The Tastiest Bars in New Orleans

Maïs Arepas

★★★★★ 4.5 (913) • $$

"As a Colombian, I can confidently say that Mai's Arepas hits the mark when it comes to authentic flavors. The food was delicious and fresh, from the perfectly crisped arepas to the flavorful fillings it felt like a comforting taste of home.Although the workers weren't Colombian, they were attentive, friendly, and made the experience pleasant. The place had a clean and welcoming atmosphere, making it a great spot to sit down and enjoy a meal.One thing to note is their varying hours, they close during parts of the day, so I'm glad I made it in time. If you're craving a genuine Colombian meal in a laid-back setting, it is definitely worth a visit!"

Bayona

★★★★☆ 3.8 (890) • $$$

"Oh the scallops are the best I have ever had in my life. They were so extremely tender and sweet."

Basin Seafood & Spirits

★★★★☆ 4.2 (670) • $$$

"We were meandering in the area and stumbled upon this fine establishment and, to our delight, found it to be some of the best food we had on our trip to New Orleans. My partner had the jambalaya and I had the Royal Red Bordelaise. We paired it with a Vinho Verde and had catfish as an appetizer. All were spectacular. Adding to this, our server, Ty, was hospitable and amicable. He humored us as we asked him a million questions about New Orleans and his experience as a local. He even recommended music venues, which we visited afterwards - and they were also amazing. The ambiance was relaxed, which we needed after our evenings spent in the French Quarter. I highly recommend this place!"

Felipe's Mexican Taqueria - French Quarter

★★★★☆ 3.8 (815) • $$

"Similar concept as chipotle but not as much salt (possibly not as much flavor). I enjoyed the lightness and freshness of my bowl, and would return in the future.GLOWS:-The menu options are expansive. There is something for everyone -I didnt try the dessert, but they have dessert options and many frozen margarita drinks. -The restaurant has a good amount of seats, which made dining in on a whim a breeze.GROWS:-The bowls are on the smaller side when dining in. I didn't feel my bowl was packed like it could have been, especially the protein"

Tujague's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 (821) • $$$

"Checked out Tujague's new Happy Hour menu and WOW! It was great! They have a ton of discounted bites and even discounted Veuve on the menu. I loved sitting in the courtyard and the service was great. Not on the happy hour menu, but the Grasshopper cocktail is a must-try!"

Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (663) • $$

"Solid place! They had a great selection of drinks and the atmosphere is so fun. Do patio if you can, it really feels like you're at a backyard barbecue in the best way.Food is decent, small selection, and a bit heavy . Definitely a place I would go again, especially if they were doing some sort of fun event. And don't miss that scorpion shot!"

Desi Vega's Steakhouse

★★★★☆ 4.3 (464) • $$$

"Wow! 5 star service all the way. We came for a work event I had the filet with blue cheese crust others had the ribeye and fish. I had the wedge salad for starters which was perfection and we shared the Mac n cheese, asparagus and mashed potatoes. I would highly suggest you treat yourself to an incredible meal."

Monday Restaurant + Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (590) • $$

"The food was soooo good that I forgot to take a picture! Cheeks, the waitress, was absolutely amazing! She knew her food and recommended the best! We started with the seafood spinach dip sooo good! I ordered the blackened redfish, loaded mash potatoes and Brussels sprouts. My sister had the lamb chops...OMG they were thin and well seasoned with asparagus and potatoes. My other sister ordered wings and truffle fries which were perfectly seasoned and fries were delish. I'm definitely returning the next time I'm in Nola!"

Bamboula's

★★★★☆ 3.5 (547) • $$

"My friend and I were walking down Frenchman and heard some incredible music coming from this place, so we stopped in. There was a live band playing and the female singer had an amazing voice. They performed a great rendition of "House of the Rising Sun." Unfortunately, we arrived at the end of their set, so we didn't stay long. However, even though the place was packed we were escorted to a table near the stage and a server showed up right away with menus & water. I ordered a cocktail to go and left a good tip. The food looked yummy, and my drink was tasty. The place is spacious. I will return, and hopefully that band will be playing again so I can catch their full set."

Frankie & Johnny's

★★★★☆ 3.9 (431) • $$

"Full old school Nola. Love it. Pitchers of beer and good food. Come here every visit."

New Orleans Food and Spirits

★★★★☆ 4.1 (382) • $$

"This was the first restaurant we ate at during the most recent trip to Louisiana. We stayed in Gretna and got pedicures in Harvey and was referred to this restaurant by a customer and one the nail artist. We walked in to order takeout, and it was a busy bustling restaurant. Plenty of tables full, plenty of customers waiting on orders. Phone ringing - all good signs. We ordered the seafood gumbo, seafood sampler, and Voodoo crawfish rolls. Every single item was delicious. I especially enjoyed the crawfish rolls, which were hot, and I couldn't wait to get back to the hotel to bite one open to taste- that occurred in the car, as you can see in the picture. I didn't care for the mustard sauce that accompanied the roll, but honestly, you didn't need it. However, a spicy chill sauce would work. My husband said that the gumbo was too seafoody, but he isn't the seafood fan, and I thought the gumbo was good. A great asset to the West Bank!"

