Our Favorite Brunch Spots in New Orleans 

New Orleans, Louisiana is a city of jazz, Bourbon Street, po-boys, and endless parties. It’s also home to a great weekend brunch that is a tradition with locals and visitors alike. If you’re going to be visiting “The Big Easy”, it’s imperative that you eat some incredible New Orleans Cajun cuisine, like gumbo, crawfish etouffee, fried green tomatoes, and jambalaya.

Don’t miss the sweet treats there too, in the way of fried and fluffy powder-sugar coated beignets and creamy pecan pralines. They are truly a treat for the senses, and your sweet tooth. The city is truly a food-lovers’ paradise!

For example, the Ruby Slipper Cafe has a Bananas Foster French Toast that is to die for. You seriously can’t leave the city without giving it a try, or you’ll regret it.

With that being said, you will want to make a delicious brunch on Saturdays or Sundays a part of the itinerary as well. 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! 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. NOLA sure does brunch right, and if you are looking for a few vegan options, don’t worry here are a few of the best vegan-friendly options in New Orleans.

Inexpensive $

Who Dat Coffee Cafe

2401 Burgundy St.

Open every day from 7 AM to 2 PM, the 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. The reason being is that they offer a $6 Big Gurl Bloody Mary or Mimosa every day. That’s a great deal for brunch drinks and choices like Not Yo Mama’s Corn Cakes and Da Catfish Bene.

This place has a sense of humor about adding Cajun and Creole touches to each of its dishes. Don’t miss their homemade jellies, like Caribbean pineapple-mango-peach, slathered on a big ol’ buttermilk biscuit with your omelet or your “omelette“, if you’re French.

Otra Vez

1001 Julia St.

A tasty brunch that has a Mexican twist? Otra Vez NOLA in uptown is your ticket to a brunch filled with guacamole, breakfast burritos, chilaquiles, and of course, tacos. They do offer a “bottomless brunch” drink special, that is limitless brunch cocktail margaritas, bottomless mimosas, or beer for one hour with the purchase of an entree at $35 per person.

So the question becomes, how much can you drink in an hour? You may not go the distance on that one, since the food is so good, you’ll be too busy eating. Their hours per day vary, so check the times before you go, but it’s mostly 11 AM until 3 PM on the weekends for Sunday brunch.

Toast

1845 Gentilly Blvd.

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 meal, try their Catfish With Grits. It has poached eggs and a tarragon aioli with it. They do have avocado toast and bagels with cream cheese too. It’s truly a decadent meal that you’ll want to eat over and over again. On Saturdays and Sundays, they are open from 8 AM to 2 PM.

The Camellia Grill

626 S. Carrollton Ave.

A down home place for brunch since 1946, the Camellia Grill is classic breakfast and brunch diner fare with a distinctive Creole touch. It’s a very welcoming place with a staff that wears bowties and has linen napkins on the tables, which is unusual for such an affordable place.

The food is top-notch with specialties and all kinds of omelets. 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

1179 Annunciation St.

For an affordable brunch that is just a few key items and 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.

The brunch hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM until 2 PM.

Katie’s

3701 Iberville St.

Katie’s in mid-city is a neighborhood gem that has been around since 1984. Its brunch hours on Saturday and Sunday run from 9 AM until 3 PM. So if you’re game for an early brunch spot that’s not too hard on the wallet, this is the place to go.

The choices are very much on par with everything New Orleans has to offer, like their Crawfish Beignets, NOLA Fish & Grits, and a fun take on pizza. It’s the Breakfast Pizza with eggs, Italian sausage, and hashbrowns with a garlic butter sauce.

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 bucks a pop. At that rate, you’ll want at least two bottles.

Moderate $$

Saba

5757 Magazine St.

Saba is a Middle Eastern restaurant on Magazine Street that offers a great brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM until 2:30 PM 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.

Lil’ Dizzy’s Cafe

1500 Esplanade Ave.

A place that serves the best brunch buffet, if you prefer that over a sit-down menu, is Lil’ Dizzy Cafe. It’s run by the famous New Orleans Baquet family. Don’t expect anything too fancy, but it’s great NOLA staples and a fabulous fried chicken with a recipe that is a carefully guarded secret.

You have to go for Saturday brunch in New Orleans from 11 AM until 3 PM, since they aren’t open on Sundays.

Ruby Slipper Cafe

200 Magazine St.

The Ruby Slipper Cafe is a mainstay of New Orleans brunch that’s located in the Pelham Hotel. 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 best.

It has a full brunch menu of specialties, like biscuits and gravy, eggs bennies, and a White Chocolate Bread Pudding Pancake that is absolutely decadent with a chocolate whiskey sauce. For a boozy brunch, there is a seasonal mimosa flight that has fresh fresh-made juice in four types. They are open until 3 PM on the weekends.

