Unearth The Voyage
If Christmas has a flavor, Louisiana turns it into a full chorus. From buttery pralines to cayenne kisses on your lips, the season here sings in Cajun and Creole. You will taste history in every roux and feel merrymaking in every dining room glow. Come hungry and let these legends guide your festive fork.
1. Antoine’s Restaurant – New Orleans
Holiday dining at Antoine’s feels like stepping into a glittering time capsule where oyster gratin meets Champagne cheer. The venerable rooms, decked with evergreen and ribbon, carry whispers of families celebrating for generations. You will savor rich sauces that cling to memory as much as to warm plates.
Begin with Oysters Rockefeller, the emerald icon born right here, then chase it with pompano meuniere and café brulot. Servers glide like carolers, keeping traditions precise but never stiff. The room hums with toasts, perfume, and the sweet crackle of brandy flames.
Christmas here tastes indulgent and reassuring, a promise that craftsmanship still matters. Ask about special Reveillon menus for a true New Orleans ritual. You will leave plotting next year before your napkin even falls.
2. Commander’s Palace – New Orleans
Blue and white gingerbread trim twinkles under holiday lights, and inside, Commander’s turns December into theater. You will feel the service choreography from the first hush of the dining room to the flourish of bread pudding souffle. Brass and crystal catch the glow like ornaments.
Begin with turtle soup finished tableside with sherry, then dive into gulf fish gilded with citrus butter. Creole roots stay center stage while playful touches keep it fresh. The jazz brunch near Christmas is a parade for your senses.
Staff remember names and favorite cocktails like old friends. Ask for a window seat to watch Garden District wreaths sway. By dessert, you will believe in holiday magic and second helpings of whiskey sauce.
3. Arnaud’s New Orleans – New Orleans
Arnaud’s dresses up for Christmas like royalty, with garlands tracing balconies and a brass note floating from the jazz bistro. You will sense a century of celebration in the polished wood and mirrored sparkle. The Creole menu hits classic notes that comfort and dazzle.
Start with shrimp Arnaud, its remoulade bright as carols, then move to trout meuniere or a crisp duck with cherry glaze. The souffle potatoes arrive cloud light, begging for Béarnaise. Each plate feels like a carefully wrapped gift.
Stroll the Mardi Gras museum upstairs between courses for a festive detour. Service is elegant but warm, perfect for holiday toasts. You will leave humming jazz standards and carrying pralines in your pocket.
4. Galatoire’s – New Orleans
Bourbon Street outside, holiday elegance inside: Galatoire’s is where tinsel meets tradition. Friday lunch before Christmas becomes a spectacle of sequins, Santa ties, and champagne pyramids. You will feel the city’s heartbeat in the mirrored walls and controlled chaos.
Order the crabmeat maison, shrimp remoulade, and a crisp fried eggplant with powdered sugar and Tabasco dip. Trout almondine and pompano are reliable stars. The servers carry decades of stories, curating your feast with precision.
Expect convivial noise, packed tables, and spontaneous carols. Dress up, arrive early, and lean into the party. By the time cafe brulot ignites, you will swear snow could fall on Bourbon Street and not melt.
5. Brennan’s – New Orleans
Brennan’s paints Christmas in pink and gold, with wreaths framing the famed courtyard and bells chiming softly. Breakfast turns celebratory, but dinner steals the lights with rich sauces and sparkling wines. You will taste heritage in every banana flambé flicker.
Begin with turtle soup or New Orleans barbecue shrimp, then savor gulf fish with crab or a rosy duck. The wine program sings, pairing holiday spice with citrus brightness. Bananas Foster arrives like a tabletop firework, lighting faces with glee.
Service is polished and playful, perfect for family photos under garlands. Request a courtyard peek if weather smiles. You will leave wrapped in warmth, smelling of vanilla, butter, and holiday stories.
6. The Court of Two Sisters – New Orleans
This French Quarter charmer turns its ivy courtyard into a winter postcard, heaters glowing beneath twinkling lights. The jazz brunch becomes a carol session, notes drifting over plates like snowflakes. You will taste Creole comfort with a celebratory twist.
Expect carving stations and gumbo steam, praline-topped sweet potatoes, and omelets whisked to order. Mimosas sparkle as you wander the buffet’s colorful parade. Families linger, making time stretch kindly.
Evening brings quieter elegance with Reveillon specials and candlelit corners. Ask for a courtyard table to catch the music’s soft edges. You will leave with a pocket of powdered sugar and a head full of brass.
7. Restaurant R’evolution – New Orleans
Modern swagger meets ancestral recipes at Restaurant R’evolution, where holiday dining feels adventurous and deeply rooted. You will encounter house charcuterie perfumed with cane syrup and pepper, alongside pristine gulf seafood. The room glows like a jewel box, all wood, leather, and soft light.
Start with death by gumbo, rich and layered, then chase with truffled gnocchi or crispy quail. Sweets arrive sculptural and festive, perfect for lingering. Cocktails riff on classics with seasonal spice.
