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).

Taking a seat at one of the ‘50s-style diner stools will propel you back a few decades — add a deliciously steamy, retro burger and you might feel the need to don a poodle skirt (guaranteed: you still won't be the oddest person in the house).

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.

Find some of the best Irish Coffee in town at this eclectic dive bar on Decatur Street, which serves up a deliciously frozen version of the classic libation. It’s guaranteed to cool you off and wake you up before more galavanting in the Quarter.

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.

The Court of Two Sisters is best known to tourists for its ample jazz buffet and stunning outdoor dining area, and to locals as a common wedding venue. Its Creole Louisiana fare is classic, and the bananas Foster is one of the city's favorites. Jazz brunch runs daily.

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. Yet another iconic offering at Antoine’s? Baked Alaska.

Broussard’s has won countless accolades for its execution of classic dishes like turtle soup, oysters Rockefeller, and barbecue shrimp — all of which taste even better eaten outside on a balmy evening in this century-old restaurant's inviting courtyard.

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).

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Brennan’s is equipping its customers with all the tools they need for success. Traditional dishes like seafood gumbo, eggs Sardou, and turtle soup are served alongside morning cocktails and chicory coffee in the ornate dining room. After breakfast and tableside bananas Foster for dessert, explore the Quarter via Royal Street— or go straight home and take a long nap.

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.

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.

Red and white checkered tablecloths and humble, paper-wrapped po’boys make this spot one of the Quarter’s most frequented. Stop in for a quick lunch and choose from over 30 kinds of sandwiches.

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.

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. Opt for the raw or charbroiled oysters and grab a seat at the bar to enjoy a local beer while your order is shucked right in front of you.

The famous Carousel Bar and Lounge is a French Quarter hotspot that’s been spinning for more than 65 years in the Hotel Monteleone. Step up to the 25-seat revolving bar and check out the broad cocktail menu (we recommend the Sazerac) and then venture out to Royal Street for a night of reveling.

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

Beachbum Berry’s Hawaiian-influenced spot on the edge of the Quarter 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).