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Where to Dine Solo in New Orleans

Where to eat when you’re on a date with yourself

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LUVI
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Dining solo can be an oasis of calm in an otherwise frantic day. A chance to center, savor and regroup without the distraction of making small talk. For a committed eater, it’s also the chance to taste exactly what is craved, without having to accommodate anyone else’s whims. That said, the best place to dine alone isn’t in the middle of a crowded dining room, surrounded by starry eyed couples, shrieking children, and rowdy groups. Here are some fab options that welcome solo diners and offer cozy seating for loners in the dining room and bar, from grabbing a bowl of pho to enjoying a four-course meal.

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Clancy's Restaurant

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This Uptown bastion of French-Creole cuisine is well known for its lively bar scene, and for good reason. Clancy’s is the kind of place where everybody knows everybody, so expect a few stares. That said, the bartenders are friendly, the food is traditional and good and the drinks are potent.

Station 6

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Chef Allison Vega-Knoll serves global finny flavors at Station 6 in Bucktown, so pull up a stool at the bar and get ready to feast. The New Orleans native is a wiz at tapas and small plates — otherwise try the gumbo and seared pompano. Love that the salads come in two sizes.

Oysters at Station 6
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

LUVI Restaurant

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LUVI is home to some of the best sushi in town, so settle in at chef Hao Gong’s curved raw bar and get ready for a treat. The Shanghai native, who worked for years at Sake Cafe, delivers brilliant takes on raw and nearly raw fish, pairing with the likes of cucumber and yuzu vinegar and pink dragon fruit. Shanghai comfort food also soars — dumplings, dan dan noodles, and bam bam chicken are just a few winners to try.

The chef’s counter at LUVI
Katherine Kimball/Eater NOLA

Bearcat Cafe Uptown

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Bearcat is well-suited for a solo breakfast or lunch, with ample seating, coffee-shop style seating and options like chia pudding tofu scramble and chai pancakes with pecans, as well as a vegan-friendly menu. For lunch, sandwiches and bowls satisfy without weighing down.

Cafe Degas

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There are only four seats at the bar at this Bayou St. John fave, a haven of French bistro fare and warm hospitality. Snag one, and enjoy Cafe Degas’ specialties including duck breast salad, onion soup and crab salad.

Juan's Flying Burrito - LGD

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All three locations of locals favorite Juan’s Flying Burrito offer friendly bars where you can often catch fellow solo diners chowing down on chips and burritos. The original on Magazine Street in the LGD is dimly lit, with a narrow dining room lined with booths on both sides, and relaxed; solo diners can grub out in peace here.

Lilly's Café

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Being a longtime New Orleans lunch favorite, the dining room at Lilly’s on any given weekday is frequently occupied by solo diners slurping restorative bowls of pho on their lunch break, or before heading into their service jobs. You’ll never feel silly occupying a table here; staff is warm and friendly and the spacious dining room means you’re not adding to someone else’s wait.

Bourbon House

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The bar is an awesome spot to people watch at this solid Dickie Brennan restaurant on Bourbon Street. Then again a table by the upstairs rail on the balcony is also an ideal perch to eat crab cake Louis and charbroiled oyster pasta.

Bourbon House
Bourbon House
Bourbon House/Facebook

Compère Lapin

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Chef Nina Compton’s award-winning restaurant in the Old No 77 Hotel & Chandlery features a bustling bar, a communal table and two-tops along the windows, all ideal for a solo snacker. Compere Lapin is a busy place with tons of action, thanks to stupendous cocktails and a menu of French Caribbean Creole delights. The cold smoked tuna tartare is a keeper.

Inside Compere Lapin
The bar seating at Compere Lapin
Josh Brasted/Eater New Orleans

Emeril's

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Treat yourself to a meal at Emeril Lagasse’s flagship restaurant and you’re likely to encounter other solo diners on a fine-dining outing; whether people in town for conventions sneaking away for a breather and glass of wine or a resident looking to experience the legendary spot for the first time. The bar is particularly appealing, tucked to the side near the entrance, but table-dining alone will also feel natural — each table is somewhat intimate, and the vibe is low-key. If there’s ever a time to order personal caviar service, now is it.

Brennan's

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Retreat to Brennan’s Roost Bar, a tropical oasis with painted flamingos, parrots and macaws. Savor the likes of baked oysters, tea-brined chicken wings, and cheddar gourgeres during Bubbles at Brennan’s, the promo offered Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the bar and lovely courtyard.

brennans
Brennan’s
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Bennachin

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If you’re exploring the French Quarter, Bennachin is one of the most welcoming options for solo diners, both in atmosphere and food. Comforting Gambian and Cameroonian specialties, many vegetarian-friendly, are 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.

Arabella Casa Di Pasta

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This quiet St. Claude Avenue pasta staple has a long, comfortable bar and friendly bartenders, great for a casual solo outing of fresh pastas and Italian small plates. As a bonus, it’s super affordable, so there doesn’t have to be an occasion in order to take yourself out.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

The Franklin

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This suave neighborhood spot in the Marigny is a locals favorite for inventive dining and good drinks and wine. The Franklin’s bar is the best, a relaxing spot to slurp oysters and drink martinis during happy hour. A menu of interesting starters (grilled lamb ribs, Gulf fish crudo) is a swell alternative to eating an entree.

