• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Cookies
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Cookies
    • Birthday Cake Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans
  • Camp Joy

My Favorite Places to Dine Alone in New Orleans

January 19, 2017 by Joy the Baker 62 Comments

“Table for one, please.” 

“Oh just one?” 

“Yes, table for one, please.” 

I find myself repeating this phrase often, not for lack of dinner company, but mostly because I really love eating out alone.  It feels indulgent to me, and liberating, and exactly like I skipped that conversation that usually goes something like this: “Where do you want to go for dinner?”  “I dunno, where do you want to go?”  “Does your mother hate me?”  Silence…. and someone orders takeout.  

Because I often travel alone (and have eaten enough room service club sandwiches to last me a lifetime), I’ve grown to LOVE learning about a city through some of their best restaurants… all by myself.  It’s like being a stranger in a strange land, leaving surrounding diners not to pity me, but rather assume that I’m Sydney Bistow in the early seasons of Alias.  They are correct, I’m part ninja in confidence alone.   

I also live in one of the best food cities in the country, and a girl can only eat so many scrambled eggs for dinner at home before enough is enough.  What I’ve come to love about dining out in New Orleans is that I now have local knowledge under my belt.  That’s handy as a single woman dining alone.  It’s nice to know what bars feel cozy to eat at (without too much interruption from gentlemen folk), and which restaurants feel nice to sit at a table solo.  Here are some of my favorite restaurants to dine alone in based on my experiences out in New Orleans.  If you’re on a visit solo to New Orleans, welcome… get some good grub and always have a Sazerac:   

•  Sylvain in the French Quarter is one of my favorite places to grab a solo bite.  It’s especially great if you’re visiting town, wandering through the Quarter (it can be pretty dreamy) and looking for a good bite to eat.  Some tips:  Sylvain opens for dinner at 5:30.  I suggest arriving well before 7pm and finding a seat at the bar.  The earlier the better as, in my experience, the bar can fill up quickly.  The restaurant is cozy and dimly lit with a decent mix of local and tourist patrons.  This is a good place to strike up a dinnertime conversation.  Also, get the burger.  

•  Patois is located in the heart of and Uptown neighborhood.  It feels like a very local, heartfelt, comfortable neighborhood place.  The food is sincere, generous, and really some of my favorite in the city.  Tips:  Don’t be afraid to make a reservation for one and sit at a table on your own.  This place is comfortable enough.  The staff will take good care of you.  

•  For breakfast I love Cherry Espresso Bar.  It’s a coffee shop Uptown with the best breakfast sandwiches, quinoa bowls, pour over coffee and no ridiculous line out the door for medium-meh diner food.  

•  For lunch I love the locally sourced food and very chill vibes at Sneaky Pickle in the Bywater.  It’s mostly vegan food with a few meat options and a lot of gluten free too.  It’s heart food.  Tips:  This is an order-at-the-counter spot so cozy up at a small table, bring a good book or magazine, and enjoy the solo quality time.  

•  For Southern Cajun food I really love a bite to eat at Cochon in the CBD (Central Business District).  They know their way around a pig.  My very favorites at Cochon are the wood-fired oysters, the smoked pork rubs, and… the cochon.  Tip:  ask for a seat at the chef’s bar.  You can peek into the kitchen (it’s full of friendly hard-working folks), gaze into the wood-fired oven, and have a good chat with the chefs.  Also, order a Sazerac.  

•  For a solo happy hour, I recommend a seat at the bar at Peche.  Go early.  If the weather is nice they may even have the side doors open, which makes a bar seat even more lovely.  Order the oysters, definitely get the tuna dip, and a lovely glass of crisp wine.  The staff is really lovely and the food is solidly delicious.  Tip:  Peche is very well-earned after an afternoon visiting all of the art galleries in the Arts District.  Here’s your guide to art in and around Julia Street.  

•  N7 is a dreamy, romantic restaurant in the Bywater.  The restaurant is behind a pretty nondescript, tall wooden fence but as you pass through, it’s like entering a secret garden.  There’s seating outdoors, but when I’m alone, my favorite tables are the cozy two tops inside the restaurant.  I’ve found there’s no real need for a reservation, head in, make eye contact with a waitress and they’ll usually nod you on to find your own table.  The wine list is excellent!  Bring a book and feel transformed.  

