Celebrate Tales of the Cocktail on a Gray Line Craft Cocktail Tour

This July 19-24, Tales of the Cocktail is celebrating its 24th year. Do a little celebrating yourself on one of three craft cocktail walking tours from Gray Line New Orleans.

Go from bar to bar in the French Quarter and learn about this city’s fascinating relationship with the cocktail. They say the cocktail was invented here, you know. And it’s reinvented nightly (okay daily) all over town.

On these stirring walking tours through the French Quarter, you’ll drink in NOLA history with a glass in your hand. You’ll get chance to try famous New Orleans cocktails and hear stories while you sip. Did you know that Governor Huey P. Long once took his bartender with him to New York just so he could make him his beloved Ramos Gin Fizz? This is fun stuff!

One of the tours is a walking cocktail tour, another includes a jazz experience, and still another includes a cooking class.

Group pricing is available. Reservations are recommended 24 hours in advance. Learn more. 

Note: You must be 21 years of age or older to take this tour. 

Read our Best of Guide: New Orleans Cocktails

Mark Twain once said, “New Orleans food is as delicious as the less criminal forms of sin.” We think he’d approve of Restaurant Week New Orleans from June 8-14. Restaurants all over town are offering special menus during this celebration sponsored by the Louisiana Restaurant Association Greater New Orleans Chapter. This is your chance to find out what everyone is raving about for less. Here are our picks. Click on the restaurant name to make reservations.

Byblos Mediterranean Grill — Metairie Road & Elmwood

A neighborhood favorite for decades, Byblos serves Mediterranean classics with the kind of consistency that keeps locals coming back again and again. From fresh seafood to famous hummus, every dish feels like comfort food with a global passport.

ANNUNCIATION Restaurant

Spend at least one meal during Restaurant Week at ANNUNCIATION Restaurant. Not only is the food rave-worthy, but the entire staff gives new meaning to the words “Southern hospitality.” We can’t say enough nice things about this place.

Commander’s Palace

This celebrated restaurant in the Garden District is adored by locals, visitors and food critics who always list it among, if not at the top, of their best restaurants in the South lists. This is New Orleans at her best.

Crescent City Brewhouse

The French Quarter’s only microbrewery is just a loved for its food as it is for its beer. They offer free live music nightly, a fabulous oyster bar, and a menu TDF. It’s no wonder locals love it as well as visitors.

Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar – French Quarter
An institution in the French Quarter, Felix’s has been shucking oysters and serving seafood classics since 1945. Pull up a seat, order a dozen chargrilled oysters and discover why this Bourbon Street favorite never goes out of style.

Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar – Lakeshore Drive
Felix’s on Lakeshore pairs lakefront views with the seafood dishes locals crave. Whether you come for the oysters, po-boys or seafood platters, this laid-back spot makes every meal feel like a mini vacation.

The Pelican Club
Hidden away in the French Quarter, The Pelican Club has long been one of the city’s best-kept dining secrets. Romantic, refined and consistently delicious, it’s the kind of place that turns a simple dinner into an occasion.

Tujague’s Restaurant

Tujague’s may be the second-oldest restaurant in the city but it’s first with its loyal fans. Brunch was invented here. It’s a must for Restaurant Week or any week.

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ANNUNCIATION Restaurant

This Warehouse District favorite offers a Filet Special that changes weekly, typically featuring seasonal vegetables, fresh Louisiana seafood, and house-made sauces. Read our review. You really can’t go wrong here.

Commander’s Palace

Dad will love Commander’s Palace, named the “South’s Best Restaurant” by Southern Living. Steak-wise, Chef Meg is offering Tournedos of Black Angus Beef, a chargrilled beef tenderloin over garlic & herb roasted mushrooms, whiskey smoked onions, Creole smashed new potatoes, and Marchand de vin.

Yum! Reserve now.

Oceana Grill

If you can stop yourself from ordering any of the fabulous seafood dishes on the Oceana Grill menu, you’ll discover that the Blackened Ribeye Steak is 10 ounces of wonderful. Make reservations.

Pelican Club

This lovely restaurant on Exchange Alley offers a Center Cut, Eight-Ounce Filet Mignon with mushroom demi-glace, blue cheese, broccolini, sour cream and green onion smashed potatoes. OMG! Reserve your table in your favorite dining room now.

Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House

Gentlemen, choose your weapons! Rizzuto’s serves only USDA Certified Prime Black Angus Beef. There are five steak options on their dinner menu. We recommend the 10-ounce Spinalis Ribeye, the smallest, most flavorful, most marbled, and tenderest part of the ribeye. Make sure Dad saves room for dessert. The gelato is amazing there. Reserve a table.

