The 6 Best Brunch Spots in New Orleans (Because Breakfast Should Come With Beignets and Booze)
Welcome to the Brunch Capital of the South
Let’s get one thing straight — New Orleans doesn’t do boring food, and that includes brunch. This city takes its mid-morning meal as seriously as it takes jazz and Mardi Gras beads. Whether you’re recovering from a late night on Bourbon Street or just looking for an excuse to day drink with a biscuit in hand, brunch in NOLA is a full-blown experience.
We’re talking praline bacon, crawfish hollandaise, 25-cent martinis, and jazz bands serenading your eggs Benedict. It’s loud, indulgent, and very much not the time to “just get something light.” These are the 6 best brunch spots in New Orleans that bring the flavor, the vibe, and the you-might-need-a-nap-after energy.
1. Commander’s Palace – For the Classic Jazz Brunch Experience
If you’re only doing one “fancy New Orleans brunch,” make it Commander’s Place. This place is iconic — like, been-around-since-1893 iconic. It’s nestled in the Garden District, wrapped in a blue-and-white striped facade that practically screams “something delicious is happening inside.”
Step through the door and you’re met with live jazz, polished servers, and a dining room full of people who came for the experience. The menu is upscale Southern with French influences — think turtle soup, sugarcane-lacquered quail, and the legendary bread pudding soufflé.
Oh, and did I mention the 25-cent martinis? You read that right. A quarter per drink, and yes, there’s a three-drink limit — for good reason.
Dress up (seriously, they enforce the dress code), order the shrimp and grits, and prepare for a meal that’s equal parts theatrical and delicious. It’s old-school New Orleans brunch at its finest, and it’s not just a meal — it’s a memory.
2. Willa Jean – For That Chic, Southern-Modern Comfort Food
If brunch were a lifestyle brand, Willa Jean would be running it. Located in the Central Business District, this spot serves up Southern comfort food with a modern twist — and just enough cool-girl energy to make you want to move in, or at least rebrand your entire life around biscuits.
The vibe is airy and stylish without being stuck up. It’s the kind of place where you’ll see people in both wide-brim hats and hangover hoodies, all bonding over carbs. And oh, the carbs. Start with the biscuits — flaky, golden, and served with honey butter and jam that deserve their own fan club.
The menu walks that perfect line between indulgent and fresh. You’ll find dishes like the sausage, egg & pimento cheese sandwich (which is not messing around), shrimp and grits with roasted tomato butter, and a stack of banana bread pudding that somehow counts as breakfast. And don’t sleep on the frozé — yes, it’s brunch, but no one’s judging.
Willa Jean nails that elevated-casual balance, where the food is just as photogenic as it is crave-worthy. Whether you’re brunching
3. Atchafalaya (ah-CHA-fuh-lie-uh) – For the Neighborhood Jazz Brunch With Soul
Tucked away in the Irish Channel, Atchafalaya is what happens when New Orleans brunch grows up but still knows how to have a good time. It’s upscale without the attitude, cozy without being cramped, and filled with locals who’ve known for years that this is the spot for a soulful weekend feast.
The vibe? Warm wood, local art, and a jazz trio casually playing in the corner like it’s no big deal (it is). The crowd skews cool but relaxed — think foodies, creatives, and people who actually live in NOLA and aren’t afraid to order two entrées “just to try.”
Now let’s talk food. If you don’t get the Eggs Atchafalaya, I don’t know what to tell you. Poached eggs + fried green tomatoes + crawfish tails + creamy hollandaise = pure Louisiana magic. Other musts? The duck hash, the shrimp and grits, and honestly anything that comes with a side of house-made hot sauce.
But the real star of the show? The Bloody Mary bar. We’re talking DIY with all the fixings: pickled okra, bacon, hot sauces, veggies, and whatever else your spicy little heart desires. Make it a meal — no one’s judging here.
Atchafalaya is where you go to brunch hard but leave feeling oddly at peace. It’s got flavor, heart, and a live soundtrack that makes everything taste just a little bit better.
