Where to Get Brunch in New Orleans
There's nothing like brunch in New Orleans. Explore our curated selection of iconic brunch spots in the Big Easy. Image: Facebook / Osteria Lupo
Looking for the best brunch in New Orleans? It is, after all, one of the most essential pastimes there — rumor has it that it’s even the birthplace of the leisurely meal. Whether you’re craving a fluffy stack of pancakes, shrimp and grits, or the ultimate hangover cure, we’ve rounded up our favorite brunch spots in the Big Easy to satisfy every craving.
Atchafalaya
More Info: atchafalayarestaurant.com
Atchafalaya gained fame for its comforting brunch dishes like shrimp and grits bathed in a Creole-spiced broth and breakfast risotto with bacon cracklin’ gremolata. However, it’s also their extensive cocktail list that keeps people coming back. We recommend ordering the signature green “Bywater Bloody Mary,” complete with St. George green chili vodka, tomatillo, cucumber, and green apple. Reservations are recommended and can be made via opentable.com.
Bearcat Cafe
More Info: bearcatcafe.com
Bearcat Cafe has something for everyone, with a menu divided into a “Good Cat” section offering lighter fare and a “Bad Cat” section featuring heartier, more indulgent dishes. Depending on your mood, choose from dishes like house-made chia pudding studded with seasonal fruit or the Cat Daddy biscuit swimming in crawfish cream sauce. There’s also an array of sustainable, micro-sourced coffees and house-made bottled beverages, such as the eye-catching butterfly matcha lemonade. Note that they do not take reservations.
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Enjoy a high-quality, fresh breakfast at Bearcat. Image: Bearcat Brennan’s Restaurant
More Info: brennansneworleans.com
A New Orleans institution since 1946, Brennan’s Restaurant has long been a French Quarter landmark. The dedicated brunch menu includes Eggs Hussarde with coffee-cured Canadian bacon and blueberry ricotta pancakes topped with lemon curd and honeycomb. The interior is just as decadent as the cuisine, with signature soft green trelliswork, salmon-pink accents, and intricate murals. For brunch, make a reservation HERE.
Brennan’s brunch captivates with its delightful ambiance, excellent service, and authentic Creole cuisine. Image: Brennan’s Restaurant
Commander’s Palace
More Info: commanderspalace.com
Practically synonymous with New Orleans itself, Commander’s Palace has resided in its iconic turquoise and white building in the Garden District neighborhood since 1893. Owned by the Brennan family, Commander’s Palace is a restaurant where you’ll recognize the waitstaff year after year, and regulars seem to know every name in the place. The lauded Jazz Brunch is a can’t-miss with its joyful atmosphere and table-side tunes. Order the Turtle Soup and a Bloody Mary to embrace the full Commander’s Palace experience of “Haute Creole.” Reservations are recommended, and you can make them HERE.
Elizabeth’s
More Info: elizabethsrestaurantnola.com
Slightly off the beaten path, Elizabeth’s has been welcoming hungover patrons to its neighborhood establishment since 1997. While the praline bacon is a must-try classic, don’t miss the duck waffle — yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like — served with house-made pepper jelly. Elizabeth’s does not take reservations, but we promise it’s worth it.
Osteria Lupo
More Info: osterialupo.com
Newer to the Big Easy brunch scene, Osteria Lupo is serving rustic, Northern Italian-inspired fare. Expect dishes like a fluffy frittata studded with pesto, peas, and provolone, and “brunch” pizza adorned with guanciale, potato, and a sunny-side-up egg. The cocktails are equally refined and artfully crafted, like the “La Bici” with Citadelle gin, Cappelletti aperitivo, lemon, and grapefruit. Make your reservation HERE.
The Chloe
More Info: thechloenola.com
The Chloe is a vibrant 14-room boutique hotel housed within a Victorian home in New Orleans’s Garden District. In addition to a sprawling front porch, an intimate lounge, and a colorful pool bar, its brunch program attracts tourists and locals alike. Can’t-miss dishes include the fried chicken biscuit with honey butter and candied jalapeños and the Cafe au Lait French Toast with coffee milk pudding, whipped mascarpone, and chicory caramel. Reservations can be made HERE.
Enjoy finding the best brunch in New Orleans!
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For more dining ideas, check out all of our restaurant coverage HERE.
Anne Henley Walker
Anne Henley is a University of Georgia graduate (Go Dawgs!) currently based in Atlanta. She's perpetually on the hunt for her new favorite restaurant.