What many consider home to the best burger in the city, this Esplanade Avenue destination is a laid-back option for lunch and dinner, six days a week. Kids are welcome and casual dress is encouraged.

With its chalkboard menu and glass display cases by the counter, just a peek inside foreshadows a hearty meal. Try the po’boys, but bring a friend— these monstrosities are more than enough for two.

Supposedly the country’s oldest structure to be used as a bar, Lafitte’s is a space where music, drinks, and colorful history collide. Sidle up to the bar for their take on a hurricane but head to the piano for a serenade by one of the bar's various well-versed crooners (don't forget to tip).

As the first African American woman to successfully own and operate her own Praline company in this city, Loretta Harrison has won the hearts of New Orleanians with her charm and with her sweets. Try the melt-in-your-mouth goodies at her French Market counter or the larger N. Rampart store, just on the outskirts of the Quarter.

Get the flavors of the Old South and the bayou in a single dish at this down-home staple. An order of the “Cajun Fried Chicken” is seasoned with a secret house blend of spices and served with rabbit and sausage jambalaya. If rabbit isn’t your favorite, Coop’s lengthy menu is bound to have something for everyone — just make sure to get there early, as they don’t take reservations.

Grab a bowl of gumbo filled with Gulf shrimp, oysters, chicken, and andouille sausage from this daytime dining locale conveniently overlooking Jackson Square, open Thursday through Monday. only. It warms the heart.

The “green fairy of New Orleans” calls this bar home in the Quarter. Following the drink’s long and treacherous history, absinthe was reimagined using Herbsaint and other (legal!) flavorings, resulting in a 55% alcohol mixture that is unique to the city.

Revelers have flocked to the doors of this French Quarter bar for eight decades to enjoy the notorious and widely-publicized “Hurricane." A vibrantly enticing shade of crimson, this rum-heavy drink has earned the bar its place among the iconic French Quarter haunts.

Though it’s one of the most well-known locales on this list, the powdered sugar-dusted wares found at this Decatur St. classic sets Café du Monde apart from most tourist traps. Take a seat at one of the many formica tables or step up to the to-go window for a bag of pillowy beignets and a cup of chicory coffee — both of which are served in the establishment’s outdoor facade.

Whether celebrating a big event or just wanting to splurge, the Quarter’s favorite gastropub will do you right. At $90 a serving, this unassuming combo is definitely decadent, and exactly what you didn’t know you wanted.

Though it’s hard to go wrong with four distinctly delicious oyster preparations on the menu, in our humble opinion it’s the classic Rockefeller-style mollusks that you won’t want to miss. Along with their Cafe Brulot— Coffee! Brandy! Flambé!— this Saint Louis Street staple is a must while hitting up the Quarter.

Served from the back bar of the Erin Rose on Conti Street, these po’ boys are internationally-inspired, creative affairs. Ingredients like roasted sweet potato, seared shrimp, and Dark and Stormy-inspired pork belly separate these from their oft-tired, bready cousins. While you’re there, try the frozen Irish coffee and compare it to Molly’s at the Market (hint: they’re both great).

Though Napoleon never actually made it to this Chartres Street bar, that fact doesn’t seem to bother the droves of people who've sought out the shadowy restaurant since 1906, what with its beautiful courtyard and signature refreshments, the Pimm’s Cup cocktail.

The intimate bar attached to the iconic eatery Arnaud's is a great spot for pre or post-dinner drinks. The French 75 and Brandy Crusta are exceptionally good here and if you play your cards right, the restaurant may let you into the cool little Mardi Gras museum upstairs.

The best way to order at this seafood mecca is to call ahead and ask for the fish collar, the smoked fish “ribs," or the Scalibut, a few of chef Michael Nelson's incredible specialties that will change your perspective on seafood entirely.

If classic gumbo isn’t really your speed, try this decadently updated quail version at one of New Orleans’s finest restaurants. Topped with a whole, semi-boneless quail stuffed with oysters and andouille sausage and served over filé rice, this dish is guaranteed to give you a new perspective on Creole classics.

Visit the country’s third-oldest restaurant in its new home (sadly, its iconic stand-up bar didn’t make the move) where the Grasshopper, the frothy and minty iconic after-dinner drink, was invented way back in the days when locals and politicians played poker dice at this Decatur Street landmark.

Shrimp remoulade and pompano with crab meat are must-orders at this jacket-required Bourbon Street grand dame dating back to 1905. Come Friday lunch, prepare for a dining room that's packed with regulars, rowdiness, and booze.

An unpretentious staple of New Orleans’s seafood scene, Felix’s small façade on Iberville Street is the perfect place to snag a quick lunch in the Quarter. The fluorescent sign beckons, promising some of the freshest oysters in town— opt for the raw or charbroiled varietals and grab a seat at the bar to enjoy a local beer while your order is shucked right in front of you.

Served in their shells and doused in peppery, buttery gold, the head-on gulf shrimp from this Creole bistro are served with hefty slices of french bread for dipping.

Now in its new home on Bienville Street, this family-owned Creole Italian restaurant remains the Quarter’s gold standard for homey, cheesy Italian goodness (a close call with Italian Barrel on the other side of the Quarter). Grab a martini at the piano bar before tucking into oysters Irene and crabmeat gratin.

Beachbum Berry’s Hawaiian-influenced spot runs on imagination and rum. The elaborate and inventive drink menu includes a killer Mai Tai and the Navy Grog (Sinatra’s go-to tiki drink).