Where to Eat and Drink in Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s Culinary Capital

Baton Rouge’s culinary heritage is anchored in tradition, with deep Cajun and Creole roots, but the city also constantly adapts to new flavors and techniques. You’ll see this everywhere from small cafes to lavish restaurants. Whether you’re looking for iconic fare like boudin, crawfish, and sweet beignets or something more innovative, Baton Rouge is a city that’s best experienced through its food. Here’s where to go for a taste of the city.

Photo: Cristine Struble

Start any morning in Baton Rouge at Coffee Call. While the freshly brewed coffee or cafe au lait will add a little pep to your step, it’s the beignets that are a must-order here — specifically, the legendary beignet fingers. Cut into randomly shaped pieces, Coffee Call’s fluffy, slightly crunchy sweets are generously coated in powdered sugar, although tables also come with extra shakers. Expect to leave with a dusting of sugar on your shirt — it’s the sign of a well-enjoyed snack.

Coffee Call: 3132 College Dr, Suite F, Village Square, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Photo: Cristine Struble

The locally roasted coffee at French Truck Coffee is a Louisiana staple. The chain’s version of chicory coffee over ice is a great option morning, noon, or night and pairs perfectly with a selection from the well-rounded pastry case or menu of savory breakfast dishes.

French Truck Coffee: 2978 Government St, Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Photo: Cristine Struble

If you have the time to linger over brunch, Elise’s Plate and Pie is the perfect spot to enjoy a mimosa, coffee, and some Louisiana favorites. An icon in Baton Rouge, the award-winning restaurant was named after Chef Paul Dupre’s grandmother, Elsie Campeau Rupe, and that grandmotherly influence is present throughout the menu. Enjoy appetizers like fritters and hand pies, as well as savory pies like the seafood pot pie with delicate, flaky pastry and a cream sauce that’s decadent but not heavy. For dessert, go for a seasonal sweet pie, if possible.

Elise’s Plate and Pie: 3145 Government St, Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Photo: Cristine Struble

For lunch, Poor Boy Lloyd’s delivers some of the best po’ boys in Baton Rouge. Conveniently located downtown, the restaurant has been around for decades and seen an array of famous faces at its tables. It gives diners plenty to look at on its walls, too, although all eyes are on the plate once the food arrives. Try ordering the roast beef po’ boy as an alternative to the traditional seafood option — the beef is perfectly tender, and the au jus is quite flavorful.

Poor Boy Lloyd’s: 201 Florida St, Baton Rouge, LA 70801

Photo: Cristine Struble

Mondays in Baton Rouge are all about red beans and rice, a classic Creole comfort food. But the staple is available every day of the week at Zeeland Street, with or without sausage and with your choice of sides and a serving of cornbread. Altogether, the filling dish eats more like two meals than one. Rounding out the menu of this family-owned, local-favorite restaurant is a mix of daily specials and tried-and-true homestyle favorites.

Zeeland Street: 2031 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Photo: Cristine Struble

Jubans is the quintessential elevated dining experience in Baton Rouge. Reestablishing itself after a move and renovation, the vibrant space sets the tones for a superb dinner. Menu classics deliver the layered flavors expected from Louisiana cuisine. The redfish Adrian — topped with Creole meunière sauce, lump crab, and mushrooms — has been on the menu since the restaurant opened decades ago. For the photo op of the night, don’t miss the fried, soft-shelled Hallelujah crab, with a delicate batter and luscious Creolaise sauce.

Jubans: 3739 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Photo: Cristine Struble

Mestizo serves a fusion of Mexican and Cajun-French flavors. From cocktails like the Louisiana Margarita that awaken your palate all the way through desserts like tres leches cake, the meal balances bold spices and subtle sauces. While the menu changes periodically, the restaurant’s signature combination plate, Cancun, is a celebration of the sea that’s always a hit. The restaurant is also inclusive of dietary restrictions, including vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Mestizo Louisiana-Mexican Cuisine: 2323 S Acadian Thruway, Rouge, LA 70808

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A Baton Rouge staple for 25 years, the original Chimes location near Tiger Stadium is one of the best places in town to grab a beer after an LSU game. Its robust beer selection ensures a frosty cold one for every preference, and there’s a long list of Louisiana-leaning pub grub to keep you sated while you quench your thirst.

Chimes: 3357 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Photo: Cristine Struble

Located under the Perkins Road Overpass, BLDG5 is the perfect spot to meet friends for a cocktail hour that extends into dinner. There’s a wide selection of crack cocktails, beer, and wine, as well as shareable boards. These menu items are far from simple charcuterie platters — one option includes a mash-up of cuisines including Korean chicken wings, shakshuka, and burrata. At BLDG5, cocktail hour lingers into dinner and no one will be looking at their watch.

BLDG5: 2805 Kalurah St, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Photo: Cristine Struble

The Oxbow distillery produces award-winning rums and the official rum of LSU. Cozy up to the bar and go for a tasting. With six selections, the guided discussion showcases the craft and care that the local distillery puts into its spirits. Don’t miss the Rhum Louisane, a unique distillation that could convert bourbon drinkers to the cane sugar spirit.

Oxbow Rum Distillery: 60 Saint Phillip St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802