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Chemin à la Mer

A Dozen of the Best Oyster Specials in New Orleans Right Now

Where to find the best deals on oysters to help you get your fill this fall

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With a majority of the nation’s oysters harvested from the Gulf of Mexico, oysters are more than just a food in South Louisiana — they’re a way of life and a matter of civic pride. Even so, indulging in a dozen local beauties can quickly add up. Never fear: Here’s a selection of picks for happy hour oyster specials that won’t break the bank. This map includes a number of options that offer once-weekly, all-day specials — Sidecar and Cooter Brown’s, for instance — in addition to those spots that offer daily oyster happy hours. Here’s where to find the best deals on briny, ice-cold raw oysters in New Orleans right now, because if you haven’t heard, oysters are always in season.

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The Blue Crab Restaurant and Oyster Bar

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Buck-a-shuck oyster deals are few and far between these days, even in New Orleans. But Blue Crab, one of a handful of seafood restaurants right on the lake that offers solid, fresh, and no-frills seafood, is a rare exception. In fact, raw Gulf oysters go for 90 cents a piece during Blue Crab’s happy hour, which runs Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Chargrilled versions are $1.25 a piece during happy hour.

Parlay's Bar

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This beloved neighborhood pub is back after a major fire in 2020, and so is a generous, daily raw oyster special. Slurp freshly shucked P&J oysters for $11.99 a dozen from 3 to 7 p.m. daily, alongside enthusiastic, mostly Lakeview or Lakeview-adjacent residents.

One of the most exciting oyster specials in town launched in October 2023 at this brand new French Quarter cocktail bar that’s already gained a reputation for having some of the best oysters in town. At Fives, the elegant, old-school haven off Jackson Square, diners can snag specials on cocktails and oysters, Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. A half dozen of chef’s selection oysters, which is likely to include oysters from all over (the Mid-Atlantic, West Coast, Northeast, PEI, and more) and not just the Gulf, goes for $18, and a full dozen goes for $28.

Cory James Fontenot/Fives

Luke, the elegant brasserie located in the downtown Hilton hotel, has long been known for its fresh raw seafood — including being one of few spots in town to splurge on a seafood tower. No need to splurge at happy hour, however — the restaurant’s beloved special offers $1.50 Gulf oysters on the half shell from 3 to 6 p.m. daily, as well as half-priced cocktails, wine by the glass, and draft beer, as well as half a dozen fried oysters for $12.

Trenasse

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Oysters on the half shell are a steal during the InterContinental Hotel restaurant’s happy hour — $7 for a half dozen. Visit the fun Trenasse any day of the week between 3 and 6 p.m. to catch that and other $7 small plate and cocktail specials.

Chemin à la Mer

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Chemin à la Mer in the Four Seasons is one of the city’s best new raw bar destinations, and that includes a stellar Oyster Hour. Now seven days a week, this deal can be enjoyed from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Oyster Bar, in the Purple Grackle Bar, and on the terrace, all located on the fifth floor of the hotel. A rotating variety of oysters from the Gulf go for $2 each; pair them with $10 glasses of wine and spritzes.

Chemin à la Mer

Seaworthy

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Unlike most spots on this list, and in New Orleans broadly, Seaworthy sources oysters from beyond the Gulf, including denser, brinier varieties from the East and West coasts. The famed oyster happy hour runs daily, from 4 to 6 p.m. Slurp select oysters and sip wine by the glass for half off each.

Rush Jagoe/Seaworthy

Cooter Brown's Tavern

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Known mostly for its extensive draft beer selection, this longtime Riverbend college decompression zone and sports hangout also serves up well-sized sweet Louisiana oysters. On Tuesdays, Cooter Brown’s has half-price oysters from 3 p.m. until midnight. There are plenty of TV screens to catch whatever game is on.

Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar

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At Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar on Constance Street, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the vast oyster selection, which includes varieties from the Gulf, West Coast, and East Coast. The choice is easier on Wednesdays when a combo of six Gulf oysters and six dealer’s choice oysters (from various coasts) go for $15 — so half-off — from open to close, 5 to 9 p.m. Limit two per table at a time.

Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar

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Popular among tourists for its prime corner location on St. Charles Avenue, the locals know that this sprawling spot is anchored by its marble oyster bar. They also know that the heart of that oyster bar is the stellar daily happy hour, which brings $1.25 oysters to the table from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., daily. Along with that comes deals on house wine, draft beer, and large frozen drinks for the price of a small, including the favorite frozen French 75.

Superior Seafood/Facebook

Basin Seafood and Spirits

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Basin somewhat flies under the radar on bustling Magazine Street, but locals in the know count on it for consistently fresh seafood products, expertly prepared — royal red shrimp, puppy drum, and soft shell crab, to name a few. This includes raw oysters, of course, and on Monday, the restaurant offers them for a ridiculously good price — they’re 75 cents a piece with the purchase of a menu item, from 3 until 9 p.m. A separate happy hour runs weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m., fyi.