Ask about caviar service for a celebratory splurge. Service is storytelling, guiding you through bayous and fields with each bite. You will leave thrilled, sated, and plotting a return with friends in tow.
8. Napoleon House – New Orleans
Weathered walls, classical music, and holiday wreaths make Napoleon House feel like December in an old poem. You will sip a Pimm’s Cup by candlelight while carols echo through the courtyard. The vibe is Bohemian, charming, and cozily unpretentious.
Order the muffuletta warm, olive salad shining like ornaments, with jambalaya or red beans on the side. Gumbo is earthy and reassuring, perfect for a chilly stroll. The bar turns out classic cocktails with a winter wink.
Grab a seat near the fireplace if luck favors you. Service is friendly and unfussy, letting the atmosphere do the heavy lifting. You will leave with olive oil on your lips and holiday in your step.
9. Emeril’s – New Orleans
Emeril’s throws a holiday party where the soundtrack is sizzle and the anthem is pork fat joy. The open kitchen flashes like tinsel, and you will smell spice before you sit. Service moves brisk and friendly, keeping glasses merry.
Kick off with barbecue shrimp swimming in peppery butter, then short ribs or andouille crusted fish. Sides lean soulful, like cheddar grits that hug the plate. Desserts push comfort into celebration.
Seasonal menus bring cranberries, satsumas, and smoky warmth. Ask for a counter seat to watch the line dance. You will leave saying bam under your breath, carrying a happy glow into the night.
10. Prejean’s – Lafayette
In Lafayette, Prejean’s turns Christmas into a Cajun campfire with gumbo steam and fiddle tunes. You will find rustic warmth, mounted ducks, and families swapping boudin stories. The smell of roux feels like a hug.
Start with dark chicken and sausage gumbo or a crawfish enchilada, then move to catfish courtbouillon. The boudin balls crunch with peppery swagger. Portions keep spirits high and leftovers likely.
Live music most nights keeps toes tapping between bites. Order bread pudding drenched in rum sauce for a sweet finale. You will leave ready to dance, sing, and plan a swamp tour tomorrow.
11. Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn – Broussard
This Acadiana stalwart sits by the water and plates Christmas with seafood generosity. You will taste decades of family pride in the crawfish etouffee and crab-studded dishes. The dining room glows with wreaths and river calm.
Start with alligator bites or onion rings stacked sky high, then dig into seafood platters kissed by lemon. Crawfish au gratin arrives bubbling and rich. Po boys wear remoulade like ribbons.
Service treats you like kin, refilling tea and stories without fuss. Save room for bread pudding because cinnamon and butter never fail. You will leave full, happy, and humming a zydeco beat in the parking lot.
12. Cafe Du Monde – New Orleans
Powdered sugar becomes December snow at Cafe Du Monde, dusting sleeves and grins under green and white awnings. You will sip chicory coffee that warms fingers and spirits. Street musicians spin carols into brass confetti.
Beignets arrive hot and airy, three to an order, begging for messy joy. Visit late night or early morning for a quieter moment. The French Market twinkles nearby like a postcard.
Simple, iconic, and cheap thrills: a holiday equalizer for locals and visitors. Bring cash, patience, and a camera for sugar halos. You will leave coated in sweetness, ready for another lap through the Quarter.
13. La Petite Grocery – New Orleans
On Magazine Street, La Petite Grocery wraps a corner cottage in festive charm and sophisticated flavor. You will find careful cooking that whispers rather than shouts. The room glows intimate, perfect for clinking coupes.
Start with blue crab beignets and herbsaint aioli, then a butter kissed burger or seasonal gulf fish. Gnocchi or rabbit dishes appear like wrapped surprises. Cocktails lean bright and balanced with winter citrus.
Service is precise yet warm, guiding you through specials with confidence. Save space for butterscotch pudding that tastes like nostalgia. You will leave strolling past shop windows, hand in hand with the season.
14. Cochon Restaurant – New Orleans
Cochon celebrates holiday abundance with wood smoke, crackling pork, and Cajun soul. You will smell the smoker before you spot the wreaths, and that is a good sign. The space feels industrial cozy, buzzing with convivial energy.
Order wood fired oysters, rabbit and dumplings, or the legendary Louisiana cochon. Fried boudin with pickled peppers hits tangy highs. Seasonal sides like roasted Brussels and sweet potatoes round the table.
Whiskey and craft cocktails keep cheeks rosy. Save room for a pecan buttermilk pie slice that tastes like grandma got modern. You will leave with a happy slow burn and plans for leftovers.
15. Drago’s Seafood Restaurant – Metairie
Drago’s turns Christmas into a charbroiled oyster love story, sparks flying off the grill like festive confetti. You will smell butter, garlic, and parmesan from the parking lot. The vibe is bustling, casual, and seafood focused.
Start with a dozen oysters sizzling on the half shell, then shrimp pasta or a fried seafood platter. Dip bread into the oyster sauce until manners vanish. Cold beer and crisp whites match the sizzle.
Families fill big tables, swapping gifts and spicy stories. Service is quick and cheery, keeping trays moving. You will leave glowing, pockets smelling of smoke and lemon.
