Where to Find the Best Brunch in New Orleans
Eggs Benedict, indulgent pancakes, and live jazz music in the Big Easy.
Whether you’re shaking off a debaucherous night out in the French Quarter or fueling up for another trip to the best bars in the Big Easy, there’s nothing like a top-notch brunch. Fortunately, there are lots of worthy options—from laid-back to classic, historic spots—scattered around the city.
These places pull out all the stops, and many offer extras like bottomless mimosas and live jazz or drag brunch to complete the experience. So if you’re craving fried chicken and waffles, hearty stacks of pancakes, and a cocktail to kick off the day, check out our list of the best places for brunch in New Orleans.
French Quarter
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One of the oldest and most historic restaurants in the city with more than 100 years under its belt, Arnaud’s Restaurant offers an extensive three-course, prix-fixe jazz brunch from 10 am to 1:30 pm on Sundays. For the full experience, grab a group and try the two dishes on the brunch menu that are flamed tableside, Bananas Foster and Crepes Suzette. For those unfamiliar with Creole cuisine classics, Arnaud’s is a go-to spot for Eggs Sardou (poached eggs over artichoke bottoms and creamed baby spinach with hollandaise) and Grillades and Grits (flash-seared baby veal scaloppine braised in a rich vegetable sauce, served with cheese grits). After brunch, guests can head upstairs to the Mardi Gras Museum and enjoy a feast for the eyes.
How to book: OpenTable
French Quarter
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Brennan's has long been a pioneer in the brunch game. But these days are no exception as chef Ryan Hacker oversees this haven for Bananas Foster and other legendary brunch dishes like Eggs Hussarde, a rich and meaty riff on a Benedict. Brunch is served Thursday through Sunday, meaning Brennan’s is one of the few stalwarts that offers an awesome way to kick off a week day. Guests can enjoy refreshing cocktails like a Strawberry Elderflower Sparkler or the Birds and the Bees, which features chamomile-infused tequila, satsuma, lemon, honey, and egg whites.
How to book: OpenTable
French Quarter
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Cane & Table has recently brought back its bottomless brunch from 11 am to 3 pm on weekends, allowing guests to enjoy as many mimosas “as is responsible” for $25. Chef Alfredo Nogueira incorporates Caribbean flavors in dishes like Dulce de Leche French Toast and the Frita Cubano, a chorizo-spiced burger with shoestring potatoes, sunny egg, cheese, aioli, and grilled onions. With so many first-rate cocktails on offer, Cane & Table is one of the best places in the city for extending brunch into a longer, boozier affair.
How to book: Resy
Garden District
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The one and only Commander's Palace is currently celebrating its 130th anniversary. That can only mean one thing: jazz brunch. The weekend meal features live music from Joe Simon's Jazz Trio and a special menu from chef Meg Bickford and her team. Staples like Turtle Soup Au Sherry are available alongside modern Creole dishes like Breaux Bridge Crawfish Strudel and Crispy Des Allemands Catfish. Don’t leave without an order of Commander's iconic Creole Bread Pudding Souffle.
How to book:Resy
Central City
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You can drink bottomless mimosas for a good cause at Dragonfly Cafe, a social enterprise of Raphael Village, an organization providing education, life skills, and training opportunities to differently-abled children and adults. Members of The Guild at Raphael Village learn vocational skills while working at the cafe, and the brunch menu features crowd-pleasers like breakfast burritos and avocado toast, with much of the produce grown—with assistance from Guild members—at the garden at Raphael Village.
How to book: Via website
Bywater
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Good luck avoiding a line out the door for Elizabeth’s famous brunch, which is a first-come, first-served affair every weekend. You’ll likely find a mix of colorful locals and curious out-of-towners looking to indulge in only-in-NOLA treats like Praline Bacon, Fried Grit Cakes with Tasso Gravy, and Fried Chicken Livers with Homemade Pepper Jelly. Where else can you start the day with an order of a Duck Waffle, which consists of sweet potato and duck hash on top of a cornbread waffle with pepper jelly, and a brandy milk punch?
Marigny
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Head to the Hotel Peter and Paul for one of the most picturesque brunch spots in the city. The Elysian Bar’s signature offerings include Fried Grits with chorizo gravy and Chicken Liver Toast on Bellegarde country loaf with red onion jam and apples. The bar’s first-class cocktail program focuses on brunch-friendly, low-ABV cocktails so you’ll have something equally special to sip on.
