Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Arabi

"The turquoise and white awning is the first sign of good taste at this flagship of the Brennan family, housed in a gorgeous Victorian mansion in the Garden District since 1880. Sporting a decor that combines whimsy with elegance, Commanders is a dressy spot, no shorts or t-shirts and jackets are preferred - but not required - for gents at dinner. The kitchen, where Emeril Lagasse and Paul Prudhomme started and chef Meg Bickford now presides, delivers Haute Creole specialties including oysters with absinthe and skillet seared gulf fish."

"Visitors to New Orleans in search of haute Creole cuisine will find their nirvana at Commander’s Place in the Garden District. This 1893 landmark restaurant has garnered significant recognition and won innumerable culinary awards, including six James Beard Foundation Awards. They pride themselves in sourcing local ingredients and, in fact, 90% of their ingredients come from within 100 miles of the restaurant."

"Garden District Not all classic New Orleans restaurants live in the French Quarter. Uptown in the Garden District, right across from Lafayette Cemetery No.1, is the famous Commander’s Palace. You might recognize the former head chef’s name: Emeril Lagasse, who helmed the Palace’s kitchen in the '80s, long before “Bam!"

"Visitors can pop into boutique shops, voodoo stores, art galleries, iconic restaurants like Brennan’s, be entertained by street performers, admire the architecture and wrought iron balconies, and even visit inside the historic Gallier House. You might also notice Cafe Beignet on Royal Street which some say has better beignets than Cafe du Monde. You’ll have to compare and decide for yourself. As for me, it was a toss-up."

"If you’re doing breakfast right in the Crescent City, you’re doing it leisurely, in a charmed setting with astute service and superb food. That likely means you’re doing it at Brennan’s. The French Quarter institution fell into disarray for a number of years until the kitchen was brought back to relevant life by Slade Rushing."

"The recipe for fun at Galatoire’s: show up early for the chance of a Friday lunch table on the ground floor; ask for a waiter named Bryan; ease in with a Sazerac and souffle potatoes; trust the server to bring you whatever fish looks best; and revive yourself with cafe brulot. The people-watching alone is worth the effort."

"French QuarterJean Galatoire founded this Bourbon St institution in 1905, and it continues to be one of the best places to eat (and to be seen) in New Orleans. This is the place to bust out your finest suit and enjoy some turtle soup au sherry, eggs Sardou, or baked oysters."

"Galatoire’s has a tradition of serving authentic French Creole cuisine at a level that raises consistency to an art form. Open for lunch and dinnerDress code: JacketPhone: +1 504-525-2021"

"GW Fins on Iberville is the place where chef Tenney Flynn and co-owner Gary Wollerman have been cooking the best and freshest seafood in New Orleans for close to 20 years—quite the statement in a city that adores its seafood. The daily menu, which is settled upon at 4pm, depends on what seafood the staff was able to find that same morning. If you're lucky, the lobster dumplings will be there, as well as the "scalibut," the venue’s signature dish featuring halibut, sea scallops and risotto."

"GW Fin's is a classy restaurant in New Orleans that's perfect for celebrations like birthday dinners, anniversary dinners, or even a date night. After a large and delicious dinner, you need to save room for dessert, because their Salty Malty Ice Cream Pie is so good. The mix of sweet and salty makes for the perfect after-dinner treat and is great for sharing."

"Unfortunately, I didn’t spend nearly enough time here (with the exception of eating at Dat Dog, which was delicious) but I’ve heard great things about the music at The Spotted Cat. It’s the best place to eat and end your second night in New Orleans."

"We love & miss Dat Dog so it was our first NOLA stop on this vacation. Something for everyone & not too big or too small for lunch."

"Broad in May 2019, bringing a welcome addition to New Orleans’s limited number of options for Ethiopian cuisine. Biruk Alemayehu developed Addis Nola with her husband Jaime Lobo, and along with chef Samuel Shiferaw offer a variety of stews and stir-fry served with Ethiopian flatbread inerja; traditional dishes like sambusas and kitfo; and vegetarian-friendly sides of red lentils, chickpeas, yellow split peas, cabbage with carrots, and more. Keep an eye out for Addis’s pop-up restaurant collaborations, from Vegan Wit’ a Twist to Turkey and the Wolf to Marjie’s Grill."

"Address: 422 S Broad AvenueNew Orleans, LA 70119Phone: (504) 218-5321Website. At Addis NOLA, the city’s Ethiopian restaurant, forks aren’t needed as you grab the signature bread, injera, tear it apart and use it to scoop up the classic doro wat, a chicken dish with onions, spices, and a delicious sauce. An array of options from vegetarian to lamb are served."

