The place to be seen sipping bubbles at Benedict brunch, Brennan’s is one of the most stunning restaurants in New Orleans—long before the era of Instagram. Think black-and-white tile floors, a pastel pink exterior, and minty fresh leather booths, with character dating back to 1946. Bananas foster was invented here, and suited servers still fire it up tableside. The accolades keep rolling in: It's a James Beard semifinalist, Condé Nast Traveler world favorite, and Wine Spectator darling.

From classic barbecue shrimp to luxe lobster dumplings, GW Fins is the seafood authority in New Orleans, with an award-winning wine list that runs 100 bottles deep. Chef Michael Nelson is particularly proud of the dry-aging program, praised in the Washington Post for giving seafood the steak treatment. Plus, recently refreshed interiors show off a wash of ocean blues and grays, classy velvet booths, and white tablecloths.

Antoine’s is the county’s oldest continuously operating restaurant and a special-occasion destination for its opulent setting and elegant, French-Creole fare. Sit in one of 14 gilded dining rooms to feast on favorites like oyster Rockefeller and soufflé potatoes, both original to the restaurant. Cap the meal with a classic baked Alaska or the house chicory coffee, laced with cognac and triple sec and flamed tableside—it’s New Orleans, after all.

In a brick cottage with blue shutters in the French Quarter, you’ll find one of the best bars in the world, a James Beard Award winner ranked on the World’s 50 Best Bars. Beloved local bartender Chris Hannah shakes innovative cocktails like a curried banana colada or bologna negroni (say it out loud) starring mortadella-infused Campari. It’s worth staying for dinner, to sample half a dozen different types of caviar and unusual cuts like wagyu tongue and duck neck sausage.

It’s the second-oldest restaurant in New Orleans, with the claim to fame of inventing brunch—and some even say it’s haunted. Welcome to Tujague’s, founded by French immigrants in 1856, and still letting the good times roll for more than 160 years. Today it’s a slice of history in the French Quarter, filled with mirrors, chandeliers, and a collection of 6,000 mini liquor bottles. Don’t miss the spicy shrimp remoulade, boiled brisket, and grasshopper cocktail, another house original.

August remains the flagship restaurant within the BRG Hospitality group, and it’s a grande dame dining room of New Orleans. The building rose tall in the 1830s, and the elegant space features mahogany panels and antique mirrors. The modern Creole menu offers a chef’s tasting in seven courses, from red snapper crudo to lavender panna cotta. The team also has a reputation for impeccable service, earning a couple of James Beard nominations in the past decade.

Multi-James Beard Award-nominated chef and Louisiana native Issac Toups’s namesake restaurant is a celebration of all things meat. Like his mentor Emeril Lagasse, Toups gives Cajun classics a sophisticated spin with signature dishes like a double-cut pork chop with dirty rice and cane syrup gastrique. A rustic-chic space with a shaded plant-decked patio, pitch-perfect wines, and an extensive bourbon collection add to the lively vibe—just as a New Orleans restaurant should be.

Head to this charming restaurant inside a historic building for exceptional New Orleans staples from James Beard Award-winning chef Justin Devillier. That means you'll find some of the best blue crab beignets in town and a rich turtle bolognese with a soft-boiled egg, both of which pair well with classic cocktails like an old fashioned. Brunch is a highlight here, too—an order of the creamy buttermilk biscuits and gravy is the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

At Compère Lapin, James Beard Award-winning chef Nina Compton dazzles with showstopping dishes that marry her Caribbean heritage and French fine dining pedigree. Dig into favorites like goat curry and broiled shrimp with Calabrian chili butter in a stylish space dressed with exposed brick and warm woods. Don’t miss award-winning cocktails like The Copper Hopper—a tropical, tequila-forward drink served in a copper bunny mug, a nod to the restaurant’s namesake folklore rabbit.

Chef Michael Stoltzfus showcases local ingredients at his swanky Southern bistro, nominated for numerous James Beard Awards since opening in 2008. In a two-story residence in the Garden District that dates back to the 1880s, the elegant dining rooms are lined with brick and chandeliers. Gulf seafood stars at the raw bar, from local oysters to crabmeat and crackers, and fans love the fried chicken brunches and “no menu” five-course dinners.

This Central City restaurant is frequently ranked among the best in New Orleans by Eater and the New York Times. New Orleanians head here for a stellar weekday lunch of soul food classics like fried catfish, shrimp po’ boys, and smothered turkey necks. Café Reconcile's mission is even more impressive: it's a nonprofit training young adults on the job for careers in the restaurant industry.