New Orleans, Louisiana is a city of jazz, Bourbon Street, po’ boys, and endless parties. If you’re going to be visiting The Big Easy, it’s imperative that you eat some incredible New Orleans Cajun cuisine such as gumbo, crawfish etouffee, fried green tomatoes, and boudin balls.
After a lovely weekend at your vacation rental home, brunch is the icing on top of the cake before you head back home.
Don’t miss the sweet treats there too, in the way of fried and fluffy powder-sugar coated beignets and creamy pecan pralines. The city is truly a food lovers’ paradise!
Weekend Brunch in New Orleans
With all that delicious food on offer, you will want to make a delicious brunch on Saturdays or Sundays part of your itinerary. Think of breakfast and lunch staples with a dash of Creole flair. There are some creative menu items at each brunch New Orleans restaurant, as well as other regular brunch staples. Blue crab and cheesy grits, anyone? Yes, please!
Elizabeth’s and Atchafalaya are two of the best brunch spots in town, and many tourists head straight here. However, there are many other options to discover. Here are our favorite brunch spots for New Orleans restaurants with menu items that really hit the spot. And don’t forget the mimosas, Bloody Marys, and brandy milk punch. They make any brunch day just a little bit more festive and fun.
Inexpensive $
Who Dat Coffee Cafe
- Address: 2401 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117
- Opening hours: 7 am – 2 pm daily, plus evening hours until 9 pm Thursday to Sunday
Who Dat Coffee Cafe in mid-city is the place to go for a hearty meal that could be considered brunch any day of the week. This is because they offer a $6 Big Gurl Bloody Mary or Mimosa every day. That’s a great deal for brunch drinks, and comfort food choices like Not Yo Mama’s Corn Cakes and Da Catfish Bene will ensure your stomach is full of more than just booze.
This place has a sense of humor about adding Cajun and Creole touches to each of its dishes. Don’t miss their homemade jellies such as Caribbean pineapple-mango-peach slathered on a big ol’ buttermilk biscuit with your omelet.
Toast
- Address: 845 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70119
- Opening hours: 6.30 am – 2 pm Monday to Friday / 8 am – 2 pm Saturday & Sunday
Located in the famed French Quarter, Toast is a lovely place to well… have some toast. It’s a pretty special toast though, to be fair. Of course, they do offer more than just toast on their brunch menu. With savory crepes, omelet with ratatouille, french toast with berries, and fried chicken and waffles, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something you won‘t enjoy here.
For a true New Orleans southern-style meal, try this uptown spot’s catfish with grits. It has poached eggs and a tarragon aioli with it. They do have avocado toast and bagels with cream cheese, too, if you’re in the mood for a more traditional take on brunch.
The Camellia Grill
- Address: 626 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Opening hours: 8 am – 7 pm Monday to Thursday / 8 am – 8 pm Friday to Sunday
A down-home place for brunch since 1946, the Camellia Grill serves up classic diner fare with a distinctive Creole touch. It’s a very welcoming place with bowtie-wearing staff and linen napkins on the tables, which is unusual for such an affordable place.
The food is top-notch with many specialties on offer. You have to try the joujou’s omelet, which has grilled shrimp, red onion, spinach, and your choice of cheese. It’s a steal for 13 bucks and will fill you up just right.
The Bakery Bar
- Address: 1179 Annunciation St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Opening hours: 11 am – 10 pm Tuesday to Sunday
For an affordable brunch that offers classic brunch items and plenty of booze, you shouldn’t miss the Bakery Bar. They have breakfast sandwiches, excellent cocktails, and sweets that are to die for. Gelato, apple, and chocolate-filled beignets, and their famous LE S’More Toast, which is custard-soaked bread, chocolate sauce, and marshmallows toasted to perfection, are fantastic.
This spot is particularly popular for a laid-back Sunday brunch and you’ll find many local families and groups of friends here during the weekend.
Katie’s
- Address: 3701 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70119
- Opening hours: 11 am – 9 pm Monday to Thursday / 11 am – 9.30 pm Friday & Saturday / 10 am – 6 pm Sunday
Katie’s in mid-city is a neighborhood gem that has been around since 1984. The choices are very much on par with everything New Orleans has to offer, including crawfish beignets, and NOLA fish and grits. The breakfast pizza with eggs, Italian sausage, and hashbrowns with a garlic butter sauce is a fun take on classic brunch ingredients.
The hot breakfast po boy is another unique item served on French bread with grilled ham. Plus, they have one of the most affordable bottle services for mimosas, at $18 a pop. At that rate, you’ll want at least two bottles.
Moderate $$
Saba
- Address: 5757 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
- Opening hours: 4.30 pm – 9 pm Wednesday & Thursday / 11 am – 2.30 pm & 4.30 pm – 10 pm Friday to Sunday
Saba is a Middle Eastern restaurant on Magazine Street that offers a great brunch on Saturdays and Sundays in the central business district. The menu is going to tickle your taste buds with choices like the Jerusalem Breakfast with soft-cooked eggs, harissa, and pickles. Or you could try the soft scramble with ash-rind-aged goat cheese and za’atar toast. Delicious and different from your usual brunch with flavors that just pop.
