Authentic Seafood Just Steps from the Riverwalk
The Riverwalk Outlets on the banks of the Mississippi is one of New Orleans’ top shopping destinations, drawing visitors who want a mix of retail therapy and river views. But when hunger hits — and in New Orleans, it always does — you’ll want something better than a food court sandwich. Gallier’s Seafood & Oyster Bar at 129 Carondelet St is a short walk from the Riverwalk through the Central Business District, putting authentic Cajun and Creole seafood within easy reach of shoppers, tourists, and cruise passengers alike.
Whether you’re breaking up a shopping day with a seafood lunch, celebrating the start of a cruise, or wrapping up an afternoon along the river, Gallier’s gives you the real New Orleans dining experience that the Riverwalk area sometimes lacks.
From the Riverwalk to Gallier’s: An Easy Walk
The Riverwalk Outlets sit along the riverfront near the foot of Poydras Street and Convention Center Boulevard. From the main entrance, walk northeast into the CBD — Carondelet Street runs parallel just a few blocks inland. The entire walk takes roughly 10 minutes at a comfortable pace, passing through the business district’s mix of historic buildings and modern hotels.
The route is flat, well-maintained, and passes through one of the most active parts of downtown New Orleans. You’ll likely pass other restaurants, coffee shops, and galleries along the way — but save your appetite for when you arrive at 129 Carondelet.
Why Riverwalk Visitors Choose the CBD for Dining
The area immediately around the Riverwalk is heavily geared toward tourists, which means many of the nearby restaurants cater to volume rather than quality. The CBD, just a few blocks away, offers a completely different dining landscape. Here you’ll find restaurants that serve locals and visitors alike — places where the food is cooked from scratch, the seafood is fresh from the Gulf, and the recipes have real Louisiana roots.
Gallier’s sits in this sweet spot: close enough to the Riverwalk for convenience, but rooted in the CBD neighborhood where quality matters more than tourist foot traffic. Our location between the French Quarter and the CBD means you’re also perfectly positioned to continue your day in either direction after your meal.
The Shopping and Dining Combo
There’s a natural rhythm to a great day in New Orleans: explore, eat, explore some more. The Riverwalk gives you the shopping, and Gallier’s gives you the food. Here’s how many visitors structure their day:
- Morning: Browse the Riverwalk Outlets, enjoy the Mississippi River views from the promenade.
- Lunch: Walk to Gallier’s for charbroiled oysters, a bowl of gumbo ($14), or our famous Shrimp & Grits ($11).
- Afternoon: Continue into the French Quarter for sightseeing, or head back to the Riverwalk for more shopping.
This combination works because the distances are so manageable. You’re never more than a 10-15 minute walk from any of these spots, which means you spend your time enjoying New Orleans rather than sitting in traffic.
Cruise Passengers: Your First (or Last) Great Meal in New Orleans
The Port of New Orleans cruise terminal sits right next to the Riverwalk, making Gallier’s one of the most accessible authentic restaurants for cruise passengers. Whether you’re arriving the day before departure, disembarking after a week at sea, or just spending a port day exploring the city, a meal at Gallier’s is the perfect bookend to your cruise experience.
Before Your Cruise
Many cruise passengers arrive in New Orleans a day early to enjoy the city. If you’re staying at a CBD or French Quarter hotel, lunch or dinner at Gallier’s is an ideal way to kick off your trip. Start with a dozen raw oysters on the half shell — there’s nothing quite like Gulf oysters shucked fresh — then move on to our Crawfish Pasta ($23) or the Fried Seafood Platter ($29) for a comprehensive taste of Louisiana.
After Your Cruise
Disembarking and heading straight to the airport? You might still have time for a proper meal. Gallier’s opens at 11 AM on weekdays and 10 AM on Sundays, and the walk from the cruise terminal takes about 15 minutes. A bowl of Jambalaya ($15) or a Po’Boy ($18) makes for a much better farewell meal than airport food.
What to Order at Gallier’s After the Riverwalk
Our menu is built around the Gulf Coast seafood and Cajun-Creole traditions that define New Orleans cuisine. Here are some highlights that Riverwalk visitors particularly enjoy:
Oysters — Raw and Charbroiled: No visit to New Orleans is complete without oysters. Our raw oysters come freshly shucked on the half shell, briny and cold. If you prefer them cooked, the charbroiled oysters are a New Orleans invention — grilled with garlic butter until they’re bubbling and irresistible.
Gumbo ($14): Louisiana’s signature stew is the perfect starter, especially if you’ve been walking around the Riverwalk in the cooler months. The dark roux, the holy trinity of vegetables, and the layers of seasoning make every bowl a masterclass in Cajun cooking.
Shrimp & Grits ($11): Sautéed gulf shrimp in traditional New Orleans-style BBQ sauce served over stone-ground grits. It’s hearty, flavorful, and one of the best values on our menu — perfect for a satisfying lunch that won’t slow you down for the rest of your day.
Po’Boys ($18): The quintessential New Orleans sandwich. Crispy French bread loaded with your choice of fried seafood. If you’ve never had one, this is your chance to understand why locals are so passionate about their Po’Boys.
Exploring Beyond the Riverwalk
One of the best things about dining at Gallier’s is your proximity to the rest of New Orleans’ top attractions. After your meal, you have easy access to:
- The French Quarter and Bourbon Street: Just a few blocks east. Walk off your meal while soaking in live jazz, street performers, and the unmistakable energy of the Quarter.
- Canal Street: The grand dividing line between the French Quarter and the CBD, home to streetcar lines, shopping, and some of the city’s grandest hotels.
- The Convention Center: If you’re combining a Riverwalk visit with a convention, Gallier’s is conveniently located between both.
The CBD location makes Gallier’s a natural hub. You can walk in almost any direction and find something worth seeing, which is exactly the kind of flexibility visitors appreciate in a city as walkable as New Orleans.
Hours and Getting Here
Gallier’s Seafood & Oyster Bar is open Monday through Thursday 11 AM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday 10 AM to 9 PM. Our Sunday brunch is particularly popular, featuring omelets, grits, and all the Cajun-Creole favorites.
From the Riverwalk, walk northeast through the CBD to 129 Carondelet St, New Orleans, LA 70130. If you’d rather not walk, rideshare services cover the distance in under five minutes. The St. Charles streetcar also runs along a nearby route for a more scenic approach.
Make the Riverwalk Day Complete
Shopping at the Riverwalk is a great New Orleans experience, but it’s the food that people remember. Don’t settle for generic chains when authentic Gulf Coast seafood in the CBD is just a short walk away. Gallier’s brings you the oysters, the gumbo, the crawfish, and the hospitality that make New Orleans the culinary capital of the South.
Plan your visit today.
Call (504) 267-5672 or reserve your table online.
Gallier’s Seafood & Oyster Bar — 129 Carondelet St, New Orleans, LA 70130