The eclectic Magazine Street is one of New Orleans’ most famous streets. The iconic and vibrant stretch is peppered with local shops, delicious restaurants, and captivating sights. Magazine Street is the perfect spot for locals and visitors to shop, eat, and sightsee. There is something for everyone on Magazine Street and you will not want to miss experiencing this special street and its phenomenal food scene. So after you go on one of our New Orleans plantation tours (that include Laura Plantation tours, Whitney Plantation tours, and Oak Alley Plantation tours), swamp tours, or New Orleans city tours, check out some of these places for a good meal.
Magazine Street has a lot of range and variety with its food options, so we organized this blog from sophisticated to casual to showcase the true expansiveness of your dining destinations. Magazine Street truly is a haven for the adventurous diner. It caters to all palates, from those seeking a white tablecloth affair to those craving a grab-and-go lunch. To delve into this culinary adventure, we’re kicking things off with the most sophisticated restaurants. Here, expect impeccable service, innovative dishes, and an atmosphere that will impress. Here are our top picks and recommendations.
Saffron is a new(ish) kid on the block, but this restaurant deserves all the hype because it is just that good! Saffron describes itself as a contemporary Indian restaurant. The atmosphere presents a chic ambience with an open floor plan that separates the dining section from the kitchen. An interesting feature that adds to the cultivated ambience is the glass wall that separates the dining tables from the kitchen, allowing customers to watch their food being prepared in real time. The restaurant officially opened August 10th, 2017, and is run by head chef Ashwin Vilkhu. The Vilkhu family immigrated to New Orleans from India and dreamed of starting a restaurant that married Indian culture and tradition to classic New Orleanian cuisine. The result is an amazing Indian restaurant that combines the best things about Indian flavors and New Orleans style food (and a killer Chicken Biryani). We recommend dining here with a big group and ordering a few entrees and sharing it with your group family style so everyone gets a piece of the magic.
Bistro Daisy is a charming fine dining experience on Magazine Street. Bistro Daisy offers an intimate culinary atmosphere with a focus on seasonal and fresh ingredients being used in all their dishes. The food at Bistro Daisy is New American and Southern cuisine. They creatively come up with new menu items and revamp classic recipes. Our current favorites are the dusted chicken breast and the saute Gulf fish (you can’t go wrong with these). We recommend this restaurant for a more intimate dinner with a date or close friend. The actual venue of the restaurant is quite contained so if you have a big party, this is probably not the place for you. The cottage themed decor adds to the allure of this quaint bistro. A must try when visiting Magazine Street.
La Petite Grocery is a romantic dining experience that combines French and Louisiana heritage. Head chef Justin Devillier meticulously created this culinary haven and showcases all his captivating dishes with love while paying homage to his own heritage. Stop for a leisurely lunch or a romantic dinner, this restaurant will be sure to impress you and your lucky date. The menu is fluid and changes with the seasons as Chef Devillier insists on only using ingredients that are fresh and in season. Some of the highlights of this restaurant are the Blue Crab Beignets, Alligator Bolognese, and of course the classic Chicken and Andouille Gumbo. For dessert, you would be mistaken for not trying the delectable butterscotch pudding or the lemon posset. Definitely give this spot a visit when cruising down Magazine Street.
Last on the list of our sophisticated section, is Avo. Avo is a handsome Italian restaurant that serves cultivated Italian food. Head Chef Nick Lama is a third generation Sicilian and works to pay homage to his ancestors by serving their traditional Sicilian style cuisine. Interestingly, the name Avo means ancestor in Italian, Lama deliberately chose this name as a nod to his ancestry. This restaurant has all the Italian classics like meatballs and lasagna but also contemporary twists on Italian cuisine like their take on the grilled octopus and Wagyu steak tartare (all of which are great options to eat). Make sure to check out this restaurant when visiting the vibrant Magazine Street.
This local butchery is a casual joint for all the meat lovers out there. At Cochon Butcher, you have a selection of a variety of delicious meats. The gourmet butcher shop offers a wide selection of sandwiches, salads and prepared foods. Moreover, they have many prepared packaged foods that you can purchase and bring back as souvenirs. This restaurant is a quick and easy way to grab a bite so you can get back to exploring.
Experience classic creole cuisine with this famous restaurant and bar. Joey K’s is a casual eatery that creates delicious homestyle meals and offers legendary po’boys. Also, while you are chowing down on a fried shrimp po’boy, wash it down with one of the many ice cold beers that Joey K’s has on draft. You can try local beers or your favorite classic, Joey K’s has it all. So whether you want a po’boy, gumbo, or shrimp etouffee, you will be sure to leave Joey K’s full and satisfied.
Nomiya is a ramen haven for those who love asian food, specifically a delicious bowl of Japanese ramen. Nomiya is also a newer restaurant but they rose in the ranks of Magazine Street restaurants quite quickly with their deliciously decadent broth and amazing flavors. Nomya has a simple menu of three different ramens and some appetizers. The three ramens are Tonkotsu (pork broth), Geki-Kara (spicy), and Kuro (black garlic), all of which are equally as good as the other. We personally recommend the Kuro ramen paired with a cold Sapporo (Japanese beer). Just make sure you hit this spot at the end of the day because it’s gonna be a bit hard to walk after eating a full meal here.
New Orleans is a magical place, from its food to its music to its culture, and the magazine combines all three of these great features of The Big Easy and conveniently places them on one long street that runs through the picturesque Uptown. Be sure to check out all these restaurants on your trip, or at least some of them because we went a little crazy with our suggestions. Whether you want sophisticated and suave, or casual and cool, Magazine Street has it all!
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