Where to eat in New Orleans after midnight, and the classic 2am move.
Where to eat in New Orleans after midnight. kitchens that keep going, post-bar staples and the classic 2am move.
Verti Marte in New Orleans is the 24-hour Royal Street deli at Governor Nicholls in the French Quarter, with the All That Jazz po-boy as the cult 03:00 order after a night on Bourbon.
Try: All That Jazz po-boy
Tip: Phone the deli for delivery to a Quarter hotel; the All That Jazz is the canonical late-night order.
Coop's Place in New Orleans is the Decatur Street Cajun dive open since 1983, with the kitchen running until 02:00 nightly and rabbit-and-sausage jambalaya as the late-night anchor.
Try: Rabbit and sausage jambalaya
Tip: Dive bar atmosphere through to closing; the bar runs Abita and well drinks until kitchen close.
Cafe du Monde in New Orleans is the 1862 French Market coffee stand on Decatur Street opposite Jackson Square, with beignets and chicory cafe au lait around the clock for 03:00 sugar cravings.
Try: Beignets and cafe au lait
Tip: The original stand is open 24 hours; visit 03:00 to 07:00 to skip the queue entirely.
Killer Poboys in New Orleans is the back-of-Erin-Rose Conti Street po-boy counter, with chef-driven po-boys running Friday and Saturday kitchens to midnight and the bar to 04:00.
Try: Rum-glazed pork belly po-boy
Tip: Friday and Saturday kitchen runs to midnight; the bar runs to 04:00, frozen Irish coffee is the bar order.
Buffa's Bar in New Orleans is the Esplanade Avenue corner bar at North Rampart on the Quarter-Marigny edge, a 24-hour bar with a back kitchen plating burgers and breakfast plates until 03:00.
Try: Bacon double cheeseburger
Tip: Live music in the back room most nights; the burger with bacon is the canonical late-night meal.
Acme Oyster House in New Orleans is the 1910 Iberville Street oyster bar between Bourbon and Royal, with char-grilled oysters and the shucker counter running into the late evening service.
Try: Char-grilled oysters
Tip: Closing time is 22:00 daily; the back of the room runs faster than the front raw bar after 21:00.
Molly's at the Market in New Orleans is the Decatur Street dive bar by the French Market, open 10:00 to 03:00 daily, famous for its frozen Irish coffee at 02:00 last call.
Try: Frozen Irish coffee
Tip: Open 10:00 every day; frozen Irish coffee is the signature order and the room runs to 03:00 nightly.
Pizza Delicious in New Orleans is the Bywater pizzeria on Piety Street, with New York cheese slices and a Friday and Saturday kitchen running to 23:00 with patio service through the warm months.
Try: Cheese slice
Tip: The cheese slice is the canonical order; the Friday and Saturday lines stretch into the patio.
Peak food season in New Orleans is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. New Orleans rewards trust.