Copper Vine offers wine on tap with dozens of different options to choose from.[4]
Wine merchants such as Second Vine Wine, Swirl Wines, W.I.N.O., and Faubourg Wines are wine shop/bar hybrids where customers can grab bottles to go.[4]
For a special dinner, Emeril's has a 14-year streak as a Wine Spectator's Grand Award winner, and Galatoire's has an impressive 82-page wine list.[4]
Natural wine is becoming more popular, and several New Orleans wine bars have added bottles from smaller producers to their existing wine lists. Natural wine options can be found at spots such as Bacchanal, N7, Saint-Germain, and LaBarre.[4]
Coffee is its own ritual. Many local coffee shops also serve light fare such as sandwiches and salads, and smaller independent coffeehouses provide an intimate setting to catch up on reading, get together with friends, or strike up a conversation with a regular. Many are tucked away on quiet streets, so exploring neighborhoods will lead you right into a coffeehouse.[7]
If you need a pick-me-up after a day of touring, visit one of New Orleans' many local coffee shops and cafes.[10]
New Orleans is a foodie destination 365 days a year, so you do not need to plan around a single season. During the summer, many restaurants offer dishes that will keep you cool and comfortable, with summer specials centered around seasonal produce and fresh seafood.[3]
If you are craving New Orleans food late at night, you can check a list of restaurants open late. You can also find late-night cafes and bars serving food.[6],[10]
Sunday brunch is a New Orleans institution, and you can find the best Sunday brunch in the city. If you are visiting around Thanksgiving, some restaurants offer Thanksgiving catering.[6]
You can dine outdoors, and the tropical climate makes it a great option. Casual restaurants let you ditch the dress code and dig in.[6],[10]
For a break from the heat, the Indoor Itinerary was created with rainy days in mind, but the activities also work great if you need some time away from the sun.[3]
Culinary tours in New Orleans include a Food Tour of New Orleans Garden District for groups of nine or less, a French Quarter Small-Group Cocktail and Foodie Crawl, and a New Orleans Culinary Bike Tour. There is also a French Quarter Food Tour covering Signature Flavors of New Orleans and a New Orleans Delicious Donuts & Beignets sweet walking tour.[6]
For a chef-led experience, NOLA Carte Food Tours offers a chef-led culinary journey exploring the city's food and history. A Vegan French Quarter Food Tour of NOLA cuisine and a Private New Orleans Food Tour of the French Quarter are also available.[6]
If you want to cook at home, you can take a class at one of the city's cooking schools and learn to make authentic Cajun and Creole dishes.[6],[10]
New Orleans hosts a series of food and drink festivals throughout the year where anyone can sample, sip, or savor the city's best-tasting offerings. Beignet Fest takes place at New Orleans City Park in November, and the Oak Street Po' Boy Festival takes place in November.[1],[6]
Each spring, New Orleans celebrates fine wine and dining at the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience.[4]
For a special evening, WYES holds wine and coffee pairing dinners. The Martinique Bistro dinner with Chef Eric LaBonchere is on Wednesday, December 3, and the Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse dinner with Chef Sara Toth is on Monday, December 8. Dinners are $95 unless noted and include tax and gratuity. Reservations are limited and these dinners are easily sold out.[2]
To reserve, call (504) 840-4886. Callers will be prompted to leave their name, phone number(s), the restaurant(s) of interest, and number of guests in party. A reservation is not complete until you receive a confirmation call from a WYES representative.[2]
New Orleans has a family-friendly itinerary, a romantic itinerary, and an essential 3-day New Orleans itinerary. If you only have three days, you can find out what to do in 72 hours in New Orleans.[1]
You can ride the streetcar and find where to take it and how to catch it, or follow a streetcar itinerary by route.[1]
To explore different neighborhoods, you can find where to start. You can also get help planning your trip from the New Orleans Assistant.[1]
For deals, you can check hotel rates and book your stay through the official New Orleans tourism website. Hotels and B&Bs offer hotel deals, packages, and historic hotels.[1]
The New Orleans Good Times Pass is a multi-attraction pass for discovering the city; travelers can pick 6 participating attractions for $169.[1]
You can request a visitor guide from the official tourism website and find coupons and deals there.[1]
New Orleans is known for dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice, muffaletta, po-boys, and beignets. Traditional New Orleans foods also include Bananas Foster, sno-balls, and King Cakes.[6],[11]
Cafe Du Monde serves cafe au lait and beignets daily, and you can taste the original beignet, Louisiana's state donut, there.[10]
Yes. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available in New Orleans, and health-conscious travelers will find more than fried food.[6],[10]
Creole food typically uses tomatoes and tomato-based sauces, while traditional Cajun food does not. Cajun food is rustic food from the bayous, a combination of French and Southern cuisines, while Creole food is cosmopolitan food created in New Orleans with European, African, and Native American roots.[8]
Yes. Options include a Food Tour of New Orleans Garden District for groups of nine or less, a French Quarter Small-Group Cocktail and Foodie Crawl, a New Orleans Culinary Bike Tour, and a chef-led culinary journey with NOLA Carte Food Tours.[6]
You can check a list of restaurants open late, and you can find late-night cafes and bars serving food in New Orleans.[6],[10]
Yes. Beignet Fest takes place at New Orleans City Park in November, and the Oak Street Po' Boy Festival also takes place in November.[1]
Every rule, fee and deadline above is taken from these official pages, which we read on November 7, 2026. Rules change, so check the official page before you apply or pay.
Was this guide helpful?
Your trip
Flights to New Orleans
Live fares from your airport, with bag fees shown before you pay.
Search flightsWhere to stay in New OrleansThings to do in New OrleansBeen through this recently? Share what happened, a tip, or a question for other travelers.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your experience.
