Galatoire's, New Orleans, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

Galatoire's is a historic Creole restaurant at the heart of Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Founded by a Frenchman in 1905, it is one of the city's best-loved old dining rooms and a fixture of local social life. Many visitors know it as much for its long tradition of waiting in line on the sidewalk as for the food.

The story behind it

The restaurant was founded by Jean Galatoire, who came from a small village near Pau, in the foothills of the French Pyrenees. In 1905 he bought an existing business called Victor's Restaurant on Bourbon Street, renamed it after himself and began serving the cooking of his homeland, which blended with the Creole flavors of New Orleans.

Galatoire's became known for an old-fashioned way of doing things. For much of its history it did not take reservations, so judges, families and politicians often waited together on the same sidewalk for a table. That queue is now part of the restaurant's legend, and the ground-floor dining room still keeps much of its old look.

What to look for

• The narrow facade on Bourbon Street, with its wrought-iron balcony above, is typical of the French Quarter and easy to walk past in the crowds.
• The sidewalk in front of the door is where the famous line forms, so look at how the entrance sits among its neighbors.
• Through the windows or open door you can glimpse the traditional ground-floor dining room, which has kept much of its old character.
• Notice the street around you: the balconies, gas-style lamps and shopfronts show how the Quarter mixes dining, music and nightlife.

Tips for your visit

• Plan about 15 minutes to see the exterior and soak up the street, or a few hours if you want a full meal.
• Check current opening hours, reservation policy and dress code on the restaurant's official site before you go, as they can change.
• Bourbon Street is quieter and easier to photograph in the morning than in the evening.
• The restaurant sits in the middle of the French Quarter, so Jackson Square and Royal Street are an easy walk away.

See it on a quest

Galatoire's is one stop on Ghost Hunt in New Orleans, a self-guided walk with a ghostly theme. You reach the restaurant on foot as part of a longer route through the French Quarter, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no set departure time.