How to book: Resy
CBD
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Donald Link’s Italian-accented stunner serves up brunch favorites with style. Highlights include Polenta Pancakes with seasonal preserves, cane syrup, and lemon ricotta and Eggs all Gianna, which gets a kick from chilies, tomato, soffritto, basil, and fried ciabatta. Amaro Milk Punch and the balsamic-kissed Bloody all Gianna are among the cocktails available.
How to book:Resy
CBD
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Join the trendy types flocking to the Ace Hotel New Orleans, where Josephine Estelle serves an Italian spin on brunch until 3 pm on weekends. House favorites celebrate New Orleans’s Southern and Italian influences: Italian Shrimp & Grits combines white polenta, pancetta, asiago, and gravy, while the Italian Benedict features polenta, spinach, speck, poached egg, and Crystal hollandaise.
How to book: OpenTable
CBD
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From its scenic perch at the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, Miss River has quickly become one of the city’s classiest options for a jazz brunch blowout. Kick things off at the build-your-own Bloody Mary bar, where the selections include pickled quail eggs, praline bacon, and raw oysters, or order the signature espresso martini to sit back and watch as it’s flambéed tableside. The brunch menu includes celebratory favorites like Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Eggs Crème de la Crème with paddlefish caviar.
How to book: OpenTable
Garden District
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One of the more colorful additions to the local dining scene in recent years, Mister Mao provides an eclectic brunch option on Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm. With a tropical roadhouse setup just around the corner from Tipitina’s, chef Sophina Uong takes brunchers on a sensory adventure with dishes such as Red Chile Pork Chilaquiles, Kashmiri Chile Fried Chicken, and Jelly Doughnuts with cranberry-miso filling. Boozy additions range from the light (the Walk of Shame with vodka, passionfruit, rose water, and lemon) to the fiery (the Hellfire Mary combines Tabasco mash-infused vodka, tomato juice, and sport pepper).
How to book: Resy
CBD
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Locals looking for a lively weekend brunch can head to the Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, where the Peacock Room regularly hosts special brunch events with live entertainment. The stylish and colorful environs provide an IG-worthy backdrop for the head-turning Peacock Brunch Tower, which features buttermilk biscuits and jam, bourbon sticky buns, shaved prosciutto di parma, pimento cheese, truffle pork cracklins, deviled eggs, and bread pudding french toast with cherry cane syrup. Other highlights include a blown-out Biscuit Board and Crawfish Benedict. For a boozy take on afternoon tea, there’s the High Tea Punch, a combination of bourbon, chai, citrus, ginger, and whey.
How to book: OpenTable
Various locations
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This local eatery specializing in brunch fare has expanded to include multiple locations across the nation. The Magazine Street location is a solid option for Southern-meets-Cajun signatures like BBQ Shrimp & Grits or the Chicken St. Charles, which is served with two poached eggs and pork tasso cream sauce.
Uptown
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Fuel up for a day of shopping along Magazine Street with a relaxed brunch on Saba’s shaded sidewalk patio. Chef Alon Shaya’s famous wood-fired pita is a surefire hit when it comes to first bite of the day, and there are other morning-friendly specials like the Jerusalem Breakfast Hummus with a soft-cooked egg, harissa, and pickles, and a Smoked Salmon Platter with everything bagel, whitefish salad, labneh, and veggies.
How to book: Resy
French Quarter
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Following up on Gris-Gris, chef Eric Cook has opened one of the Quarter’s buzziest brunch options. Stained glass art and a 3D mural paying tribute to famed New Orleans chefs help set the scene, though most visitors keep their eyes glued to plates of smothered turkey necks with homemade potato salad and the Crawfish Bread & Breakfast, made with pepper jack and holy trinity on toasted Leidenheimer bread with fried eggs and green remoulade.
How to book: Resy
Bywater
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To get the full Bywater experience, post up at Satsuma and chill well into the afternoon. Whether you sit inside in the cozy cafe environs or outside on the breezy patio, you’ll be surrounded by a properly eclectic mix of newcomers and regulars. Opt for a healthy brunch experience by ordering a Chili Avocado Toast and Fresh-Pressed Beet Juice, or opt for a savory Cuban Sandwich. Either way, the counter service setup and low prices are perfect for those looking to enjoy an affordable brunch experience.