Top, Best & Fun Rooftop Bars in Lower Garden District

"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."

"The Commander’s takeout menu changes daily and rotates classics like turtle soup, lacquered quail, and pecan pie as well as seasonal dishes like duck breast salad and wild Louisiana barbecue shrimp, available in family or individual sizes. Call to order, seven days a week between 11:30 a.m."

"Known for the award-winning quality of its food and its convivial atmosphere, the history of this famous restaurant offers a glimpse into New Orleans’ storied past and has been the go-to destination for Haute Creole cuisine and whimsical Louisiana charm."

"The Baskin-Robbins of local sandwich makers, this family-run watering hole in Mid-City offers 20 or so flavors of po' boys. “Surf and turf” packs gravy-splashed shrimp and roast beef in a sturdy roll, while “Caprese” is mindful of customers who don’t eat meat. A covered patio in back makes room for everyone, pets included."

"Parkway Bakery & Tavern, a spot to score sandwiches, seafood and desserts in Bayou St. John, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 1,731 Yelp reviews. Head over to 538 Hagan Ave. to see for yourself."

"American , Sandwiches"

"The Ruby Slipper Café is a popular spot for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Its focus is fresh food with a New Orleans twist. The restaurant uses local produce."

"This place is popular, so much so that there is a wait as soon as it opens - I think it opens at 7 AM."

"Like many New Orleans restaurants, Coquette is located inside a handsome, historic townhouse, this one in the peaceful Garden District. With two beautiful, wood- and brick-accented dining rooms and an antique, refinished wood bar, the setting alone will impress your date, and the inventive New American fare from chef Michael Stoltzfus is likely to blow them away. With a daily-changing menu that emphasizes local produce such as lima beans, collards and Gulf oysters, Coquette’s fare is predictably delicious but never predictable, featuring unexpected flourishes such as carrot juice in the cachaza-based Tyler’s Ghost cocktail, whipped honey on the hot chicken appetizer, and french fries and stout served alongside donuts and chocolate ice cream on the Late Night Snack dessert plate."

"Le Pavillon Hotel, 833 Poydras St., (844) 656-8636; www.lepavillon.com/dining. Bronzed Gulf red fish is served with black-eyed pea cassoulet, steamed rice, holy trinity and crisp okra. Reservations accepted."

"The tastefully colorful Creole cottage in a relatively quiet corner of the French Quarter is a suitably historic home for Jewel of the South, a new venture from two of the city’s most renowned bartenders. Named for a 19th-century local bar that was among the first in the city to serve cocktails, Nick Detrich and Chris Hannah have opened up this small, perfectly formed rustic tavern—think bare brickwork and dark woods—in miniature, which pays homage to those early days with an interesting and esoteric list of sours, cobblers and more."

"Jewel of the South, a historic Creole cottage on the edge of the French Quarter, debuts a new restaurant and lounge located above the restaurant. Take your date to The Grove – an intimate cocktail lounge with booze-friendly bites on the ground floor. The new digs are open now for the public to enjoy."

"This cozy, brick-walled bar on North Rampart Street is revered for its craft cocktails featuring house-made ingredients. Bar Tonique opened in 2008 as the first free-standing craft cocktail bar in New Orleans, with the goal of serving great cocktails, carefully curated wines and craft beers in a friendly, unpretentious, neighborhood setting. The craft cocktail list includes everything from punches and slings to sours and blossoms."

"Bar Tonique has daily drink specials on popular cocktails such as moscow mules and its bacon bloody mary. The delicious cocktails at this bar are handcrafted behind a candlelit bar. It’s a relaxed, casual environment perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle of the city for an afternoon drink."

"Teetering on the edge of the French Quarter (on a nondescript street behind a nondescript door) is a fine drinking establishment for modern cocktail enthusiasts. Drinks are made with more than TLC: Fresh juices, homemade tinctures, and rare liquors go into every concoction."

