Spring in New Orleans is a season of indulgence, and there’s no better way to savor it than with sun-soaked brunches and breezy happy hours. From the soulful flavors of Chef Melissa Araujo’s Honduran-inspired brunch at Alma Café to the Mediterranean flair at Commons Club and the coastal tapas at Costera, the city is brimming with fresh seasonal menus and spirited drinks to match. Whether you’re looking for bottomless mimosas, inventive cocktails, or just a delicious way to celebrate the warmer weather, this roundup of spring brunch and happy hour spots captures the best of what NOLA has to offer.
Alma Cafe
BRUNCH: Led by Executive Chef and Owner Melissa Araujo, two-time semifinalist for the James Beard Award: Best Chef South 2024, 2025, Alma Cafe celebrates Chef Melissa’s Honduran roots by highlighting the vibrant Central American culture, cuisine, and music of her upbringing. Brunch is available at both restaurants daily, Monday through Sunday from 8AM – 3PM, featuring an array of signature Honduran-inspired and contemporary dishes, including Fritas Hondureñas — fried homemade flour tortillas, refried beans, homemade cream, and queso fresco; Baleada Sencilla with two eggs, refried beans, homemade cream, queso fresco, and avocado served on a homemade flour tortilla. Add choice of chorizo, bacon, mushrooms, pork, brisket (extra charge); Melissa’s Pancakes with six small pancakes, homemade crema Fresca, strawberry jam, and powdered sugar; La Louisiane Omelet – choice of lump Louisiana blue crab or shrimp, spinach, mushrooms, and herbs goat cheese add or mix both Louisiana blue crab and gulf shrimp; Charlotte Bowl – homemade yogurt, granola, locally sourced berries, seasonal jams, lemon zest, and rose petals; and Celebration of Tomatoes. Alma Cafe also has a variety of killer cocktails by lead mixologist Mark Preston including Alma Cafe’s Chef’s Old Fashioned, Red Rum Paloma, and Smoke Rosemary Negroni Sour. Additionally, visitors can savor an assortment of Honduran coffee. Alma Café is located at 800 Louisa Street in the Bywater neighborhood, and the newest location is in Mid-City on 301 N Carrollton Avenue.
HAPPY HOUR:Wind down the day at Alma Happy Hour, from 4PM to 6PM, Monday throughFriday. Enjoy discounted sips ($6 -$10), specialty cocktails, including Alma Rum Punch, Bee’s Knees, and Spicy Margarita, well-brand highballs, and draft beer. Happy Hour bites ($6-$35) include Salty Girl Raw or CharbroiledOysters, Alma Burger, New England Style Lobster Roll, and Anafre Hondureno—refried beans, mozzarella, chorizo, and totopos served in a hot skillet.  https://eatalmanola.com/
 Costera
HAPPY HOUR:The vibrant and acclaimed coastal Spanish restaurant and bar, and sister location to Northern Italian restaurant Osteria Lupo, Costera offers an enticing Happy Hour every day from 4PM – 6PM. Visitors can enjoy select $6 cocktails, including Basque Terrace with Atxa Rojo, Blanco, or Quilles Rojo Vermouth, tonic, and citrus; Going Back to Kali with Fernet Branca, Tempranillo, citrus, and Coca-Cola; Rebujito with Valdespino Manzanilla, grapefruit, lime, and soda; a famous Asturias glass of the Trabanco Sidra Natural; and the Costera Dirty Martini with Luksusowa, and house brine blend. Tapas include citrus and vermouth Marinated Olives; Roasted squash and winter green salad with blue cheese and candied walnuts; Pan Con Tomate with roasted garlic aioli; Papas Bravas with aioli and piquillo pepper puree; and beef shank and potato Bombas with aioli and pickled chilies. All beer and glasses of wine are also half-priced. Costera is located at 4938 Prytania Street. https://costerarestaurant.com/
