300+ guest capacity
This venue can host 300+ guests
About this vendor
Provide discerning customers with an excellent and special experience in a historic, New Orleans-based location through our expertise, hard work and dedication.
Our Venue is located in the heart of the Lower Garden District, facing Sophie B Wright Park. Built in 1931, il Mercato is a Spanish Colonial-style building designed by prominent local architect Sam Stone and originally constructed as a neighborhood market. The 2014 renovation by local restaurateur Joel Dondis added herringbone wood floors, Italianate chandeliers, and a furnished library with banquet seating. The property also features a large private courtyard, perfect for your next event or ceremony.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Covered Outdoors Space
On-Site Accommodations
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Guest Capacity
- 300+
Settings
- Backyard
- Ballroom
- Garden
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Destination Weddings
- Food & Catering
- Rentals & Equipment
- Service Staff
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
4.6
out of 5.040 reviews
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Our son and his new bribe got married here in March 2025! It was the most amazing night. The venue was stunning, the service was 5 star and the food was delicious! We could not have had a better experience!!!
I have loved this venue from the second I saw it so when it was time for our celebration we knew this was the place we had to have it! I have never written a bad review in my life but I think other people need to know about our experience, and once I started sharing some of what we went through we found out our experience was actually not uncommon at all for this venue. We signed our contract and everything seemed great, until it wasn’t. All the sudden there were all these add ons which had never been mentioned like the strung lights. $1200 extra for the lights (that I have NEVER seen taken down and we pass the venue multiple times a week) because someone had to “put them up”. We signed a contract for 4 hours, and then less than a month before the wedding we were told we added an hour and it was going to cost us THOUSANDS more, even though our contract signed months and months earlier said the original 4 hour time. The contract and additions were so bad, a friend of mine took it to her graduate law students and they were in disbelief, urging us to take action. Who wants to do that when you're trying to plan your dream day? We had no contact with anyone from the venue for almost 2 months. My vendors were asking questions we had no answers to. I am very busy and don’t expect answers immediately but weeks and weeks without any communication is not ok. Even just a quick hey we saw your email we will get back to you later in the week will do, but we got nothing at all. When we brought this up they were combative and made excuses but we have the emails to show the total lack in communication. We were so frustrated and felt we were getting nowhere with many questions going unanswered. Il Mercato ended up telling me, “If you're not happy we can cancel it for you”. A MONTH BEFORE THE WEDDING, IN WRITING!! I was in tears. They knew we had people coming from around the country and even several other countries. That was not possible, and instead of talking with us and trying to problem solve (an issue they overlooked!), they were extremely combative. I called and called trying to get a manager or see if I could work with someone else because it had become so negative and tense. After weeks of multiple calls finally the catering manager apologized, took over, removed the girl we were working with and tried to get us back on track. It was so bad that we hadn’t even seen the catering menu at all and we were less than a month out. We had no idea there were so many food options! Once a different team took over things were better, they were much more communicative and helpful but at that point it was almost too little too late. The day of team was so kind and helpful but definitely didn’t have all the details and information about our day, probably because they were thrown in at the last minute. There were definitely issues that aren’t a huge deal but when you're paying that much money you expect the best. One of the main reasons I chose this venue is because they do this all the time, and I thought they’d be on top of it all and I could just enjoy the day. Small things happened like there were 2 random tables without tablecloths just sitting in the courtyard the entire party, nothing on them just sitting there, definitely not part of the layout and everyone was unsure of why they were there. And at 6:40 when my friend tried to get me a drink the bartender told her no, when she said it was for the bride he said “I don’t care who it was for I was told not to serve”, even though our party was fully paid for and started at 6:30. My friend literally had to walk to the bar across the street to get me a drink! The hors d’oeuvres were supposed to be served from 6:30-7:00 but no food was out at cocktail hour and people were starving. My mom asked and they told her that this was what I had wanted, which was certainly not the truth. Of course we wanted hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour! It was lots of little (and BIG things) that I feel like other brides need to be aware of. Overall our wedding was beautiful and everything I wanted it to be. My other vendors were amazing and took my vision and ran with it, but I can confidently say I would not recommend this venue to anyone. The headaches just were not worth it and I don’t want anyone to have to go through what we did. We felt overlooked and not a priority at all which is not how any bride should ever feel. I have honestly never had such a negative experience with a company, and as business owners my husband and I cannot imagine treating clients this poorly.
