Best New Orleans Restaurants & Bars for Mardi Gras (2027)
Where to eat before the parades, settle in along St. Charles Avenue, book a balcony party, and find a great neighborhood bar once the costumes come out.
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A good Mardi Gras food plan isn't a reservation at every famous restaurant in New Orleans. It's knowing which part of town you'll spend the day in, eating before you need to, and picking a bar you'd enjoy even without a parade outside.
That might mean oysters and frozen cocktails at Superior Seafood, a long lunch at Galatoire's, or a Reuben from Stein's before you find your spot on St. Charles. It might mean skipping the big-float crowds for a costume-filled afternoon in the Marigny. Those are different versions of Mardi Gras, and the right restaurants and bars depend on which one you're coming for.
Key dates for 2027: Carnival season starts January 6. Endymion rolls Saturday, February 6. Lundi Gras is Monday, February 8, and Mardi Gras Day is Tuesday, February 9. Final parade routes and times are worth checking before you build a day around a particular corner.
We've picked 30 places for the season, organized by part of town. A few have announced 2027 packages; for everything else, holiday hours and parade-day policies are worth confirming for the exact day you plan to go.
All 30 Mardi Gras Restaurants and Bars at a Glance
| Place | Area | Format | Best for | 2027 status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior Seafood | Uptown | Sit-down seafood | A first Uptown parade day at St. Charles and Napoleon | Ask about parade-day dining |
| The Chloe | Uptown | Hotel restaurant and bar | A polished afternoon with one good home base | Ask about Carnival access |
| Columns | Uptown | Hotel bar and porch | Drinks on the classic St. Charles porch | Ask about Carnival access |
| Superior Grill | Uptown | Tex-Mex | Margaritas and an easy group meal | Ask about parade-day menu |
| The Delachaise | Uptown | Wine bar, 21+ | Wine and bistro food for a small group | Regular service |
| Igor's | Lower Garden District | 24-hour dive bar | A cheap, unfussy break off the route | Regular service |
| Jack Rose and Bayou Bar | Lower Garden District | Restaurant and hotel bar | A celebratory dinner, then cocktails | Ask about Carnival access |
| Avenue Pub | Lower Garden District | Beer bar | Craft beer above St. Charles | Ask about balcony access |
| Seawitch | Lower Garden District | Balcony package | An organized balcony day with food and open bar | 2027 packages announced |
| Lula Restaurant Distillery | Lower Garden District | Restaurant and distillery | A group lunch with house spirits | Groups of 8+ call ahead |
| Stein's Market & Deli | Lower Garden District | Deli counter | Sandwiches to carry to the route | Closed Mondays; check Lundi Gras |
| Saint John | CBD | Sit-down Creole | A proper Creole meal on downtown St. Charles | Check Tuesday hours |
| Luke | CBD | Sit-down brasserie | Breakfast or seafood downtown | Ask about parade-day service |
| Cochon Butcher | Warehouse District | Counter service | A serious sandwich lunch, no reservation | Walk-in only |
| Maïs Arepas | Central City | Sit-down Colombian | A break from po'boys and fried seafood | Check holiday hours |
| Galatoire's | French Quarter | Sit-down Creole | The Friday-before-Mardi Gras lunch | Confirm Fat Tuesday closure |
| Arnaud's and French 75 Bar | French Quarter | Restaurant and cocktail bar | A classic cocktail and the Carnival museum | Regular service |
| Napoleon House | French Quarter | Walk-in lunch and bar | Muffuletta and a Pimm's Cup | Walk-in only |
| Pat O'Brien's | French Quarter | Courtyard bar | Hurricanes in the flaming-fountain courtyard | Check Monday and Tuesday opening |
| Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop | French Quarter | Historic bar | A candlelit drink on lower Bourbon | Regular service |
| Erin Rose | French Quarter | Pub with Killer PoBoys | Frozen Irish coffee and a po'boy | Check Tuesday kitchen hours |
| Verti Marte | French Quarter | Deli counter | A late-night sandwich to go | Takeout only |
| Bourbon Vieux | French Quarter | Ticketed balcony party | A Bourbon Street balcony with open bar | 2027 tickets on sale |
| R Bar | Marigny | Neighborhood bar | A costume-centered bar day | Check special hours |
| Anna's | Marigny | Neighborhood cocktail bar | Good drinks without a formal mood | Check event calendar |
| Bud Rip's | Bywater | Neighborhood bar | A Bywater bar day away from the floats | Check special hours |
| Paladar 511 | Marigny | Sit-down Italian-leaning | One genuinely good dinner | Books 30 days out |
| Mandina's | Mid-City | Sit-down Creole-Italian | An old-school meal on Endymion day | Ask about Endymion-day service |
| Katie's | Mid-City | Sit-down neighborhood | Feeding a mixed group before Endymion | Check waitlist on Endymion day |
| Toups' Meatery | Mid-City | Sit-down Cajun | Boudin and cracklins on Endymion day | Ask about Endymion-day service |
Along St. Charles: Uptown to the CBD
This is the classic Mardi Gras: ladders, families, and the big parades rolling down St. Charles from Uptown to the CBD. These 15 run from porch bars and balcony packages near Napoleon Avenue to downtown meals near the end of the route, plus two worthwhile lunches (Cochon Butcher and Maïs Arepas) a few blocks off it.