Tujague’s

Why has Tujague’s been around for 160 years? Here’s why. Tujague’s Filet Mignon is a 6-ounce filet of beef, served with fried fingerling potatoes, vegetable of the day, Worcestershire & roasted garlic butter sauce. It’s a rare treat, no matter how you order it cooked. Click here for reservations.

Hard Rock Cafe

Father’s Day is a great excuse to take Dad to the French Quarter for some fun at Hard Rock Cafe. Immerse him in the music he grew with, delicious yet unpretentious food like their Legendary® Steak Burgers, and great libations. Your Dad will receive rock star treatment at Hard Rock Cafe. Reserve a table.

The Carriage House Restaurant at Houmas House

Head to Great River Road this year for a meal at The Carriage House Restaurant at Houmas House, an elegant eatery fit for a sugar baron or the king of your house. On the menu there you’ll find Steak Carriage House, an A9 Wagyu Filet Mignon served with roasted fingerling potatoes, blistered tomatoes and broccolini. Dad will be so happy, he’ll want to come back next year. For reservations, call 225-473-9380.

Acme Oyster House

While there is no steak per se on the Acme Menu, their 10-Napkin Roast Beef Po-Boy will satisfy Dad’s primal cravings. It’s so good, Dad won’t know whether to wipe his chin or do a second line. No reservations required.

Read Father’s Day in New Orleans

As we learn about more Mother’s Day menus, we’ll share them here.

Go to our Best of the Brunches Guide

When you think “festival food,” hamburgers, hotdogs, funnel cakes, deep-fried Oreos and maybe a few slices of pizza come to mind. But here in the New Orleans French Quarter we’ve kicked it up a notch, as NOLA chef Emeril Lagasse likes to say. The vendors of this year’s French Quarter Festival (April 16 -19, 2026) have made festival food an art form.

Chicken and Andouille Jambalaya, Beignets, Bananas Foster, Crawfish Bread and more will be available for feasting upon this April. Plus, you can enjoy this sumptuous cuisine with a side of sweet jazz, funk, classical, Cajun, zydeco, brass bands and gospel.

Check out what some of our favorite restaurants will be serving at French Quarter Festival 2026 – and don’t forget to pack your stretchy pants!

Cafe Beignet

• 3 Traditional Beignets 

Landry’s Seafood House

• Crab Cake w/ Lemon Butter Shrimp, Crab, and Lobster Bisque Combo Bowl

New Orleans School of Cooking

• Bananas Foster with Vanilla Ice Cream
• Pasta William (Penne Pasta & Cajun Cream Sauce with Shrimp and Sausage
• Crawfish Bread

Tujague’s

• Chicken and Andouille Jambalaya
• Shrimp Remoulade
• Marinated Crab Claws
• Shrimp Stuffed Mirliton
• Strawberry or Chocolate Handle

Oceana Grill

• Blackened Shrimp Po-Boy dressed with Coleslaw & Remoulade Sauce
• Mardi Gras Pasta – Gulf Shrimp, Crawfish Tails, Bell Peppers & Onions in a Creamy Alfredo Sauce
• Soft Pretzel served with Crawfish Mushroom Cream Sauce or Queso

<<View the French Quarter Fest 2024 Musical Lineup>>

<<F<find a Hotel in the French Quarter>>

This Easter, do more than bite the ears off a chocolate bunny for breakfast. Check out this list of great New Orleans restaurants that are open for Sunday brunch on April 5th (some are even saving a seat for the Easter bunny). Hop on down the list and make your reservations now. 

Houmas House

This jewel on the Great River Road will be serving their Annual Easter Buffet in your choice of the Pavilion Courtyard or the Pavilion Ballroom between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. View 2026 menu and make reservations, call 225-473-9380. .

Pelican Club

The Pelican Club in the French Quarter will be taking reservations on Easter Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. CityBusiness called this restaurant “the hidden gem of the New Orleans dining scene.” We’re sure you’ll agree. Call 504-523-1504 to reserve your spot.

Commander’s Palace

This Garden District favorite is at the top of our list for Easter. Put on your Easter finery and make Sunday a celebration your family will remember forever at Commander’s. Make reservations.

Court of Two Sisters

Follow the second line to the Court of Two Sisters this Easter and ask for a seat in the courtyard. It doesn’t get any more New Orleans. While they are sold out for brunch, they are serving their regular dinner menu from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Make Make reservations. 

Hard Rock Cafe 

Hop over to Hard Rock for Lunch with the Bunny from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Reserve a special VIP table and enjoy a Fab Four Appetizer Platter(R) as well as Spring swag, special surprises and a visit from the Easter Bunny himself. Learn more.