 Commons Club
BRUNCH:At Commons Club at Virgin Hotels New Orleans, Executive Chef Chris Borges highlights a brunch menu of seasonally-inspired dishes rich with influences from the West Coast and the Mediterranean, all with a delightful New Orleans touch. Every Thursday – Sunday from 9AM – 2PM, take part in the Not Your Common Brunch. Enjoy bottomless bubbles while relishing in a fresh take on a New Orleans classic – Beignets with whipped Valrhona chocolate ganache and powdered sugar. Other spring dishes include the Waffle with lemon creme anglaise, powdered sugar, spring raspberries, almonds, and vanilla; Gulf Shrimp & Adluh Mill Grits – New Orleans-style BBQ gulf shrimp, chicken andouille, Adluh Mill heirloom grits, corn, and worcestershire sauce;  Curry Chicken Fried Chicken with a shaved vegetable & puffed rice salad, mint, cilantro, jalapeno, and a sunny egg; and Avocado Toast with sunflower seed tahini, toasted multigrain bread, shaved vegetable salad, sprouts and seeds; . The restaurant also offers a variety of specialty cocktails from Lead Bartender Heather Blanchard. Commons Club is located at 550 Baronne Street, lobby levelinside Virgin Hotels New Orleans. https://virginhotels.com/new-orleans/eat-drink/commons-club/
HAPPY HOUR:There’s no better way to unwind from your workday than with Golden Hour at The Pool Club, Monday – Friday, from 4PM – 6PM. Enjoy $12 festive cocktails, $10 beer & shot duos, and $8 wine pours while enjoying city views. Tempting dishes to enjoy while at the bar include Shrimp Egg Rolls Gulf shrimp, carrots, cabbage, sesame, and Cajun sweet and sour sauce; Fried Mushroom & Parmesan Arancini with black truffle, kale pesto and wild mushrooms; and Mom’s Warm Blue Crab Dip served with baby carrots, cucumbers, and everything crackers. The Pool Club is located at 550 Baronne Street.
 Beggars Banquet
BRUNCH: Named after the famous Rolling Stones album, Beggars Banquet is the Lower Garden District’s new American bar and bistro under the direction of the Dilonno family. Chef Michael Dilonno invites guests to savor Pear Toast with sweet ricotta, roasted pears, hot honey and pecans; Steak and Eggs with two eggs, grilled prime sirloin, home fries, hollandaise, and buttermilk biscuits; Get Shorty with boneless short ribs, poached eggs, English muffin, hollandaise sauce, and home fries; Stuffed French Toast with cream cheese, fresh strawberries, and strawberry sauce; Crabby Benny with poached eggs, fresh Gulf crab meat, remoulade, English muffin, hollandaise, and home fries; Banquet Breakfast – two eggs any style, bacon, house sausage, home fries, and buttermilk biscuit; and Mascarpone Grits. Brunch takes place on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30AM – 3PM. The restaurant also offers a variety of specialty cocktails and non-alcoholic options.