•  Cafe Henri is an easy neighborhood restaurant, also in the Bywater.  I like to sneak in just before closing for their Steak Frites which is charred just perfectly and supreme.  Staff is mellow.  Almost always a place to grab a table or bar seat.  Easy and delicious. 

Enjoy your dinner.  Enjoy your time.  Remember, no one belongs here more than you. 

Previous PostNext Post

Categories: Beyond the Kitchen, New Orleans

Previous Post: « Chilaquiles Frittata Bake
Next Post: »

Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. Courtney Wagner

    July 15, 2019 at 2:54 pm

    Thank you for the recommendations. I got to meet you at the Merchantile this past weekend for the Bakehouse Workshop event. I will use some of these recommendations this week when I get to NOLA. When you have a minute, would you add a few new recommendations? Looks like Cafe Henri is no longer open, but I think it may be Paloma Cafe now- which I’ve tried for breakfast last October and loved.

    Reply
  2. Kristen

    January 15, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    I wish I had this when I was in town last week! Lucky for me I stumbled on Sylvain and enjoyed a nice pork shoulder and champagne cocktail at the bar. It’s been one of my favorite solo dinners to date!

    Reply
  3. Glennis Waterman

    January 15, 2019 at 9:44 am

    My SIL just referred your blog to me! I’m a Bywater neighbor!. I also love to eat alone; my favorite places are Who Dat Cafe in the Marigny – such nice folks there! And Polly’s Cafe on St. Claude. Also – the best – Cafe Degas on a lazy afternoon.

    Reply
  4. Emily C

    January 15, 2019 at 9:32 am

    Hey Joy – Cafe Henri is now closed! I so want to like Sylvain…I’ve only been once and the food was so unremarkable and the staff so rude that I’ve never been back. Maybe I’ll give it another chance someday. Cane & Table is a fun place to sit at the bar and I like their food a lot! Looking forward to trying Elysian Bar soon.

    Reply
  5. Judith Kissner

    June 21, 2018 at 11:10 am

    Thank you for the recommendation of Sylvain. I dined alone at the bar and my experience was everything you described and more. Warm and friendly service and great food.

    Reply
  6. michaela

    June 6, 2018 at 6:06 pm

    I have to thank you for the recommendation to try the burger at Slyvain, because I’m here right now and it is CHANGING MY LIFE. A restaurant that understands a good burger is just bread, meat, and cheese, with some optional condiments and housemade pickles? Heaven. I’m in New Orleans on my own for the first time for a work conference, and I’ve been having so much fun dining out solo. Everyone’s been treating me with a pleasant mix of polite conversation and “she’s doing her, I’ll leave her be” and it’s perfection. Remembering this place for next time I come here, because I will be back!

    Reply
  7. Helena

    February 15, 2018 at 6:05 am

    I love your perspective on eating alone. Such a great approach to it. Personally, I always feel a bit self-conscious. I really must do better. Thanks for the info.

    Reply
  8. Martha Steward

    February 7, 2018 at 4:16 pm

    “Table for one?”
    “Yes. I am sufficient.”

    Reply
  9. Lindsey

    June 15, 2017 at 4:10 pm

    We went to N7 on our last trip to NOLA, try to go every other year, and it was amazing. There are so many wonderful restaurants at your finger tips in NOLA; I’m jealous. Another few favorites are La Petite Grocery, Brigtsen’s Restaurant, The Joint, Compère Lapin, Shaya and there was a breakfast spot up past the St Roch Market that had a pig on the label that was outstanding too!

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Beyond the Kitchen

Baking 101: How To Read A Recipe

Welcome to the wonderful world of baking where flour, butter, and our collective sweet tooth’s (teeth? teeth’s??) come together to create an absolute mess in our kitchens. Dirty every dish, I say! In the name of cookies, of course. Whether you’re a seasoned baker, or just tying up the apron strings for the first time,…

Read More

You Have To Make Karlee’s Peach Butter

I have the same regret every September: I didn’t eat enough summer peaches. It never fails. Every July I take peaches for granted. They’re stacked high at the grocery store and though they never do, I think they’ll last forever.  I throw a mega watermelon in my cart, grab a bag of cherries, and head…

Read More

My 5 Best Pantry Organization Tips

Friends, hi! You know Virgo season is hitting hard this year when even I take to the pantry with new canisters and labels.  Virgo season would have us holding ourselves to our highest standards and I’ve taken that on, and I’ve taken it personally. I’m working with two pantries these days. In the Houston kitchen…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

2023 CAMP JOY SUMMER ZINE – get it here!

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

MY FAVORITE CAMPING GEAR

SHOP MY FAVORITE GEAR HERE! 

joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

DRAKE ON CAKE

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

CHECK IT OUT ON INSTAGRAM

Drake on cake instagram.

