Celebrating Cajun and Creole cuisines equally, Frenier Landing Restaurant and Oyster Bar on Lake Pontchartrain in LaPlace is known for its oyster dishes, stuffed flounder, and views. While susceptible to the area’s frequent weather events, Frenier Landing has managed to come back time and time again. Catch live music Friday through Sunday.

This seafood institution, less than an hour outside of New Orleans on Lake Maurepas, is known for incredible thin-cut catfish and a location on the banks of the Pass Manchac. Family and locally owned since 1934, a second Middendorf’s location opened in Slidell in 2019.

This swank spot atop the Anchor bar and grill is an inviting waterfront restaurant steps from the river’s edge. Work your way through a menu of locally foraged seasonal mushrooms to dry-aged beef sold by the inch and pan-bronzed Steelhead trout; as well as elegant starters like crudo, caviar, and shrimp and chive cream biscuits. The view is gorgeous — if you’ve been thinking about popping the question, this is a perfect spot.

This West End seafooder offers killer lake views along with massive fried seafood platters, oysters and crab dip (naturally). There’s a pretty serious craft beer list to wash all that goodness down. Blue Crab bonus — live music on the weekends.

Ask for a table by the window to take in views of the gorgeous mossy oaks at City Park across the street from Ralph Brennan's elegant Mid-City restaurant. Ralph’s on the Park sources many ingredients locally and is rooted in modern Creole cuisine with global accents.

The latest from busy chef Pat Gallagher, this 270-seat restaurant on the Mandeville lakefront is a warren of porches, decks, and bars in a raised complex of 19th-century buildings — all with terrific water views. Pat’s Rest A While — named for the original Inn on the site, offers a vast menu that spans po’ boys and salads to steaks, seafood, and raw seafood.

This Mandeville draught house features tons of great brews and sandwiches along with a gorgeous view of Lake Pontchartrain. A tasty pub menu and 100-plus beers all come with lovely sunset vistas.

Rosie’s is one of few rooftops in New Orleans, but what sets it apart from the city’s other rooftop scenes is that it’s a restaurant and not just a bar — and the food is good. View the city skyline with a taste of crab beignets, chargrilled scallops on a half shell, and corned beef sandwich.

Donald Link’s fifth-floor French restaurant at the Four Seasons offers jaw-dropping views of the Mississippi river’s non-stop action. In fact, those views were one reason the James Beard Award-winning chef signed onto the project, access to those million-dollar views along with the chance to execute a fancy Parisian-inspired steak and seafood menu. Chemin A la Mer is a great place to celebrate just about anything.

Cafe Sbisa’s balcony seating overlooking Decatur is a real treat, accompanied by chef/co-owner Alfred Singleton’s seafood-centric French Creole dishes. Try the oysters Sbisa and the crawfish beignets and all the fish dishes, every one. The inside balcony overlooking the bar, with its incredible George Dureau painting, is also an atmospheric option.

This funky spot in the RV park at Pontchartrain Landing offers water views along with live music, cocktails, and casual bar fare overlooking a Lake Pontchartrain canal. The Lighthouse Bar is under the radar, an ideal spot to hide away from the world.