If you’re exploring the French Quarter, Bennachin is a welcoming option for comforting Gambian and Cameroonian specialties, many vegetarian-friendly, served in a cozy, funky space with eclectic furniture and colorful art covering the walls. It’s BYOB, but Sidney’s Wine Cellar is a few blocks away.

Dian Xin has answered the French Quarter and the entire city’s prayers for excellent, traditional dim sum. From the original owners of Little Chinatown in Kenner, Diane Ceng and her family opened this simple kitchen on Decatur Street with a two-page menu of bao, soups, chive cakes, jianbing, and shu mai, an ultimate comfort food destination.

With arched windows, a classic long bar, bench seating, and back patio, Cane & Table draws its inspiration from the Caribbean — and in the afternoons, it’s a tranquil spot for chatting or solo drinking. Happy hour specials offer a chance to sip originals at half the price of the regular menu, and include an old fashioned, daiquiri, and blue Hawaii; beer and shot combos; as well as wine specials; plus a snack menu.

Cafe Amelie is home to one of the most romantic courtyards in the Vieux Carre. The menu revolves around Louisiana fare with some international influences. If there is no time to linger over a meal in the lush courtyard, its sister restaurant Petite Amelie serves delightful sandwiches and salads and makes an ideal lunch spot.

Originally opened in 1899, this classic French-Creole restaurant opened again under Dickie Brennan's talented alum Alfred Singleton, who is chef and partner. Cafe Sbisa’s menu is old-school compared to many of the restaurants currently opening in the city, and the crab cakes are some of the best in town. Dinner, brunch, and small plates. Date night alert: this place is an atmospheric stunner, with original wood, intimate balcony and patio dining and a staircase that harks back to a golden age.

Orleans Grapevine tends to fly a bit under the radar in the midst of splashier French Quarter spots, but for those in the know it’s a top destination, particularly for wine. It’s a favorite of local distributors and wine geeks, and the great wine flight deal offered during happy hour can help familiarize even the most novice vino drinkers. There’s a cozy vibe and friendly staff, and it’s one of few places in the Quarter to feel like a neighborhood gem.

Jewel of the South was one of the best restaurants and bars to debut in 2019, from Chris Hannah, the James Beard Award-winning former bartender at Arnaud’s French 75, and partner Nick Detrich. On the quieter, more accessible outskirts of the Quarter, the 19th century Creole cottage housing this beautiful cocktail bar and restaurant is refreshingly geared towards locals while also feeling like a destination. There’s an enchanting courtyard out back, and while the cocktails may have top billing due to its founders, the food is top-notch too, with tasting menus and other special dinners available from time to time.

Manolito is the French Quarter Havana-inspired bar and cafe opened by a trio of top New Orleans restaurant and bar proprietors, and the vibe and drinks reflect the expertise behind it. Though the main attraction at Manolito would have to be its cocktails, the Cuban menu is worth your attention, as are the weekly pop-ups from Que Pasta and Tacos Para La Vida — birria tacos! One of Manolito’s best signature cocktails is the Jazz Daiquiri — made with Jamaican rum, lime, agave nectar, Creme de Cacao, and coffee beans, but all the drinks are fantastic. This spot is not to be missed.

One of the most refined options on the list, Bayona has been charming diners since Regina Keever and chef Susan Spicer opened the doors in 1990. Set in a 200-year old Creole cottage in the heart of the Quarter, Bayona drips with romance, but the vibe is casual and inviting. Spicer’s award winning global cuisine and great wine list is perfect for a special lunch or a leisurely dinner on the patio.

This charming, dark, romantic spot in the French Quarter is known for exceptional food, from Sylvain’s Southern fried chicken sandwich to its version of shrimp and grits, a creamy dish of ambrosia that includes tomato-basil brodo, bacon, mushrooms and sweet caramelized onions. The beauty of this place lies in the unpredictable twists weaved throughout the menu — and it’s all good.

This 200 year-old French Quarter landmark was once the home of a New Orleans mayor who offered the spot to Napoleon as a refuge during his exile (but the little guy never made it). Today, Napoleon House is the essential spot in town for a Pimm's Cup, and it's now run by the Ralph Brennan restaurant group, so the food is also on point. The muffalettas here come controversially pressed, but give it a try.

Killer Poboys still rocks its original location at the rear of the Erin Rose bar, but the bigger brick and mortar spot on Dauphine (next to the Museum of Death) has an expanded menu and a little more breathing room. The po’ boys range from barbecue chicken confit with coffee barbecue sauce and ranch slaw to seared gulf shrimp with coriander lime sauce, to a black beer debris. Veggie options, like a sweet potato po’ boy black eyed pea and pecan spread and braised greens or a whiskey grilled cheese, are available and awesome — vegetarian or not.

Arnaud’s is known for a few things. 1. It’s a historic restaurant in the French Quarter. 2. Its James Beard Award winning bar, the French 75 bar, dazzles. 3. The souffle potatoes with béarnaise sauce are among the best that can be found, anywhere. What’s not as well-known is that the rest of the restaurant’s dishes also impress. Try the oysters Ohan, which are baked with eggplant and andouille. Whatever you do, end your meal with a fire show and order the cafe brulot.

Chefs John Folse and Rick Tramonto came together to open this over-the-top, special occasion restaurant in the Quarter. Each glorious, well-appointed room represents a different influence on New Orleans cuisine. Think sheep’s ricotta gnocchi with lobster, caviar, redfish, boudin Scotch eggs. Be warned: R’evolution will raise the bar on what you expect from dining, but it’s expensive so don’t get addicted.

The front of the house is as important as the back of the house at this historic restaurant. Locals know to ask for their waiter by name upon entering the family-run staple that has loon been known for lines down the street for Friday lunch. Should you be lucky enough to get a seat downstairs, don’t be surprised if you’ve shared a drink and a toast with everyone in the dining room before you leave. Word to the wise: Ask your waiter what to order and take that suggestion. Soft shell crab is to die for when it’s in season.

This small, creative restaurant does outdoor dining exceptionally well with a laid back vibe and tables along Exchange Alley. Vegetables are a major focus at Green Goddess, making it popular among vegetarians and vegans. The menu spans the gambit: beet hummus, chimichurri (with mushrooms or brisket), pecan orange mushroom pate, and Swedish meatloaf all have a spot on the menu.