Columns, The Chloe and The Delachaise show up in their everyday form in our first-date bars guide.
Superior Seafood
4338 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA
Superior Seafood sits right at St. Charles and Napoleon, one of the most useful corners on the Uptown route, and it's a destination on its own merits too. The oyster bar, Gulf seafood, and frozen cocktails make it the easiest way to start the day with a proper meal instead of realizing, hours in, that everyone's been living on snacks. Good to know: Ask specifically about parade-day dining and porch or patio access. A table reservation isn't an all-day viewing spot.
The Chloe
4125 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA
The Chloe is for the group that wants good cocktails, a thoughtful contemporary Creole meal, and somewhere worth dressing up for. The front porch and lobby bar give it real substance as a home base, so plan to settle in rather than treating it as a quick photo stop. Good to know: Restaurant seating, front-of-house parade access, and the pool area are separate experiences, so ask exactly what your booking covers for 2027.
Columns
3811 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA
If you picture drinks on St. Charles, you're probably picturing Columns: an 1883 Italianate mansion, a grand front porch, and a restored mahogany bar. It suits a group that would rather settle into one memorable place than bounce between crowded bars. Just don't expect weekday-cocktail calm during Carnival. Good to know: A dinner reservation and Mardi Gras porch access are booked separately. Confirm which one you're getting.
Superior Grill
3636 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA
When the group wants fajitas, margaritas, and a loud, happy room instead of a long debate about dinner, Superior Grill settles it. The Tex-Mex menu feeds mixed appetites easily, and it keeps you right on the avenue for a casual lunch before everyone heads out. Good to know: Check the parade-day menu and seating setup; regular-day reservations may not apply.
The Delachaise
3442 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA
The Delachaise is the route stop for wine people. The bistro menu (mussels, fries, cheese, more substantial plates) gives you a reason to stay past the first glass, and the room works better for a couple or a small group than a whole traveling party. Good to know: It's 21 and up. Keep the group small, and don't count on outdoor seating while parades are passing.
Igor's
2133 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Igor's is a 24-hour dive with pool tables, a laundromat in the back, and famously strong Bloody Marys. It's exactly what you want when the group needs a cheap, no-dress-code break from the route and has zero interest in making it an occasion. Good to know: It's a bar stop, not a guaranteed seat or bathroom for the afternoon.
Jack Rose and Bayou Bar
2031 St Charles Ave Fl 1, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Book Jack Rose when dinner is part of the celebration, not something squeezed between parades. The colorful room suits a group occasion, and Bayou Bar in the same hotel is its own stop for cocktails and live music on scheduled nights. Good to know: Check Bayou Bar's music calendar. A Jack Rose reservation doesn't include the hotel bar or any parade-viewing area.
Avenue Pub
1732 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Avenue Pub is the antidote to a day of Hurricanes and margaritas: a nationally recognized beer list, a serious whiskey selection, and food that counts as a meal. Its upstairs balcony looks straight down on St. Charles, which makes it one of the better beer-first spots to watch from. Good to know: The balcony is also rented out for private events, so ask what's open to the public on parade days. Confirm Carnival hours rather than assuming it's open around the clock.
Seawitch Restaurant & Oyster Bar
1628 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
2027 packages announced. Seawitch sits right on the route and has published a full 2027 balcony program. Every package includes balcony access, one entrée from a short Mardi Gras menu (crab cakes, shrimp and grits, a seafood po'boy), and an open bar. The entry Well Bar tier is $145 per person on regular parade days and $165 on premium days: Muses Thursday, Bacchus Sunday, Orpheus Monday, and Mardi Gras Day. Tax and a service charge are added. Good to know: Request a formal proposal, and confirm the date, service hours, reserved area, and final price before you pay a deposit. Final counts are due a week out.
Lula Restaurant Distillery
1532 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Lula is a working distillery with a full restaurant, which solves the classic group problem: some people want cocktails, others need a real lunch. The house-made spirits give the drinks a reason to be here beyond the address. Good to know: Parties of eight or more should call the restaurant directly. Don't count on the usual free parking on parade days.