4. The Ruby Slipper – For Big Portions and No Fuss
Sometimes you just want to roll into brunch a little bleary-eyed, order something smothered in hollandaise, and not worry about how your hair looks. Enter: The Ruby Slipper — your go-to for hearty Southern brunch with zero pretension and a whole lot of flavor.
With several locations around New Orleans (Mid-City, French Quarter, Uptown, and more), Ruby Slipper is super accessible and always busy — for good reason. The food is bold, rich, and unapologetically over-the-top in the best way.
Let’s talk menu highlights:
- Eggs Cochon – slow-cooked pork debris over buttermilk biscuits with poached eggs and hollandaise
- Bananas Foster Pain Perdu – basically French toast and dessert had a very New Orleans baby
- Shrimp Boogaloo Benedict – this isn’t just eggs benedict, it’s a whole mood
And don’t skip the drinks — from mimosa flights to the “Boozy Iced Coffee,” Ruby Slipper knows exactly what you need to come back to life after a late night out.
It’s casual, it’s consistent, and it hits the spot every single time. If you want a local brunch that’s easy to get to, easy to love, and not trying to reinvent the biscuit — this is your place.
5. Elizabeth’s – For Boozy Brunch and Praline Bacon
If New Orleans brunch had a wild child, it would be Elizabeth’s. Located in the Bywater — a neighborhood known for its artsy, offbeat charm — this spot is equal parts funky, indulgent, and totally unforgettable.
The interior is eclectic (mismatched chairs, colorful walls, and art that may or may not make you blush), but the food? Absolute fire. Elizabeth’s is where you go when you’re craving comfort food with flair — the kind of brunch that doesn’t apologize for its calories or its cocktails.
Their signature? Praline bacon. Yes, you read that right. Sweet, sticky, candy-coated bacon that somehow manages to be salty, crunchy, and melt-in-your-mouth at the same time. If you don’t order it, someone at the table better.
Other heavy hitters:
- Eggs Florentine with house-made hollandaise
- Fried chicken and waffles (because of course)
- Duck waffle with sweet potato and pepper jelly (wild, but it works)
- Strong-as-hell Bloody Marys that just might cure everything wrong with your life
Elizabeth’s isn’t trying to impress you with minimalism or plating — it’s here to feed you like your wild, culinary-genius aunt who drinks bourbon in the morning. Go hungry. Leave full. Possibly nap.
6. Satsuma Café – For That Chill, Fresh, Slightly Healthier Brunch
Okay, so maybe after a few days of fried everything and bottomless drinks, your body starts sending signals like: “Hey… ever heard of fiber?” Enter Satsuma Café, your go-to spot for a lighter, fresher, still-totally-delicious brunch that doesn’t feel like punishment.
Tucked into the hip neighborhoods of Bywater and Uptown, Satsuma has major laid-back, order-at-the-counter, hang-for-a-while vibes. It’s the kind of place where you’ll spot someone working on a novel in the corner while sipping a cold-pressed juice, and somehow it feels aspirational instead of annoying.
The food is simple but so well done — think avocado toast that’s actually seasoned, sweet potato hash bowls, breakfast burritos, and seasonal quiches that don’t taste like leftovers from a wedding buffet. Oh, and the fresh-squeezed orange juice? Life-giving. Add a splash of sparkling wine and you’ve got yourself a little detox-retox situation.
It’s also one of the few places where ordering a salad at brunch won’t get you side-eyed — but don’t worry, they still serve bacon.
Satsuma is perfect when you want a slow morning with nourishing food and really good coffee, all in a setting that makes you feel like a local. Bonus: great kid-friendly options if you’re brunching with little ones in tow.
Come for the Biscuits, Stay for the Vibe
Brunch in New Orleans isn’t just about the food — it’s a full-body, jazz-in-the-background, mimosa-in-hand kind of experience. Whether you’re into white tablecloths and soufflés or casual spots slinging praline bacon and Bloody Marys strong enough to reset your whole week, this city has a seat at the table for you.
So go ahead — dress up, show up hungry, and prepare to leave full, happy, and maybe just a little buzzed. That’s how brunch is done in New Orleans. And once you’ve had it here, brunch anywhere else just feels… underdressed.