"This casual sports bar in the French Quarter pairs pub grub and other hearty fare with draft beer, trivia nights and sports on multiple TVs. The menu features salads, sandwiches and burgers, plus small plates like the “crawfish dip dog.” The drinks include everything from beer, cocktails and frozen drinks. The bar also throws watch parties for events such as the Emmys, the Oscars, the Kentucky Derby and the Westminster Dog Show."

"The American Sports Saloon provides the perfect setting for any sports fan. Outdoor as well as indoor fans can grab their favorite cocktail as well as some delicious food while watching their favorite teams play on one of their multitude of televisions. This casual French Quarter bar is available for lunch stops, dinner plans, or late night parties for those New Orleans Saints fans."

"1200 Decatur St., (504) 300-1782; www.theamericansportssaloon.com. A Ragin’ Cajun burger is topped with lettuce, Tabasco onions and remoulade and served with fries. Reservations accepted for large parties."

"National World War II Museum, 1035 Magazine St., (504) 528-1940; www.ww2eats.com. A Five-Star cheeseburger is topped with Creole smothered onions, bacon and three-cheese sauce. Reservations accepted."

"The quintessential museum of Louisiana, the permanent collection includes nearly 40,000 world-class works of regional, national and international art, such as Picasso, Braque, Dufy and Miró, and drawings by Degas, who worked just blocks from the museum when he visited maternal relatives in the early 1870s. Lectures, book clubs, film presentations, art classes and musical performances are all presented with aplomb – and you can even take yoga classes in the sublimely beautiful Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, where works of the 20th century's master sculptors reside in a sub-tropical sanctuary. 1 Collins C Diboll Circle, noma.org."

"New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, (504) 482-1264; www.cafenoma.com. An Americana grain bowl includes chicken breast over wild rice, sweet potatoes, cranberries and baby spinach with warm bacon vinaigrette."

"On a rainy afternoon in New Orleans, there's no better place to be than the balcony of the historic Prytania Theatre, cooking up some honest to goodness Hollywood romance with your real-life love interest. Opened in 1915, this charming theater is the oldest in the city and the only single-screen left in Louisiana. Couples can share gelato or a freshly made cappuccino during daytime favorites like Citizen Kane or Some Like It Hot or cuddle up for midnight screenings of cult classics like Rocky Horror Picture Show."

"At more than 100 years old, the single-screen theater in Uptown is a step back in time, with red velvet ropes, balcony seating and family-friendly screenings of hand-picked classic films."

"New Orleans is a tough city that has been through a lot – and Saenger Theatre is no stranger to those hardships. Originally built in 1927 as an “atmospheric” movie theatre, it has gone through plenty of restorations and hard times before it was finally brought back to life. Although the Saenger has cut its capacity from its original 4,000 seats to 2,600, the theatre is still a must-see locale while in New Orleans."

"With decorative moldings and ornate archways, the interior of the Saenger Theatre replicates that of a grand Italian courtyard, complete with a starry sky ceiling. Having been devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the theatre underwent a huge restoration project and reopened in 2013 to offer a bustling schedule of live music, lectures, comedy, and more."

"The historic Saenger Theatre in New Orleans is one of the Gulf Coast’s premier live entertainment venues. Heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina, the ‘Grand Dame of the South’ reopened its doors in September 2013 after an extensive restoration. The 1927 design lives on in this iconic live performance venue."

"Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré is one of the longest-running local theaters in the United States (founded in 1916). As the name indicates, it’s a more intimate theatre setting with a seating capacity of just over 300 seats. Located just off of Jackson Square, this venue is primarily used for the performing arts, including dramas, musicals, comedies, and children’s productions."

"634 Louisa St. This Bywater restaurant is one of the hottest brunch tickets in town. You’ll need to book a few weeks out for the Sunday brunch, and my wife and her friends had to book over two months out for the weekly Saturday drag brunch. The Country Club is not a member’s only country club in the traditional sense, but there is a pool, a poolside bar, and an outdoor kitchen that requires a one-day rate or an annual membership."

"Beat the Louisiana heat and lounge at one of New Orleans’ best kept secrets. During the daytime, if the temperature is warm and you are feeling up for a dip, The Country Club has a beautiful swimming pool bar. They also offer a delicious brunch!"

"634 Louisa St., (504) 945-0742; www.thecountryclubneworleans.com. Fried Gulf oysters are served with pickled mustard seed and fontina cream. Reservations accepted."