Messina’s Runway Cafe

Messina’s never disappoints, and their Easter offerings are always something to celebrate. View their 2026 Easter menu and call 504-241-5300 to reserve your seating at 11 a.m. or 1:45 p.m. 

Steamboat Natchez

A highlight of Easter every year is Easter Bunny Jazz Brunch Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez and the Riverboat City of New Orleans. The rascally rabbit himself will be there along with a live jazz band. Learn more and make reservations at steamboatnatchez.com. 

Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House

Celebrate Easter with your friends and family in Lakeview at Rizzuto’s. They’ll be serving a festive feast between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. View 2026 Easter Menu.  Make reservations. 

Tujague’s

Tujague’s always outdoes itself ever year with a fabulous three-course Easter menu. They’re celebrating their 170th anniversary this year. Why not head over before or after Easter Mass at the Cathedral? Make reservations. 

Mambo’s 

Mambo’s will be serving Easter guests from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Easter. Hop onto their rooftop and enjoy some authentic New Orleans cuisine. Their BBQ Shrimp & Grits are TDF or, heck, go for the Ribeye! Lent is over after all!

Oceana Grill 

This popular restaurant on Conti Street is open this Easter from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. There breakfast menu is beloved by locals and visitors alike (after all, who doesn’t like Bananas Foster French Toast?). And their regular menu is always spectacular. We love the “Knife and Fork” B.B.Q. Ribs.

Olde NOLA Cookery

If you’re down in the French Quarter for one of the Easter parades, stop at Olde NOLA Cookery, open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Start with some Gator Tail Bites and then try the Blackened Bayou Duck (much more satisfying than the marshmallow kind).

Bobby Hebert’s Cajun Cannon 

This popular Metairie restaurant will be serving the Easter crowd between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. They have lots of wonderful salads on their menu if you want rabbit food this Easter or go for one of the delicious seafood or pasta dishes. There’s so much to love here!

It’s crawfish season in New Orleans. Along with the traditional boiled crawfish, you can find delicious crawfish dishes all over town. Here’s where we recommend you make like a mud bug and dig in! 

Crawfish Tails are on the menu at Deanie’s Seafood and you can also have them in a bisque, an étouffée, over the dish of the day, in a po-boy or on a salad. We recommend their Crawfish Quartet–Louisiana crawfish prepared four delicious ways: crawfish étouffée, crawfish bisque, fried crawfish tails and crawfish balls.

Daisy Dukes in the French Quarter offers boiled seafood in season, but you can also have a Seafood Omelette with crawfish for breakfast. Sweet!

Acme Oyster House has Crawpuppies and a Fried Crawfish Tail appetizer TDF. They also make a memorable Fried Crawfish po-boy. Some locations serve boiled seafood this time of year as well. 

ANNUNCIATION’s Seafood Au Gratin with Crabmeat, Crawfish and Shrimp is a game changer. Trust us, you’ll love it.

Blue Bayou Restaurant and Oyster Bar on Canal Street is a great place to get your crawfish fix. Their Mardi Gras Pasta with Shrimp and crawfish tails is fabulous as is their Crawfish Étouffée. Plus, you can order fried or sautéed crawfish tails as a side with anything. Yum! 

Bobby Hebert’s Cajun Cannon in Metairie offers seven Cajun Pasta dishes you can add fried crawfish tails to for just $5. Get goin’! 

Bourbon Heat’s Crawfish Étouffée comes with a huge hunk of mozzarella garlic toast. Heaven, I’m in Heaven….

Cafe Pontalba’s Blackened Redfish with Crawfish Étouffée will blow away. So will the view off Jackson Square. Come sit in this popular restaurant in the Pontalba buildings and enjoy!

Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop’s famous Mumbo Gumbo has crawfish in the mix but, we’ve got to tell you, his Crawfish Étouffée is as good as his gumbo. It features a quarter pound of crawfish tails in a rich Cajun roux with white rice. Fabulous! 

Crescent City Brewhouse’s Redfish Acadiana features Louisiana crawfish, crab boil potatoes, seasonal vegetables and cream sauce. So good. 

Head to 4141 on St. Charles Avenue for fresh beignets covered in a cheesy crawfish sauce. They also have a Shrimp & Crawfish Pasta and a Crawfish Étouffée you’ll dream about for decades. 

Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar is serving Hot Boiled Crawfish with all the fixings as well as Crawfish Étouffée, Fried Crawfish Tails, and Crawfish Pasta with cream sauce. Peel out!

Landry’s Seafood House’s New Orleans Crawfish Bread is like Jazz Fest on a platter. You’ll adore it. Their Crawfish Étouffée is pretty darn good as well. 

