Cafe Degas
Esplanade Ridge, New Orleans
Restaurant in New Orleans, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Cafe Degas is a better fit for a relaxed lunch or quiet dinner than for a high-production special occasion. First-timers should choose lunch for ease and dinner for intimacy, then cross-shop 1000 Figs, Gabrielle, Lola's, Santa Fe, or Liuzza's by the Track if group size, cuisine focus, or occasion energy matters more.
About Cafe Degas
For a New Orleans visit where the planning details are limited, Cafe Degas is easiest to evaluate by schedule and dress code. Comparisons include 1000 Figs, Santa Fe, Gabrielle, Lola's, Liuzza's by the Track, but the confirmed facts for Cafe Degas are direct: it is in New Orleans, the dress code is casual, the posted hours vary by day.
Use Cafe Degas when the timing fits your plan. It is closed Monday; open Tuesday from 5–9 PM; open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 AM–9:30 PM; open Friday from 11 AM–3 PM and 5–10 PM; open Saturday from 10:30 AM–3 PM and 5–10 PM; and open Sunday from 10:30 AM–3 PM and 5–9:30 PM.
Choose daytime or evening hours based on the schedule
The practical advantage here is the schedule. Cafe Degas has daytime hours Wednesday through Sunday and evening hours Tuesday through Sunday, so it can work for either an earlier stop or a later visit depending on the day. Check the current hours before going, especially around split-service days on Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Evening hours are listed most days except Monday, while daytime planning is supported by the hours on Wednesday through Sunday. Because no price, menu, cuisine, chef, seating, or awards information is available here, the safest recommendation is to choose based on timing and the casual dress code rather than on a specific menu promise.
Who should choose it, who should cross-shop
Choose this when Cafe Degas fits your New Orleans schedule and you want a casual dress-code setting. Cross-shop 1000 Figs, Santa Fe, Gabrielle, Lola's, Liuzza's by the Track if you are comparing dining options and want to decide based on the most current details, availability, mood.
The main caution is that there is no price, chef, cuisine, dish, seating, service format, takeout, delivery, dietary, or awards signal to lean on here. Treat this as a thin-data planning page anchored to confirmed hours and casual dress. For broader planning, use our full New Orleans restaurants guide, then pair the visit with our New Orleans bars guide, hotels guide, experiences guide, or wineries guide if the trip needs more structure.
Planning details
- Location
- 3127 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- cafedegas.com
- Phone
- +15049455635
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Cafe Degas reads like a Parisian neighbourhood bistro transplanted to Esplanade Avenue: compact, understated and quietly charming. The restaurant leans on a semi-open, enclosed porch that soaks in the particular light beneath Esplanade’s oak canopy, creating an intimate outdoor-adjacent atmosphere rather than a theatrical dining spectacle. The writing emphasizes a ‘quieter register’ and a tempo that privileges local rhythms over tourist traffic, so the overall impression is relaxed, warm and unshowy. Expect pared-back elegance and bistro comforts rather than high-concept presentation or loud, buzzy energy.
Best For
This is a neighbourhood spot that functions across the day, making it a reliable choice for laid-back brunches, steady weekday and weekend dinners, and casual midday meals. Because Cafe Degas isn’t positioned as a destination tasting-menu venue, it suits locals and visitors who prefer conversational tables and unhurried service. It works well for solo diners, couples and small groups who want classic French bistro cooking in a calm setting—people who value a relaxed pace and a porch seat that opens onto Esplanade’s tree-lined boulevard.
Ordering Tips
Start with shareable, old‑school bistro starters—duck liver pâté and the French onion soup are natural openings—and consider mussels (Moules Frites) for something briny and comforting. For a classic main, the Hanger Steak Frites delivers the straightforward, technique-driven fare the kitchen favors. The menu skews toward dishes built for sharing and steady conversation, so order a couple of plates to pass. If the porch is available, ask for a table there to enjoy the light and street-side atmosphere that define the dining room.
Venue details
Ambiance
Intimate and romantic with a relaxing, tranquil atmosphere on covered outdoor decks featuring natural elements like trees, providing a quintessential New Orleans bistro vibe.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Intimate
Signature Dishes
- French Onion Soup
- Hanger Steak Frites
- Moules Frites
- Duck Liver Pâté
Planning details
Location
Also consider
If you can't book Cafe Degas
Try 1000 Figs for a casual-value alternative, or Gabrielle if the meal is tied to a celebration. For a more classic local comfort-food direction, Liuzza's by the Track is the sharper substitute.
Restaurant context
How it compares in New Orleans
Cafe Degas is the choice when intimacy and neighborhood pacing matter more than a destination-dining signal. 1000 Figs is the cleaner cross-shop for casual value, while Gabrielle is the better fit when the meal needs to feel more occasion-led.
Santa Fe and Lola's sit closer as neighborhood alternatives, so the decision comes down to mood and group size. Pick Cafe Degas for a quieter two-person meal; look at those peers if the group wants a different setting without making the meal feel formal.
Liuzza's by the Track is the practical alternative when the priority is Creole-Cajun comfort and a more casual New Orleans feel. Cafe Degas is easier to justify for lunch or a low-key date; Liuzza's is easier to justify when the food category matters more than intimacy.
Explore New Orleans
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Cafe Degas guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Cafe Degas
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Degas | New Orleans | ; | No published awards |
| 1000 Figs | New Orleans | ; | No published awards |
| Santa Fe | New Orleans | ; | No published awards |
| Gabrielle | New Orleans | ; | Michelin Guide Nordic Countries 20262026 White Guide Denmark Restaurants - Fine Level2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand |
| Lola's | New Orleans | ; | 2026 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #712025 James Beard Award Semifinalists2025 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City |
| Liuzza’s by the Track | New Orleans | Creole-Cajun | 2026 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Recommended2024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #454 |
How Cafe Degas New Orleans compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cafe Degas good for a special occasion?
It can fit a New Orleans occasion if the casual dress code and available hours match what you need. Gabrielle is another New Orleans option to compare.
What should I wear to Cafe Degas?
The dress code is casual. Clean, relaxed clothing should fit the stated dress code for Cafe Degas in New Orleans.
What are alternatives to Cafe Degas in New Orleans?
Other New Orleans options to compare include Gabrielle, Lola's, 1000 Figs, Santa Fe, Liuzza's by the Track. Choose based on current hours, availability, the kind of visit you want.
Are daytime or evening hours better at Cafe Degas?
Choose based on the day. daytime hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 11 AM–9:30 PM, Friday from 11 AM–3 PM, Saturday from 10:30 AM–3 PM, Sunday from 10:30 AM–3 PM. evening hours are Tuesday from 5–9 PM, Wednesday and Thursday until 9:30 PM, Friday and Saturday from 5–10 PM, Sunday from 5–9:30 PM. Cafe Degas is closed Monday.