HAPPY HOUR:Enjoy a lively Happy Hour at Beggars Banquet every Wednesday – Friday from 4PM – 6PM and Saturday-Sunday from 3PM – 5PMat the bar. Delight in $9 cocktails, including Spicy Boi with Lunazul blanco, grapefruit, lime, Cointreau, maraschino, and jalapeño; French 75 with Fords gin, Cava, and lemon; Daiquiri with Flor de Cana rum, lime, and sugar; Old Fashioned with Wild Turkey Bourbon; and a Cosmo with Lairds Vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and lime. $9 bites include Sriracha Cauliflower – lightly battered, Tajin, cucumber chips, and greens; Smoked Redfish Dip – fried capers, rosemary potato chips and herbs; Fried Green Tomatoes with burrata, balsamic reduction, baby arugula, extra virgin olive oil, lemon, and sea salt; Crispy Firecracker Calamari with hot peppers, garlic, capers, olives, scallions, and balsamic; and enjoy more seafood during Happy Hour with $10 Tuna Crudo with satsuma, lemon, and pickled shallots. Also available are $7 house red and white to enjoy with bites. Beggars Banquet is located at 1330 Prytania Street.    www.beggarsbanquetneworleans.com
 Birdy’s
BRUNCH:This charming, Instagram-worthy destination offers brunch every day, from 8AM – 2PMMonday through Thursday; from 9AM – 3PM on Friday, and from 8AM – 3PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Savor the Huevos Rancheros with black beans, slow simmered adobo chicken, pico de gallo, cilantro, avocado, cilantro-lime crema, two eggs any way; Roasted Pork & Egg Bagel with caramelized onion, aged cheddar, arugula, pastrami, honey, scrambled egg, served with a side salad; Louisiana Strawberry Salad with whipped feta, cucumber, radish, cherry tomatoes, arugula, white balsamic & poppyseed vinaigrette; and their Brunch Board offers everything you could ever dream of, including bacon, waffles, mini donuts, prosciutto, fruit, seasonal jam, granola with nuts, cookies, triple crème brie, and soft boiled eggs. A variety of brunch cocktails are also on offer, including a $22 per person Bottomless Mimosa option. Birdy’s is located at 1320 Magazine Street.   https://birdysnola.com/
The Bower Bar
Happy Hour:Under the direction of Beverage Director Mickey Mullins, Bower Bar offers an expertly curated cocktail menu that complements the exceptional creations of Executive Chef Marcus Woodham. Enjoy Happy Hour at Bower Bar daily from 4PM-6PM, featuring $6 house wines and signature cocktails ($5-$7), such as the Classic Martini, Old Fashioned, Paloma,and Frozen Half Pour. Pair your drinks with a selection of delicious small plates ($7-$12), including charcuterie and cheese boards, cacio e pepe, Bower potatoes, spicy scallop arancini, whipped feta, and truffle bread. The Bower Bar is located in the Framework Building at 1320 Magazine Street. https://www.thebowernola.com/
Tujague’s
BRUNCH:  Tujague’s, celebrated for its authentic New Orleans cuisine, is proud to be the birthplace of the beloved brunch tradition. Indulge in standout brunch offerings created by Executive Chef JD Eubanks, including Mushroom Crêpes with goat cheese, truffled mushroom salad, and a balsamic reduction; Shrimp and Grits—pan-seared Gulf shrimp in a New Orleans-style BBQ sauce over stone-ground grits; Gulf Shrimp Remoulade salad with Boston bibb lettuce, pickled red onion, and boiled egg; Croque Madame, featuring toasted brioche with sliced ham, Gruyère cheese, a fried egg, and Mornay sauce; and Tujague’s Chicken Biscuit—crispy fried chicken thigh glazed with Crystal honey sauce on a buttermilk biscuit, served with country gravy. Don’t miss the unbeatable $24 bottomless mimosa deal! Brunch is served Friday from 11AM-2:30PM, and Saturday-Sunday from 10AM-2:30PM. Tujague’s is located at 429 Decatur Street in the French Quarter.   https://tujaguesrestaurant.com/
 Compere Lapin
BRUNCH:  Compere Lapin, the Caribbean-meets-Louisiana restaurant by famed Chef Nina Compton, offers a delectable Sunday Brunch from 10:30AM – 2PM. Starters include Tater Tots with crème fraiche and paddlefish caviar; the famed CL Buttermilk Biscuits with strawberry jam and whipped ricotta; a Bagel with tuna tartare, Calabrian cream cheese, and soft herbs; and Housemade Granola. Mains include Black Truffle Scramble with brioche; Hot Fire Chicken with biscuits and pickles; French Toast with Chantilly crème and rum caramel; Gulf Shrimp and Grits with sauce Creole; and Croque Madame with pimento cheese, ham, and eggs. Guests can end on a sweet note with Banana Zeppoli and rum caramel; daily selection of Ice Cream & Sorbet; and Mango Crème Brûlée with coconut and berries. Enjoy boozy brunch offerings like The Hook, Line, and Sinker and Ease on Down Di Road. Compere Lapin is located at 535 Tchoupitoulas Street, inside the Old No. 77 Hotel and Chandlery. http://comperelapin.com/