We had our wedding ceremony and reception at Il Mercato and it was great. Melanie and Hailey were great to work with. The venue was stunning and the food was amazing. Can't recommend Il Mercato enough!
What an amazing experience! From beginning to end every one of the staff was so kind and answered every question! The space looked perfect for our wedding day and the food was so good I wish I had more! Thank you!
Lovely place to get married. Their catering and bar staff is top notch and their food is absolutely without competition. My only complaint is that it seems that a venue with this amount of info could make a process to give it to you, instead it felt like it was fed to me at a slow trickle when asked and often at the last minute. The total amount for catering came up many thousands more than they told me to anticipate, and included line items for many things they specifically said were "included," like chairs, linens and dishes. Although it was well worth it, I found myself confused and even sometimes feeling mislead, and from a venue of this caliber I don't find that acceptable. As it is so gorgeous and wonderful I would STILL recommend this venue, but ONLY if you insist on completing a proposal in advance of submitting a deposit, an option I was not given.
Il Mercato was one of the first and definitely best choices we made for our wedding! Not only is it a beautiful space but the food is incredible and the staff is professional, friendly and efficient. My guests were blown away and months later I'm still hearing how amazing my venue was! Thank you to the amazing team for helping us have the most incredible wedding!
Everything was fabulous! The process of making our floor plan and menu was a breeze and everything tasted so good. The courtyard was the perfect background for our wedding and reception. Melanie and Shannon were great at answering our questions. They even made sure we were served our food in private so we could eat.
I had such a wonderful experience with Joel Catering! The food was amazing and the staff was so wonderful and kind. As a pandemic bride, I worked with Joel for close to three years before we finally got to have our wedding and every staff member was awesome to work with. Melanie and Shannon (whom I worked with for my wedding that actually happened) were so helpful throughout the planning process. I had picked a lot of my menu based off of their instagram and everything is just a beautiful and even more delicious than the pictures! My guests raved about the food! I could not be happier with Joel Catering at my wedding!
My husband and I just had our wedding at il Mercato after 3 years of planning and it was exceptional. The team (especially Melanie + Shannon) was incredible and so kind/understanding with our many requests and changes for dietary restrictions and the menu. The space is so, so gorgeous, and the staff did an incredible job of bringing our vision to life. All our guests could not stop raving about how amazing the food was -- many times we heard it was the most perfectly done filet mignon they'd ever had, and that the apps and beignets were delicious. Thank you to the iM team!! x
OUTSTANDING! Planning a wedding reception during COVID is hard work, but Melanie and staff at Il Mercato assisted in making every aspect seamless. Not only is the venue spectacular and interesting, but Joels catering is superb. During our private tasting for our selections for the reception, our group was blown away with considered choices. When asked if we could be assured that what we dined on privately would be the same for our guests, we were assured it would be highest quality. Joels did not disappoint. Our guests are still sending accolades on the best food ever had at a wedding reception. Of course, your vision and expectations with additional vendors might be required, but the staff at Il Mercato works to make certain that vision is obtained. We had nothing but the best experience and will definitely recommend this venue to anyone.
The Joel Catering Team is amazing. From planning the menu to execution, it was flawless. Joel did all of the catering and the bar services for our wedding and everything was perfect. The team was super professional and guests are still raving about the food. We did all passed hors d'hoeuvres and small plates. They used the commercial kitchen at our venue and everything came out fresh and hot and delicious. Highly recommend Joel for any of your catering needs.
I don't know where to begin with my absolutely FANTASTIC experience working with Joel Catering. Trying to plan a wedding during COVID, our coordinator Katie was the best! Not only did she work with me throughout the planning process to fine-tune the menu, coordinate a tasting during a pandemic, and constantly change the guest count, but on the day of our food was INCREDIBLE. It's almost a month later and we still have people commenting on how good the food was and how they wish they had some duck gumbo right now. Can't recommend Joel Catering enough, if you want a truly special and memorable evening this team is for you!
