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Birria tacos from Carnaval Lounge
Carnaval Lounge/Facebook

11 Live Music Venues With First-Rate Food

Dinner and a show is on the menu

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Birria tacos from Carnaval Lounge
| Carnaval Lounge/Facebook

A night out for live music is the ultimate in New Orleans, especially in the wake of the eerie pandemic silence that shut down musicians in every part of the city. But everything’s better with food. At these live music venues, it’s possible to take care of both appetites at once. Fancy isn’t guaranteed, but Eater has you covered with places to hear music and get some damn good grub.

This spots on this list are primarily music venues that happen to have great food, not the other way around.

As always, this list is organized by neighborhood, not by ranking. If we missed one of your favorite spots, let us know by sending us an email.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Le Bon Temps Roulé

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This no-frills neighborhood bar features live music four days a week, everything from brass bands to klezmer. Le Bon Temps Roule features authentic Mexican food made fresh by Lily Pintor Karas, every Tuesday thru Sunday from 11am to 11 pm. Oysters are on the menu Fridays for happy hour.

The Broadside

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This super outdoor music venue adjacent to the Broad Theater was a godsend to musicians looking to work in a safe environment. Now the Broadside is part of the Nola music scene - hopefully forever. There is usually good pop-up grub, from Filipino to tacos to dim sum. Best to call ahead to see what’s up.

Bayou Bar

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This swank spot in the Pontchartrain Hotel hosts fab jazz trios five nights a week. But there’s more. Bayou Bar also is home to terrific cocktails and enlightened bar food. Duck poppers? Garlic fries? Wild mushroom grilled cheese? Steak frites? Yes, a thousand times yes.

Davenport Lounge

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Jeremy Davenport croons jazzy standards at his eponymous lounge in the Ritz Carlton most Thursdays through Saturday evenings. You can hear the music from the fancy M Bistro (and the kids can come too) or pull up a chair close to the Davenport Lounge stage and munch on the likes of wings, fried green tomatoes, and charcuterie.

The Bombay Club

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The handsome Bombay Club bills itself as a music venue and martini bar, but the dining options shouldn’t be discounted. The menu includes duck and andouille gumbo, fish and chips, caesar salad and a cheeseburger. There’s music, and good bar food, nightly.

Boudin Scotch egg at Bombay Club
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Palm Court Jazz Cafe

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Trad jazz has been a thing at Palm Court Jazz Cafe since 1989, hosting legendary New Orleans musicians including Danny Baker, Topsy Chapman and the house jazz band. The fare is home cooked as well, from fried oysters and gumbo to filet mignon and crab cakes with Hollandaise.

Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro

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It’s rare for a music venue to have such a robust menu, but Snug Harbor even makes it easy to have a three or four course dinner. From New Orleans classics like shrimp remoulade and gumbo to great burgers and a loaded baked potato, this 45-year old spot isn’t ground breaking, but the classics can really hit the spot.

Three Muses

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Three Muses was closed for more than a year, and fans missed the menu of Asian inspired tapas as much as the intimate venue’s swell music offerings. Although it’s slightly abbreviated, there’s still Ms. Moon's bulgogi rice bowl with house-made kimchi, and a host of veg options at this Frenchman Street standard. Book a table in advance to be assured of a seat. Mix in live music by acts like Gal Holiday and Bart Ramsey a you've got the perfect place to eat, drink, and catch some live music.

Fish tacos at Three Muses
Yelp/Matt G.

Carnaval Lounge

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Carnaval Lounge is a super music spot on busy St. Claude Avenue, with a menu of live music every night and crazy good birria ordered from the back kitchen window. Chef Michael Nguyen is cooking the popular taco-meets-French-dip specialty with roots as a celebratory dish in the state of Jalisco. The oily, juicy specialty is offered as a taco, burrito, or quesadilla paired with cheese, rice and beans, cilantro, and jalapeno crema.  

Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits

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Bacchanal is a New Orleans gem on Poland Avenue in Bywater, a wine bar meets restaurant meets yard party with live music every day but Tuesday. Build your own cheese plate (long absent but now BACK) with options from the case out front — the kitchen will bring you an amazing charcuterie plate as a reward. The Mediterranean inspired menu also includes the likes of bacon wrapped dates — so good — along with lamb meatball, mixed olives, and other yum snacks.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Faubourg Brewing Co.

