The Southern Food and Beverage Museum (SoFAB) is a culinary history museum in the Central City neighbourhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. This guide covers current opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for a first-time visit.
This guide was checked and updated in August 2026. One change worth noting: Toups South, the restaurant that used to operate inside the museum building, has closed permanently, though several older travel guides still list it as open.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Friday–Monday, 11am–5pm. Closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and major holidays |
| Adult ticket price | $12 |
| Address | 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70113 |
| Nearest transport | St Charles Streetcar to Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, then a three-block walk |
| Typical visit length | About one to two hours |
The Southern Food and Beverage Museum opening hours
The museum is currently open Friday to Monday, from 11am to 5pm. It is closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and on all major holidays.
Several third-party listings and city-pass websites still show the museum as open on Thursdays. The museum’s own website is the most reliable source, so check its calendar before planning a Thursday visit specifically.
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The Southern Food and Beverage Museum ticket prices
Adult admission costs $12 per person. Students and military personnel with valid ID, and seniors aged 60 and over, pay $9, children under 12 enter free with a paying adult, and current members enter free with ID.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026. The museum is included in the Go City New Orleans pass, alongside attractions such as the National WWII Museum, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, The Cabildo and the Presbytère.
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- 🚢 Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Cruise: Take to the waters of the Mississippi River on an authentic, historical paddlewheeler cruise to take in beautiful views of the city skyline and local riverfront landmarks.
- 🐊 Cajun Swamp & Bayou Tours: Journey out into the mystical Louisiana wetlands on a guided boat tour to spot wild alligators, native birds, and moss-draped cypress trees up close.
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How to get to the Southern Food and Beverage Museum
The museum is reachable by the St Charles Streetcar line. Alight at Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and walk around three blocks to Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard.
The museum is less than two miles from the French Quarter, so a taxi or rideshare journey is short from most central hotels.
Parking at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum
There is no dedicated museum car park. Street parking is available on and around Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, though spaces are not guaranteed, especially at weekends.
How long to spend at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum
Most visitors spend around one to two hours inside, depending on how many galleries they explore in detail. A quick overview of the main exhibits takes about an hour, while visitors who read every display closely may prefer closer to two hours.
Accessibility at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum
The museum is listed as wheelchair accessible, with a step-free entrance. Visitors with specific accessibility needs can contact the museum in advance, by phone on (504) 569-0405 or by email at visit@southernfood.org, to check current arrangements.
Inside the Southern Food and Beverage Museum
Exhibits are organised by theme and by state, covering the food culture of the American South from colonial times to today. The Gallery of the South displays local dishes and food traditions state by state, while the Leah Chase Louisiana Gallery, named after the New Orleans Creole chef, focuses on Louisiana cooking.
The Museum of the American Cocktail sits within SoFAB and traces cocktail history from the 1750s to 1990, using period glassware, bottles and bar equipment. La Galerie de l’Absinthe holds one of the largest collections of absinthe-related artifacts in the United States.
The Trail of Smoke and Fire exhibit covers the history and regional variations of Southern barbecue. Outdoor visitors can also see the Gumbo Garden, which grows plants from Africa, North America and Europe that influenced Southern cooking.
The Culinary Heritage Sign Gallery displays vintage advertising and shop signage connected to Southern food brands. A separate exhibit covers Al Copeland, founder of Popeyes, including artifacts from his restaurant business.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | The museum operates on a four-day week, Friday to Monday, so plan around the three closed weekdays. |
| Crowds | The museum is relatively small, so even weekend visits rarely feel crowded. |
| Layout | Exhibits are organised into distinct sections, including the Museum of the American Cocktail and La Galerie de l’Absinthe, so allow time to see each one. |
| Entry process | Tickets can be bought online in advance or paid for at the door, and city-pass holders must show their pass at check-in. |
| On-site logistics | No food is served inside the exhibit galleries, and the former on-site restaurant, Toups South, has closed permanently, so plan to eat elsewhere. |
Frequently asked questions about the Southern Food and Beverage Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Southern Food and Beverage Museum suitable for children? | Yes. Children under 12 enter free with a paying adult, though some galleries, such as the cocktail and absinthe collections, are aimed at adult visitors. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Southern Food and Beverage Museum? | No. Tickets can be bought at the door, though booking online in advance is also possible. |
| Is the Southern Food and Beverage Museum open on Sundays? | Yes. Current hours run Friday to Monday, 11am to 5pm, which includes Sundays. |
| Is there a restaurant at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum? | No. The former on-site restaurant, Toups South, has closed permanently, and no food is served in the exhibit galleries. |
| Is the Southern Food and Beverage Museum wheelchair accessible? | Yes. The venue is listed as wheelchair accessible, with a step-free entrance. |
Things to do near the Southern Food and Beverage Museum
The McKenna Museum of African American Art is a short walk south, further along Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard. Coliseum Square Park, a green space in the Lower Garden District, is also within easy walking distance.
The National WWII Museum is a short drive or rideshare journey away in the Warehouse District. The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, which focuses on visual art from the American South, sits nearby in the same district.
Magazine Street, a long strip of independent shops, galleries and restaurants running through the Lower Garden District, can easily fill an afternoon after a museum visit.
What to visit tomorrow
The TABASCO Factory Tour and Museum on Avery Island is about two hours’ drive west of New Orleans, and covers the production and history of Tabasco pepper sauce.
The Conrad Rice Mill, home of the Konriko Company Store in New Iberia, is close to Avery Island and offers guided tours of the oldest continuously operating rice mill in the United States.
The Bayou Teche Museum, also in New Iberia, covers the food, industry and culture of the Bayou Teche region, including exhibits on sugar cane and local food festivals.
Cane Land Distilling Company, in downtown Baton Rouge, is about an hour’s drive away and runs tours of its sugarcane-to-rum distilling process, with tastings included.
Abita Brewing Company, in Covington, is around 45 minutes’ drive from New Orleans and offers guided tours of one of the oldest craft breweries in the southeastern United States.
More New Orleans travel
Other New Orleans travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- The Old Ursuline Convent in New Orleans: Visitor guide with hours, prices and history.
- What to expect when visiting St Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.
- Discover tales of slavery in the antebellum South at the Hermann-Grima House.
- Planning your trip to the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
- See the costumes and floats in progress at Mardi Gras World.
