The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center becomes one of the busiest places in New Orleans during ESSENCE Festival weekend. Thousands of attendees pass through its doors each day for conversations at the ESSENCE Stage, shopping at the We Love Us Marketplace, screenings at the ESSENCE Film Festival, and programming at BeautyCon. With so much happening under one roof, the daytime experience remains an essential part of the Festival.

Walking through the Convention Center also means meeting people who have traveled from different parts of the country to spend the weekend in New Orleans. Some are visiting for the first time, while others have returned to the city for years. Arguably, the city’s biggest draw is its food. Unique to any other place in the world, visitors—and locals alike—rave about the restaurants. During EFOC 2026, I asked some people about their favorite food spots in the 504.

For Cynthia Wilson, 31, no trip is complete without oysters and a visit to the city’s most infamous strip. “I love going to ACME Oyster House every time I travel to NOLA,” Wilson said. “You can also experience the energy of Bourbon Street at the same time!”

History played a larger role in some people’s answers. Jonathan Bayard, a 44-year-old Mississippi resident has visited New Orleans for years and continues returning to Treme for a bite to eat, and a bit of history as well. “Dooky Chase for sure,” Bayard said. “I’m from Jackson, and I’ve been coming to this city for longer than I can remember—and that restaurant has always been here. There’s a lot of Black stories behind it, and I heard presidents eat there, too.”

“Drago’s is my go-to during ESSENCE Festival,” Tennessee native Earl Broussard said. “Me and my wife normally stay at the Hilton because it’s so close to the Convention Center, so it’s an easy choice since it’s right downstairs. There’s always so many people! But we like it because we’re always meeting someone new.”

Monica Watkins, 37, prefers Landry’s Seafood House in the French Quarter when visiting with her family. “It’s not too far from Cafe Du Monde, and it has a really good menu,” Watkins said. “The drinks are on point, and the bartenders are real nice. They make you feel like you’re family.”

Other attendees needed far fewer words to make their recommendation. “Morrow’s. It’s the only choice,” Eijah Cook, 26, said.

Percy Brown, 53, grew up visiting with his father. “My dad would bring us here a lot growing up, and he loved the burgers at Port of Call,” Brown said. “Those patties are so big! When I was a child I thought it was impossible to ever finish one. But that, and the baked potato together makes the perfect meal,” he said. “We lost my dad a few years ago, so that place brings back good memories.”

Ashley Johnson discovered Camellia Grill while attending Xavier University and has continued returning over the years. “I’m not going to tell you how old I am, but I’ve loved New Orleans for decades,” the Lake Charles resident said. “Camellia has that old school feel, and the cooks were very entertaining and personable. The food is second to none, especially late-night.”

With the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture now in our rearview, the restaurants people go to remain part of what makes a trip to New Orleans memorable. Whether it’s a late-night meal, a family tradition, or a place discovered during a previous visit, everyone seems to have a favorite spot. Judging by the answers we heard inside the Convention Center, there’s always another restaurant worth trying the next time you’re in the city.