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The Samedi dining room at Gris-Gris
Katherine Kimball/Eater NOLA

The Best New Orleans Restaurants for Group Dinners and Private Parties

From outdoor barbecue vibes to intimate private rooms, these restaurants are sure to please your group

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The Samedi dining room at Gris-Gris
| Katherine Kimball/Eater NOLA

In charge of lining up a memorable meal for a group this holiday season? While it’s impossible to please all the people all the time, New Orleans offers a wide array of options, from lavish private dining in Creole palaces and hotels to cozy local joints that welcome buy-outs and even authentic dives happy to accommodate. Avoid the same old same old and showcase what’s best about the Big Easy — the group will be grateful.

Did we miss your favorite New Orleans spot to dine with a group? Let us know.

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Seafood Sally's

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Go casual for your next group dinner at Seafood Sally’s, Marcus Jacobs and Caitlin Carney’s charming Oak Street restaurant that’s great for intimate gatherings. The seafood haven takes group reservations of 14 and up, or will rent out the whole space (there’s a mellow, beachy dining room, gorgeous front porch, and cool courtyard) for parties of up to 125. We can’t imagine a better menu to complement the atmosphere.

Jacques-Imo's

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Local color, down-home Cajun-style food, and a funky atmosphere. Jacques-Imo’s is all that and more Uptown in the Riverbend-Carrollton neighborhood on Oak Street. Situated next to one of the best clubs in town, the Maple Leaf, this local institution definitely makes an impression. There’s a private room for 40 next door, but don’t expect the standard group approach — this place is quirky.

Commander's Palace

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The turquoise Victorian palace on Washington Uptown is a showstopper of Brennan family hospitality. Reserve the wine room with a chef’s tasting menu for a big wow, maybe with cocktails in the courtyard first? With spacious rooms and two floors filled with seating — plus a back carriage house — Commander’s sets the stage for all kinds of special events.

The courtyard at Commander’s.
Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Crescent City Steaks

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Locally owned, and famous for aged steaks sizzling with butter, Crescent City Steaks is a true New Orleans experience. The Mid City eatery offers two private rooms that can handle from 50 to 100 folks, or buy out the whole joint. The peekaboo booths that flank the dining room are special indeed.

Central City BBQ

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Opened in 2016, this Central City spot housed in a corrugated metal building is known for its custom smokers and pushing creative boundaries, undoubtedly one of the top barbecue spots in town. It also boasts multiple indoor and outdoor private party spaces, like the huge covered patio decked out with string lights that can accommodate up to 50-60 for dinner or the pit room, a colorful, indoor space that holds 12 farmhouse tables.

Copper Vine

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This wine bar and restaurant near the Dome offers a verdant setting for groups up to 175. Copper VIne has two private rooms and a lovely upstairs dining area, along with an outside courtyard that’s always in bloom. The modern menu brings a wide array of small plates to the table, along with American classics informed by local ingredients.

Inside Copper Vine
Brandt Vicknair/Copper Vine

Gris-Gris

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Gris-Gris is chef Eric Cook’s homage to Southern hospitality and smart comfort cuisine. Eat at the bar to watch the open kitchen in action. Gris-Gris also boasts the Samedi Room, one of the most unique special event spaces in the city, a two-floor kitchen/dining/sitting room with outside balconies overlooking the city. Don’t miss the daily gumbo simmered to a dark and smoky essence.

The Samedi room for group dining at Gris-Gris.
Katherine Kimball/Eater NOLA

Palm and Pine

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Innovative French Quarter gem Palm and Pine debuted a private dining space last year, an intimate, romantic room that can accommodate 21 people for seated dinner and up to 40 otherwise. The Rampart Room, as it's called, reflects the restaurant’s Louisiana-meets-Caribbean vibe, with dramatic drapes and blue velvet chairs mixing with antique, patinaed mirrors and pretty chandeliers. Seasonal menus blending local flavors with influences from Mexico, Central America, and the islands offer something different.

