Commander’s Palace has been open in the Garden District for more than a century, with its iconic blue exterior, 25-cent martini lunch and Creole-forward menu cementing it as a New Orleans institution.
Now the restaurant is getting new, national recognition. Southern Living named Commander’s Palace as one of the most legendary restaurants in the U.S. South in 2026. It’s the only restaurant in Louisiana to make the list.
Emile Commander first opened Commander’s Palace as a saloon in 1893. Ownership changed hands a few times before restaurateur Ella Brennan — of the renowned Brennan family — purchased it in 1969. The deal was cemented on Aug. 29 of that year, according to Times-Picayune and Gambit archives…