Royal Sushi & Bar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (292) • $$

"I was brought to Royal Sushi by a friend a few months ago and it quickly became one of my favorite sushi spots in the city. The service is always super friendly and attentive. The restaurant is always clean. The Sex and City is my go to roll with a few changes.. I sub the mango for cucumbers and I get soy paper instead of seaweed. The sushi just melts in your mouth and the flavor is so fresh. I recently tried their pork gyoza and spicy shrimp dumplings and I now have another thing to obsess over on the menu!!I am very picky when it comes to sushi restaurants, and royal sushi far exceeds my expectations."

Rock-n-Saké Bar & Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.7 (396) • $$

"I never got the opportunity to eat here, but I must give a shout out to the manager, Ashley, for her valiant effort. We needed a reservation for our team at a place that opened past 10pm. I found them through Google and b/c of their rating, I called for a reservation for our large group. Ashley gave me her number so that I could keep her updated with our count & timing, as we waited for our games to finish. Unfortunately by the time we got to the place, our table wasn't ready. As we waited, our party count started dwindling. I told Ashley that we couldn't wait any longer. She was very apologetic and offered a free drink to go.The place had loud music and seemed like a fun spot. The menu looked very promising. It is an ideal place for adults only, to hangout and have a celebration. If I visit NOLA again without kids, I would definitely check it out."

El Gato Negro

★★★★☆ 3.7 (389) • $$

"My son insisted on going to eat here. We love the food! Everything is served hot and fresh. The service is always on point. The manager checked on us at our table, which I appreciate. We truly enjoyed our taco dishes. The pork and brisket tacos are so flavorful and tasty."

Our Mom's Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (341) • $$

"Arrived around 1:00 pm for a quick lunch before hopping on the Amtrak to Chicago. I was greeted and seated quickly. The menu was as expected with all the things you want for a quick lunch like the usual suspects of starters, think boudin and loaded fries, salads, lots of hamburger options including a veggie burger, fried shrimp and chicken tender plates. I had the fried shrimp plate and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and amount of shrimp for the price. Service was friendly if a bit slow to check back. The shrimp were a nice size, fresh and well fried as were the fries and at 11.99 a steal for a good lunch. The iced tea was also fresh and well made. All in all if you're around downtown Hammond just hanging out or waiting for a train definitely check out Our Mom's, there is also a bar and the bar menu certainly looked worth checking out as well."

Frey Smoked Meat

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (446) • $$

"Dining in was definitely a better experience! We got there right before they opened on a Saturday, so no crowds. I got the brisket chili with a side of cornbread as my meal. The chili was packed with meat, and the cornbread was a whole mini-loaf that came with what I think was honey butter; delicious. My mother enjoyed her burger, and my father said his brisket was both delicious and lean, in case you're one who hates fatty brisket.There are multiple outdoor tables under a good-sized awning, so there should be reliable shade for those wanting to eat outside."

Jubans Restaurant and Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (338) • $$$

"Juban's has great food, excellent service and a nice ambiance. We had a group of 12 and a private room for a work dinner. Our server was amazing. He was friendly, listened well, made good suggestions, and provided wonderful service. The food was excellent as well. We had several appetizers, main dishes and desserts. I ordered the Hallelujah Crab. It is a fried soft-shell crab, seafood stuffing, Creolaise, tartar mashed potatoes - served with hands raised. It was really good. I highly recommend Juban's. If we return to the area, we will definitely eat here again."

Estrella Steak & Lobster

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (489) • $$

"My mom & I were looking for a place that served lobster tail since our usual go to didn't have it on the menu. Estrella came up on the list. When we got there, I was surprised to find that it was a "hole in the wall." With a name like Estrella Steak & Lobster I expected a fancy steak house. I was a bit skeptical but decided to give it a shot. Our server Brandy was delightful. She had glitter on her face and a bubbly personality. We ordered cocktails (Lemon Drop & French 75), the Louisiana Crab Cakes to start, and the Lobster Tails to share (2 for $33). We also asked for a side of sautéed mushrooms. The crab cakes were huge. Served on a thick slice of French bread and topped with a crawfish mushroom sauce. They were one of the best crab cakes we've had in NOLA. The edges were crisp, and the center was filled with chunks of big, flaky, tender crab meat. The bread was perfect for soaking up all that yummy crawfish mushroom sauce.Our entrees arrived on two separate plates. They even split the side of mushrooms for us. The lobster was perfectly cooked - tender & juicy. It tasted even better when dipped in the drawn butter. The sautéed mushrooms were also tasty. I was pleasantly surprised with how good the food was here. Sometimes the best meals come from a little hole in the wall."