Palm and Pine/Official

Conveniently located in the Warehouse District, Carmo may look small from the street but is surprisingly spacious, with a Gallery room and library for private events as well as whole-restaurant rentals. But the best part is its cuisine, and the fact that it offers something exceedingly fresh and different in the city — bright, tropical fare with an emphasis on vegetables and influences that draw from the Caribbean, Central and South America, West Africa, and Southeast Asia. It’s easy to cater to vegan and vegetarian guests here while ensuring the meat-eaters won’t be left out. Bonus — there are special discounts for Sunday and Monday events and for nonprofit and community organizations.

GW Fins

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GW Fins is one of the city’s best destinations for fresh, sustainably sourced seafood. The restaurant is large, with groups of up to 275 comfortably welcomed. There’s a small swank dining room for 28 in the mix too.

GW Fins dining room.
GW Fins

Arnaud's

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A fixture on Bourbon Street for more than a century, Arnaud’s is a warren of 17 private dining rooms, two fab bars and and of course dining in the storied Main Dining Room. Expect private rooms dripping with crystal chandeliers, antique furniture, and formal drapes, with service from a tuxedoed waitstaff. Fancy.

Private dining room at Arnaud’s
Arnaud’s/Official

Plates Restaurant & Bar

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This new Warehouse District restaurant is huge, making it an excellent option for last-minute group dinners. It takes reservations of up to 10 online, a smart move given its proximity to the Convention Center, but can accommodate much larger parties with a phone call. As for the food, chef Farrell Harrison partially sold the idea for a restaurant based on his catering of a wedding, so they know how to feed a crowd here — the emphasis on shareable tapas (think patatas bravas, blue crab claws, lamb skewers, and garlic shrimp) makes for an ideal group dinner menu.

Randy Schmidt/Plates

Vyoone's Restaurant

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Vyoone’s is a Warehouse District destination owned by two dynamic local women with a flair for French-Creole cuisine and beautiful hospitality. Private dining upstairs (note there is no elevator) or in the pretty courtyard delivers intimate settings great for large parties or smaller groups. The vibe here is upscale and intimate.

La Boca Steakhouse

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La Boca is a locals favorite, a fun, festive Argentinian steakhouse in the Warehouse District opened by talented chef Adolfo Garcia and partner Jared Rolls. Great for groups but not necessarily private dining, call to make a reservation for a celebratory meal, and get the skirt steak, skin on or off, and the entraña con piel.

Justine

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This drop-dead gorgeous brasserie in the French Quarter has become a top group dining destination, offering reservations for 20 or a cocktail reception for up to 100. With an over-the-top style and special occasion feel, there are plenty of great backdrops for group photos. On the food side, the menu is shareable and elegant, and the wine list is extensive.

Justine’s main dining room.
Justine/Official

Brennan's

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Treated to a fab redo a few years back, Brennan’s is famous for its bananas Foster flamed tableside. The restaurant has six separate private event areas, with space for 12 to 160 guests. Enjoy drinks in the stunning courtyard, reserve the wine room or bar area, lots of options at the Creole crowd pleaser.

Inside Brennan's
Inside Brennan’s
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Antoine's Restaurant

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Tradition rules at this Vieux Carré landmark, founded in 1840. Antoine’s offers 15 formal dining rooms including the popular Rex Room, with its motif of crowns, scepters and Mardi Gras memorabilia. Oysters Rockefeller was created here in 1889, and the menu is still all about rich French Creole cuisine and Gulf seafood. Be sure to order the bread pudding when it comes time to choose dessert.

Inside Antoine's
Inside Antoine’s
Antoine’s/Official Website

The Grill Room

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This swank hotel dining room at the Windsor Court never disappoints. Crisp white tablecloths, fresh flowers, expert service sets a high bar at the Grill Room, where chef Vlad Ahmadyarov can dazzle groups of up to 185 for a standing reception. Three private rooms serve the needs of smaller events.

Tableau

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Tableau doesn’t just offer sweet a number of private dining rooms — a wine room for under 20 people; a private parlor and library that seat a few dozen; and one dining room that can host 40 to 75 — it comes equipped with an entire theater. Just off Jackson Square, Tableau’s seafood-centric menu exudes lots of style and polish.