Jimmy J’s Cafe

115 Chartres St.

Open from 7 AM until 2 PM every day except Wednesday, when they are closed, Jimmy J’s Cafe is a cute place to enjoy traditional brunch selections. Two of the best plates they offer are their signature, Blueberry Brandy Glazed French Toast or the Crawfish Benedict with crawfish cake and home fries.

They do have bloody Marys and mimosas, along with beer and wine, for those who need to tip back a few during brunch hours.

Junior’s On Harrison

789 Harrison Ave.

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 Smoked Salmon Bagel, The Harrison Avenue Benedict, and Country Fried Steak with country gravy and a buttermilk biscuit. It’s a nice place to have brunch on a Sunday from 9 AM to 3 PM.

Apolline

4729 Magazine St.

Apolline on Magazine Street is a stylish place to have brunch with brick interiors and subtle lighting. The food is pretty traditional with a Creole flavor, like their Shrimp and Grits, Country Fried Chicken Thigh and Waffle, and the Eggs Apolline which has andouille sausage, crawfish tails and poached eggs.

It’s a delicious and distinctly NOLA flavor that will keep you coming back each week. Don’t miss their homemade jam or 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

3835 Iberville St.

Vessel NOLA has an impressive space for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM until 2 PM. The high ceilings and $25 bottle service with fresh-pressed juice is going to keep you coming back week after week.

They have some interesting items on their brunch menu, especially their Street Corn Hushpuppies with chili lime aioli and the Vegetable Frittata with goat cheese is delicious. Overall, the venue is stylish and pretty with a trendy vibe that attracts a young professional crowd on the weekends.

Morrow’s

2438 St. Claude Ave.

Located in the Marigny neighborhood in NOLA, Morrow’s is a fairly new restaurant that has been open since 2018. The brunch is 10:30 AM until 4 PM on Sundays with a carefully crafted menu of staples like Redfish and Grits, Chicken and Waffles, and Steak and Eggs.

For something a bit different, try their Gumbo Ramen with sausage, chicken, and shrimp in a tasty ramen broth they make in house. They have excellent biscuits and a bottle mimosa service that will get your Sunday started off right.

The Country Club

634 Louisa St.

For a more festive and creative brunch experience, drag brunch is back at the County Club. Among the lush pool gardens and Italian-looking mansion that’s been around since 1884 in the Bywater neighborhood is an establishment that is super popular for tourists and locals alike.

The menu is available for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM until 3 PM. They are 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.

Toups Meatery

845 N. Carrollton Ave.

A fun steakhouse that offers a simple brunch menu is Toups Meatery in mid-city. Start off with $15 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

1403 Washington St.

Located in the Garden District of the city is the well-known teal blue facade of the Commander’s Palace. It’s one of the best restaurants in the city. For a traditional creole brunch in dining rooms with a fancy setting, this place can’t be beaten.

They have been here since 1893 as a New Orleans landmark. Plus, they have won seven James Beard Foundations Awards, so you know they are doing something right. Brunch New Orleans is a “jazz brunch” on Sundays from 10 AM until 2:30 PM, with local bands bringing the house down while you eat.

Justine

225 Chartres St.

A French option for brunch specialties and fine dining is at Justine. Upscale and luxe, this is a trendy place to go that Millennials love. Their mimosa service is a big hit with a different assortment of juices and seasonal garnishes.

It is a fancy version of Brunch New Orleans champagne to have alongside brunch meals, like their Fried Chicken Croissant with Duck Fat Potatoes, BBQ Gulf Shrimp, or the Steak Frites. Gluten-free choices are noted on the menu.

Brennan’s

417 Royal St.

A famous landmark place for high-end brunch in New Orleans is Brennan’s. The gorgeous pink building has been around since they opened in 1946. You can really sample some New Orleans-style eats here with the Turtle Soup to start with. 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

819 Conti Street

Brunching out in the beautiful courtyard of Broussard’s is a treat. They feature a three-piece band, impeccably dressed servers, and a high-end menu of creole favorites in this brunch staple. Broussard’s does it right since they have been open for over 100 years. They even offer an extra day of brunch on Fridays from 10 AM until 4 PM.

Saturdays and Sundays are the same time. Try the $47 prix fixe brunch that comes with a starter in the Duck & Alligator Sausage Gumbo, a main like their Louisiana Blue Crab 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

801 Chartres St.

If a Sunday jazz brunch sounds like a rousing good time for you, it’s all there at Muriel’s Jackson Square. Brunch cocktails are on the menu, like Ramos Gin Fizz or Brandy Milk Punch, along with mimosas and bloody Marys. The menu is typical of high-end creole fare with their Crawfish & Goat Cheese Crepes being a stand out.

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. The hours for jazz brunch on Sundays are 10:30 AM until 2 PM.

Antoine’s Restaurant

713 St. Louis St.

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 3 PM that is a lively affair with a jazz band.

It’s 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.