The Complete Guide to 2020 Holiday Dining and Drinking in New Orleans

Holiday celebrations may look different this year, but one thing that remains constant is the wide range of excellent food and drink options available in New Orleans throughout the season. From home latke delivery and thoughtful Christmas catering to seasonal eggnog daiquiris and festive rooftop cocktails, local spots are pouring their hearts and energy into brightening spirits across town.

Below, Eater has assembled a guide to the best food and drinks to help celebrate the 2020 holiday season in New Orleans. Don’t forget to reserve your meal by the deadline, and be sure to show gratitude through tips. Eater New Orleans will continue updating this guide as new options become available. Email nola@eater.com if there’s something we’ve missed.

Where to find latkes, challah, and other Hanukkah specials

Bywater Bakery (3264 Dauphine St.) — This beloved bakery always seems to have something festive or themed to offer, and this Hanukkah is no different. Boxes of “rainbow latkes,” made with beet, sweet potato, broccoli, and regular potato, are served with applesauce and horseradish sour cream. Available in boxes of 10 each for $20.

Compagnon Bakery This wonderful local brand from baker couple Quinn Berger and Andrew Roth previously found at farmers markets now does home delivery, Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Right now they’re offering sufganiyot and orange chocolate babka for home delivery on December 18 and 19.

Compagnon Bakery/Facebook

Marjie’s Grill (320 S. Broad Ave.) — Seven nights of latkes has returned to Mid City favorite Marjie’s (it’s closed Wednesdays, hence seven instead of eight), and this year customers can preorder boxes of latkes for takeout and delivery in addition to enjoying them at the restaurant. Chefs Marcus Jacobs and Caitlin Carney will prepare a different latke nightly, from classic to French onion soup to everything bagel, through December 17. Latke boxes can be ordered online and include a dozen classic latkes with sour cream and apple sauce for $24.

Marjie’s Grill/Instagram

Okay Bar (1700 Port St.) — A pop-up at Okay Bar is bringing a slew of Hanukkah specialties to the Ninth Ward on Monday, December 14 — brisket, latkes, matzoh ball soup, and babka. There will also be Manischewitz cocktail specials and “lots of Billy Joel,” per the Port Street bar with plenty of outdoor space.

Palm & Pine (308 N. Rampart St.) — Palm & Pine’s excellent pop-up series continue with Txow Txow serving a special, latke-themed menu on Tuesday, December 15 from 5 to 9 p.m. The night will also feature a specialty cocktail menu from guest bartender Katie DuBois.

Saba (5757 Magazine St.) — Famed chef Alon Shaya launched an online holiday market this year, and in addition to being able to order merch and Shaya’s cookbook, diners can order holiday babka, cookies, and jars of harissa for local pickup or national shipping. Order online through December 23.

Shaya (4213 Magazine St.) — Uptown Israeli restaurant Shaya (Alon Shaya once led the kitchen but is no longer affiliated) is offering a special Hanukkah dinner menu from December 10 through 18, available for dine-in or pickup. For $60 per person plus tax and gratuity, the four-course menu includes a latkes course, matzo ball soup, wagyu brisket served with fennel and turnips, and sufganiyot, Israeli donuts, served with strawberries and labneh ice cream. The restaurant is also currently selling fresh loaves of Challah bread for $11 daily while supplies last.

Where to find a festive drink

Barrel Proof (1201 Magazine St.) — Global Christmas bar pop-up phenomenon Miracle is back at Barrel Proof for the second year, bringing festive decor and drinks to the LGD bourbon bar through December 31. The pop-up is 4 to 11 p.m. daily, walk-in only, first come, first served, (the bar uses a text waitlist system). Drinks, which include the Yippie Ki Yay MotherF*r!, a blend of four rums, pumpkin-almond orgeat, lime, and bitters, are available to go this year.

Barrel Proof/Instagram

Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 (321 N. Peters St.) — Sippin’ Santa has returned to the French Quarter tiki bar for the sixth year, running through January 1. New Orleans’s own tikiphile and well-known cocktail personality Jeff “Beachbum” Berry partnered with organizers for the pop-up, creating a festive menu with drinks like the Rum Rum Rudolph, made with pineapple juice, rums, and coffee liqueur, and the Parrot In A Pear Tree, made with blanco tequila, pear liquor, and lime juice. Latitude 29 has also opened up courtyard seating in the back for outdoor consumption.

