Reviewed · JAZZ & LIVE MUSIC TOURS

New Orleans: ‘Court of Two Sisters’ Jazz Brunch Buffet

4.5 · 409 reviews 1 day From $51 Operated by Court of Two Sisters · Bookable on GetYourGuide
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New Orleans mornings do not get much more atmospheric than this: a long buffet of Louisiana dishes, a mimosa in hand, and live jazz drifting through the Court of Two Sisters courtyard. You can settle in without hunting for a table, then build a meal that moves from eggs and grits to gumbo, carved meat, and dessert.

I like the easy mix of food and music, and I like that the buffet lets you sample local dishes without committing to one large entree. The $51 price is fair if you eat well and stay for several courses, though it is less appealing if you want only a light breakfast. One other point: the band may take breaks, so the music is part of the setting rather than a nonstop concert.

Key points to know before you book

New Orleans: 'Court of Two Sisters' Jazz Brunch Buffet - Key points to know before you book

  • The courtyard is the main attraction: You receive guaranteed courtyard seating, with indoor dining available if weather makes outdoor seating impractical.
  • Breakfast and lunch share one buffet: Arrive from 9 to 11:30 am for eggs, bacon, grits, grillades, and omelets, then expect lunch dishes after 11:30.
  • You can taste classic Louisiana food: Gumbo, red beans and rice, shrimp etouffee, corn macque choux, and turtle soup au sherry are among the regional choices.
  • A mimosa is included: The meal also includes live jazz and tip, which makes the fixed price easier to judge.
  • Dessert is part of the meal: Look for bananas Foster, bread pudding with whiskey sauce, pecan pie, cakes, brownies, and ice cream.
  • The experience is relaxed rather than rushed: It suits a slow French Quarter morning, but the busy dining room can feel less intimate at peak times.

Why the Court of Two Sisters courtyard matters

New Orleans: 'Court of Two Sisters' Jazz Brunch Buffet - Why the Court of Two Sisters courtyard matters

The Court of Two Sisters is on Royal Street, close to Bourbon Street and other French Quarter sights. That location makes the brunch easy to pair with a morning walk, shopping, or an afternoon of sightseeing.

The courtyard gives the meal its character. You are not simply eating inside a standard restaurant room. You are seated in an open-air setting with a fountain, greenery, large fans, and the sound of jazz nearby. Several diners especially liked sitting near the fountain, while others enjoyed the relaxed feel of the veranda and the small touches of nature around the tables.

The courtyard is large, so this is not a tiny, hushed garden meal. It can be busy and lively, especially at popular times. That is part of the appeal for some people and a drawback for anyone hoping for a private breakfast. If the weather turns wet, you may be moved indoors. The indoor room still allows you to eat comfortably, but you lose some of the outdoor atmosphere.

The restaurant has made an effort to keep the courtyard comfortable in warm weather, including large fans. That matters in New Orleans, where a sunny morning can turn a beautiful patio into a hot one. Still, outdoor seating always depends on conditions, so keep a little flexibility in your plans.

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How the morning meal unfolds from 9 to 11:30

New Orleans: 'Court of Two Sisters' Jazz Brunch Buffet - How the morning meal unfolds from 9 to 11:30

For an early brunch, begin with the breakfast section. You will find scrambled eggs, hash browns, andouille sausage, bacon, glazed ham, grits, and grillades with biscuits. The create-your-own omelet station gives you a made-to-order element within the larger buffet.

That range works well for mixed groups. One person can eat a familiar plate of eggs and bacon, while another can try Southern dishes that may be new to them. The grits and grillades are especially useful if you want a taste of local cooking without ordering an unfamiliar full meal.

Eggs Benedict has also been a favorite for some diners, though the exact buffet selection can change. The safest approach is to walk the whole line before filling your plate. You may spot the dishes you want most only after the first section.

The included mimosa makes the morning feel more like a proper New Orleans brunch than a standard hotel breakfast. You receive one mimosa with the meal. Additional drinks are not listed as included, so plan on paying separately for anything beyond that.

Breakfast is scheduled from 9 to 11:30 am. If you value the morning dishes most, arrive with enough time to eat slowly and return to the buffet. A late arrival may give you access to fewer breakfast items as the service changes toward lunch.

