Guidebook for Lafayette
Food Scene
All of our restaurant picks are within walking or biking distance. You can also use the Waitr app on your phone to have a meal delivered.
Creative Farm to Table restaurant within bike riding distance. Outdoor seating and extensive cocktail menu. Live Music on most weekends.
24 locals recommend
The Saint Street Inn
407 Brook AveCreative Farm to Table restaurant within bike riding distance. Outdoor seating and extensive cocktail menu. Live Music on most weekends.
Lafayette's most famous poboy shop, open for lunch and dinner. Their snowball stand is also open April through September.
52 locals recommend
Olde Tyme Grocery
218 W St Mary BlvdLafayette's most famous poboy shop, open for lunch and dinner. Their snowball stand is also open April through September.
This brand-new downtown pizza parlor has great cocktails, outdoor seating and a big-city atmosphere. There's usually a pizza special each week, and they stay open late and are a place to bring kids.
33 locals recommend
CENTRAL Pizza & Bar
423 Jefferson StThis brand-new downtown pizza parlor has great cocktails, outdoor seating and a big-city atmosphere. There's usually a pizza special each week, and they stay open late and are a place to bring kids.
Downtown's newest restaurant named for the state's rosy colored bird, is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Check out the beautiful bar or sit outside on a sunny day.
30 locals recommend
Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant
900 Jefferson StDowntown's newest restaurant named for the state's rosy colored bird, is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Check out the beautiful bar or sit outside on a sunny day.
Get your Saturday morning boudin at Johnson's, which we think has the best in town, or stay for lunch.
36 locals recommend
Johnson's Boucaniere
1111 St John StGet your Saturday morning boudin at Johnson's, which we think has the best in town, or stay for lunch.
Downtown's hotdog hotspot hails from New Orleans and offers a variety of dogs—even crawfish sausage topped with etouffee—fries, live music and a rooftop bar.
6 locals recommend
Dat Dog
201 Jefferson StDowntown's hotdog hotspot hails from New Orleans and offers a variety of dogs—even crawfish sausage topped with etouffee—fries, live music and a rooftop bar.
On Saturdays and Sundays, Lafayette's go-to brunch hotspot is The French Press downtown. Get a mimosa while waiting for your breakfast sandwich, Grits and Grillades or Sweet Baby Breesus.
71 locals recommend
The French Press
214 E Vermilion StOn Saturdays and Sundays, Lafayette's go-to brunch hotspot is The French Press downtown. Get a mimosa while waiting for your breakfast sandwich, Grits and Grillades or Sweet Baby Breesus.
For sushi downtown, this longtime spot has traditional rolls along with those containing fried shrimp, softshell crab and alligator. Make a reservation on a weekend or just sit at the bar.
57 locals recommend
Tsunami Sushi Lafayette
412 Jefferson StFor sushi downtown, this longtime spot has traditional rolls along with those containing fried shrimp, softshell crab and alligator. Make a reservation on a weekend or just sit at the bar.
Tapas, wine and cocktails await in this perfect date-night or happy hour downtown restaurant known for its excellent bar service.
57 locals recommend
Pamplona Tapas Bar
631 Jefferson StTapas, wine and cocktails await in this perfect date-night or happy hour downtown restaurant known for its excellent bar service.
A newer poboy spot downtown that's just as delicious as Olde Tyme, this eatery also makes Swamp Pop Soda and sells frozen daiquiris in flavors like Satsuma Old Fashioned.
43 locals recommend
Pop's Poboys
740 Jefferson StA newer poboy spot downtown that's just as delicious as Olde Tyme, this eatery also makes Swamp Pop Soda and sells frozen daiquiris in flavors like Satsuma Old Fashioned.
Essentials
Don't miss these favorite local spots during your stay or forget to take home a souvenir!
Louisiana Family-owned supermarket with local seafood and other area treats. You can also pick-up ready-to-eat stir-fry, BBQ plates, pizza, sushi or salad.
36 locals recommend
Rouses Market
601 Bertrand DrLouisiana Family-owned supermarket with local seafood and other area treats. You can also pick-up ready-to-eat stir-fry, BBQ plates, pizza, sushi or salad.
Live music, a Cajun jam on Wednesdays and a great front porch make up this Freetown honky tonk. This is THE place for Cajun and Zydeco dancing and it's also a hostel.
95 locals recommend
Blue Moon Saloon And Guest House
215 E Convent StLive music, a Cajun jam on Wednesdays and a great front porch make up this Freetown honky tonk. This is THE place for Cajun and Zydeco dancing and it's also a hostel.
Lafayette-centric t-shirts, prayer flags and other souvenirs are available at this shop on Jefferson Street.
19 locals recommend
Parish Ink | Downtown Lafayette
310 Jefferson StLafayette-centric t-shirts, prayer flags and other souvenirs are available at this shop on Jefferson Street.
Looking for an original piece of art or jewelry? Sans Souci (which means without a care in French) is a craft collective with many different artists selling their original creations on the edge of Parc Sans Souci downtown.
12 locals recommend
Sans Souci Fine Crafts Gallery
551 E Vermilion StLooking for an original piece of art or jewelry? Sans Souci (which means without a care in French) is a craft collective with many different artists selling their original creations on the edge of Parc Sans Souci downtown.
Visit the resident alligators on the campus of UL Lafayette near the Student Union on Cypress Lake between Hebrard Boulevard and McKinley Street.
Student Union
620 McKinley StVisit the resident alligators on the campus of UL Lafayette near the Student Union on Cypress Lake between Hebrard Boulevard and McKinley Street.
A few miles away off Johnston Street, Lafayette's newest, yet to be developed park, is located on a former horse farm. Attend the farmer's market on Saturday morning for live music, fresh vegetables, flowers, juices, local crafts and more.
25 locals recommend
Lafayette Farmers and Artisan Market at the Horse Farm
2913 Johnston StA few miles away off Johnston Street, Lafayette's newest, yet to be developed park, is located on a former horse farm. Attend the farmer's market on Saturday morning for live music, fresh vegetables, flowers, juices, local crafts and more.
This mini park downtown has a fountain and the “LAFAYETTE” letters, which are great for photo ops.
12 locals recommend
Parc Sans Souci
201 E Vermilion StThis mini park downtown has a fountain and the “LAFAYETTE” letters, which are great for photo ops.