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The rebranded brewery that dates back to 1907 is a super place to enjoy free live music on weekends in an expansive outdoor 15-acre brew park in New Orleans East. Faubourg Brewery beers pair well with the tasty food from Fete Au Fete on weekends, including munches like an oversized soft pretzel with mustard, boudin egg rolls and a generous cochon de lait sammie on a buttered bun. House-made seltzer cocktails on tap offer a tasty low alcohol option. Kid and doggie friendly.

Le Bon Temps Roulé

This no-frills neighborhood bar features live music four days a week, everything from brass bands to klezmer. Le Bon Temps Roule features authentic Mexican food made fresh by Lily Pintor Karas, every Tuesday thru Sunday from 11am to 11 pm. Oysters are on the menu Fridays for happy hour.

The Broadside

This super outdoor music venue adjacent to the Broad Theater was a godsend to musicians looking to work in a safe environment. Now the Broadside is part of the Nola music scene - hopefully forever. There is usually good pop-up grub, from Filipino to tacos to dim sum. Best to call ahead to see what’s up.

Bayou Bar

This swank spot in the Pontchartrain Hotel hosts fab jazz trios five nights a week. But there’s more. Bayou Bar also is home to terrific cocktails and enlightened bar food. Duck poppers? Garlic fries? Wild mushroom grilled cheese? Steak frites? Yes, a thousand times yes.

Davenport Lounge

Jeremy Davenport croons jazzy standards at his eponymous lounge in the Ritz Carlton most Thursdays through Saturday evenings. You can hear the music from the fancy M Bistro (and the kids can come too) or pull up a chair close to the Davenport Lounge stage and munch on the likes of wings, fried green tomatoes, and charcuterie.

The Bombay Club

The handsome Bombay Club bills itself as a music venue and martini bar, but the dining options shouldn’t be discounted. The menu includes duck and andouille gumbo, fish and chips, caesar salad and a cheeseburger. There’s music, and good bar food, nightly.

Boudin Scotch egg at Bombay Club
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Palm Court Jazz Cafe

Trad jazz has been a thing at Palm Court Jazz Cafe since 1989, hosting legendary New Orleans musicians including Danny Baker, Topsy Chapman and the house jazz band. The fare is home cooked as well, from fried oysters and gumbo to filet mignon and crab cakes with Hollandaise.

Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro

It’s rare for a music venue to have such a robust menu, but Snug Harbor even makes it easy to have a three or four course dinner. From New Orleans classics like shrimp remoulade and gumbo to great burgers and a loaded baked potato, this 45-year old spot isn’t ground breaking, but the classics can really hit the spot.

Three Muses

Three Muses was closed for more than a year, and fans missed the menu of Asian inspired tapas as much as the intimate venue’s swell music offerings. Although it’s slightly abbreviated, there’s still Ms. Moon's bulgogi rice bowl with house-made kimchi, and a host of veg options at this Frenchman Street standard. Book a table in advance to be assured of a seat. Mix in live music by acts like Gal Holiday and Bart Ramsey a you've got the perfect place to eat, drink, and catch some live music.

Fish tacos at Three Muses
Yelp/Matt G.

Carnaval Lounge

Carnaval Lounge is a super music spot on busy St. Claude Avenue, with a menu of live music every night and crazy good birria ordered from the back kitchen window. Chef Michael Nguyen is cooking the popular taco-meets-French-dip specialty with roots as a celebratory dish in the state of Jalisco. The oily, juicy specialty is offered as a taco, burrito, or quesadilla paired with cheese, rice and beans, cilantro, and jalapeno crema.  

Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits

Bacchanal is a New Orleans gem on Poland Avenue in Bywater, a wine bar meets restaurant meets yard party with live music every day but Tuesday. Build your own cheese plate (long absent but now BACK) with options from the case out front — the kitchen will bring you an amazing charcuterie plate as a reward. The Mediterranean inspired menu also includes the likes of bacon wrapped dates — so good — along with lamb meatball, mixed olives, and other yum snacks.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Faubourg Brewing Co.

The rebranded brewery that dates back to 1907 is a super place to enjoy free live music on weekends in an expansive outdoor 15-acre brew park in New Orleans East. Faubourg Brewery beers pair well with the tasty food from Fete Au Fete on weekends, including munches like an oversized soft pretzel with mustard, boudin egg rolls and a generous cochon de lait sammie on a buttered bun. House-made seltzer cocktails on tap offer a tasty low alcohol option. Kid and doggie friendly.

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