The Most Fun Restaurants in New Orleans

Located in the Warehouse District, Meril is Chef Emeril Lagasse’s concept restaurant and the fourth place he opened in New Orleans. They're a casual eatery with an open-style kitchen and large bar area with a great wine selection and craft cocktails. The menu is vast and varied and features some of Emeril’s favorite dishes, like Vietnamese spring rolls, croquettes, fried chicken, and Roasted Louisiana Oysters. This place is all about having a good time, so settle in for a very spirited dining experience.

Don’t worry about a fancy dress code here. Gents should wear a collared shirt but leave your coats and ties at home. GW Fins has served food in the French Quarter since 2001 and they focus on finding the very best fish in the world. The two head chefs are authorities on the seas and their goal is to find high-quality fish and pair them with seasonal ingredients and smart culinary techniques to make simple, elegant dishes. The dining room has an exuberant energy and everyone who enters is in for a delicious meal and a magnificent experience. Check out the amazing wine list while you’re here!

Emeril’s Restaurant is the famed flagship restaurant of celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. Located in a renovated pharmacy warehouse in the city’s Warehouse District, they serve contemporary New Orleans cuisine with his own particular panache. If you come during Happy Hour, you are sure to find a fun crowd eating and imbibing the snacks and wine pairings. During dinner, you can try Emeril’s most famous dishes, like the House Made Andouille and Boudin Sausages, Louisiana Raines Wagyu Beef, and Sugar Cane Lacquered Duck.

NOLA is chef Emeril Lagasse’s casual eatery in the heart of the French Quarter. The kitchen has served traditional Creole, Acadian, and Southern cuisine since 1992 and they have innovative dishes on the menu that show off the nuances of Louisiana cooking with local ingredients. The space is a three-story dining area with an open-action kitchen so diners can see what’s going on behind the scenes, a chef’s food bar, and a signature wood-fired brick oven. They are definitely one of the best and most fun restaurants in New Orleans.

This restaurant features modern, imaginative versions of classic Cajun and Creole cuisine. You’ll find items like gumbo, po’boys, and beignets alongside new creations highlighting distinctive ingredients chosen by the head chef. The service is a big part of the fun here and waiters engage guests with tales of the history and evolution of the food they are enjoying. They put a new spin on soups like the Creole Louisiana Snapping Turtle Soup and Death by Gumbo — basically everything has its own unique twist, so you are always in for a pleasant surprise.

Ye Olde College Inn is in Carrollton and is a true New Orleans farm-to-table landmark. The menu features the latest Creole specials with lots of twists on the old New Orleans standards. They get their produce from a farm adjacent to the restaurant so you can be sure it is all supremely fresh. They serve dishes like Beef Debris and House Made Chips, Louisiana Puppy Drum topped with Lump Crab Meat, and a Fried Bread Pudding Po’boy. Plus, they're right next door to the Rock’n’Bowl, so you can head over for a game of bowling after you eat!

Mr B’s Bistro is a New Orleans restaurant famous for their Creole cuisine with a focus on fresh, regional products. They're located in the French Quarter at the famous landmark at Royal Street and Iberville. They are the original gourmet bistro in town and famous for serving up delightful regional specialities in the lively and fun space. They have signature items like the Gumbo Ya Ya, Barbecued Shrimp, and Creole Bread Pudding with Irish Whiskey Sauce.

The Pelican Club offers a wide range of amazing New Orleans dishes and focuses on authentic Creole-Cajun cuisine and down-to-earth Southern dishes. The restaurant is elegant, with creamy painted brick archways, long black banquettes, and a festive vibe, making it a hot spot for nightlife in the French Quarter. You can order items like gumbo, corn bisque, escargot, tuna poke, trio of duckling, and whole crispy Gulf fish off the a la carte menu or try the four-course prix fixe menu with a soup, appetizer, entree, and dessert.

The Bistro at Muriel’s Jackson Square offers New Orleans classics like gumbo, BBQ shrimp, Oysters “Muriel,” turtle soup, and shrimp remoulade, as well as contemporary Creole cuisine like Pecan Crusted Drum and Wood Grilled Tuna. The Courtyard Bar is an excellent place to meet up with friends and enjoy drinks and appetizers in a beautiful setting before dinner. And don’t forget the seance area! The Outer Seance is the relaxed lounge section and the Inner Seance is where the resident ghost, Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan, prefers to hang out.

Desi Vegas is one of the newer restaurants in New Orleans and is consistently rated one of the locals’ favorite places to “see and be seen.” They're a delicious steakhouse with carefully selected USDA Prime steaks that are hand-cut and aged, seared to perfection, and served sizzling. Try the Who Dat Shrimp appetizer and the Andouille-crawfish Mac and Cheese — both favorite dishes of locals and the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans players! Desi Vegas is in the Warehouse District in a beautiful, light-filled space great for gathering with friends.

This steakhouse is the result of a partnership between restaurant pros Desi Vega, Rodney Salvaggio, and Paul Varisco. They have created perhaps the best steakhouse in the city and what is sure to be a memorable dining experience for anyone who visits. Located in the beautiful Garden District, Mr. John's has the feel you would expect from an old-fashioned steakhouse even though they are fairly new. This is a perfect place to come indulge in items like the Braised Pork Belly, Mr. John’s House Salad, and one of the carefully selected and aged steaks like a filet mignon or the Cowboy Steak.

Superior Seafood and Oyster Bar is in historic Uptown New Orleans and serves authentic Louisiana seafood and Creole-inspired dishes. They are casual, affordable, and one of the most fun restaurants in New Orleans! They look out onto all the beautiful sights and sounds of Charles Avenue and have a super laid-back vibe with a full bar and drink specials. The menu features oysters, hot and cold appetizers, Po’Boys, BBQ Shrimp, Tchoupitoulas Chicken, Crawfish Risotto, and other interesting takes on local favorites.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in New Orleans is a classic and consistent staple, serving the finest USDA Prime beef steaks, fresh seafood, signature side dishes, and homemade desserts. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and rich with the spirit of New Orleans — you’re guaranteed to have a fun time with hospitality like this. Order your favorite cut of meat, whether it’s a ribeye, porterhouse or filet, and complement it with a Lobster Tail, Crab Stack Veggie, or another of the tasty sides.