It’s possible to argue that New Orleans is home to the best seafood in the country (although Maryland might like to have a word), and not come up against much opposition. New Orleans seafood includes briny oysters from the Gulf Coast, shrimp and crawfish soaked in butter and cajun seasoning, po’ boy sandwiches stuffed with fried catfish. New Orleans restaurants offer fresh from the fishing boat catches seasoned to perfection, in (usually) casual dining rooms that might be unfussy and lowkey but still serve some of the best food not just in the city – but the entire country. Once you’ve had your fill of fish, head over to these Bourbon street bars, or check out all the free things to do in New Orleans. Now all that’s left to do is decide the best time to visit New Orleans.
The Best New Orleans Restaurants For Fresh Oysters and Perfectly Seasoned Crawfish
Boil Seafood House
The mission of this restaurant is to serve as a fun place for families to gather over big platters of seafood. If you’re dining with a group, try a seafood bucket – which includes a blend of corn, potatoes, cab, shrimp, crawfish and other shellfish that is easy to share. But there’s so much to choose from at Boil Seafood House, you might want to try one of everything: baskets of fried fish, grilled lobster, fried alligator, and crawfish beignets.
Boil Seafood House: 3340 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Price: $$
Drago’s Seafood Restaurant
Drago’s Seafood Restaurant jokes that the secret ingredient in all their food is love, but after you try the food you might believe it. Oysters and crab meat dip are appealing starters. The restaurant’s specialities include crawfish étouffée, shrimp stuffed with sausage, and barbecue shrimp pasta. The environment is family friendly, so be sure to bring your kids.
Drago’s Seafood Restaurant: 3232 N Arnoult Rd, Metairie, LA 70002
Price: $$
Red Fish Grill
Rated one of the best places for seafood in New Orleans by Travel + Leisure and USA Today, the fish is always fresh at Red Fish Grill – never frozen. The oyster po’ boy is especially legendary. Enjoy fresh oysters and cocktails at the oyster bar, and if you come for brunch, bottomless mimosas are $28.
Red Fish Grill: 115 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Price: $$
Acme Oyster House
For cajun seafood in New Orleans, head to Acme Oyster House. The restaurant claims to shuck 1,000,000 oysters every year, and famous faces like Eli Manning and Drew Brees have been known to pass through its doors. Fried crab claws, crawfish dip, and platters of fried seafood all make appearances on the menu.
Acme Oyster House: 724 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Price: $$
Pascal’s Manale
At Pascal’s Manale, the main event is Creole cuisine. The restaurant’s philosophy is to serve fresh seafood with spicy, tangy, garlicky flavors. There is shrimp, oysters, and crab roasted with shallots and parsley, sauteed crab and oysters, and pasta are among the notable dishes. However this restaurant is legendary for its Italian influenced dishes (veal picatta is served here for instance) so be sure to try anything with red sauce. It’s also famous for inventing barbecue shrimp — a shrimp dish which is not actually barbecued but cooked in pepper and butter.
Pascal’s Manale: 1838 Napoleon Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
Price: $$$
Seaworthy
Located in a stylish cottage with plush green leather booths and a backyard patio decorated with string lights, Seaworthy has a more elegant vibe than some of the other casual spots on this list. Located right next to the Ace Hotel, the restaurant serves wild caught oysters. For dinner, try a seafood tower, caviar, or a whole fried fish (or all three).
Seaworthy: 630 Carondelet St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Price: $$$
Liuzza’s by the Track
Near the New Orleans Fairgrounds, Liuzza’s is known for its po’ boy sandwiches. Yes, po’ boys are a New Orleans speciality, but this restaurant’s barbecue gulf shrimp (the same popularized by Pascal’s Manare) is drenched in Worcheshire sauce and served on pistolette, a fried bread roll that is usually stuffed with seafood. The gumbo comes highly recommended as well. The unofficial pre-New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival headquarters, you’ll find lots of revels there enjoying cold beer in early May when the festival takes place.
Liuzza’s by the Track: 1518 N Lopez St, New Orleans, LA 70119
Price: $$
What seafood is New Orleans known for
New Orleans is known for many types of seafood, but crawfish is perhaps the most popular. The Nola Crawfish Festival is dedicated to eating this delicious crustacean. However, New Orleans is famous for many other types of seafood including catfish, barbecue shrimp, oysters, grilled fish, and crab.
What seafood is local to New Orleans
There are over 100 types of fish that are native to Louisiana. Those fish include catfish, snapper, and grouper. There are also six species of shrimp that are native to Louisiana, most of which are white and brown shrimp. New Orleans is also located on the Gulf Coast, where 70 percent of the oysters caught in the United States come from.
Where to stay in New Orleans
Photo: Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock
With so much to explore and eat in New Orleans, there’s a good chance you aren’t going to spend much down at your accommodations. Still, you want wherever you stay to be welcoming and cheerful – just like New Orleans. These highly rated Airbnbs are all great landing spots. Here’s where to book your stay.
We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Where to stay in the Garden District
Photo: Airbnb
Bright historic home: This Victorian-era home in the Garden District is classy and colorful. With teal accents, large windows for lots of natural light, and hardwood floors, this house is for anyone who wants a more luxurious New Orleans stay. In terms of location, its within walking distance of the Warehouse District, and there is a cute coffee shop nearby as well.
Where to stay near Bourbon Street
Photo: Airbnb
Spacious apartment for 12: This large apartment near the parties and revelry of Bourbon Street would be ideal for a bachelorette party. There’s a hammock swing in the living room, as well as a bar in the kitchen, and lots of lounging and seating areas so you and your friends can relax between trips to the bars.
Where to stay in the French Quarter
Photo: Airbnb
Historic home with saltwater pool: This shotgun-style home is in the Marigny neighborhood just outside the French Quarter. With a cozy backyard deck and pool, it’s the perfect hang out for a group of friends. The colorful decor and cozy living spaces will be an instant mood booster during your stay. 