Messina’s Runway Cafe’s Catfish and Grits is topped with a crawfish corn maque choux. They also have an excellent Crawfish Étouffée. Spectacular.

Mulate’s Cajun Restaurant offers lots of fun ways to eat crawfish. We recommend their Cajun Sampler appetizer which comes with fried crawfish tails, grilled alligator, meat pies stuffed mushrooms, bite-size tilapia, grilled frog legs and fried calamari. They make a mean étouffée as well. 

Oceana Grill is a must for crawfish lovers. Their signature dish Redfish Oceana is sauteed redfish topped with original crawfish mushroom cream sauce. They also make a delicious Crawfish Fettuccini as well as a spectacular Crawfish Étouffée.

The Pelican Club has a new take on some New Orleans favorites with Crawfish Étouffée and Crawfish Chili. Did we mention you’d be dining in one of the top restaurants in the country? Trust us, it’s worth the hype!

3rd Black Depot Kitchen + Bar’s Warm Crawfish Dip served with crostinis is a memory in the making. They also offer Season Savory Beignets–a crawfish drop beignet with roasted corn and poblano pepper creme. If you’re really hungry, order the New York Strip Steak with garlic ash, asparagus and a crawfish cream sauce. Ooh la la!

The crawfish dishes at Houmas House alone are worth the drive to Ascension Parish. Enjoy creations such as Bisque of Curried Pumpkin with Crawfish and Corn, Crawfish Arancini, and Crawfish Orleans Pasta, then stroll off the calories with a tour of this magnificent estate and gardens. 

If these dishes sound delicious (and trust us, they are!), you’ll want to hurry, our crawfish loving friends, because this season doesn’t last long! And it could be next year before you get to dive into these delicacies again! 

In a city that treasures its traditions, few places embody them like Tujague’s. As the French Quarter landmark turns 170 in 2026, the restaurant isn’t just counting candles — it’s honoring nearly two centuries of recipes, rituals and regulars who’ve kept its tables full and its Creole spirit alive.

Founded in 1856, Tujague’s has outlasted wars, weathered hurricanes, survived sweeping changes in the Quarter and even packed up and moved addresses — all without losing its soul. The secret? A deep devotion to tradition. The classics still headline the menu, from cool, punchy Shrimp Remoulade to the quietly legendary Chicken Bonne Femme (the kind of dish regulars whisper about like a secret handshake). Creole Cream Cheese Pie nods to Madame Bégué’s breakfast-table ingenuity, the hearty Butcher’s Breakfast helped inspire what we now call brunch, and the iconic Grasshopper cocktail is still shaken daily for anyone ready to toast to New Orleans history in a glass.

Instead of celebrating with a single birthday bash, Tujague’s is stretching the festivities across the entire year, honoring its culinary roots with throwback dishes, historic dining formats and the stories behind the recipes. It’s less a party and more a love letter — to Creole cuisine, to the city and to 170 years of doing things the Tujague’s way.

170th Anniversary Highlights

1856 Brunch Special (launching Friday, Feb. 20)

A two-course brunch for $18.56 tips its hat to the year it all began. Expect comforting favorites like BBQ Shrimp & Grits, Roast Beef Debris Po-boys and a Muffaletta Chopped Salad.

$1.70 Demi Grasshoppers (starting Feb. 20)

Mini versions of the restaurant’s famous 1918-born cocktail will pour all year long for just $1.70 — proof that good taste doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Legacy Dish Series (beginning March 2026)

Each month, a different historic recipe returns to the spotlight, giving diners the chance to literally taste the past.

• March: Chicken Bonne Femme
• April: Seafood-Stuffed Mirliton with Creole Sauce
• May: Crawfish Bisque à la Bégué
• More to Come

Original 1856 Table d’Hôte Experience

Dinner goes delightfully old-school with the return of Tujague’s original five-course prix-fixe format — the only way guests dined here for more than a century. For $32 (plus entrée), the full table shares a procession of classics: Demi Shrimp Remoulade, Gumbo du Jour, Traditional Brisket Appetizer, a choice of entrée and Bread Pudding to finish.

The anniversary celebration runs through the end of 2026 — because when you’ve been around for 170 years, one day just isn’t enough to celebrate.

Visit Tujague’s Website

Learn more about Tujague’s

Hard Rock Café

If you were thinking about just picking up a bag of chips and dip at the convenience store, we hope this event at Hard Rock Cafe changes your mind. Reserve your table in advance and watch the Big Game on the Big Screen on Bourbon Street! Enjoy Touchdowns and Tunes, Game Day Specials and their Legendary Menu in the VIP Voodoo Room. All ages are welcome. Book now.

