Home » Special Features » The World’s Best » Best Brunches New Orleans
At the end of a weekend of frivolity, urbanistas need to unwind over brunch—to fortify themselves for the shopping or museum-hopping ahead. Whether your version is caffeine-fueled or “hair of the dog,” these top brunch spots will fill you up, allow you to de-brief with friends, and help you gently transition back to your Monday world.
Best Brunches in....
Best Brunches
New Orleans
Mr. B’s Bistro 201 Royal St., French Quarter, 504-523-2078 mrbsbistro.com
The Draw: Sometimes breakfast should be a party. At its Sunday jazz brunch, Mr. B’s serves all the classics, including stiff Bloody Marys, savory seafood gumbo, and rich bread pudding, all to the beat of a strolling band. The Scene: Only in New Orleans would a 30-year-old restaurant be considered an upstart. Mr. B’s, run by the Brennan family of restaurateurs, took the city’s old-line Creole cuisine and made it modern. The French Quarter location attracts lots of tourists, although Mr. B’s is also a popular lunch spot for professionals from the nearby Central Business District. On Sundays, you’ll share the dining room with locals celebrating birthdays and big occasions. Mon–Sat 11:30am–2:30pm and 5:30–9:30pm, Sun 10:30am–1:30pm and 5:30–8:30pm. $$ Hot Tip: Don’t miss the barbecue shrimp, a New Orleans specialty of massive head-on shrimp sautéed in butter and spices. Hardly anyone does it better than Mr. B’s.
The Draw: The diner, which puts its own spin on breakfast standards, buzzes with activity early in the morning. The Scene: The tattooed staff taking your order might have come straight to work after a night on the town. Despite the edgy look, their attitude is laid back. Slim Goodies draws a cross section of Uptown regulars, from artists types not far out of college to young professionals and the occasional family. Daily 6am–2:30pm $ Hot Tip: Slim Goodies explicitly encourages guests to bring their own booze. They don’t charge a corkage fee, but they reserve the right to impose a 20 percent gratuity on drunk tables.
The Draw: Seven mornings a week, locals line up for both classic breakfast fare and a friendly smile from the hip, young staff. The Scene: Every part of Uptown society—college kids, young families, doctors from the nearby hospital, and old men reading newspapers—takes a seat at this bustling cafe for omelettes, biscuits, and stacks of blueberry pancakes. Once the beloved Bluebird Café, the space has been spruced up by the new owner with updated décor and a few chefly touches, such as a rotating selection of housemade salsas. Luckily he didn’t mess with the neighborhood vibe. Daily 7am–3pm. $ Hot Tip: To dine with the younger (and often hungover) contingent, opt for the late weekend mornings—early mornings are dominated by families.