The Franklin Burger
The Franklin/Official Photo

Clancy's Restaurant

This Uptown bastion of French-Creole cuisine is well known for its lively bar scene, and for good reason. Clancy’s is the kind of place where everybody knows everybody, so expect a few stares. That said, the bartenders are friendly, the food is traditional and good and the drinks are potent.

Station 6

Chef Allison Vega-Knoll serves global finny flavors at Station 6 in Bucktown, so pull up a stool at the bar and get ready to feast. The New Orleans native is a wiz at tapas and small plates — otherwise try the gumbo and seared pompano. Love that the salads come in two sizes.

Oysters at Station 6
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

LUVI Restaurant

LUVI is home to some of the best sushi in town, so settle in at chef Hao Gong’s curved raw bar and get ready for a treat. The Shanghai native, who worked for years at Sake Cafe, delivers brilliant takes on raw and nearly raw fish, pairing with the likes of cucumber and yuzu vinegar and pink dragon fruit. Shanghai comfort food also soars — dumplings, dan dan noodles, and bam bam chicken are just a few winners to try.

The chef’s counter at LUVI
Katherine Kimball/Eater NOLA

Bearcat Cafe Uptown

Bearcat is well-suited for a solo breakfast or lunch, with ample seating, coffee-shop style seating and options like chia pudding tofu scramble and chai pancakes with pecans, as well as a vegan-friendly menu. For lunch, sandwiches and bowls satisfy without weighing down.

Cafe Degas

There are only four seats at the bar at this Bayou St. John fave, a haven of French bistro fare and warm hospitality. Snag one, and enjoy Cafe Degas’ specialties including duck breast salad, onion soup and crab salad.

Juan's Flying Burrito - LGD

All three locations of locals favorite Juan’s Flying Burrito offer friendly bars where you can often catch fellow solo diners chowing down on chips and burritos. The original on Magazine Street in the LGD is dimly lit, with a narrow dining room lined with booths on both sides, and relaxed; solo diners can grub out in peace here.

Lilly's Café

Being a longtime New Orleans lunch favorite, the dining room at Lilly’s on any given weekday is frequently occupied by solo diners slurping restorative bowls of pho on their lunch break, or before heading into their service jobs. You’ll never feel silly occupying a table here; staff is warm and friendly and the spacious dining room means you’re not adding to someone else’s wait.

Bourbon House

The bar is an awesome spot to people watch at this solid Dickie Brennan restaurant on Bourbon Street. Then again a table by the upstairs rail on the balcony is also an ideal perch to eat crab cake Louis and charbroiled oyster pasta.

Bourbon House
Bourbon House
Bourbon House/Facebook

Compère Lapin

Chef Nina Compton’s award-winning restaurant in the Old No 77 Hotel & Chandlery features a bustling bar, a communal table and two-tops along the windows, all ideal for a solo snacker. Compere Lapin is a busy place with tons of action, thanks to stupendous cocktails and a menu of French Caribbean Creole delights. The cold smoked tuna tartare is a keeper.

Inside Compere Lapin
The bar seating at Compere Lapin
Josh Brasted/Eater New Orleans

Emeril's

Treat yourself to a meal at Emeril Lagasse’s flagship restaurant and you’re likely to encounter other solo diners on a fine-dining outing; whether people in town for conventions sneaking away for a breather and glass of wine or a resident looking to experience the legendary spot for the first time. The bar is particularly appealing, tucked to the side near the entrance, but table-dining alone will also feel natural — each table is somewhat intimate, and the vibe is low-key. If there’s ever a time to order personal caviar service, now is it.

Brennan's

Retreat to Brennan’s Roost Bar, a tropical oasis with painted flamingos, parrots and macaws. Savor the likes of baked oysters, tea-brined chicken wings, and cheddar gourgeres during Bubbles at Brennan’s, the promo offered Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the bar and lovely courtyard.

brennans
Brennan’s
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Bennachin

If you’re exploring the French Quarter, Bennachin is one of the most welcoming options for solo diners, both in atmosphere and food. Comforting Gambian and Cameroonian specialties, many vegetarian-friendly, are 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.

Arabella Casa Di Pasta

This quiet St. Claude Avenue pasta staple has a long, comfortable bar and friendly bartenders, great for a casual solo outing of fresh pastas and Italian small plates. As a bonus, it’s super affordable, so there doesn’t have to be an occasion in order to take yourself out.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

The Franklin

This suave neighborhood spot in the Marigny is a locals favorite for inventive dining and good drinks and wine. The Franklin’s bar is the best, a relaxing spot to slurp oysters and drink martinis during happy hour. A menu of interesting starters (grilled lamb ribs, Gulf fish crudo) is a swell alternative to eating an entree.

The Franklin Burger
The Franklin/Official Photo

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