Seaworthy

Seaworthy opened in 2016 in a restored 1832 cottage on the 600 block of Carondelet Street, and has spent its reputation on one thing: wild-caught, sustainably harvested oysters from the Gulf and both coasts, shucked to order. Its own line is "come for the oysters, stay for the everything", and the everything includes a lobster roll on a brioche bun, shrimp and grits, boudin and gravy and a wagyu burger. Executive chef James Whitehead came across from Maison de la Luz. It opens at 4pm daily, until 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 11pm at weekends, with an oyster happy hour every day from 4 to 6 that halves the price of raw oysters.

One piece of orientation saves confusion on arrival. Seaworthy has always been described as the restaurant inside the Ace Hotel New Orleans, and much of the writing about it still says so — but the hotel is not the Ace any more. In 2024 the property's owner ended its management agreement with Ace and rebranded the building as The Barnett, now operating under JdV by Hyatt. The restaurant kept its name, its address and its own front door, and The Barnett's dining page still lists it as an active venue, so nothing about visiting has changed. Only the sign on the hotel has. For non-drinkers, the zero-proof offering is modest and bought-in rather than built: Curious Elixirs No. 1, a bottled non-alcoholic take on a Negroni made with rhodiola and pomegranate, and a Lyre's Amalfi Spritz. Neither price is published anywhere, and the restaurant's own menu page does not list its drinks as readable text, so plan to ask. The bar also keeps lower-alcohol session cocktails for people cutting down rather than cutting out, which is worth knowing but is not the same thing. Come here for the oysters and the room; the drinks list will meet you rather than impress you.