"The Blue Nile has two separate music events / clubs, Upstairs and Downstairs. Upstairs is hella awesome because it has a balcony overlooking Frenchman Street, which is usually filled with excitement, occasionally a brass band, bluegrass band, one man blues dude who sets up a little amp, portable generator, amps an acoustic guitar (19th Street Red). Downstairs is arguably the biggest venue on Frenchman."

"The Blue Nile is another jazz club worth your time; it's also one of the longest-running on Frenchmen Street. I've walked into the Blue Nile on two out of my three trips to New Orleans. Both occasions were free, an indication the band is playing for tips."

"These bars are the place to be: Snug Harbor, d.b.a., The Spotted Cat, Apple Barrel, The Blue Nile and Maison."

"That’s the one word to describe the food at Superior Seafood!. This stylish restaurant has a zinc bar and full-service oyster bar perfect for anyone looking for Louisiana seafood and Creole-inspired cuisine. The menu changes weekly at Superior Seafood to highlight the freshest, local ingredients available, so you can always expect a quality experience."

"Authentic Louisiana cuisine is the name of the game at this local favorite, which also gets high marks for serving one of the best breakfasts in New Orleans. Superior Seafood's unp..."

"Superior Seafood matches its superb cuisine with a gloriously inviting venue – an expansive and historic Uptown space on the St. Charles streetcar line, all decked out in the manne..."

"Tours run twice every evening (5pm and 8pm) and include visits to the Lalaurie Mansion (where American Horror Story Coven was filmed), LaFitte’s Blacksmith Shop, and more. Our guide had plenty of creepy tales to share and clearly believed a lot of the ghost stories herself, which made it all the more fun. Our tour group was a little on the larger side, but otherwise, the experience was entertaining."

"Wander down to Governor Nicholls Street to see Lalaurie Mansion, once the home of actor Nicholas Cage, and one of the homes used for American Horror Story Coven. There are also other fancy homes like the New Orleans home of Angelina Jolie down this beautiful street."

"You may very well hear this tree before you see it: a massive live oak in the middle of City Park. The Singing Oak is an art installation by artist Jim Hart that features wind chimes measuring as long as 14 feet. Part of the charm of The Singing Oak is just finding it."

"One of the oldest houses in the French Quarter, Madame John’s Legacy is an example of eighteenth-century Louisiana Creole architecture. The house was raised high enough to withstand frequent flooding of the area and has ventilating features to alleviate the subtropical heat. It also managed to survive the great fire of 1794."

"Long thought to be the oldest building on the Mississippi River, Madame John’s Legacy has proven to be not quite the oldest. It was one of the few buildings in the quarter to escape the great fire of 1795 in New Orleans. Architecture fans can appreciate the 18th century design."

"Flouting “California style sushi,” Metairie’s Kanno proffers the usual, along with an entire section of skinny rolls sans rice and soy paper. Available in half and full roll portions, these pared down rolls include the likes of the Elvis roll (named for the chef), made with salmon, avocado, and both snow and blue crab, and the protein roll, with spicy tuna, snow crab, avocado and salmon. A hefty sake menu includes sparkling sake, though it’s not always featured."

"Low key West Bank sushi spot Daiwa, known for its uni, karaoke rooms, and Hello Kitty aesthetic, opened a second location in Metairie a few months ago. The Vets Boulevard restaurant in a former World of Beer location ups the ante in space and menu, with the option of omakase (chef’s choice) dinners and new specialties featuring less common fish like Japanese striped jack and sardines. Lunch was also just added in August."

"5033 Lapalco Blvd., Suite B6, Marrero, (504) 875-4203; www.daiwasushi.com. Spicy City is a deep-fried sushi roll filled with marinated crawfish, snow crab, cream cheese, avocado and jalapeno and topped with eel sauce and spicy mayonnaise."

"Good vibes, the service and staff are great, the food is even better. Never a bad experience with them. Definitely recommend More reviews"