The wine room at Tableau, seats 6-18 guests.
Tableau/Official

Muriel's Jackson Square

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Once the 18th century home to Jean Baptiste Destrehan, Muriel’s now offers an intimate series of Victorian dining rooms and bars, including the the decadent Séance Lounge, rumored to be quite haunted. Regional favorites abound, from crawfish and shrimp etouffee to pecan-crusted puppy drum fish and wood-grilled barbecue shrimp. Check out the intimate veranda and the balcony overlooking Jackson Square.

Cafe Sbisa

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Originally opened in 1899, this classic French-Creole restaurant is run by the talented Alfred Singleton, serving an old-school menu for dinner and brunch, with classics like turtle soup, shrimp remoulade, and some of the best crab cakes in town. Host private events throughout the first and the second floor or dine with a group on the patio; if it’s a smaller party, be sure to try for a table on the intimate balcony.

New Orleans Art Bar

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This Marigny hotspot with a hidden backyard oasis hosts private events, with the added bonus of providing guests with an indoor art gallery and the opportunity to browse works by well-known and emerging Black writers and artists before heading out back. Inquire here.

Seafood Sally's

Go casual for your next group dinner at Seafood Sally’s, Marcus Jacobs and Caitlin Carney’s charming Oak Street restaurant that’s great for intimate gatherings. The seafood haven takes group reservations of 14 and up, or will rent out the whole space (there’s a mellow, beachy dining room, gorgeous front porch, and cool courtyard) for parties of up to 125. We can’t imagine a better menu to complement the atmosphere.

Jacques-Imo's

Local color, down-home Cajun-style food, and a funky atmosphere. Jacques-Imo’s is all that and more Uptown in the Riverbend-Carrollton neighborhood on Oak Street. Situated next to one of the best clubs in town, the Maple Leaf, this local institution definitely makes an impression. There’s a private room for 40 next door, but don’t expect the standard group approach — this place is quirky.

Commander's Palace

The turquoise Victorian palace on Washington Uptown is a showstopper of Brennan family hospitality. Reserve the wine room with a chef’s tasting menu for a big wow, maybe with cocktails in the courtyard first? With spacious rooms and two floors filled with seating — plus a back carriage house — Commander’s sets the stage for all kinds of special events.

The courtyard at Commander’s.
Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Crescent City Steaks

Locally owned, and famous for aged steaks sizzling with butter, Crescent City Steaks is a true New Orleans experience. The Mid City eatery offers two private rooms that can handle from 50 to 100 folks, or buy out the whole joint. The peekaboo booths that flank the dining room are special indeed.

Central City BBQ

Opened in 2016, this Central City spot housed in a corrugated metal building is known for its custom smokers and pushing creative boundaries, undoubtedly one of the top barbecue spots in town. It also boasts multiple indoor and outdoor private party spaces, like the huge covered patio decked out with string lights that can accommodate up to 50-60 for dinner or the pit room, a colorful, indoor space that holds 12 farmhouse tables.

Copper Vine

This wine bar and restaurant near the Dome offers a verdant setting for groups up to 175. Copper VIne has two private rooms and a lovely upstairs dining area, along with an outside courtyard that’s always in bloom. The modern menu brings a wide array of small plates to the table, along with American classics informed by local ingredients.

Inside Copper Vine
Brandt Vicknair/Copper Vine

Gris-Gris

Gris-Gris is chef Eric Cook’s homage to Southern hospitality and smart comfort cuisine. Eat at the bar to watch the open kitchen in action. Gris-Gris also boasts the Samedi Room, one of the most unique special event spaces in the city, a two-floor kitchen/dining/sitting room with outside balconies overlooking the city. Don’t miss the daily gumbo simmered to a dark and smoky essence.

The Samedi room for group dining at Gris-Gris.
Katherine Kimball/Eater NOLA

Palm and Pine

Innovative French Quarter gem Palm and Pine debuted a private dining space last year, an intimate, romantic room that can accommodate 21 people for seated dinner and up to 40 otherwise. The Rampart Room, as it's called, reflects the restaurant’s Louisiana-meets-Caribbean vibe, with dramatic drapes and blue velvet chairs mixing with antique, patinaed mirrors and pretty chandeliers. Seasonal menus blending local flavors with influences from Mexico, Central America, and the islands offer something different.

