A tray of a dozen shucked raw oysters and four boiled shrimp. — Oysters and shrimp from Seafood Sally’s, which has an oyster happy hour.

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

The best restaurant and bar oyster deals in the city, from happy hours to all-day specials

by Clair Lorell and Eater Staff Updated Oct 20, 2022, 2:18pm CDT

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Oysters and shrimp from Seafood Sally’s, which has an oyster happy hour.

| Seafood Sally’s

by Clair Lorell and Eater Staff Updated Oct 20, 2022, 2:18pm CDT

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.

Did we miss an oyster happy hour in New Orleans? Let us know.

Parlay's Bar

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This beloved neighborhood pub is back after a major fire in 2020, and so is its raw oyster special — slurp P&J oysters for $8 a dozen from 3 to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, alongside enthusiastic, mostly Lakeview or Lakeview-adjacent residents.

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870 Harrison Ave, New Orleans, LA 70124

(504) 304-6338

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Where to Eat and Drink in and Around Lakeview

Elysian Seafood

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This longtime purveyor of high-quality raw and cooked seafood, both as a caterer and perhaps the longest-running vendor at St. Roch Market, has a killer oyster happy hour inside the sunny Marigny food hall. The deal is on both raw and chargrilled — $6 for six raw, and $6 for three chargrilled, Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.

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2381 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117

(504) 609-3813

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Luke

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Luke, the lovely 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 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.

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333 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130

(504) 378-2840

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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.

Intercontinental Hotel, 444 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130

(504) 680-7000

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Seafood Sally's

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This fun seafood-oriented restaurant from the chef/owners of Marjie’s Grill doesn’t disappoint when it comes to oyster happy hour — the Buck a Shuck happy hour, as the name would imply, serves up $1 oysters, along with $5-6 bar snacks, cocktails, and glasses of wine. Running daily from 4 to 6 p.m., it’s best enjoyed on the funky patio or courtyard out front.

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8400 Oak St, New Orleans, LA 70118

(504) 766-8736

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Chemin à la Mer

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Buck a shuck at the Four Seasons? Yes indeed, during Oyster Hour at Chemin à la Mer, Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Enjoy river views on the terrace or belly up to the bar for $1 select oysters paired with a discounted glass of wine selected by Chemin’s sommelier, Emily Kitzmiller.

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2 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130

(504) 434-5898

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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 for half off, and choose from wine, cocktails, and beer and shot combos.

630 Carondelet St, New Orleans, LA 70130

(504) 930-3071

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Le Chat Noir

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Along with expert, delicious preparations of vegetables and seafood, downtown’s new Le Chat Noir also boasts a strong drink and wine program — and an oyster happy hour to go along with it. From 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, the upscale-casual restaurant from the owner of Bearcat is offering a special shucker’s selection of oysters on the half shell along with deals on a daily punch, beer, and glasses of wine. This is without a doubt the best new spot for oysters in town.

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715 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130

(504) 381-0045

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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 closing. Plus, there are plenty of TV screens to catch whatever game is on.

509 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118

(504) 866-9104

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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 select oysters (for instance Murder Points, Grand Battures, or a mix of the shucker’s selection) go for $15 from open to close, 5 to 9 p.m.

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1114 Constance St, New Orleans, LA 70130

(504) 381-5079

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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 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.

4338 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115

(504) 293-3474

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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, 3 until 9 p.m. A separate happy hour runs weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m., fyi.