New Orleans Restaurant Guide

The Royal Cafe, located in the historic LaBranche House, at the corner of Royal and St. Peter streets, offers you a unique, memorable dining or event experience. Built in 1832, the LaBranche House boasts lace-work balconies available for outside dining. The Louisiana State Tourist Commission refers to the LaBranche House, where the Royal Cafe occupies the first two floors, as the second most photographed building in the state of Louisiana.

The interiors of the House have been meticulously restored to create the ambiance of a French corner bistro of the 18th century. Six sets of French doors stand open under lace French windows, allowing you to experience the French Quarter as you dine. Frequently outside performers enchant with renditions of jazz played in the streets.

The first floor dining room, with artwork, mirrors and mantle, comfortably seats fifty five guests. Candles twinkle on tables with roses in vases, as our pianist of national renown, Mr. Roddy Barnes, plays a selection of New Orleans classics six nights a week.

It's our lace-work balcony dining that has brought to the Royal Cafe a devoted following. Dining on this magnificent balcony, experiencing the French Quarter from this vantage point, is an experience you will never forget. The view down world famous Royal Street with its gas lights and old world charm, takes the diner back to another century.

The Royal Cafe is available for private parties, and, indeed the entire restaurant has been the site of wedding dinners, Mardi Gras parties, and various theme parties.

Elsewhere on this site you will find copies of our menus and reviews from various publications around the country. Frommer's Guide to New Orleans rated Royal Cafe as "Highly Recommended" . The Chicago Sun Times called us their favorite restaurant in New Orleans and the building was featured in Time Magazine. The readers of Where Magazine voted us the Best Restaurant for providing an "unforgettable dining experience" .

Our menu is unsurpassed in capturing the taste and feel of this beautiful city. Our food is always fresh, creatively prepared and reasonable priced. Diners have returned on every visit to once again order our famous oyster and artichoke soup, sample our Creole specialties or venture into such Nouvelle French cuisine as Trout LaBranche or Louisiana Crab Cakes.

Our dessert menu features New Orleans's famous Bananas Foster as well as our chef's luscious French Bistro sweets and pastries. With one of the most extraordinary wine cellars in New Orleans, containing over two hundred and fifty choices, we can provide bottles of ancient vintage as well as Nouvelle Beaujolais and the finest of champagnes. Diners can conclude their meal with cigars from the bar while sipping Grappa.

It is our staff however, of which we are most proud. Professional, elegant and accommodating, they exist to meet your every need.

Unique in location, with a dining experience that will not be forgotten and a gourmet menu, typical of a classic New Orleans French Bistro, the Royal Cafe located in the LaBranche House is an example of the finest of dining and event sites available to visitors to our magnificent city.