Brennan’s: An Icon

New Orleans’ dining scene might best be described as having one foot in the past and one in the present.

Ralph Brennan, along with his partner, Terry White, has been able to successfully straddle both at Brennan’s restaurant. The striking décor of the pink stucco landmark is thanks to architect and designer Richard Keith Langham, who has made Brennan’s one of the most charming places to dine in the city. The front dining room has large windows, ideal for watching the musicians perform on Royal Street. The two dining rooms in the back are the Chanticleer room, which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the brick courtyard. The salmon and green color scheme is reminiscent of revered designer Dorothy Draper, but the lattice work and hand-painted murals of Mardi Gras floats inspired by 1920s Carnival ball invitations is pure New Orleans.

The décor rivals the sumptuousness food. Brennan’s famous classics are elevated by artisanal ingredients like homemade English muffins in egg dishes and adding a touch of citrus to the duck roux in the meaty turtle soup.

This is a place where you want to linger, so launch the experience with a signature Brandy Milk Punch. Made with cream instead of milk and served with a dash of freshly grated nutmeg, it is the best in New Orleans.

If you love champagne, save an afternoon for the Bubbles at Brennan’s Happy Hour, preferably on a Friday, when they saber a bottle of champagne in the courtyard at 5pm to kick off the weekend. The enticing selection of champagnes and sparking wines includes a Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose Champagne, usually $165 but only $110 during Happy Hour. Pair with bar snacks—a burger and hand cut fries, caviar with smoked fish dip and plantain chips—and then toast the this icon, one of the top restaurants in a top restaurant city.

Bubbles at Brennan’s Happy Hour


Monday-Thursday, 2 - 6 pm

Fridays, 9 am - 6 pm

Courtyard Champagne Sabering Fridays, 5 pm