The dining scene in Uptown, New Orleans, is a vibrant fusion of global flavors and culinary creativity. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a meal, whether you’re a local or a visitor, the best restaurants in Uptown, New Orleans are ready to welcome you.
This neighborhood offers everything from elegant fine dining to laid-back, kid-friendly destinations. Whether you’re in the mood for vegetarian-friendly Asian cuisine or a family-run Italian-Creole restaurant, you can find it at one of the best restaurants in Uptown.
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Read on to learn about the 10 best restaurants in Uptown, New Orleans.
For the finest seafood in a charming, Parisian-inspired space — reserve a table at Superior Seafood (Uptown)
Superior Seafood is where you head for premium Louisiana seafood and Creole-inspired dishes. Feel like you’ve stepped back into a classic Parisian brasserie with a dining room full of antique mirrors, rich ruby-red leather booths, clothed tables, and a striking zinc bar. The menu features Cajun and Southern favorites like crawfish mac & cheese and fried alligator. For something beyond the sea, the 40-day aged New York house steak with potatoes and spinach hits the spot.
For a kid-friendly venue with dynamic Mexican food at one of the best restaurants in Uptown — check out Superior Grill (Uptown)
Superior Grill is a must-visit for classic Mexican food made with fresh ingredients. Dine among brick walls, mounted cattle horns, and wooden accents, or sit on the patio so the kids can watch the streetcars zoom by on St. Charles Avenue. Start with chips and salsa, order some guacamole dip, and then move on to sizzling fajitas with mesquite-grilled beef or chicken. Wash it all down with margaritas made with 100% fresh-squeezed lime juice.
For one of the best restaurants on Magazine Street in New Orleans — book a table at Shaya (Uptown)
James Beard Award-winning Shaya is a destination for Israeli-meets-Mediterranean dishes in an inviting venue with modern pendant lighting and taupe-pink banquettes. Start with fluffy pita bread baked on-site in the wood-fired oven with vegetable-driven dips before moving on to mains like bakka-frost salmon with saffron lemon butter. Chocolate tahini mousse satisfies a sweet tooth.
For a family-run, Italian-Creole restaurant famous for barbecued shrimp — grab a table at Pascal’s Manale (Uptown)
Pascal’s Manale is a neighborhood gem for special occasions and business meals. The neon-light signs invite you to come in and sit at the vintage linen-clad tables or the long, wooden cocktail bar. Dig into the house specialty, the original Pascal’s barbecue shrimp served in a spicy and tangy sauce, and you’ll understand why this is one of the best seafood restaurants in Uptown New Orleans. Italian coconut cake with cream cheese is the grand finale.
For vegetarian-friendly Asian cuisine in a contemporary setting — make a reservation at SukhoThai (Uptown)
Come to SukhoThai, one of the best restaurants on Magazine Street, New Orleans, for the Thai- and Asian-inspired menu. This jewel has an inviting, airy atmosphere filled with rattan lighting, while the bar area boasts sleek wooden accents. Enjoy favorites like dirty noodles and three-flavored, deep-fried whole fish of the day. Bonus points for the vegan menu with hits like sukiyaki glass noodle stew and pineapple fried rice with cashews.
For a refined spot with American fare at one of the best restaurants in Uptown — ensure your table awaits at Audubon Clubhouse by Dickie Brennan & Co. (Uptown)
Audubon Clubhouse by Dickie Brennan & Co. is where you go for outdoor dining and refined American comfort food. While the interior is gorgeous, you’re here for the natural beauty of the great oaks and greenery outside from your spot on the large veranda. Go for the house specialty chicken and waffle salad or the gulf shrimp and grits. Don’t miss out on the blue heron cocktail with smoked jalapeño liqueur.
For Mediterranean plates and platters in a hip spot — visit Saj (Uptown)
Check out Saj for Middle Eastern-inspired cuisine in a stylish setting with vibrant blue walls, velvet blue chairs, and golden yellow accents. Snap a pic under the neon Habibi sign before you head over to your table to start with muhamara, a roasted red pepper and walnut dip. Enjoy specialties from the wood-fired grill, like Yemeni-style chicken shawarma or Lebanese lamb patties. BYOB with no corkage fee is an added perk.
For contemporary American cuisine with Creole influences — head to Apolline (Uptown)
Nestled in a repurposed Uptown house, Apolline is a neighborhood jewel for special occasions. This charming spot channels fine dining, from the heavy wooden tables with white tablecloths and rose centerpieces to the hardwood floor and modern art. Expect elegant, Southern-inspired dishes include fried green tomatoes with Gulf shrimp, crisp pork belly bananas foster, and chicken poutine. And they’re just starters, so save room for a pan-seared duck or salmon main.
For West African fare at one of the best restaurants in Uptown, New Orleans — snag a table at Dakar NOLA (Uptown)
Go to Dakar NOLA for a seasonal pescatarian tasting menu from the spot that nabbed the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2024. After starting out as a pop-up, chef Serigne Mbaye has laid roots on Magazine Street in a vintage jewel box house repurposed to reflect his cool, chic style. The West African-inspired seven-course experience changes often but past highlights include a shrimp Louisiana rice and a farmer’s market salad.
For a must-try New Orleans gem with American bistro-style fare — book a table at Bistro Daisy (Uptown)
Head to Bistro Daisy, where you’ll find American bistro-style fare served in a charming yellow house in Uptown. An elegant dining room with chandeliers and vintage crown molding sets the stage for a romantic or special occasion meal of standout dishes like porcini mushroom chicken. The bistro is named after the chef’s daughter, so it’s only appropriate to try her signature dessert, the lemon creamsicle baked Alaska with raspberry coulis.
With a mix of quaint houses repurposed into fine dining nooks, Uptown, New Orleans is home to top restaurants serving shareable Mediterranean plates, upscale Southern comfort food, and West African tasting menus with locally sourced seafood.
