Brunch has been around for decades, but it took on another
level of popularity with the Millennial generation. And with that newfound
level of fame, more and more restaurants started expanding their hours and
making special menus just for brunch. There are many reasons to love this
mid-morning to mid-afternoon meal: hangover cure, lazy day entertainment, enjoy the daylight hours, celebrate National Pancake Day, or
to get a dish that is served at no other time. Brunch is a big deal, and it's
here to stay.
Because of our year-round sunny weather, brunch is big in New Orleans. These restaurants and cafes are the best places to get brunch in the entire city.
Where To Go For Brunch In New Orleans
1. Bearcat Café
Multiple Locations
bearcatcafe.com
When it comes to the best brunch spots in New Orleans, Bearcat Cafe stands out as a top contender. With two convenient locations—the original Uptown spot at 2521 Jena St. and the newer CBD location at 845 Carondelet St.—Bearcat offers a diverse menu that caters to both traditional breakfast lovers and those seeking healthier or vegan options.
One of Bearcat's standout dishes is their Benedict Lobster Couyon, a seasonal favorite that never disappoints. This indulgent creation features succulent lobster atop a perfectly toasted English muffin, crowned with poached eggs and drizzled with a rich, house-made hollandaise sauce. It's a must-try when available, showcasing Bearcat's commitment to using fresh, high-quality ingredients.
2. Willa Jean
611 O'Keefe Ave., (504) 509-7334
willajean.com
Willa Jean, located in the CBD, has established itself as a premier brunch destination in New Orleans. Known for its blend of Southern comfort and contemporary flair, this eatery caters to both locals and tourists seeking a memorable dining experience. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Willa Jean offers a diverse menu that satisfies various palates, from health-conscious diners to those craving indulgent comfort food.
While Willa Jean's menu boasts many standout dishes, their Hangover Breakfast is a true crowd-pleaser. This hearty creation features two eggs any style, crispy hash browns, Nueske's bacon, and a warm buttermilk biscuit. For those with a sweet tooth, the Banana Bread with whipped butter and sea salt is a must-try. The restaurant also offers lighter options like the Avocado Toast with soft boiled egg, radish, and chili oil on sourdough. Whether you're in the mood for their famous Cornbread with Cane Syrup Butter or a refreshing Seasonal Fruit Bowl, Willa Jean consistently delivers a brunch experience that keeps patrons coming back for more.
3. Cafe Amelie
900 Royal St., (504) 412-8065
cafeamelie.com
Café Amelie, nestled in the heart of the French Quarter, offers a charming brunch experience in a picturesque courtyard setting. Open for brunch on Thursdays thru Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., this gem combines Southern hospitality with French-inspired cuisine, creating a unique dining atmosphere that captivates both locals and tourists alike.
While Café Amelie's menu boasts many delectable options, their Shrimp and Grits is a stable for a NOLA weekend brunch. Complement your meal with their signature Amelie Salad, a refreshing mix of great hill blue cheese, granny smith apples, pecans, and grapes, dressed in a citrus vinaigrette.
4. Apolline
4729 Magazine St., (504) 894-8881
apollinerestaurant.com
Apolline is so proud of their brunch that it has its own special menu. Brunch is served from Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from Saturday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You'll certainly want to start off with one of the drink specials or the Bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Mary's. It's the only place in New Orleans with a Deluxe Bloody Mary with three shots of vodka.
The entrees are just too much. There are traditional plates with NOLA flair like the Eggs Apolline and Gulf Shrimp & Grits and heartier items like a Prime NY Strip Steak and The Brunch Burger. Don't forget to get the Cinnamon Bacon as a starter, though. The extra thick Berkshire Bacon is crusted with cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecans.
5. Atchafalaya Restaurant
901 Louisiana Ave., (504) 891-9626
atchafalayarestaurant.com
You're in luck if you want to get brunch at Atchafalaya Restaurant. Brunch is served most of the days of the week: Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The brunch menu is huge, and there is definitely something, or many things, that you will absolutely love. For example, the French Toast is coated with Bananas Foster rum sauce.
