Southern Food and Beverage Museum

The Southern Food and Beverage Museum, known as SoFAB, is a museum at 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in the Central City neighbourhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. It is operated by the Southern Food and Beverage Museum organisation and explores the history and culture of food and drink across the American South, with particular attention to Louisiana's Creole and Cajun traditions. It is a museum visit rather than a guided tasting, so it differs from the walking food tours elsewhere in the city. The listing does not state the founding year, so visitors can check the museum's website for its history.

The exhibits cover regional foodways, ingredients, cookware, restaurant history and the cultural exchange that shaped Southern cuisine, and the museum includes the Museum of the American Cocktail, which traces the history of mixed drinks, a field in which New Orleans holds a prominent place. A visit typically takes one to two hours and is self-paced, with signage and displays rather than a fixed route. The museum has no set number of dishes or stops, and no food is included in general admission.

Admission is about US$10-15 per person, and visitors should confirm the current price before going. The fee covers access to the museum exhibits; meals, drinks, special events, tastings and gift-shop purchases are typically separate. The museum sometimes hosts demonstrations, talks and special programmes, and the schedule is published on its website. Exhibits are in English. There are no dietary substitutions to arrange for a standard visit, but visitors attending an event with food should ask the organisers about allergens.

Central City lies outside the French Quarter, along the Oretha Castle Haley corridor, so most visitors reach it by car, rideshare or streetcar plus a short walk. The museum suits food enthusiasts, history-minded travellers and those looking for an indoor activity on hot or rainy days. It pairs well with a meal at a nearby Central City or Warehouse District restaurant, giving a visit that moves from learning about Southern food to eating it.