The Louisiana dishes worth seeking out

New Orleans: 'Court of Two Sisters' Jazz Brunch Buffet - The Louisiana dishes worth seeking out

The best reason to choose this meal over a basic buffet is the chance to try several New Orleans and Southern specialties at once. The selection includes chicken and sausage gumbo, red beans and rice, turtle soup au sherry, and corn macque choux, a Cajun dish made with corn.

Gumbo is a sensible first taste. It gives you the familiar New Orleans combination of seasoning, sausage, and stew in a small portion, leaving room for other food. Red beans and rice are another good choice, especially if you want a classic comfort dish rather than something rich or elaborate.

Corn macque choux offers a lighter Cajun option. The buffet also includes fried catfish according to the available dining selection, and that dish has been singled out as a particularly good choice. Since buffet items can change, treat the posted selection on the day as the final word.

The cold section adds balance. You can find cold boiled shrimp, pasta salads, potato salad, mixed greens with toppings, chicken salad, tuna salad, fresh fruit, and assorted cheeses. This is useful if you want to pace yourself, or if the heavier dishes feel like too much early in the day.

I would not pile every rich item onto your first plate. Start with small portions of gumbo, red beans and rice, and one or two breakfast items. Then return for the dishes you actually want more of. That simple strategy helps you get value from the all-you-can-eat format without turning the meal into a contest.

After 11:30, the buffet shifts toward lunch

New Orleans: 'Court of Two Sisters' Jazz Brunch Buffet - After 11:30, the buffet shifts toward lunch

The meal does not stop being useful after breakfast. After 11:30, the buffet adds lunch selections such as carved ribeye, pasta primavera, shrimp pasta, shrimp etouffee, and duck a l’orange.

The carved ribeye is the most substantial choice and helps justify the price for a big appetite. Shrimp etouffee brings another strong Louisiana flavor, with shrimp in a seasoned stew. Duck a l’orange gives you a different style of dish, and it has been praised as tender and full of flavor.

This changeover is important when planning your visit. The experience is described as a brunch, but it can become a lunch meal if you arrive later. If your priority is eggs, bacon, or the omelet station, aim for the earlier window. If you prefer carved meat, pasta, shrimp dishes, or duck, arriving after 11:30 may suit you better.

The timing also means you can make the meal last. A slow breakfast followed by a small taste of lunch makes the $51 cost easier to defend. On the other hand, you should not assume every breakfast and lunch item will remain available throughout the entire service period. The selection is organized around the time of day.

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Saving room for bananas Foster

New Orleans: 'Court of Two Sisters' Jazz Brunch Buffet - Saving room for bananas Foster

Dessert is not an afterthought here. The buffet includes bananas Foster with ice cream and stewed bananas, bread pudding with whiskey sauce, brownies, pecan pie, assorted cakes, and ice cream.

Bananas Foster is the local-style finish I would try first. The warm bananas and cold vanilla ice cream give you a nice contrast, and the dish fits the New Orleans setting. Bread pudding with whiskey sauce is another traditional Southern choice, especially if you prefer a dense, warm dessert.

The dessert section has been received less consistently than the main buffet. Some diners found the sweets merely fine, while others enjoyed the full selection. That is a useful warning: come mainly for the savory food, jazz, and setting, then treat dessert as an extra rather than the sole reason to book.

Because the meal is all you can eat, you have room to sample rather than choose one large slice. Take small portions of pecan pie, cake, and bread pudding if you want to compare them.

Jazz that adds atmosphere, not a full concert

New Orleans: 'Court of Two Sisters' Jazz Brunch Buffet - Jazz that adds atmosphere, not a full concert

Live jazz is included throughout the experience, with first-class musicians performing during the meal. The music is one of the strongest parts of the setting. It gives the brunch a clear New Orleans identity and keeps the courtyard from feeling like a normal buffet room.

The sound has generally been described as pleasant and well suited to conversation. You can listen without having to shout across the table, which is important during a meal. A jazz trio or small band fits the courtyard better than a loud stage show would.

Keep your expectations realistic. The band may take breaks, and some performances may be brief near closing time. If you are booking mainly for a long uninterrupted jazz set, this may disappoint you. If you want live music as part of a relaxed meal, it works much better.

Your table location can affect how strongly you hear the musicians. The activity promises jazz in the courtyard, but it does not promise a particular seat near the band. The music remains part of the experience, though it may function more as background accompaniment than a featured performance.

Service, seating, and the value of guaranteed entry

New Orleans: 'Court of Two Sisters' Jazz Brunch Buffet - Service, seating, and the value of guaranteed entry

You check in with the hostess, show your GetYourGuide voucher, and the reservation has already been made. The point is convenience: you do not have to arrive and hope that a table is free.

