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The Best Casual Spots To Eat & Drink Near Jazz Fest

Let this be your guide to pre and post fest grub (and some booze)

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It's Jazz Fest and likely you'll be eating your heart out on the festival grounds. But maybe, just maybe, after a few beers and a little too much sunshine, you'll be in the mood for a good meal and some air conditioning when the festival is over.  Or maybe you just need a scone beforehand and a Bloody Mary to-go.

Look to these tried and true casual spots near the fest, which are all all open late enough (or early enough) to fit your feasting and boozing schedule.

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Toups Meatery

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Isaac Toups, fan favorite of the latest Top Chef season, cooks up incredible Cajun dishes, from the meatery board (cracklins, boudin and more Cajun charcuterie) to a killer pork chop and dirty rice. Bar program and doberge cake are on point too.
Michael Gulotta's casual, chef-driven take on Louisiana-inspired Vietnamese food is right down the street from City Park with restorative pho, delicious noodle/rice bowls, and a slew of incredible specials (including weekend hog/lamb roasts).

Morning Call

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Beignets and cafe au lait await fest-goers 24 hours a day, right in City Park. They also have a decent jambalaya. Cash only though.
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Bud's Broiler

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Open 24 hours, this is the place to satisfy every late night craving with burgers, milkshakes, and chili cheese fries.

Felipe's Taqueria

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For the most bang for your buck, stop by Felipes for a quick and hearty super burrito loaded with meat, cheese, beans, and rice. The frozen margs are lethal.

Liuzza's By The Track

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If you don't mind stopping for a Bloody Mary pre or post fest with a thousand of your closest friends, this is your spot.

Angelo Brocato's

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If you need a little something sweet after listening to music and general festing, Angelo Brocato's is the place for gelato, Italian ice, a huge amount of pastries, filled to order cannoli, and authentic espresso. Open till 10:30 on Friday and Saturday, and until 9pm on Sunday.

Parkway Bakery & Tavern

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All poboys, all the time. Get a roast beef, shrimp or the surf & turf, which combines both. Two poboys that don't get a lot of press but are quite tasty are the corned beef and the french fry. Try the sweet potato fries as a side and wash it all down with a local beer. Open from 11am-10pm.

Bayou Beer Garden

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This Mid City bar is a hoot with an awesome covered deck, great food, and the new Bayou Wine Garden (with about 30 wines on tap) connected to it.

1000 Figs

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This small, awesome spot in Faubourg St. John is a beautiful walk from the fair grounds with killer falafel and fries, lamb heart kebab, and more fresh, seasonal eats. Open until 9 p.m. (but closed Sunday except for brunch).

Brown Butter

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This Southern eatery is great for any meal, with sandwiches and huge salads for lunch, tasty brunch specials, and dinner entrees that border on the fine dining side (without the fine dining bill). Full bar and great beer selection.

Revel Cafe and Bar

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Exceptional cocktails from a New Orleans bar legend, Chris MacMillion, plus bar snacks, sandwiches and a casual neighborhood vibe.

Blue Oak BBQ

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This New Orleans' barbecue staple (formerly located in music club Chickie Wah Wah) debuts in its new restaurant space on Friday, April 22, with outdoor seating, a full bar, and loads of brisket, pulled pork and more specialties.

Pagoda Café

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A great spot for breakfast pastries, sandwiches, and coffee within walking distance of the festival.

Seahorse Saloon

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This spot is a must for a pre-fest Bloody Mary or post-festing with the masses. It's possible some folks never even make it to Jazz Fest, but just hang out here.

Pirogues

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This newish bar on Bayou Road at Broad (a close walk to the fest) has plans for crawfish boils and more shenanigans when Jazz Fest lets out. But it's a good spot to pre-game too.

Pal's Lounge

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An exceptional neighborhood watering hole in Bayou St. John with great cocktails and service. There's always some sort of delicious food pop-up happening, but make sure to bring an ID or you can't get in.

Toups Meatery

Isaac Toups, fan favorite of the latest Top Chef season, cooks up incredible Cajun dishes, from the meatery board (cracklins, boudin and more Cajun charcuterie) to a killer pork chop and dirty rice. Bar program and doberge cake are on point too.

MoPho

Michael Gulotta's casual, chef-driven take on Louisiana-inspired Vietnamese food is right down the street from City Park with restorative pho, delicious noodle/rice bowls, and a slew of incredible specials (including weekend hog/lamb roasts).

Morning Call

Beignets and cafe au lait await fest-goers 24 hours a day, right in City Park. They also have a decent jambalaya. Cash only though.
ENOLA

Bud's Broiler

Open 24 hours, this is the place to satisfy every late night craving with burgers, milkshakes, and chili cheese fries.

Felipe's Taqueria

For the most bang for your buck, stop by Felipes for a quick and hearty super burrito loaded with meat, cheese, beans, and rice. The frozen margs are lethal.

Liuzza's By The Track

If you don't mind stopping for a Bloody Mary pre or post fest with a thousand of your closest friends, this is your spot.

Angelo Brocato's

If you need a little something sweet after listening to music and general festing, Angelo Brocato's is the place for gelato, Italian ice, a huge amount of pastries, filled to order cannoli, and authentic espresso. Open till 10:30 on Friday and Saturday, and until 9pm on Sunday.

Parkway Bakery & Tavern

All poboys, all the time. Get a roast beef, shrimp or the surf & turf, which combines both. Two poboys that don't get a lot of press but are quite tasty are the corned beef and the french fry. Try the sweet potato fries as a side and wash it all down with a local beer. Open from 11am-10pm.

Bayou Beer Garden

This Mid City bar is a hoot with an awesome covered deck, great food, and the new Bayou Wine Garden (with about 30 wines on tap) connected to it.

1000 Figs

This small, awesome spot in Faubourg St. John is a beautiful walk from the fair grounds with killer falafel and fries, lamb heart kebab, and more fresh, seasonal eats. Open until 9 p.m. (but closed Sunday except for brunch).

Brown Butter

This Southern eatery is great for any meal, with sandwiches and huge salads for lunch, tasty brunch specials, and dinner entrees that border on the fine dining side (without the fine dining bill). Full bar and great beer selection.

Revel Cafe and Bar

Exceptional cocktails from a New Orleans bar legend, Chris MacMillion, plus bar snacks, sandwiches and a casual neighborhood vibe.

Blue Oak BBQ

This New Orleans' barbecue staple (formerly located in music club Chickie Wah Wah) debuts in its new restaurant space on Friday, April 22, with outdoor seating, a full bar, and loads of brisket, pulled pork and more specialties.

Pagoda Café

A great spot for breakfast pastries, sandwiches, and coffee within walking distance of the festival.

Seahorse Saloon

This spot is a must for a pre-fest Bloody Mary or post-festing with the masses. It's possible some folks never even make it to Jazz Fest, but just hang out here.

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Pirogues

This newish bar on Bayou Road at Broad (a close walk to the fest) has plans for crawfish boils and more shenanigans when Jazz Fest lets out. But it's a good spot to pre-game too.

Pal's Lounge

An exceptional neighborhood watering hole in Bayou St. John with great cocktails and service. There's always some sort of delicious food pop-up happening, but make sure to bring an ID or you can't get in.

Related Maps