Ruby Slipper Cafe
- Address: 2802 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Opening hours: 7 am – 2 pm Monday to Friday / 7 am – 3 pm Saturday & Sunday
The Ruby Slipper Cafe is an award-winning mainstay of New Orleans brunch. It opened in 2008 with the intent of rebuilding midtown after Hurricane Katrina. There are a few locations throughout New Orleans, but the one on Magazine Street is the south-most branch and the best of the bunch.
It has a full brunch menu of specialties, like biscuits and gravy, egg bennies, and a white chocolate bread pudding pancake that is absolutely decadent with a chocolate whiskey sauce. The Bananas Foster French toast is also heavenly. For a boozy brunch, there is a seasonal mimosa flight that has four types of fresh-made juice.
Jimmy J’s Cafe
- Address: 115 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Opening hours: 7 am – 2 pm Thursday to Tuesday
Jimmy J’s Cafe is a cute eatery to enjoy traditional brunch selections. Two of the best plates they offer are their signature blueberry brandy glazed French toast or the eggs Benedict with crawfish cake and home fries. The breakfast burrito is pretty great, too!
They do have Bloody Marys and mimosas, along with beer and wine, for those who want to tip back a few during brunch hours.
Junior’s On Harrison
- Address: 789 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124
- Opening hours: 11 am – 9 pm Monday to Wednesday / 11 am – 10 pm Thursday to Saturday / 9 am – 3 pm Sunday
For a neighborhood joint that is an airy and pretty spot to enjoy brunch in, Junior’s On Harrison can’t be beaten. It has a huge menu for brunch that features a large mimosa and cocktail menu.
The type of food is considered on their menu to be ‘All American Breakfast’ selections, like the smoked salmon bagel, The Harrison Avenue Benedict, and country fried steak with country gravy and a buttermilk biscuit.
Apolline
- Address: 4729 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
- Opening hours: 11 am – 2 pm & 5 pm – 9.30 pm Wednesday & Thursday / 11 am – 2 pm & 5 pm – 10.30 pm Friday / 10 am – 2 pm & 5.30 – 10.30 pm Saturday / 10 am – 2 pm & 5.30 pm – 9.30 pm Sunday
Apolline on Magazine Street is a stylish place to have brunch and you’ll love the brick interiors and subtle lighting. The food is pretty traditional but with a Creole twist. Expect dishes such as shrimp and grits, country fried chicken thigh and waffle, and the eggs Apolline which has andouille sausage, crawfish tails, and poached eggs.
The delicious and distinctly NOLA flavors will keep you coming back during your time in New Orleans. Don’t miss the deluxe Bloody Mary which comes with a garnish of shrimp, bacon, biscuit, celery, olives, and spicy beans. It’s a party in a glass!
Vessel NOLA
- Address: 3835 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70119
- Opening hours: 4 pm – 9 pm Monday to Thursday / 4 pm – 10 pm Friday / 9 am – 10 pm Saturday / 9 am – 9 pm Sunday
Vessel NOLA is an impressive place for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. The high ceilings and $25 bottle service with fresh-pressed juice are going to keep you coming back week after week.
They have some interesting items on their brunch menu, including their street corn hushpuppies with chili lime aioli and the vegetable frittata with goat cheese. Overall, the venue is stylish and pretty with a trendy vibe that attracts a young professional crowd on the weekends.
Morrow’s
- Address: 2438 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
- Opening hours: 11 am – 10 pm Monday to Thursday / 11 am – 11 pm Friday & Saturday / 10.30 am – 6 pm Sunday
Located in the Marigny neighborhood in NOLA, Morrow’s has been a popular brunch spot since it opened in 2018. The carefully crafted menu of staples like redfish and grits, chicken and waffles, and steak and eggs is a great way to start the day.
For something a bit different, try their homemade gumbo ramen with sausage, chicken, and shrimp in a tasty ramen broth. They also have excellent biscuits and a bottle mimosa service that will get your Sunday started off right.
The Country Club
- Address: 634 Louisa St, New Orleans, LA 70117
- Opening hours: 10 am – 11 pm Monday to Friday / 9.30 am – 11 pm Saturday & Sunday
For a more festive and creative brunch experience, you can’t beat drag brunch at The County Club. Among the lush pool gardens and Italian-looking mansion that’s been around since 1884 in the Bywater neighborhood is a brunch establishment that is super popular with tourists and locals alike.
The Country Club is booked up to several months in advance because the drag show is a blast to witness while drinking bottle-service mimosas and very strong brandy milk punches. Be sure to book your table — you won’t regret it!
