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Michelle's Lafayette Area Favorites
28
items My go-to spots in Lafayette and the surrounding area for food, treats, local charm and things to do. If you're visiting Acadiana, or you're a local who wants something new, these are the places I love and I think you'll love too.
Map
Sections
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Restaurants
Lagniappe
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler
Out & About in Acadiana
Restaurants
South Louisiana doesn’t play when it comes to food, and Lafayette is basically the capital of “you’re gonna need a nap after this.” These are the spots I keep going back to… the places with dishes you remember, flavors you daydream about, and plates ...
Southern comfort food but make it modern. Craft cocktails, killer deviled eggs, and a vibe that says “we’re fancy…but not really.” Perfect for date night or catching up with friends. Order the deviled eggs, trust me.
Social Southern Table & Bar
Worth the quick drive. My hands down favorite fried oysters and Zydeco Shrimp & Oysters, you will swear you have gone to heaven. These Cajun, Creole, and seafood dishes that feel like your mawmaw or pawpaw leveled up and went to culinary school. ...
Cafe Josephine
If you are in the area and you don't have oysters, did you really even visit? Casual, laidback but full out flavor and cajun food made with love.
SHUCKS!
You have not lived until you try the Teche Wellington. Why would you ever have Beef Wellington again after you have seafood version. And the Breaux Bread - absolutely dangerously good. Hands down, worth the drive.
Cafe Sydnie Mae
The original Chimes is next to the gates of LSU in Baton Rouge, but they have expanded to Lafayette. This has quickly become a Lafayette favorite for seafood with local charm. You have to try the boudin balls! Its basically a parish law!
The Chimes Lafayette
A block from UL Lafayette and basically a rite of passage. This little house on piers has been serving the juiciest, drippiest po’boys in Acadiana for decades. You order at the counter, pray for a table, and accept that the juice will run down your a...
Olde Tyme Grocery
Lagniappe
Down here, “a little something extra” isn’t just a saying, it’s a way of life. This is where you grab a coffee that tastes like a hug, a pastry that makes you forget your troubles, or a scoop of ice cream that’ll cool you off faster than a front porc...
A true French bakery in the heart of Cajun Country. Flaky croissants, real deal pastries, soups, sandwiches… it’s all comfort and carbs in the best possible way. If you don’t walk out with a box of something you “didn’t plan to buy,” you have superhu...
Poupart Bakery Inc
A Lafayette icon. The last remaining Borden’s ice cream parlor in the entire country. Walking in feels like stepping back in time—nostalgic, sweet, and absolutely full of childhood joy. Sundaes, malts, floats… everything tastes like a memory.
Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe
Vintage vibes with modern twists. Think classic ice cream treats but cuter, brighter, and very Instagram-able. Great for families, great for date night, and great for when you just want to be extra with your dessert.
Sunday's
Tiny shop, giant personality. Pie Bar feels like someone took Southern hospitality, wrapped it in a flaky crust, and served it warm. They rotate flavors, they nail the classics, and every slice tastes like it was made by someone’s grandma who doesn’t...
Cane River Pecan Company Pie Bar
Locations everywhere - Louisiana’s homegrown answer to Starbucks, but with more personality. Great cold brew, great vibes, and a drive-thru that has rescued so many on rough mornings.
CC's Coffee House
The happiest caffeine you’ll ever meet. Jet is all about good vibes, extra shots, and drinks that taste like dessert in a cup. The energy here is contagious… probably because everyone is over-caffeinated and thrilled about it. A go-to for a mood boos...
Jet Coffee
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler
Let the good times roll. Down here, we don’t need much of a reason to celebrate, but we always seem to find one. From zydeco at sunrise to streets filled with art, crawfish, dancers, parades, and pure Louisiana joy, our festivals are where Cajun Coun...
Global music + Louisiana soul in Downtown Lafayette. One of the biggest free festivals in the U.S.
Festival International de Louisiane
Three days of Cajun and Creole culture with nonstop music, dancing, and amazing food.
Festivals Acadiens et Créoles
Zydeco at sunrise, crawfish everywhere, and the most iconic Louisiana festival vibes.
Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
Small-town parades, beads, bands, and southern charm you won’t find anywhere else. Family version Mardi Gras.
Mardi Gras in Lafayette, LA | Events & Parades | February 6-8 & 13-17, 2026
Fresh Gulf shrimp, carnival rides, live music, and a blessing of the fleet.
Delcambre Shrimp Festival
New Iberia’s sweetest celebration with parades, fair rides, and hometown pride.
Sugar Cane Festival Building
Second Saturday - Monthly night where downtown transforms into an arts market full of local talent.
Artwalk
Out & About in Acadiana
South Louisiana isn’t just good food and good music. We’ve got history, culture, wildlife, and some surprisingly peaceful places to catch your breath between po’boys. These are the spots that locals actually visit and we take our out of town guests. ...
Home of the world-famous hot sauce. Tour the factory, stroll under ancient oaks, and take in the marsh views that feel like pure Louisiana. Don't forget to try the Tabasco ice cream!
Avery Island: Home of TABASCO® Brand Pepper Sauce
Right next door to Tabasco. Ninety acres of wildlife, bamboo groves, bird rookeries, and peaceful drives under moss-draped oaks. A photographer’s dream. You will see alligators!
Jungle Gardens
The oldest operating rice mill in America. Charming, quirky, and absolutely packed with Louisiana food history. Pick up some Konriko Creole Seasoning and throw away all those other wantabees!
Conrad Rice Mill Inc
A beautifully preserved antebellum home on the Bayou Teche. Guided tours share deep regional history and architecture. One of the few homes that has their own authentic furniture.
Shadows-on-the-Teche
Stunning gardens overlooking Lake Peigneur, plus a fascinating backstory involving salt mines and one accidental lake-draining disaster. It’s gorgeous and memorable with a gift shop and amazing cafe. So many Louisiana couples choose this location for...
Rip Van Winkle Gardens
Taste your way through Cajun Country with a guide who knows every local classic and hidden gem. Zero driving, all eating.
Cajun Food Tours
Gators, cypress trees, birds, and natives that guide you through this amazing tour on Lake Martin. Peaceful, wild and very “only in Louisiana.”
Cajun Country Swamp Tours | Lake Martin | Breaux Bridge, LA
Experience Cajun Country through this historic village and living-history museum showing what life looked like for Cajun, Creole, and Native peoples in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Vermilionville Historic Village
A Christmas favorite when it lights up, but worth visiting year-round. Restored bayou homes, history, and plenty of charm.
LARC's Acadian Village