The top dinner tours in New Orleans deliver authentic local experiences without tourist traps. Among the standouts, the Steamboat Natchez VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise impresses with its private access, unlimited drinks, and exceptional jazz – it’s worth the splurge. Budget-conscious travelers will appreciate the Evening Jazz Boat Cruise, offering good value with optional but tasty Creole dinner choices. A personal favorite is the French Quarter Shrimp Boil, where local storytellers share neighborhood history while you enjoy home-style Cajun cooking in a historic building. Let’s explore the best dinner tours New Orleans has to offer.
Key Points
- The Steamboat Natchez VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise offers a 2-hour paddle-wheel cruise with live jazz, a champagne cocktail, and VIP amenities.
- The Evening Jazz Boat Cruise provides a 2-hour cruise with live jazz, an optional Creole-style dinner, and a high rating from 819 reviews.
- The French Quarter Shrimp Boil offers a dinner cabaret or storytelling lunch experience with Cajun-inspired dishes and a 95% recommendation rate.
- The Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise features a sunset cruise, an onboard jazz band, and an optional Creole-style buffet.
- The Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise offers a 2-hour cruise with live entertainment, a dinner buffet, and historical narration.
Steamboat Natchez VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise With Private Tour and Open Bar Option
The Steamboat Natchez VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise with Private Tour and Open Bar Option offers a unique and immersive experience for travelers exploring New Orleans’ rich musical heritage.
This 2-hour paddle-wheel boat cruise along the Mighty Mississippi River boasts a 93% recommendation rate from past guests, earning it a Badge of Excellence.
Upon boarding, guests are greeted with a complimentary champagne cocktail and the opportunity for a private tour of the boat, including the engine room and paddlewheel.
The evening’s entertainment features a live jazz performance by the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland, accompanied by a gourmet Louisiana-style buffet dinner.
The VIP package provides early boarding, reserved front-row seating, and a commemorative gift bag.
With a maximum of 20 travelers, the experience offers an intimate setting accessible to guests with mobility devices.
Read our full review: Steamboat Natchez VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise With Private Tour and Open Bar Option Review
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New Orleans: Evening Jazz Boat Cruise With Optional Dinner
Offering a captivating evening on the Mighty Mississippi, the New Orleans Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner presents a unique opportunity to take in the city’s vibrant musical heritage. Priced at $55 per person, this 2-hour cruise features live jazz performances by Sullivan Dabney Jr. and the Muzik Jazz Band, as well as breathtaking views of the New Orleans skyline and French Quarter.
Guests can choose to indulge in a Creole-style dinner, featuring a mouthwatering selection of dishes like Cajun Caesar salad, Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo, and Paddlewheeler White Chocolate Bread Pudding.
The open seating and roaming policy on the boat allow for a relaxed and enjoyable experience. With a 4.3/5 rating based on 819 reviews, the cruise is a popular choice among families, couples, and solo travelers alike.
Wheelchair accessibility, free cancellation, and a pay-later option make this tour a convenient and inclusive choice for exploring New Orleans’ rich cultural offerings.
Read our full review: New Orleans: Evening Jazz Boat Cruise With Optional Dinner Review
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French Quarter Shrimp Boil – Dinner Cabaret or Storytelling Lunch
With its intimate setting and engaging live entertainment, the French Quarter Shrimp Boil – Dinner Cabaret or Storytelling Lunch offers visitors a unique culinary and cultural experience in the heart of New Orleans.
Featuring a menu of Cajun-inspired delights, the tour boasts 138 reviews with a 95% recommendation rate from travelers. The menu highlights include starters like Cajun-style redfish, hickory-smoked alligator sausage, and stuffed local blue crab, followed by a main course of wild-caught Gulf shrimp boil with sausage and corn. For dessert, guests can indulge in Creole cream cheese and fruit.
Beyond the mouthwatering fare, the experience is further enhanced by live jazz performances and storytelling from Chef Gregory, who shares the history and personal touch of the cuisine.
Accommodating a maximum of 30 travelers, the tour is BYOB and wheelchair accessible, making it a must-try for those seeking an immersive New Orleans dining adventure.
Read our full review: French Quarter Shrimp Boil – Dinner Cabaret or Storytelling Lunch Review
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Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans
Embarking on a sunset cruise along the mighty Mississippi River, the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans delights visitors with an onboard jazz band and an optional Creole-style buffet.
The 2-hour cruise features scenic views from the promenade deck and includes jazz entertainment throughout the journey. While the Creole buffet is an optional add-on, guests can also purchase alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, and soda.
With over 1,100 reviews and a 4.0 overall rating, the cruise is a popular choice, though some travelers note the buffet may be expensive for the meal.
The cruise departs from 1 Poydras St, located behind the Riverwalk Outlet Collection Mall and Hilton New Orleans Riverside, and returns to the same spot.
Booking confirmations are provided, and the cruise is wheelchair accessible, though no outside food or beverages are allowed, and bags are checked before boarding.
Read our full review: Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans Review
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Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise With Dinner Option
The Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option transports visitors on a 2-hour paddle-wheel boat journey along the mighty Mississippi River in New Orleans.
Departing at 6:00 PM and returning at 9:00 PM, this cruise can accommodate up to 500 travelers and features live entertainment by the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland.
Passengers can enjoy a calliope concert, hear live narration about the city and river’s history, and stroll along the boat’s four decks to take in the picturesque views of the New Orleans shoreline at dusk.
For those who opt for the dinner buffet, the menu includes a starter salad, entrees like chicken and sausage gumbo, Louisiana fried chicken, and crawfish etouffee, as well as New Orleans bread pudding for dessert.
While the dining experience may not always meet expectations, the cruise’s overall ambiance, music, and scenery receive high praise from the majority of its over 6,000 reviewers, who rate it 4.1 out of 5 stars.
Read our full review: Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise With Dinner Option Review
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Recap
New Orleans’ dinner tours offer a unique dining experience that combines the city’s rich culinary heritage with its vibrant music and cultural traditions. From jazz cruises to shrimp boils and storytelling, these tours provide an immersive way for visitors to savor the flavors and sounds that make New Orleans one of the most captivating destinations in the United States.