La Crepe Nanou

★★★★☆ 3.9 (310) • $$

"wow wow wow. Why have I never been here before?! I called snd left a message when I saw no reservations were available. After an art shopping spree, I announced to my friend that I had spent my dinner budget. Later that day, Alese called and offered me a table. Oh dang, ummmm, let me ring you back. I called my friend patticakes and shared that i would be going over my budget and dinner was back on. We started with cocktails, then fondue (ummmm this was sooooooo good), Patti had the Beef Bourguignon Crepe and I the Paneed Veal . The atmosphere was delightfully French, I was in heaven and the meal was probably one of the best I've had here in New Orleans. I'll be returning tout de suite!"

City Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (247) • $$

"Been here what feels like a thousand times for book club dinners, moms' brunch, girls' nights, gym fam get togethers, etc. and somehow never finished a review! Great, local restaurant and bar for the south end of Baton Rouge. Always a pleasant experience. I've tried their delicious salads, poboys and sandwiches, specials on the menu including shrimp and grits, and have yet to find anything I don't love. They have a couple nice private room options for larger parties and a wonderful outdoor patio. Quickly becoming my favorite restaurant in BR."

Galatoire's 33 Bar & Steak

★★★★☆ 4 (248) • $$$

"Always a delicious meal is to be had at Galatoire's 33 Bar and Steak. It's so nice to have a casual option to have a 5 star meal in New Orleans."

The Mona Lisa Lounge

★★★★★ 4.9 (141) • $

"Stop on by while waiting or getting back from your swamp tour.PRICES ARE CHEAP.The hurricanes are STRONG & made well!the inside is very local & very smokey."

Tío Javi's Fresh-Mex Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (208) • $$

"Excellent meal, Julia treated us excellent with a beautiful smile. Perfect service. Food was excellent... ordered three beef tacos and rice and beans. Ambiance is great. Super clean"

Down The Hatch

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (284) • $$

"If you want the "going out" feeling but not with the "going out" crowds and noise, this is a good spot. Just enough buzz from the other customers, TVs and the alcohol to be mellow, plus a sweet little courtyard in the back. Food is good sturdy bar food. Sometimes you get lucky can watch a wedding reception in the venue across the street. (If you're really lucky, the person you go with will do the driving so street parking won't be an issue.)"

Phil's Oyster Bar & Seafood

★★★★☆ 3.9 (178) • $$

"An awesome hometown, local restaurant in Southdowns! I love this location... very clean, plenty of parking, and great food.We came on a Wednesday night around 6, and we sat right down at one of the high top tables. This gives sports bar vibes with tons of tvs, a bar you can sit at, jerseys on the wall, and booth/high top/table seating. The waitress was fine, she just didn't tell us about the specials on the back of the menu. We hadn't been here before so we didn't know, but we likely would have changed our order for the specials. Anyways, I got the dozens oysters, and they were delicious! My mom got the burger and my dad got the gumbo with tuna appetizer.The food was delicious and came out very fast! Will be back!!"

Dry Dock Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.5 (214) • $$

"A chill, casual sports bar in Algiers Point. My friend and I stopped here mainly to grab a cold water bottle and to use their restroom. I believe it was the owner or manager that served us, didn't catch his name, but he was pleasant and helpful. Their restroom was fairly clean except there was no soap, so I had to use hand sanitizer. Their food menu looked good, just that my friend and I weren't hungry as we had ate prior to coming here and going on the ferry to visit Algiers Point, so we didn't order any food on our visit."

Fat Boys Pizza

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (236) • $$

"02NOV24 ~ Their pizza is good, better than most of the delivery & pick up pizza places, to NOT name names, but you pay more. You get what you pay for. You do stand in line in order to order at the counter. They give you a cup at the counter & the drinks are self-service. I do not like that they have the 'tip' cup, I guess it is for service that is NOT given. It is all self-service! The tables are small, so they have stands, about 10" high, that the pizza sits on top of. This is an accident waiting to happen. You do go to a pizza place to eat pizza, and the pizza is good, though I would not normally go out of my way to go eat at Fat Boys. ~ They share the store with 'Savvy Sliders'.Parking: Lots of free parking.Kid-friendliness: Kids will enjoy the place, and it is 'family friendly'.Wheelchair accessibility: My wife is in a wheelchair, so this is near & dear to my heart. They have 'Van Accessible' parking, but too many people do not understand that they should leave the spot to the left of the hash marks open."

