The Freret Street Guide

Humble Bagel

Humble Bagel makes kettle-boiled bagels in-house daily, and they sell out — sometimes well before noon on weekends. Show up early, especially if you want one of the more popular varieties. It's the kind of errand that turns into a reason to be on Freret by 9 a.m.

Mojo Coffee House

Mojo has been on Freret Street since 2012, and opens daily at 6 a.m., just early enough to beat the morning rush. They roast their coffee locally, and the space is laptop-friendly if you need a quiet hour before the neighborhood wakes up.

Cinnaholic

Cinnaholic does one thing: build-your-own cinnamon rolls, all 100% vegan. The shop is locally owned by New Orleans natives Keiyanah and Matthew Ratleff and is set in a converted shotgun house on the strip. Go here when you want something specific and slightly over-the-top.

High Hat Cafe

High Hat is the kind of Southern eatery that earns loyalty through consistency. The fried catfish and housemade pies are the items people come back for. It's a reliable spot for lunch or an early dinner.

Val's

Val's took over a converted garage and turned it into one of the better taco gardens in the city. The outdoor space works, the palomas are cold and it's easygoing enough to drop into without a plan.

The Company Burger

The Company Burger has been a Freret anchor since 2011. Order the burger, finish it with a milkshake — the combination holds up.

Chi Chi's

Chi Chi's is the Korean fried chicken and beer spot from Adolfo Garcia Jr. and Sophia Petrou Garcia at 4714 Freret. The pairing sounds casual, but the execution is sharp, and it quickly earned a following after opening in 2024.

Celebrating a birthday, date night, or girls' night? The following spots are all perfect for special occasions and splurges. All three restaurants sit within a block of each other, and two offer 4–6 p.m. happy hours. Starting at one before dinner at another is a straightforward plan.

Dolfy's

Dolfy's opened in March 2026 in the old Ancora space, and the wood-fired oven that anchored that room is still the centerpiece. Chef Adolfo Garcia Jr. and co-owner Sophia Petrou Garcia turned it toward Basque cooking — pintxos, fire-roasted small plates and a Spanish wine and sherry list that Petrou Garcia oversees. The kitchen runs Wednesday through Sunday for dinner.

Pigeon and Whale

Pigeon and Whale (4525 Freret) is a seafood-focused room with a long marble bar and a nautical-themed interior. Multiple oyster varieties, caviar service and a menu that draws from coastal traditions make it one of the more polished spots on the strip.

The Husky

The Husky sits directly across from Pigeon and Whale and takes the design in a different direction — ski lodge meets art deco. Beef Wellington is on the menu alongside a serious martini list, and the bar was built to hold 17 seats for a reason: it's a destination on its own.

Cure

Cure is the cocktail bar that anchored Freret's revival when it opened in 2009, and the accolades have followed. It holds a 2018 James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program and ranked No. 21 on North America's 50 Best Bars list in 2026. The bar is set in a converted firehouse at 4905 Freret. For a full look at cocktail bars and nightlife options around Uptown, the neighborhood page has you covered.

Gasa Gasa

Gasa Gasa reopened in 2025 under new ownership, and the tropical outdoor bar and patio — covered in murals and often anchored by pop-up food — is the right place to land when you need a drink and some shade. The indoor room books live music regularly, from album release shows to raves to karaoke nights. It sits directly across from Sunnies, which makes the day-to-night transition from pool to patio nearly automatic.

Sunnies

Sunnies is a temperature-controlled saltwater pool with a 1970s Palm Springs aesthetic at 4917 Freret. Pool access is available for pass holders, and the full restaurant and bar menu is served poolside. The venue has cabanas, fire pits in cooler months, a weekend bottomless brunch and family-friendly Wednesdays. Pair it with Gasa Gasa directly across the street for a day-to-night plan that doesn't require moving your car.

Freret Art Market

The Freret Market brings local artists and vendors to the street periodically throughout the year. Check the schedule before you plan a visit, as market dates vary.

Freret Street Festival

The Freret Street Festival fills six blocks — from Napoleon Avenue to Valmont Street — with three stages, live music, food courts and local art. It's free to attend. The next edition is scheduled for Oct. 31, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check the event page for future dates as they are announced.

Cross Freret at Jena Street and within half a block you'll find Cuban coffee on one side and frozen custard on the other.

Café Conmigo

Café Conmigo (2511 Jena St.) comes from the owners of High Hat Cafe and operates out of a small shotgun house. The house coffee blend is custom-made with French Truck Coffee, and the Cuban sandwich uses sliced roast pork and house-cured ham on a loaf developed with Ralph Brennan Bakery. The frita comes topped with potato sticks, and the cocktail list includes daiquiris, mojitos and a carajillo.

Ruthie's Frozen Custard

Ruthie's Frozen Custard (2506 Jena St.) opened in August 2026, directly across from Café Conmigo. The custard is made fresh daily — vanilla and chocolate are the constants, with rotating vegan and specialty flavors filling out the board. Order it as a scoop, sundae, spinner or shake. The name honors the owner's grandmother and great-aunt, both named Ruth. It's an easy dessert stop after dinner on Freret.

Bearcat Cafe

Bearcat Cafe is a breakfast and lunch spot steps off the main strip, with a menu split into "good cat" (the healthier side) and "bad cat" (the indulgent side). It's a Freret-area institution that predates most of the restaurant row.