4141

This legendary bar on the St. Charles streetcar line is an ideal gameday choice. They’ve got tons of flat screens and you can order from their great menu or choose something from the connected New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Company menu. Check out their cocktail menu, too!

Acme Oyster House

It’s always “half time” at Acme Oyster House. Grab half a shrimp, oyster or “10-Napkin Roast Beef Po-boy” and pull up a seat close to one of the TVs. No matter who’s leading, you’ll have a great time. Book now

Bobby Hebert’s Cajun Cannon

Former Saints’ quarterback Bobby Hebert is a legend in this town and his Metairie restaurant, filled with fascinating memorabilia, is the perfect place to watch the game. You’ll love the food, too. We can vouch for the Cam Cam Bam Bam Buffalo Wings, the Who Dat! Crab Cakes, and Buddy D’s Red Beans and Rice.

Loft18

Come watch the game and maybe toss around the ball at Loft18 on Metairie Road. They have screens galore and great football watching food (we love their Korean wings!)

Felix’s Seafood & Oyster Bar

Whether you’re in the Quarter or at the Lakefront, it’s game on at Felix’s! Down a freshly shucked oyster every time your team scores.

ANNUNCIATION Restaurant

This lovely restaurant in the New Orleans Arts/Warehouse District is pulling out all the stops this Valentine’s Day. Their prixe fix 3-course dinner menu has a price you’ll love ($75 per person) and includes delights like Lobster Ravioli, Paneed Oysters, Filet Mignon, and a tempting gluten-free Carmel Custard. Mmmmm. Check out menu.

Landry’s Seafood House 

This seafood house is the perfect place to take your spouse or significant other this Valentine’s Day. They’re serving up a special Grey Goose Pink Pearl cocktail or just $14. Cheers to love!

Court of Two Sisters

There’s nothing like Bananas Foster made tableside at Court of Two Sisters, one of the French Quarter’s most beloved restaurants. We can taste it already. This restaurant always books up for holidays so make reservations now.

Creole Queen

Spend a romantic, moonlit evening on a Valentine’s Day Cruise aboard the legendary Creole Queen. You and your love will enjoy an upscale Cajun buffet, open bar, live entertainment, reserved seating, and complimentary Champagne upon boarding. There will also be Bread Pudding with White Chocolate Sauce and Valentine’s cookies! Reservations are required and they request you dress to impress. See menu and book! https://www.bigeasy.com/attractions/creole-queen/valentines-day

Commander’s Palace

Next time somebody says, “Have you ever had Commander’s Bread Pudding Souffle,” you can say yes! It’s delicious and fun to share, just like your life together.

Oceana Grill

This warm Praline Brownie is topped with vanilla bean ice cream, and is smothered in caramelized pecan rum sauce and pecan pieces. This must be love.

Mambo’s 

You’ll be sweet on Mambo’s Chocolate Kahlua Mousse! Golden toffee crunches float among clouds of creamy, rich Kahlua chocolate mousse.

Nola Cookery

Who need diamonds when there’s Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Pie from Nola Cookery? Imagine large buttery pecans layered on a rich, smooth filling with a hint of Kentucky bourbon on a pastry crust.

Bobby Hebert’s Cajun Cannon

Is there any cookie better than the Oreo? If so, we’ve never found it. Bobby Hebert’s Oreo Crumble Cheesecake sits on a perfectly baked Walnut Graham Cracker Crust and is generously covered with Oreo pieces and topped off with Chocolate Drizzle. Mmmm.

Steamboat Natchez

The Steamboat Natchez Valentine’s Party Package will be available from February 13th through February 15th. This package includes your two-hour cruise, a Creole lunch sampler or Creole dinner or brunch buffet, a decorated reserved table, three alcoholic beverages from their specialty cocktail menu (unlimited soft drinks and juice for children), and a sweet treat. Learn more and book. ps://www.steamboatnatchez.com/cruises-2/holiday-cruise/valentine-s-day-package.html

Bourbon Heat

Have yourselves a berry little Valentine’s Day at Bourbon Heat this year. Their Berry Me in Champagne cocktail is both romantic and delicious. 

Hard Rock Cafe

Plan a double date this Valentine’s Day at Hard Rock Cafe. Reserve your table with Valentine’s Day swag and share their Fab Four Appetizer Platter. Learn more. They’re also offering Sweet Valentine’s Weekend Specials from February 10th through 15th, including this Strawberry-infused Heart Throb, Berry Sundaes and more.

Go to Seven Perfect Places to Pop the Question in New Orleans