Where To Eat In New Orleans (2025)

It is fall in New Orleans and the weather is mild – sometimes warm but fortunately for us not the typical humid heat of summer in this party city. We are looking forward to trying out some new restaurants and sampling New Orleans fare.

Lunch is our main meal of the day. As retirees we can make this choice. Many Latin countries, including Brazil, make their main meals at lunchtime. It works for us. Here are the restaurants we ate at on our 5-day stay in this city. I’ll give a brief description of each and follow up with our experience at each in subsequent posts.

Most were within walking distance of our hotel, and most are in the French Quarter or the Warehouse District.

Saint John

Saint John was the first restaurant we ate at, after listening to some great music at the Blues and Barbeque Festival just down the street. There is a sidewalk patio, and nice seating inside. Chef Eric Cook excels at haute creole cuisine.

Lula Restaurant Distillery

A very well-designed spacious interior, sports bar with adequate parking across the street from the restaurant.

Oceana Grill

One of the older restaurants that is a tourist must-eat-at established in 1973. Cool interior and veteran servers. Creole and Louisiana cuisine are their specialities.

Kingfish Kitchen and Cocktails

Kingfish is a well-regarded upscale restaurant in the New Orleans French Quarter – quiet and with cozy settings.

Café du Monde

Another must-visit café, established in 1862. Great coffee, beignets, and people-watching site in the French Market of New Orleans. A sensory treat.

Gianna Restaurant

Chosen because of our love for Italian cuisine, this eatery is chic, upscale, and a treat for the palate.

To give you a sense of the layout of the French Quarter, the Downtown/CBD (Central Business District), and the Arts/Warehouse District, here’s a map of the area:

Have you eaten in New Orleans? What is your favorite restaurant? Stay tuned for a detailed post of each eatery.