Stein's Market & Deli
2207 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
A Reuben or another stacked deli sandwich from Stein's can save a parade day from turning into a hungry search for lunch on a packed route. Pick up sandwiches a few blocks off St. Charles, then walk them over. Good to know: Go before you're in a hurry. Stein's normally closes Mondays, so check before planning on it for Lundi Gras.
Saint John
715 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Saint John gives you a distinctly New Orleans meal without leaving the downtown parade corridor. The haute Creole cooking has its own identity, which matters on a day when being close to the route can make a forgettable restaurant look tempting. Good to know: Check Tuesday hours before planning on it for Mardi Gras Day, and ask separately about any 2027 viewing or event setup.
Luke
333 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Luke's regular breakfast service gives downtown visitors a real meal before a long day outside, and the raw bar and Gulf seafood make it just as good for lunch or dinner. It's one of the few places on this list that solves the morning. Good to know: Book with breathing room around the parade schedule. Any Mardi Gras viewing arrangement is a separate conversation.
Cochon Butcher
930 Tchoupitoulas St Ste B, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Cochon Butcher is the practical choice that doesn't feel like settling. House-made meats, charcuterie, and sandwiches with real character make lunch worth the stop, and the counter-service format means no reservation to juggle. Good to know: It's walk-in only and a food stop, not a place to watch from. It's also separate from Cochon, the sit-down restaurant next door.
Maïs Arepas
1200 Carondelet St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
By day three, the group may have had enough oysters, fried seafood, and po'boys. Maïs brings Colombian cooking into the rotation, and the stuffed corn arepas are exactly the change of pace that's needed. Good to know: It's a sit-down meal, not grab-and-go, so give it time and check holiday hours directly.
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French Quarter Restaurants, Cocktail Bars and Bourbon Street Balconies
The big float parades don't roll through the Quarter, so come here for the street party, the costumes, and some of the city's most storied rooms. Canal Street, the nearest route for the downtown parades, is a short walk away.
For the rest of the street, see the Bourbon Street bars that are actually worth it. Galatoire's and Arnaud's dining rooms are in our Creole and Cajun guide, and Erin Rose and Verti Marte are in our po'boys guide.
Galatoire's
209 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Galatoire's is where a Carnival lunch becomes an occasion: jackets, a roaring dining room, and classic Creole cooking, with lunches that stretch well into the afternoon. The Friday before Mardi Gras is one of the hardest tables in the city, and the downstairs main dining room tables for that lunch are auctioned off for charity weeks in advance. Good to know: Watch for the Galatoire Foundation's 2027 table auction if you want that Friday downstairs. Men need jackets in the main dining areas at set times. The restaurant has traditionally closed on Mardi Gras Day.
Arnaud's and French 75 Bar
813 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Arnaud's gives you two good reasons to stop. French 75 Bar makes its namesake cognac-and-Champagne cocktail properly, a nice change from the oversized frozen drinks nearby. Upstairs, the restaurant's Mardi Gras museum shows off decades of Carnival gowns and costumes, which makes it a genuinely seasonal visit. Good to know: Book dinner and plan bar visits separately; the main dining room has a dress code.
Napoleon House
500 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
A warm muffuletta, a Pimm's Cup, and a crumbling old room with more character than any party bar in the Quarter. Napoleon House is one of the easiest recommendations on this list, whether it's lunch before a French Quarter afternoon or a reset between louder stops. Good to know: It's walk-in only. Expect a Carnival wait and keep your timing loose.
Pat O'Brien's
718 St Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
Pat O's is unapologetically a visitor classic, and that's no reason to skip it. The flaming-fountain courtyard, the Hurricanes, and the dueling-piano lounge add up to a recognizable New Orleans night. Come for a celebration, not a quiet conversation. Good to know: Its regular schedule has listed early-week closures, so confirm it's open on Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras Day before you plan on it.
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop
941 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
Lafitte's is all about the room: a dim, centuries-old building lit mostly by candles, a world away from the neon farther up Bourbon. It won't be empty during Carnival, but it turns a simple drink into a destination. Good to know: If you're using it as a meeting point, give the full name and address. It's often confused with Café Lafitte in Exile up the street.
Erin Rose
811 Conti St, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Erin Rose is a tiny, beloved pub a few steps off Bourbon, famous for frozen Irish coffee and for Killer PoBoys in the back. It's a great quick stop for a couple of friends and a bad fit for a big group expecting seats. Good to know: Killer PoBoys runs its own schedule and has been closed Tuesdays, so check food service separately from bar hours.
Verti Marte
1201 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
Verti Marte is a corner deli, not a restaurant, and it earns its spot anyway. An overstuffed sandwich (the All That Jazz is the move) can be the most useful meal of the night. Good to know: It's takeout only. Call ahead for very late visits, since short closures and holiday conditions can affect service.