There are some traditional items, but the specialty dishes are the most coveted. The "Korean-Style" Pork Belly comes with sticky jasmine rice, kimchi, and a sunny-side-up egg. The Brunch Burger has bacon-onion relish, cheddar cheese, house-made pickles, and brunch potatoes.
6. Ruby Slipper Cafe
Multiple Locations
rubybrunch.com
The Ruby Slipper specializes in breakfast, and they've grown so popular that the brand now has several restaurants in New Orleans, some restaurants outside of the metro area in Louisiana, and even some locations in Florida and Alabama. The secret to Ruby Slipper's fame is big, hot, indulgent brunch plates that you can't get anywhere else. This is definitely one of the best breakfast places in New Orleans.
Many diners start off with a cocktail like an Irish Coffee or the Big Easy Mimosa. Then they graduate to an entrée that is either sweet (Bacon Praline Pancakes, White Chocolate Bread Pudding Pancakes) or savory (Crawfish and Grits Cake, Smoked Salmon Omelette, Southern BLT).
7. FullBlast Brunch
139 S. Cortez St., (504) 302-2800
fullblastbrunch.com
It says it right in the name; this brunch-forward restaurant specializes in fun dishes with influences from Cajun, Creole, and Latin cuisine. FullBlast also serves lunch items as they are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday through Monday, but the brunch menu stands out for its signature items.
The Cajun Scramble is a flavorful take on a
traditional breakfast dish: three scrambled eggs with seared smoked sausage,
shrimp, onion, tomato, and cheddar cheese over potatoes. The FullBlast Benedict
has poached eggs and bacon over jalapeno cheddar grit cakes with fried chicken
or a pork chop and smoked sausage and bacon gravy.
8. Commander's Palace
1403 Washington Ave., (504) 899-8221
commanderspalace.com
Having brunch at the world-renowned Commander's Palace is an event. That's because this brunch is a jazz brunch. On Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., you can enjoy a special brunch menu with the bonus of live music performed by the Joe Simon's Jazz Trio. It's a lively and joyous way to have your cake and eat it, too!
The brunch menu consists of stellar
starters, entrees, and eye-opener cocktails, but you may prefer to try one of
Chef Meg Bickford's Brunch Packages. It consists of the Classic Bloody Mary, Turtle
Soup, Café Pierre Lacquered Texas Quail, and Creole Bread Pudding Souflee, aka The
Queen of Creole Desserts.
9. Jimmy J's Café
115 Chartres St., (504) 309-9360
jimmyjscafe.com
Jimmy J's is the best option if you're getting brunch down in the French Quarter. This funky café will have a mixture of service industry folks, tourists, and everything in between when you visit. Breakfast items are served all day, so you can really have your brunch at any hour. Eggs Benedict, omelettes, and French toast are the popular items here.
The Banana Bread
French Toast is made with house-baked banana bread, which is then topped with
Foster Sauce and served with bacon or sausage. On the savory side, the Shrimp &
Egg White Burrito has roasted jalapenos, cheddar cheese, salsa, and avocado
cream.
10. The Vintage
3121 Magazine St., (504) 324-7144
thevintagenola.com
Beignets, bubbles, bites. That's how The Vintage Restaurant describes it's offerings. The lovely Magazine Street cafe and eatery is open on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Beignets and pastries are served all day, so you don't have to worry about waking up early to indulge in hot, pillowy beignets.
In fact, you can order one "simple beignet," one "fancy beignet," or even a "fancy beignet flight." If those aren't enough, you may prefer the Beignet & Sawmill Gravy, which is a savory beignet smothered with bacon gravy. There are some lighter options like the Healthy Parfait and Avocado Toast just in case you don't want a ton of sugar or bread.
The Best Brunches In NOLA
With all of these amazing options, it can be very hard to
choose where to get your brunch. The best part is that you can make time to
visit each and every one of these local restaurants and make a journey out of the
New Orleans brunch scene. Just be sure to take a lot of photos and make all of
your friends green with envy.
Did we miss the best brunch place in New Orleans? Let us
know where to go next!
