Around Town, Restaurants

New Orleans Brunch Bonanza: A Guide to the Best Brunches for Special Occasions

With Mother’s and Father’s Day quickly approaching, it’s time to start making those brunch reservations! We’ve selected our top 10 (and in no particular order) favorite spots throughout the city to enjoy a delicious meal surrounded by family and friends. Each venue offers a unique blend of ambiance and cuisine that captures the essence of this spirited city. Whether you crave classic Southern staples like biscuits and gravy or adventurous twists on brunch classics, these establishments promise to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more. Join us as we explore the culinary treasures of New Orleans, one brunch bite at a time!

Atchafalaya

901 Louisiana Ave., New Orleans

Set in a Creole cottage in a New Orleans neighborhood, Atchafalaya Restaurant is an elegant and rustic local gem. Its famous brunch menu includes Tuscan eggs, Duck Hash, and Smoked Chili Gulf Fish, but more traditional brunch eaters can select others like Chicken & Waffles, Lowcountry Shrimp & Grits, and Huevos Rancheros. You can also order King Cake Waffles, Creole Country Boudin, biscuits, eggs, and more á la carte!

Birdy’s Behind the Bower

1320 Magazine St., New Orleans

Looking for a chill way to start your day? Birdy’s serves up brunch every weekend within the chic, relaxed atmosphere and newly renovated outdoor patio. Here, you can choose from breakfast and lunch classics like eggs, toast (regular and gluten-free), salads, bowls, and sandwiches. Although, perhaps Birdy’s is best known for its iconic boards, like the Brunch Board including bacon, prosciutto, ube waffles, mini donuts, mini pancakes, fruit, seasonal jam, granola, cookies, triple crème brie, and soft-boiled eggs, or the Biscuit Board with whipped local honey butter, seasonal jam, and country gravy. 

Gris Gris

1800 Magazine St., New Orleans

Since opening in 2018, Gris-Gris has been named one of New Orleans’ best because of its famous Southern cuisine and local favorites served in a casual and comfortable atmosphere. Among these favorites are the Cochon De Lait Benedict, Open Faced Pot Roast, Shrimp and Gris Gris Grits, and Cast Iron Seared Fish. If you’re not feeling those specials, check out their appetizer, salad, and sandwich selections. 

Jack Rose

2031 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans

Jack Rose is a lively concept within New Orleans’ historic Pontchartrain Hotel and makes for an eclectic and fun dining experience in the Garden District. Brunch includes extensive options of small plates and sides, like Duck & Andouille Gumbo, Lobster Arancini, Crawfish Cornbread, and more. But when it comes to mains, Jack Rose does it big with options like Chicken + Waffles, Shrimp + Grits, Fish in a Bag, and Pontchartrain Frittata. Don’t forget to ask for the Specials menu!

Outpost 45

900 Harrison Ave., New Orleans

Meet Lakeview’s newest, family-friendly dining hotspot! The kitchen crafts a fusion of American cuisine with an eclectic Southern Comfort flare. Binge on Bennies topped with chicken fried steak, hot fried chicken, or wasabi fried oysters, and snack on Scrammies like the Filmore, Marconi, or Wisner Scrambles. The outpost also offers a simple breakfast and lunch menu for the littlest explorers. 

Ruby Slipper Cafe

Find a location near you.

The Ruby Slipper Cafe is so passionate about brunch that its motto is “That Brunch Life.” For starters, you’ll have to make a hard choice between the French Toast Bites, Pig Candy Bacon Bites, Fried Green Tomatoes, Loaded Tots, and the Seasonal Beignets (though there is no shame in ordering several). If you love eggs for breakfast, look no further than the “Bennies” on the menu; if you can’t choose just one unique twist on Eggs Benedict, you can go with The Peacemaker and pick two! There is an Eggs & Omelets menu as well, and, of course, plenty of options for pancake and French toast lovers. Some of Ruby Slipper’s specialties include Breakfast Tacos, Migas (Tex-Mex scrambled eggs), and The Trifecta (which includes samples of Eggs Cochon, Chicken St. Charles, and Bayou Shrimp Benedicts). 

Slim Goodies Diner

3322 Magazine St., New Orleans

Although technically not solely a brunch restaurant, Slim Goodies offers breakfast and lunch seven days a week from early morning to mid-afternoon. From loaded scrambled eggs and hash brown bowls to sweet breakfast treats like pancakes, waffles, and French toast, the options are endless! Or, take a walk on the wild side with their “Weird Goodies to Eat,” and enjoy items like the Cat 5 Breakfast Burrito filled with hashbrowns, cheddar cheese, roasted peppers, chopped bacon & sausage, onions, jalapenos & avocado with chipotle sour cream & plantains, or The Crabby Wife, which is delicious crab balls and two scrambled eggs topped with Rose’s crawfish etouffee. 

The Court of Two Sisters

613 Royal St., New Orleans

The iconic Court of Two Sisters has a live jazz band seven days a week during brunch time. Its Breakfast Classics include scrambled eggs, hash browns, grits & grillades, and more. You can also select from the New Orleans Favorites menu: chicken & sausage gumbo, red beans & rice, shrimp etouffee, corn maque choux, and turtle soup au sherry, The Lunch Lagniappe menu, dessert menu, and salad bar are available as well for brunch-goers. 

Toast

1845 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans 

1035 Decatur St., New Orleans

1711 Hancock St., Gretna

Toast was born from the owners of Tartine on Perrier Street. Its three locations across Nola all offer classic options like egg, toast, and pancake– or should we say æbleskiver– dishes and breads, biscuits, jams, custards, and curds all made in-house daily. Get creative with their sweet and savory crepe menu with dozens of toppings to choose from.

Willa Jean

611 O’Keefe Ave., New Orleans

Willa Jean offers the perfect chic brunch cafe experience with unique, Southern-inspired dishes. Start with the grilled banana bread and make your way over to the Biscuit Station, where you may have to choose between the Fried Chicken + Tabasco Honey, Bacon + Sunny Side Up + Pimento Cheese, or the Jam + Butter (along with a few others). Its brunch plates look even tastier, from the WJ brunch burger and the WJ granola to the crawfish roll, BBQ shrimp toast, and beyond. 

This article was originally published in May 2024.

Newsletter Signup

Your Weekly guide to New Orleans family fun. NOLA Family has a newsletter for every parent. Sign Up