Chengs Restaurant & Bar

★★★★★ 4.6 (116)

"I really enjoyed Chengs! I get why everyone comes here and recommends it on Yelp. I had the ants climbing trees and pork dumplings. Both meals were delicious and I had leftovers. The venue is serene and really updated. I've never been in the building before but I felt very impressed with the service and ambiance. Only issue is the price--def on the expensive side of eating! While I'd have to have it as a treat I believe I'll be coming back."

Bar Redux

★★★★☆ 4.3 (126) • $

"I just want to acknowledge that Bar Redux serves some of the best veggie burgers in the city. The black bean one with grilled pineapple is just *chef's kiss.* And the portobello burger is just as delightful, and feels healthy as well. They are always well dressed, never dry, and they come with a side of crispy, satisfying fries. On nights when they're out of burgers, I order the grilled veggie tacos, which are also delicious. They are a bar, yes, but they take pride in their food and it shows. I've never once gotten a bad meal there, nor a weak cocktail."

Balcony Bar and Cafe

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (221) • $

"This is a go to late night dive bar on Magazine St. This bar is two floors and has ample seating, my favorite part is the plentiful outdoor seating upstairs on the balcony (overlooks Magazine st). I also newly discovered this spot to watch Saints games at, they have several huge tv screens both downstairs and upstairs to watch the game and a fun local crowd to cheer on our boys with! The pool table is also a nice touch for commercial breaks. The reason I didn't give this bar the full stars; however, is that it does have a dark interior and is dingy inside. Its a dive bar and that's what you get. Additionally, the bartender was outside smoking cigarettes in between customers for much of my time there last weekend making it harder to order drinks quickly. In all, a go to bar that I always look forward to hanging out at. The bouncer also checks vaccine cards as you walk in"

New York Pizza

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (215) • $$

"This is a delicious pie. The Large - with 8 giant slices- is so good. The cheese blend they use is so good. And the crust is chewy with to the edges nice and crispy. A really good, local, pizza shop."

Bourrée

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (183) • $$

"Bourree is our go to for wing takeout and they never disappoint.The wings are so fresh and flavorful as are the fries. All of their sauces are delicious. Make sure you ask for the ranch too!Love the fries as well although they are expensive and come in small portions.It's a little pricey for what they give you but they definitely care about the quality of their ingredients."

Courtyard Grill Restaurant at Bourbon Heat

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (209) • $$

"Five stars for the awesome and super lively staff. About 3 stars for the food. I expected a little more for the gumbo but it wasn't bad. The live band on Sunday was on point. We where able to bring our drinks in from next door and we ordered standard drinks. Nice spot during the day to take a break."

Moe's Original Bar B Que

★★★★☆ 4.3 (108) • $$

"So myself and wife were in this side of Metairie and had just dropped off our daughter and we found ourselves being hungry and my wife says to me "Baby you want BBQ? And I replied HECK YEA I DO lol". We both had seen Moe's a while back but, hadn't given it a chance until we went to Destin, Fl. That location was pretty good and we both wanted to see if this one was better and let me just say "Moe's BBQ in Metairie knocked it out the park". We came inside and was greeted instantly by the young lady at the register and we put in our order. My wife wanted brisket and unfortunately they were out but, they had Brisket sandwiches with 2 sides and a drink available and she got that. I came up to order and I was in the mood for some good wings and I ordered the Smoked Wings platter with 2 sides and a drink. Our sides were the Potato salad and Bakes beans and the Cabbage. Let me start off by saying that all the sides were DELICIOUS and both the Brisket sandwich and Smoked wings were both absolutely tasty and both great choices. I do recommend this place to anyone living in Metairie or passing by and we also got to meet the Chef and he was so humble and down to earth and told us about the Smoked Wings process and was very appreciative of our positive feedback. The Corn bread was delicious also btw :) Thank you again Moe's Original BBQ and y'all we be seeing us again soon and GOD BLESS"

Vaso

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (221) • $$

"So you have to come Frenchmen St. and check out some of the live music. Frenchmen St. is where the locals go to party. It's a street for live music only, no djs. It's pretty cool and lively at nights. They also have small art set ups. It's like a small art district. Local artist of different types (painters, clay sculptors, clothing makers, jewelry makers, etc.) all set up and sell their art. Frenchman St. is a cool place to visit.While walking around trying to find which live music spot we wanted to stop at we stumbled upon Vaso. It's a spacious venue and has some good live jazz music going. The musician and his band were pretty good and great entertainment. My husband and I enjoyed ourselves and had some good laughs and quality time. My husband had a drink and I had a mocktail. We stayed for about an 1-1.5 hrs and then we left. It was simply and a good time. There was no cover charge or at least the night we went it was not. We went on a Friday night. Also, everyone was friendly. The seating is first come first serve. You just grab a seat where you can. It could be next to a person or a group you don't know. However, this wasn't an issue. The night we went everyone was chill, nice and just there to have a good time! Overall, we had a good time enjoyed ourselves!"