Toups Meatery
- Address: 845 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
- Opening hours: 11 am – 3 pm Monday to Friday / 11 am – 3 pm Saturday / 10 am – 3 pm Sunday (plus dinner service nightly)
This fun steakhouse offers a simple brunch menu and bottomless mimosas on Saturdays and Sundays. They have small and large plates that are great for sharing with friends. Try the fried redfish benny, crispy turkey necks, and buttermilk fried chicken Sandwich.
They have outside sidewalk dining and an eclectic atmosphere inside that is like an upscale gastropub. You’ll have a blast there, especially after a few rounds of endless mimosas.
Luxury $$$
Commander’s Palace
- Address: 1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Opening hours: 6 am – 9.30 pm Monday to Wednesday / 11.30 am – 2.30 pm & 6 pm – 9.30 pm Thursday & Friday / 11 am – 2.30 pm & 6 pm – 9.30 pm Saturday / 10 am – 2.30 pm & 6 pm – 9.30 pm Sunday
Located in the Garden District of the city is the well-known teal facade of the Commander’s Palace. It’s one of the best restaurants in the city, and with good reason! For a traditional creole brunch in dining rooms with a fancy setting, this place can’t be beaten.
Commander’s Palace has been here since 1893 and is a New Orleans landmark. Plus, they have won seven James Beard Foundations Awards, so you know they are doing something right. The jazz brunch on Sundays features local bands bringing the house down with live music while you eat.
Justine
- Address: 225 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Opening hours: 10.30 am – 2.30 pm Friday to Sunday (plus dinner service nightly)
Justine is a superb French option for brunch specialties and fine dining. Upscale and luxe, this is a trendy place to go that Millennials love. Their mimosa service is a big hit with a great assortment of juices and seasonal garnishes.
We recommend their fried chicken croissant with duck fat potatoes, BBQ gulf shrimp, or the steak frites. Gluten-free choices are noted on the menu, making this a good spot for those with dietary needs.
Brennan’s
- Address: 417 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Opening hours: 9 am – 2 pm & 6 pm – 10 pm daily
A famous landmark place for high-end brunch in New Orleans is Brennan’s. The gorgeous pink building has been around since it opened in 1946 and you can sample some tasty New Orleans-style eats here — including turtle soup! Pair that with the chicken fried ribeye and a side of cheddar grits, and you won’t be hungry for the rest of the day.
The drinks are flowing for brunch at Brennan’s too, with choices like ‘Breakfast Bubbles’ and ‘Classic Eye Openers’, such as a bloody bull, brandy milk punch, or their famous Brennen’s Bloody Mary that has pickled okra and spicy beans.
Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard
- Address: 819 Conti St, New Orleans, LA 70112
- Opening hours: 5 pm – 9 pm Thursday / 10 am – 9 pm Friday & Saturday /10 am – 3 pm Sunday
Broussard’s knows how to do dining right since they have been open for over 100 years, and brunching in their beautiful courtyard is a treat. They feature a three-piece band, impeccably dressed servers, and a high-end menu of creole favorites at this brunch staple. They even offer an extra day of brunch on Fridays from 10 am until 4 pm.
Try the prix fixe brunch that comes with a starter like the duck and alligator sausage gumbo, a main like their Louisiana blue crab meat quiche, and English toffee bread pudding for dessert. Or you can order other brunch classics and NOLA specialties on an a la carte menu.
Muriel’s Jackson Square
- Address: 801 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70116
- Opening hours: 10.30 am – 10 pm Saturday / 10.30 am – 9.30 pm Sunday (plus dinner service during the week)
If a Sunday jazz brunch sounds like a rousing good time for you, it’s all there at Muriel’s Jackson Square. Brunch cocktails such as Ramos gin fizz or brandy milk punch are on the menu, along with mimosas and Bloody Marys. The menu is typical of high-end Creole fare with their crawfish and goat cheese crepes being a standout.
They also have a duck and chaurice hash that is very tasty with two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. The restaurant does offer a ‘Classic New Orleans Brunch Special’ that is three courses featuring an app, main, and dessert.
Antoine’s Restaurant
- Address: 713 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Opening hours: 10.30 am – 2 pm & 5 pm – 9 pm Friday & Saturday / 10.30 am – 2 pm Sunday (plus dinner service during the week)
The birthplace of Oysters Rockefeller is attributed to Antoine’s Restaurant in 1899. So definitely start with a plate of those before ordering anything else. They offer a spectacular brunch on Sundays from 10:30 am to 2 pm that is a lively affair with a jazz band.
The menu is packed full of traditional Cajun and Creole cuisine with choices like Antoine’s seafood omelet and grillades and grits, which are tender veal medallions in a hearty brown gravy. As the country’s oldest family-run restaurant, the trip to Antoine’s for the history alone is well worth it. You’ll enjoy every minute of being there.
Get Your Days Started Right in NOLA
As you can see, there is no shortage of fantastic brunch restaurants in New Orleans. The only challenge is figuring out which ones to hit during your trip!