Boil Seafood House

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Boil beckons seafood lovers to its spacious, family-friendly dining room or balcony overlooking Magazine Street with a sprawling menu covering crawfish, crab, shrimp, lobster, mussels, and clams. There are also oysters here, easy to forget, and they’re on special during happy hour offered from 3 to 5 p.m.: Raw oysters are $7 for half a dozen; $14 for a dozen.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

The Blue Crab Restaurant and Oyster Bar

Buck-a-shuck oyster deals are few and far between these days, even in New Orleans. But Blue Crab, one of a handful of seafood restaurants right on the lake that offers solid, fresh, and no-frills seafood, is a rare exception. In fact, raw Gulf oysters go for 90 cents a piece during Blue Crab’s happy hour, which runs Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Chargrilled versions are $1.25 a piece during happy hour.

Parlay's Bar

This beloved neighborhood pub is back after a major fire in 2020, and so is a generous, daily raw oyster special. Slurp freshly shucked P&J oysters for $11.99 a dozen from 3 to 7 p.m. daily, alongside enthusiastic, mostly Lakeview or Lakeview-adjacent residents.

Fives

One of the most exciting oyster specials in town launched in October 2023 at this brand new French Quarter cocktail bar that’s already gained a reputation for having some of the best oysters in town. At Fives, the elegant, old-school haven off Jackson Square, diners can snag specials on cocktails and oysters, Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. A half dozen of chef’s selection oysters, which is likely to include oysters from all over (the Mid-Atlantic, West Coast, Northeast, PEI, and more) and not just the Gulf, goes for $18, and a full dozen goes for $28.

Cory James Fontenot/Fives

Luke

Luke, the elegant brasserie located in the downtown Hilton hotel, has long been known for its fresh raw seafood — including being one of few spots in town to splurge on a seafood tower. No need to splurge at happy hour, however — the restaurant’s beloved special offers $1.50 Gulf oysters on the half shell from 3 to 6 p.m. daily, as well as half-priced cocktails, wine by the glass, and draft beer, as well as half a dozen fried oysters for $12.

Trenasse

Oysters on the half shell are a steal during the InterContinental Hotel restaurant’s happy hour — $7 for a half dozen. Visit the fun Trenasse any day of the week between 3 and 6 p.m. to catch that and other $7 small plate and cocktail specials.

Chemin à la Mer

Chemin à la Mer in the Four Seasons is one of the city’s best new raw bar destinations, and that includes a stellar Oyster Hour. Now seven days a week, this deal can be enjoyed from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Oyster Bar, in the Purple Grackle Bar, and on the terrace, all located on the fifth floor of the hotel. A rotating variety of oysters from the Gulf go for $2 each; pair them with $10 glasses of wine and spritzes.

Chemin à la Mer

Seaworthy

Unlike most spots on this list, and in New Orleans broadly, Seaworthy sources oysters from beyond the Gulf, including denser, brinier varieties from the East and West coasts. The famed oyster happy hour runs daily, from 4 to 6 p.m. Slurp select oysters and sip wine by the glass for half off each.

Rush Jagoe/Seaworthy

Cooter Brown's Tavern

Known mostly for its extensive draft beer selection, this longtime Riverbend college decompression zone and sports hangout also serves up well-sized sweet Louisiana oysters. On Tuesdays, Cooter Brown’s has half-price oysters from 3 p.m. until midnight. There are plenty of TV screens to catch whatever game is on.

Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar

At Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar on Constance Street, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the vast oyster selection, which includes varieties from the Gulf, West Coast, and East Coast. The choice is easier on Wednesdays when a combo of six Gulf oysters and six dealer’s choice oysters (from various coasts) go for $15 — so half-off — from open to close, 5 to 9 p.m. Limit two per table at a time.

Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar

Popular among tourists for its prime corner location on St. Charles Avenue, the locals know that this sprawling spot is anchored by its marble oyster bar. They also know that the heart of that oyster bar is the stellar daily happy hour, which brings $1.25 oysters to the table from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., daily. Along with that comes deals on house wine, draft beer, and large frozen drinks for the price of a small, including the favorite frozen French 75.

Superior Seafood/Facebook

Basin Seafood and Spirits

Basin somewhat flies under the radar on bustling Magazine Street, but locals in the know count on it for consistently fresh seafood products, expertly prepared — royal red shrimp, puppy drum, and soft shell crab, to name a few. This includes raw oysters, of course, and on Monday, the restaurant offers them for a ridiculously good price — they’re 75 cents a piece with the purchase of a menu item, from 3 until 9 p.m. A separate happy hour runs weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m., fyi.

Boil Seafood House

Boil beckons seafood lovers to its spacious, family-friendly dining room or balcony overlooking Magazine Street with a sprawling menu covering crawfish, crab, shrimp, lobster, mussels, and clams. There are also oysters here, easy to forget, and they’re on special during happy hour offered from 3 to 5 p.m.: Raw oysters are $7 for half a dozen; $14 for a dozen.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

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