Palm and Pine/Official

Carmo

Conveniently located in the Warehouse District, Carmo may look small from the street but is surprisingly spacious, with a Gallery room and library for private events as well as whole-restaurant rentals. But the best part is its cuisine, and the fact that it offers something exceedingly fresh and different in the city — bright, tropical fare with an emphasis on vegetables and influences that draw from the Caribbean, Central and South America, West Africa, and Southeast Asia. It’s easy to cater to vegan and vegetarian guests here while ensuring the meat-eaters won’t be left out. Bonus — there are special discounts for Sunday and Monday events and for nonprofit and community organizations.

GW Fins

GW Fins is one of the city’s best destinations for fresh, sustainably sourced seafood. The restaurant is large, with groups of up to 275 comfortably welcomed. There’s a small swank dining room for 28 in the mix too.

GW Fins dining room.
GW Fins

Arnaud's

A fixture on Bourbon Street for more than a century, Arnaud’s is a warren of 17 private dining rooms, two fab bars and and of course dining in the storied Main Dining Room. Expect private rooms dripping with crystal chandeliers, antique furniture, and formal drapes, with service from a tuxedoed waitstaff. Fancy.

Private dining room at Arnaud’s
Arnaud’s/Official

Plates Restaurant & Bar

This new Warehouse District restaurant is huge, making it an excellent option for last-minute group dinners. It takes reservations of up to 10 online, a smart move given its proximity to the Convention Center, but can accommodate much larger parties with a phone call. As for the food, chef Farrell Harrison partially sold the idea for a restaurant based on his catering of a wedding, so they know how to feed a crowd here — the emphasis on shareable tapas (think patatas bravas, blue crab claws, lamb skewers, and garlic shrimp) makes for an ideal group dinner menu.

Randy Schmidt/Plates

Vyoone's Restaurant

Vyoone’s is a Warehouse District destination owned by two dynamic local women with a flair for French-Creole cuisine and beautiful hospitality. Private dining upstairs (note there is no elevator) or in the pretty courtyard delivers intimate settings great for large parties or smaller groups. The vibe here is upscale and intimate.

La Boca Steakhouse

La Boca is a locals favorite, a fun, festive Argentinian steakhouse in the Warehouse District opened by talented chef Adolfo Garcia and partner Jared Rolls. Great for groups but not necessarily private dining, call to make a reservation for a celebratory meal, and get the skirt steak, skin on or off, and the entraña con piel.

Justine

This drop-dead gorgeous brasserie in the French Quarter has become a top group dining destination, offering reservations for 20 or a cocktail reception for up to 100. With an over-the-top style and special occasion feel, there are plenty of great backdrops for group photos. On the food side, the menu is shareable and elegant, and the wine list is extensive.

Justine’s main dining room.
Justine/Official

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Brennan's

Treated to a fab redo a few years back, Brennan’s is famous for its bananas Foster flamed tableside. The restaurant has six separate private event areas, with space for 12 to 160 guests. Enjoy drinks in the stunning courtyard, reserve the wine room or bar area, lots of options at the Creole crowd pleaser.

Inside Brennan's
Inside Brennan’s
Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Antoine's Restaurant

Tradition rules at this Vieux Carré landmark, founded in 1840. Antoine’s offers 15 formal dining rooms including the popular Rex Room, with its motif of crowns, scepters and Mardi Gras memorabilia. Oysters Rockefeller was created here in 1889, and the menu is still all about rich French Creole cuisine and Gulf seafood. Be sure to order the bread pudding when it comes time to choose dessert.

Inside Antoine's
Inside Antoine’s
Antoine’s/Official Website

The Grill Room

This swank hotel dining room at the Windsor Court never disappoints. Crisp white tablecloths, fresh flowers, expert service sets a high bar at the Grill Room, where chef Vlad Ahmadyarov can dazzle groups of up to 185 for a standing reception. Three private rooms serve the needs of smaller events.

Tableau

Tableau doesn’t just offer sweet a number of private dining rooms — a wine room for under 20 people; a private parlor and library that seat a few dozen; and one dining room that can host 40 to 75 — it comes equipped with an entire theater. Just off Jackson Square, Tableau’s seafood-centric menu exudes lots of style and polish.