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» Best Late-Night Eats New Orleans
Night owls rejoice! Whether that quick drink before dinner turned into a three-hour minglefest or the rigors of clubbing have left you craving a proper re-fuel, these after-hours kitchens will delight discerning palates and cosmo-coated bellies alike. From midnight dinners to pre-dawn feasts, these Late-Night Eats are all worth keeping your eyelids raised a little longer.
Best Late-Night Eats in....
Best Late-Night Eats
New Orleans
Café du Monde 800 Decatur St., French Quarter, 504-525-4544 cafedumonde.com
The Draw: No visit to New Orleans is complete without a café au lait—hot hot milk and
chicory-laced coffee with a deep, dark taste—and an order of beignets heaped with powdered sugar. Happily, you can satisfy this craving around the clock. The Scene: The French Market, once a public market for the French Quarter, stretches downriver from Jackson Square. Café du Monde, with its awning-covered cafe space, anchors the upper end. The close, crowded tables are ideal for meeting fellow diners. 24/7. $ Hot Tip: Tables at the sidewalk’s edge have the best street views.
Clover Grill 900 Bourbon St., French Quarter, 504-598-1010 clovergrill.com
The Draw: During the weekend, the griddle never stops sizzling at the Clover Grill.
The burgers and fries are the best late-night snack around Bourbon Street, and the biscuits and waffles hit the spot after you’ve stayed out until the sun comes up. The Scene: With a few cozy tables and a row of stools along the counter, the Clover Grill looks like a roadside diner from Middle America. A few blocks from the gay clubs of Bourbon Street, the flamboyant staff and odd customers give it an atmosphere that’s more outrageous than all-American. Mon–Tue 8am–midnight, Wed–Sun 24 hrs. $ Hot Tip: The Clover Grill is deservedly famous for its cheeseburger cooked under
a Ford hubcap.
The Draw: Get beyond sushi (and leave local New Orleans flavors behind) at this izakaya, the Japanese snack shops that originally served food for sake drinkers. The Scene: Many suburban homes have closets bigger than this Frenchmen Street snack bar. The lilliputian dimensions appeal to solo diners and young couples who drift in between sets at area clubs. Early in the evening, the subdued atmosphere is perfect for plotting a night on the New Orleans streets. Later, the packed space is better suited to heavy drinking. Tue–Thu 7pm–midnight, Fri–Sat 7pm–3am. $ Hot Tip: Explore the list of Japanese shochu, a distilled drink—instead of a fermented one such as sake—that can be made from ingredients such as rice, barley, or sweet potatoes.