Bourbon Vieux
501 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
2027 tickets on sale. Bourbon Vieux is for the balcony experience above the Bourbon Street crowd, not for watching float parades. Tickets cover the balcony, an open bar, food, private restrooms, and wristband re-entry. There are eight 2027 sessions from Saturday, February 6, through Mardi Gras Day, with day and evening slots each day. The Saturday daytime session (11 a.m.–5 p.m.) is $178 all in. Good to know: Buy the exact session you want, and check age rules and cancellation terms before you pay.
Marigny, Bywater and Mid-City
Two very different Mardi Gras days, both away from the St. Charles crowds. In the Marigny and Bywater, there are no big floats: on Mardi Gras morning the walking krewes, led by the Society of St. Anne, come through in elaborate homemade costumes, and the neighborhood bars fill up around them. In Mid-City, Endymion rolls Saturday, February 6, along Carrollton and Canal, so Mandina's, Katie's, and Toups' are the meals to plan around; crossing town once the streets close is a losing game.
Mandina's and Toups' are also in our Creole and Cajun restaurants guide, and Katie's and Paladar 511 are in our New Orleans brunch guide.
R Bar
1431 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
R Bar is our anchor for a Mardi Gras built around dressing up and joining the neighborhood scene. It's a casual jukebox bar that makes total sense on the day, and it's better for being part of the energy than watching it from a distance. Good to know: Check for special Carnival hours or events; the normal weekly schedule won't tell you about Fat Tuesday morning.
Anna's
2601 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70117, USA
Anna's is for the group that wants a laid-back neighborhood bar but still cares about what's in the glass. DJ nights and rotating food pop-ups give different visits a different feel. Good to know: Look at the programming for the actual date you're going. Past DJ nights and food residencies aren't a promise for 2027.
Bud Rip's
900 Piety, New Orleans, LA 70117, USA
Bud Rip's is for people who'd rather spend the day in a real neighborhood bar than buy into an organized party. It's a grounded place for drinks and conversation while the Carnival day happens around you. Good to know: It's nowhere near the St. Charles route. Check special programming and whether there's food that day.
Paladar 511
511 Marigny St, New Orleans, LA 70117, USA
Paladar 511 is the one meal on this list that's about the food rather than parade convenience: seasonal vegetables, house-made pasta, and pizza. After a few days of sandwiches and fried everything, it's a welcome reset. Good to know: Reservations open 30 days ahead, and regular tables seat up to six. Ask directly about bigger groups.
Mandina's
3800 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA
Mandina's sits on Canal, right along Endymion's usual Mid-City path, and it's the kind of old-school neighborhood restaurant that feeds a crowd well. Turtle soup, Gulf fish meunière or amandine, and Italian plates give everyone a solid base before a long night outside. Good to know: Ask about Endymion-day hours and access. A table inside doesn't come with a reserved spot on the route.
Katie's
3701 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA
Katie's is a block off Canal and keeps a mixed group happy: seafood, po'boys, pizza, and New Orleans comfort food on one menu. It's the easy answer when the group wants different things but still wants to eat together. Good to know: Check how the reservations and waitlist work on Endymion day.
Toups' Meatery
845 N Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA
Toups' is the pick for a group that gets excited about boudin balls, cracklins, and big plates of Cajun cooking. It's on the Carrollton stretch that Endymion has used in recent years, so it can anchor the whole day if you book it. Good to know: Reserve where you can and confirm Endymion-day service, since street closures affect access.
Five Ways to Plan Your Mardi Gras Food and Drinks
A first Uptown Mardi Gras. Make Superior Seafood or The Chloe your main stop, then plan the parade part of the day around that stretch of St. Charles. Confirm what access you actually have before counting on it as a place to come back to.
A downtown day without a package. Have breakfast at Luke or grab lunch at Cochon Butcher, then head to your viewing spot with plenty of time before the first float.
A French Quarter afternoon and night. Start with lunch at Napoleon House, then pick French 75 Bar for a classic cocktail or Erin Rose for a pub. Book a Bourbon Vieux session if you want the balcony with food and drinks covered.
Costumes and neighborhood bars. Make R Bar your Marigny base on Mardi Gras morning, or spend the day around Bud Rip's in the Bywater. Save Paladar 511 for a night when you can sit down for dinner.
Endymion Saturday. Pick Mandina's, Katie's, or Toups' based on the meal you want and where you'll watch. One well-placed meal beats an ambitious cross-town plan.
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Frequently asked questions
Do you need to buy a package to enjoy Mardi Gras?
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Does a restaurant reservation include parade access?
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