clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

Where to Find Yak-A-Mein in New Orleans

A Complete Guide to New Orleans’s Best Late-Night Food Destinations

10 New Orleans Restaurants Dishing the Flavors of Honduras

More in New Orleans See more maps

15 Restaurants & Bars for Whale Watching in New Orleans

by Gwendolyn Knapp
View as Map
by Gwendolyn Knapp

New Orleans is no stranger to indulging the expensive tastes of celebrities, star athletes, and politicians. We are, at this very moment, hosting the freaking Super Bowl, the ultimate in spending cash moneys with a Meyer The Hatter fedora feather on top. As Beyonce, Roger Goodell, the entire Playboy Mansion, Justin Timberlake, and NFL players galore file into town, Eater is rolling out our Best Restaurants and Bars for Whale Watching map. These are the bars and restaurants that the filthy rich love to go to the most. Exclusive, expensive and extravagant, or not, these are the restaurants where 'the other half' goes take a load off.

Don't see a restaurant or bar that needs to be on the Whale Watching map? Leave a comment or hit us up via the tipline.


Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Antoine's Restaurant

Copy Link
Between the Rex Room and the fact that General Patton, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, President Roosevelt, Judy Garland, Carol Burnett and Pope John Paul the II have all dined here, Antoine's is, historically speaking, the center of New Orleans' whale watching universe.
713 Rue Saint Louis, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 581-4422
(504) 581-4422

Also featured in:

Galatoire's

Copy Link
The undisputed Grand Dame of New Orleans dining, there is probably no better place to whale watch, especially on a Friday, when all day power lunches turn into gluttonous, table-hopping booze fests.
209 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 525-2021
(504) 525-2021

Also featured in:

Arnaud's Restaurant

Copy Link
While Arnaud’s was being renovated in the 1980s, customers could spend $10,000 and have a plaque placed above a table marking it as their own. They also got open accounts credited with $12,000, private stocks of wines and liquors, priority reservations and other whale perks. Today, you can still buy a table for the right price.
813 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70112
(866) 230-8895
(866) 230-8895

Also featured in:

Dooky Chase Restaurant

Copy Link
Obama comes to New Orleans. Obama eats lunch at Dooky Chase. That's all you need to know about this New Orleans whale watching institution.
2301 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119-5025
(504) 821-0600
(504) 821-0600

Also featured in:

The Swizzle Stick Bar

Copy Link
Nary a Friday evening passes, when the likes of New Orleans' political dynasties, lawyer types and CBD haunchos don't convene at this swanky bar and lounge to kick back with martinis and listen to jazz. Also known to attract celebrities, and out of towners accompanied by high priced escorts (not together)
300 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 595-3305
(504) 595-3305

Morton's The Steakhouse

Copy Link
Located in Canal Place, this steakhouse is known for attracting Saints players, and teaming up with Jonathan Vilma for his annual fundraiser, the Celebrity Servers Dinner.
365 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 566-0221
(504) 566-0221

Also featured in:

Maurepas Foods

Copy Link
Whales in the Bywater? Yes, sir. Pretty much every night of the week this place is packed with artsier baller types from musicians to Hollywood Southers, including famous celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio.
3200 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 267-0072
(504) 267-0072

St. James Cheese Company

Copy Link
Whales flock to the home of gourmet fromage and charcuterie for lunch and to stock up on artisinal trends. Mayor Mitch Landrieu is a take-out regular, and celebs from Dave Matthews to Blake Lively have frequented the shop while in town.
5004 Prytania St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 899-4737
(504) 899-4737

Also featured in:

Restaurant August

Copy Link
The John Besh CBD favorite is known to attract high rollers for power lunches and luxury dinners. NFL players, coaches, and VIPs will descend upon the restaurant during Super Bowl week, especially on Wednesday for the Samaritan's Feet fundraiser.
301 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 299-9777
(504) 299-9777

Also featured in:

Commander's Palace

Copy Link
The New Orleans institution in the Garden District has been host to the likes of Barbra Streisand, Sandra Bullock, and Leonardo DiCaprio, not too mention myriad local whales who like to indulge in fine fashion. An auction for dinner in The Garden Room on Super Bowl Eve is currently going for $5,000.
1403 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 899-8221
(504) 899-8221

Also featured in:

Cure

Copy Link
Doctors, lawyers, and Jennifer Coolidge. You never know what type of whale might show up at the bar that started the craft-cocktail renaissance in New Orleans, lured in by sexy drinks and small plates.
4905 Freret Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 302-2357
(504) 302-2357

Also featured in:

Irene's Cuisine

Copy Link
From local garbage-collection icon Sidney Torres and his pal Lenny Kravitz dining at a table with an entourage, to the myriad autographed headshots lining the walls, one gets the feeling that everybody has dined at the Quarter's most romantic Italian spot.
539 St Phillip St, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 529-8811
(504) 529-8811

Also featured in:

Stella!

