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Cavan, an outdoor dining destination on Magazine St.
Cavan, an outdoor dining destination on Magazine St.
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New Orleans' Best New Outdoor Dining Spots

The Hottest Al Fresco Restaurants & Bars, Fall 2016

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Cavan, an outdoor dining destination on Magazine St.
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Fall is here and new restaurants and bars around town are embracing New Orleans' drop in temperatures with an abundance of incredible outdoor dining areas. There are some things that Crescent City restaurants do better than almost any other city,  and offering romantic and charming al fresco dining areas is one of them.

These restaurants have either opened or unveiled their new outdoor dining areas in the past year. They range from totally casual affairs, like the LGD's sandwich and cocktail fave Turkey And The Wolf, to upscale cocktail lounges with extraordinary views of the city— Hot Tin— to places where you can have an epic afternoon hang session with friends— Bayou Wine Garden.

Here now, the hottest al fresco spots in New Orleans.

Also coming soon: Bourree's new beer garden and Seaworthy's courtyard are expected to open in the next month. The Troubadour's rooftop Monkey Bar and Vessel's beer garden area should debut by end of year.

Don't see your favorite new outdoor dining spot on the map? Leave a comment or send Eater a tip about why it deserves a spot on the map, and we'll update as necessary.

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Second Line Brewing

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The Mid City neighborhood beer garden is open on Fridays 4-10 p.m., Saturdays from noon til 10 p.m., and Sunday afternoons, noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy a sweet potato saison or another beer-garden only brew al fresco with food trucks like La Cocinita and King Creole.

Kenton's

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This chic oyster and whiskey hub from the team behind NYC's Maysville restaurant offers upscale lunch, brunch and dinner, with shaded seating overlooking Magazine and Nashville.

Roux Carre

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This Central City pop up incubator features six incredible vendors with food options ranging from papusas to gumbo to small plates, live entertainment, covered outdoor dining, and booze to come. Open Wed-Sat, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Alto at Ace Hotel

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The newly opened Ace features two outdoor dining hotspots. Alto, the rooftop grill with a killer view of the city, is currently open with frozen drinks, craft beer and more drinks (a grill-menu is forthcoming). Josephine Estelle, the Italian and Southern inspired eatery on the ground floor also offers patio seating.

Bayou Wine Garden

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30+ wines on tap, a courtyard bar, charcuterie & cheese, and a weekday oyster happy hour (Mon-Thurs, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.) with 2 Girls One Shuck make this Mid City spot one of New Orleans' finest new outdoor gems.
This giant beauty from the team behind Meauxbar and Sylvain features plenty of seating overlooking Magazine Street and a menu that specializes in classic American seafood and excellent cocktails. Do try the oyster toast. (Opens at 4 p.m. daily)
This dinner-only French hideaway in the Ninth Ward offers low key dining with a menu heavy on European canned seafood, small plates with some Japanese inspiration, and a great selection of natural wine. And the covered patio feels like a romantic getaway.

Catahoula Hotel & Bar

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There's a cool little courtyard (with a giant painting of Trixie Minx) that's great for taking in a pisco from the downstair's bar, but what you need to go is head upstairs to the rooftop deck, where Nathan Dalton and team turn out some of the best blender drinks and tiki concoctions in town.

Hot Tin Roof Bar

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Located on the top floor of the recently renovated Pontchartrain Hotel, Hot Tin is home to one of the best views of New Orleans, hands down. Seasonal drinks keep it classy, and the bar's kitschy interior will speak to your inner Southern eccentric.

Altamura

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Swanky cocktails and Italian fine dining meet at this mansion in the Garden District, with a lush courtyard and veranda for taking in happy hour or a giant plate of pasta from the masterminds behind Uptown bakery ManhattanJack.

Turkey & the Wolf

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This fun sandwich and cocktail hub is pretty much home to a stoner's dream menu— a 'grand slam mcmuffin," chicken fried wagyu steak sandwich, soft serve 'key lime crunk' chunks— but don't let that fool you. It's ridiculously good and bike friendly and ready for fall with picnic tables and umbrellas out front.

Tchoup Yard

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This colorful yard from the F&M team is a hub for Bushwackers, giant frozen margs, frosty beers, but there's also an array of food pop ups and trucks that pull up on the daily.

Bar Frances

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Enjoy happy hour or brunch on the covered porch of the new Freret Street wine hub, where modern bistro fare, such as a beet tartare and seasonal salads, keeps things on the lighter side.

Chais Delachaise

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The Delachaise team has another winner on its hands with this new Uptown expansion, great for taking in a glass of wine and global-inspired bar snacks (or duck fat fries, why not?) from chef Daniel Volponi while overlooking Maple Street.

Blue Oak BBQ

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This spot is home to outstanding barbecue and is within walking distance of City Park, with shaded seating right along S. Carrollton and all sorts of great local beers (and booze) as well.

Station 6

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Head to this new Bucktown charmer from chef Alison Vega-Knoll for a seafood menu that's more fresh-catch inspired than just deep fried— highlights include raw oysters, a cracked crab stew, and a very potent rum punch. The outdoor seating is covered and there's also a new outdoor lounge area n the works.