 

BREADS YOU’LL LOVE

close up of strawberry shortcake recipe with soft whipped cream

Dad’s Biscuits Make The Best Shortcake

jambalaya buttermilk biscuits in a row

Smoked Sausage Jambalaya Buttermilk Biscuits

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate

How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

LET’S MAKE COOKIES!

a stack of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies with a bite taken out of the top one with milk

Classic White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

wider shot of lemon bars stacked on a plate with a bite taken out of one lemon bar

My Favorite Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

completed recipe close up shot of a blondie so the toasted almonds, chocolate chips, and sea salt can be seen

My Best Classic Blondie Recipe

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker, author of books, lover of butter
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
📝Inquiries megan@underscoretalent.com

joythebaker
🥯🥯 for the weekend, babes! Save this no-yeas 🥯🥯 for the weekend, babes! Save this no-yeast bagel magic for your Sunday morning. ⁣
⁣⁣
Two Easy No-Yeast Bagels⁣⁣
1/2 cup self-rising flour⁣⁣
4 tablespoons greek yogurt (plus a teaspoon or two more if needed)⁣
1 large egg, beaten for egg wash⁣⁣
1/3 - 1/2 cup grated gouda or gruyere⁣⁣
Everything bagel seasoning⁣⁣
3 tablespoons baking soda with 2 cups of boiling water. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray the paper lightly with nonstick spray. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In a small bowl, use a firm spatula to work together the flour and yogurt. Add a few teaspoons of yogurt if it feels dry and knead into a cohesive ball for 5 minutes or so. Sprinkle with a bit more flour if it gets overly sticky. Cover with a damp paper towel and gather your toppings. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Divide dough in two and roll each piece into a roughly 8-inch rope. Bring the ends around and pinch into a circle. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Sprinkle the bottom of the prepared pan with grated cheese in two spots.  Pour boiling water over the baking soda and float each bagel in the water for 20 or so seconds.  Use a slotted spot or spatula to transfer the bagels on top of the cheese.  Brush lightly with egg. Sprinkle with more cheese and everything bagel seasoning. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Bake for 20 - 22 minutes until deeply golden and bubbling.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and smearing with cream cheese.
The secret to really great muffins is eating them The secret to really great muffins is eating them warm, with a big smear of butter and a sprinkle flakey sea salt. ❇️ This goes for any muffin but is especially delicious on these a Vegan Carrot Zucchini Harvest Muffins because they have so many veggies they’re basically a salad. ❇️ Full recipe linked in the bio! Xo
This fall the ultimate chocolate chip cookie is pa This fall the ultimate chocolate chip cookie is packed with oats, @guittardchocolate baking wafers, and candy coated chocolate pieces from @traderjoes. ✌️ It’s the perfect weekend bake, babes! Full recipe linked in the profile!
Once September hits it’s all cozy couch dinners Once September hits it’s all cozy couch dinners starting with this creamy tomato Marry Me Chicken. Disclaimer: this chicken has yet to get me hitched. Full recipe linked in the bio, bbs! Xo
This weekend I spent most of my time in a motorcyc This weekend I spent most of my time in a motorcycle seat but there was also boudin stuffed kolaches and @karleesislerflores’s perfect peach butter. Happy Labor Day, friends! Xo
I’ve entered my Kolache Era! First recipe test i I’ve entered my Kolache Era! First recipe test includes kolache dough from @kingarthurbaking (chosen because of the sour cream in the dough) and @karleesislerflores’ peach butter (the perfect blend of summer and fall spices). ⁣
⁣
We’re just a few tweaks away from a recipe. More is more when it comes to boudin and peach butter. That’s what we know. Xo
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up