Copy Link
The prix fixe menu is $85 with wine pairings at an additional $60. North Star Caviar another $30. Perigord Truffles another $30. The total bill comes out to... high rollers only.
1032 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 587-0091
(504) 587-0091

Patois

Copy Link
Uptown Whale Fest. Chef Aaron Burgau's Laurel Street hot spot attracts business types, restaurant industry big wigs (Balthazar's owners were supposedly just in), and celebs like Brad Pitt.
6078 Laurel St, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 895-9441
(504) 895-9441

Also featured in:

Cochon

Copy Link
Have you seen the hoards of neurosurgeons, lawyers, bankers, and convention goers that wait for tables alongside Jimmy Buffet and whale friends at Cochon on a nightly basis? The Cajun restaurant is simply irresistible to rich folks in suits or flip flops.
930 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 588-2123
(504) 588-2123

Also featured in:

More in Maps

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Antoine's Restaurant

713 Rue Saint Louis, New Orleans, LA 70130
Between the Rex Room and the fact that General Patton, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, President Roosevelt, Judy Garland, Carol Burnett and Pope John Paul the II have all dined here, Antoine's is, historically speaking, the center of New Orleans' whale watching universe.
713 Rue Saint Louis, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 581-4422
(504) 581-4422

Galatoire's

209 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
The undisputed Grand Dame of New Orleans dining, there is probably no better place to whale watch, especially on a Friday, when all day power lunches turn into gluttonous, table-hopping booze fests.
209 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 525-2021
(504) 525-2021

Arnaud's Restaurant

813 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70112
While Arnaud’s was being renovated in the 1980s, customers could spend $10,000 and have a plaque placed above a table marking it as their own. They also got open accounts credited with $12,000, private stocks of wines and liquors, priority reservations and other whale perks. Today, you can still buy a table for the right price.
813 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70112
(866) 230-8895
(866) 230-8895

Dooky Chase Restaurant

2301 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119-5025
Obama comes to New Orleans. Obama eats lunch at Dooky Chase. That's all you need to know about this New Orleans whale watching institution.
2301 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119-5025
(504) 821-0600
(504) 821-0600

The Swizzle Stick Bar

300 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
Nary a Friday evening passes, when the likes of New Orleans' political dynasties, lawyer types and CBD haunchos don't convene at this swanky bar and lounge to kick back with martinis and listen to jazz. Also known to attract celebrities, and out of towners accompanied by high priced escorts (not together)
300 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 595-3305
(504) 595-3305

Morton's The Steakhouse

365 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Located in Canal Place, this steakhouse is known for attracting Saints players, and teaming up with Jonathan Vilma for his annual fundraiser, the Celebrity Servers Dinner.
365 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 566-0221
(504) 566-0221

Maurepas Foods

3200 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117
Whales in the Bywater? Yes, sir. Pretty much every night of the week this place is packed with artsier baller types from musicians to Hollywood Southers, including famous celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio.
3200 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 267-0072
(504) 267-0072

St. James Cheese Company

5004 Prytania St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Whales flock to the home of gourmet fromage and charcuterie for lunch and to stock up on artisinal trends. Mayor Mitch Landrieu is a take-out regular, and celebs from Dave Matthews to Blake Lively have frequented the shop while in town.
5004 Prytania St, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 899-4737
(504) 899-4737

Restaurant August

301 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
The John Besh CBD favorite is known to attract high rollers for power lunches and luxury dinners. NFL players, coaches, and VIPs will descend upon the restaurant during Super Bowl week, especially on Wednesday for the Samaritan's Feet fundraiser.
301 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 299-9777
(504) 299-9777

Commander's Palace

1403 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130
The New Orleans institution in the Garden District has been host to the likes of Barbra Streisand, Sandra Bullock, and Leonardo DiCaprio, not too mention myriad local whales who like to indulge in fine fashion. An auction for dinner in The Garden Room on Super Bowl Eve is currently going for $5,000.
1403 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 899-8221
(504) 899-8221

Cure

4905 Freret Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
Doctors, lawyers, and Jennifer Coolidge. You never know what type of whale might show up at the bar that started the craft-cocktail renaissance in New Orleans, lured in by sexy drinks and small plates.
4905 Freret Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 302-2357
(504) 302-2357

Irene's Cuisine

539 St Phillip St, New Orleans, LA 70116
From local garbage-collection icon Sidney Torres and his pal Lenny Kravitz dining at a table with an entourage, to the myriad autographed headshots lining the walls, one gets the feeling that everybody has dined at the Quarter's most romantic Italian spot.
539 St Phillip St, New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 529-8811
(504) 529-8811

Stella!

1032 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA 70116
The prix fixe menu is $85 with wine pairings at an additional $60. North Star Caviar another $30. Perigord Truffles another $30. The total bill comes out to... high rollers only.
1032 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 587-0091
(504) 587-0091

Patois

6078 Laurel St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Uptown Whale Fest. Chef Aaron Burgau's Laurel Street hot spot attracts business types, restaurant industry big wigs (Balthazar's owners were supposedly just in), and celebs like Brad Pitt.
6078 Laurel St, New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 895-9441
(504) 895-9441

Cochon

930 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Have you seen the hoards of neurosurgeons, lawyers, bankers, and convention goers that wait for tables alongside Jimmy Buffet and whale friends at Cochon on a nightly basis? The Cajun restaurant is simply irresistible to rich folks in suits or flip flops.
930 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 588-2123
(504) 588-2123

Related Maps