Seaworthy

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This seafood hub at the Ace Hotel specializes in raw oyster, caviar, lobster rolls and sustainable Gulf bounty, along with low proof (and boozier) drinks. The romantic new patio is for walk-ins only, and secluded from the bustling Warehouse District.
Rush Jagoe

Rosedale

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This casual new Navarre spot from legendary chef Susan Spicer is a casual neighborhood affair with feel good eats from avocado toast to cochon de lait po' boys, with outdoor seating shaded by umbrellas and craft drinks at the bar. Now open for lunch and dinner.
Paul Broussard

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Second Line Brewing

The Mid City neighborhood beer garden is open on Fridays 4-10 p.m., Saturdays from noon til 10 p.m., and Sunday afternoons, noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy a sweet potato saison or another beer-garden only brew al fresco with food trucks like La Cocinita and King Creole.

Kenton's

This chic oyster and whiskey hub from the team behind NYC's Maysville restaurant offers upscale lunch, brunch and dinner, with shaded seating overlooking Magazine and Nashville.

Roux Carre

This Central City pop up incubator features six incredible vendors with food options ranging from papusas to gumbo to small plates, live entertainment, covered outdoor dining, and booze to come. Open Wed-Sat, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Alto at Ace Hotel

The newly opened Ace features two outdoor dining hotspots. Alto, the rooftop grill with a killer view of the city, is currently open with frozen drinks, craft beer and more drinks (a grill-menu is forthcoming). Josephine Estelle, the Italian and Southern inspired eatery on the ground floor also offers patio seating.

Bayou Wine Garden

30+ wines on tap, a courtyard bar, charcuterie & cheese, and a weekday oyster happy hour (Mon-Thurs, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.) with 2 Girls One Shuck make this Mid City spot one of New Orleans' finest new outdoor gems.

Cavan

This giant beauty from the team behind Meauxbar and Sylvain features plenty of seating overlooking Magazine Street and a menu that specializes in classic American seafood and excellent cocktails. Do try the oyster toast. (Opens at 4 p.m. daily)

N7

This dinner-only French hideaway in the Ninth Ward offers low key dining with a menu heavy on European canned seafood, small plates with some Japanese inspiration, and a great selection of natural wine. And the covered patio feels like a romantic getaway.

Catahoula Hotel & Bar

There's a cool little courtyard (with a giant painting of Trixie Minx) that's great for taking in a pisco from the downstair's bar, but what you need to go is head upstairs to the rooftop deck, where Nathan Dalton and team turn out some of the best blender drinks and tiki concoctions in town.

Hot Tin Roof Bar

Located on the top floor of the recently renovated Pontchartrain Hotel, Hot Tin is home to one of the best views of New Orleans, hands down. Seasonal drinks keep it classy, and the bar's kitschy interior will speak to your inner Southern eccentric.

Altamura

Swanky cocktails and Italian fine dining meet at this mansion in the Garden District, with a lush courtyard and veranda for taking in happy hour or a giant plate of pasta from the masterminds behind Uptown bakery ManhattanJack.

Turkey & the Wolf

This fun sandwich and cocktail hub is pretty much home to a stoner's dream menu— a 'grand slam mcmuffin," chicken fried wagyu steak sandwich, soft serve 'key lime crunk' chunks— but don't let that fool you. It's ridiculously good and bike friendly and ready for fall with picnic tables and umbrellas out front.

Tchoup Yard

This colorful yard from the F&M team is a hub for Bushwackers, giant frozen margs, frosty beers, but there's also an array of food pop ups and trucks that pull up on the daily.

Bar Frances

Enjoy happy hour or brunch on the covered porch of the new Freret Street wine hub, where modern bistro fare, such as a beet tartare and seasonal salads, keeps things on the lighter side.

Chais Delachaise

The Delachaise team has another winner on its hands with this new Uptown expansion, great for taking in a glass of wine and global-inspired bar snacks (or duck fat fries, why not?) from chef Daniel Volponi while overlooking Maple Street.

Blue Oak BBQ

This spot is home to outstanding barbecue and is within walking distance of City Park, with shaded seating right along S. Carrollton and all sorts of great local beers (and booze) as well.

Related Maps

Station 6

Head to this new Bucktown charmer from chef Alison Vega-Knoll for a seafood menu that's more fresh-catch inspired than just deep fried— highlights include raw oysters, a cracked crab stew, and a very potent rum punch. The outdoor seating is covered and there's also a new outdoor lounge area n the works.

Seaworthy

This seafood hub at the Ace Hotel specializes in raw oyster, caviar, lobster rolls and sustainable Gulf bounty, along with low proof (and boozier) drinks. The romantic new patio is for walk-ins only, and secluded from the bustling Warehouse District.
Rush Jagoe

Rosedale

This casual new Navarre spot from legendary chef Susan Spicer is a casual neighborhood affair with feel good eats from avocado toast to cochon de lait po' boys, with outdoor seating shaded by umbrellas and craft drinks at the bar. Now open for lunch and dinner.
Paul Broussard

Related Maps