That guaranteed seating is particularly useful in the French Quarter, where a popular brunch can disrupt the rest of your morning plans. You still check in when you arrive, but the booking removes much of the uncertainty.

Service has been one of the most praised parts of the meal. Specific servers named in the feedback include Ernest, Nate, Louis, and Tamika, with special mention of attentive help, friendly recommendations, and even assistance taking a photograph. Staff have also been described as polite and well organized when the restaurant is busy.

The listed price includes the buffet, jazz band, one mimosa, tip, and guaranteed seating. At $51 per person, it is not a cheap breakfast. It becomes better value if you try both breakfast and lunch selections, eat dessert, enjoy the music, and make use of the courtyard for a long, unhurried meal.

If you eat lightly, skip the alcohol, or plan to leave quickly, a regular cafe breakfast may cost less. You are paying for a package of food, setting, entertainment, and convenience. Judge the price on the whole experience, not on the eggs alone.

Although tip is included, one diner suggested giving the server an extra tip because the service can be especially attentive. That is optional, not part of the listed cost, but it is worth considering if your waiter takes care of special requests or photographs.

Who should book this New Orleans brunch

I would recommend this for first-time New Orleans visitors who want several local foods in one sitting. It is also a strong choice for couples, families, and groups with different tastes because the buffet offers both familiar breakfast staples and more regional dishes.

It suits anyone who enjoys a slow meal with music. You can eat, return to the buffet, listen to the band, and take in the courtyard instead of rushing through a quick plate of food.

The format is less ideal for a quiet romantic meal, a strict schedule, or a serious jazz fan seeking a dedicated performance. The restaurant can be busy, music breaks are possible, and buffet dining is naturally less intimate than table service from start to finish.

It also works well for diners with some dietary needs, since the selection includes many different dishes and has been described as accommodating for gluten-free and dairy-free choices. Still, the provided information does not list a formal allergy protocol, so you should speak with the staff before serving yourself if you have a serious allergy.

Transportation is not included. You make your own way to the Royal Street restaurant, then check in with the hostess. Its French Quarter location makes it practical to reach on foot if you are already sightseeing nearby.

Booking details that affect your day

New Orleans: 'Court of Two Sisters' Jazz Brunch Buffet - Booking details that affect your day

The activity is valid for one day, with starting times shown according to availability. The duration is listed as one day, but the food schedule gives you the practical timing: breakfast runs from 9 to 11:30 am, with lunch dishes available after 11:30.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the scheduled time for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately, which helps if your New Orleans plans are still shifting.

The host or greeter speaks English. The experience is wheelchair accessible. Since the booking already includes a reservation, arrive at the scheduled time rather than treating it as a walk-in meal.

Should you book the Court of Two Sisters jazz brunch?

Book it if you want a classic New Orleans meal with a beautiful courtyard, a mimosa, live jazz, and enough food to make a morning of it. The strongest reasons are the setting, the wide choice of Louisiana dishes, and the ease of guaranteed seating.

Skip it if you want a low-cost breakfast, a quiet restaurant, or a nonstop jazz show. For most visitors, though, the combination works well. Arrive early for breakfast favorites, stay into the lunch changeover if you have the appetite, and save room for bananas Foster.

FAQ

Where is the Court of Two Sisters jazz brunch located?

The restaurant is on Royal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the French Quarter area.

What is included in the $51 price?

The price includes the all-you-can-eat buffet, one mimosa, the jazz band, tip, and guaranteed seating.

Is courtyard seating guaranteed?

The booking includes guaranteed seating in the courtyard. If weather affects outdoor dining, you may need to eat indoors.

What time is breakfast served?

Breakfast selections are available from 9 am to 11:30 am.

What food is available after 11:30 am?

Lunch selections include carved ribeye, pasta primavera, shrimp pasta, shrimp etouffee, and duck a l’orange.

Does the buffet include Louisiana specialties?

Yes. Choices include chicken and sausage gumbo, red beans and rice, turtle soup au sherry, corn macque choux, and shrimp etouffee.

Is a mimosa included?

Yes, one mimosa is included with the brunch.

Is live jazz included?

Yes. A jazz band performs as part of the experience, though the band may take breaks.

Is transportation provided?

No. Transportation is not included. You should make your own way to the restaurant.

Can I cancel the reservation?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.

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