Monkey Board (1111 Gravier St.) — From December 7 to January 3, the bar on the rooftop of the Troubadour Hotel will transform into a holiday-themed oasis featuring a holiday craft cocktail menu and over-the-top decor. On Saturday, December. 19 from noon to 5 p.m., Monkey Board will also host a “Fa La La La Local Holiday Market” featuring a dozen local vendors including Cocktails by Pop, Rahm Haus Ice Cream, Succotash Ferments, and Elixirs by Cocktail Creative.

Where to order tamales, cocktail kits, sides, or dinner for Christmas

Blue Oak BBQ (900 N Carrollton Ave.) — Blue Oak BBQ’s Christmas catering menu again offers whole smoked turkey, smoked brisket, and shrimp and andouille dressing, but also includes braised brisket and mushroom tamales and quarts of caramel apple crisp. Preorder online here by December 18 on Wednesday, December 23.

Bywater American Bistro (2900 Chartres St.) — Luckily chef Nina Compton is coming through with the at-home meal kits for Christmas Eve this year, priced at $50 per person. The menu includes spiced roasted pork belly, sage stuffing, rosemary jus, sweet potato pie, and cinnamon cream sugar cookies. Preorder online by December 20 for pickup or delivery on December 24 from 2 to 9 p.m. Spiced wine and other drinks are also available to order to-go.

Cochon Butcher (930 Tchoupitoulas St.) — Butcher’s Christmas offerings are as expansive as ever, featuring a marinated standing beef rib roast ready to cook at home, boudin stuffed Bell & Evans turkeys, jambalaya stuffed chicken, smoked beef ribeye, and marinated pork crown roast. Sides, soups, and bread are available in two sizes and include shrimp and eggplant dressing, broccoli and rice casserole, cranberry satsuma sauce, and chicken and sausage gumbo. Food (and half gallons/gallons of Butcher Boozy Eggnog) can be ordered online by December 20 for pickup Wednesday, December 23 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Compere Lapin (535 Tchoupitoulas St.) — The Christmas dinner meal kit from Compere Lapin is an excellent heat and eat option, priced at $60 per person for a seasonal chopped salad; adobo roasted porchetta; rice and peas; sweet potato and sage puree; mirliton and potato gratin; and pecan pie. Orders can be placed at Compere Lapin Online Ordering for pickup on December 24 between 3 and 9 p.m..

Jewel of the South (1026 St. Louis St.) — The gorgeous French Quarter cocktail lounge led by James Beard award-winning bartender Chris Hannah is offering a way to recreate their top-notch drinks at home. The holiday dinner cocktail kit includes two each of six drinks including the signature brandy crusta, a Baltimore eggnog, Jewel sazerac, and a “Dickens Toddy.” It’s also offerings cocktails for two to-go with even more options to choose from, and a holiday party basket 24 bottled cocktails.

Jewel of the South/Facebook

Milkfish Nola — Cristina Quackenbush, the chef behind beloved Filipino pop-up Milkfish, is offering bottled cocktails and baked goods for holiday ordering this year (and delivery may be an option). 16 oz bottled cocktails go for $30 and a box of 18 baked goods from chefs around the city is available for $25. Call or text via these directions to place an order for pickup or delivery on December 24.

Palm & Pine (308 N. Rampart St.) — Tamales are also available for Christmas from Palm & Pine, offering a dozen for $25. Varieties include duck tamales with Oaxacan mole and hot sausage hot tamales. Or better yet, order a tamale kit and make them at home with help from Palm&Pine’s chefs, who will hold an online tamale cooking demo on Wednesday, December 23 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Call the restaurant at 504-814-6200 to order prepared tamales for pickup on December 21, 23, or 24, or to order kits (a half-dozen kit goes for for $30 and a dozen for $45) and tune into the demo.

Zasu (127 N. Carrollton Ave.) — Sue Zemanick’s Mid City charmer is again a great option for a special holiday meal at home, available to order through December 18 for pick up on December 24. She’s offering gumbo z’herbes, potato gratin, Oysters Zemanick (her version of chargrilled), marinated crab claws, bacon wrapped scallops, baked brie, her famous pierogis, and more. Order online.

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