Over the past few years, I've had numerous people reach out to ask for my review on Il Mercato. Unfortunately, instead of celebrating my wedding venue for its evident charm and elegance - I have to say the words that all young women hate to admit.....' I should have listened to my mother'. My husband and I just celebrated three years of marriage in September, and I can assure you no amount of time could make me forget the horrific planning process we endured with the Il Mercato team. Ladies, it may look beautiful on the outside but trust me on this, before the ink has even dried on your contracts, you will be second-guessing your choice. While touring this expansive space, my first impression was that it would be perfect for what I had envisioned; however, the moment any wedding coordination needed to take place, we received pushback, delays, and terrible customer service. What you can expect ad nauseam is an immediate 'no' response to practically any request and to have the majority of your vendors complain about the absurd rules, regulations, and favoritism that goes on behind the scenes. To clear up any confusion, Il Mercato, you are a part of the New Orleans wedding industry. So for the sake of everyone that comes into contact with your team – let's start acting like it, shall we?
Annie, say it with me; the customer is always right. Repeat until you've memorized.
I got married at Il mercato on Valentine's Day 2020. The venue is beautiful; however, it was not worth the terrible service and communication we endured throughout the wedding planning process. I was initially intrigued by the fine cuisine Joel Catering offered. This was one of the most important aspects of my wedding, as my now husband and I are very tough critics when it comes to gastronomy. Joel Catering is wonderful, but this same service is not translated to the actual venue. Joel Catering offers their services at a plethora of locations throughout the New Orleans area, and I strongly recommend you explore these other options. My family and I attended a tasting September 2019 and Annie “finally found us” 2 hours into the event with a glass of wine in her hand to discuss wedding details. This is definitely not the element of professionalism I expect from any business, especially one where you are spending a small fortune. Additionally, you MUST (not contractually required, but strongly recommended) hire a wedding planning service because without this, you will NOT receive a response to phone calls or emails. If the element of surprise is important to you as a bride, this is not the venue for you. Guests may arrive 30 minutes before the ceremony and the bride may arrive only 30 minutes (~1hr before the ceremony) before the guests. This left very little time for pictures at the venue prior to the ceremony and most of my guests were able to see me before I walked down the aisle. We were fortunate to have a wonderful wedding planning team and photographer that eased my frustrations, but all of these displeasures (plus more) provided unanticipated and challenging obstacles for the one of the most special and important days of my life. In hindsight, I definitely would have traded a little bit of charm and ambiance for better customer service.
Il Mercato was an absolutely dream. It's a little oasis tucked away among the bustle of Magazine St., and it was the perfect combination and exactly what my husband and I were looking for for our February 9, 2020 wedding.
We were concerned because we, admittedly, had a smaller budget. But Il Mercato worked with us to tailor everything to our needs and budget and helped keep us on track. Katie and Hayley were incredibly accommodating and helpful and answered all of our questions thoroughly. For a venue that does a high volume of weddings, and a lot of them pricey, it meant a lot to have that level of service and care.
Let's also mention the food, OH THE FOOD. People can not stop raving about how delicious the food was. The shrimp and grits were a teeny on the salty side but the flavor was so amazing it was more than okay. The wait staff was hyper-attentive and I had a glass of alcohol in my hand the whole night.
Would definitely recommend Il Mercato, they helped me realize the wedding of my dreams.
il Mercato is a beautiful venue and a wonderful event space. We planned our daughter's wedding from afar and chose this space for her destination wedding. New Orleans has something for everyone and provides a great backdrop for entertainment for all pre and post wedding festivities.
The venue is quite beautiful and has a great deal of Spanish rustic charm. From the stucco fireplace as the focal point of the court yard to the dark wooden beams adorning the high ceilings of the main hall, this places oozes with plenty of charm.
The food and beverage service were both amazing. Joel, il Mercado's caterer, provides a fine spread with some of the most delicious wedding food we've ever eaten. All wait staff on the wedding day were accommodating and efficiently helpful.
It was perhaps one of the most perfect days and certainly one of the nicest weddings we've ever attended, much less paid for. So why three stars? I've gone back and forth on this rating because the food was wonderful and the wedding was beautiful. But we are out of towners and relied heavily on the information and communication from il Mercado folks to make this event a success. To that end, we found il Mercado to be slow in communication and at times, less than accommodating to our needs. We wrote a big check to make this wedding happen and felt that the contact people for the venue should have been more communicative and helpful with some of our needs.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing il Mercado:
1. The bridal party is not allowed to arrive at the venue more than 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. This means that the bridal party could not get dressed or ready on site. For this, we had to book a place nearby for hair and make up. An added expense to an already hefty price tag.
2. Outdoor lighting is not included and neither is a tent in the event of inclement weather. A venue offering both an indoor/outdoor space should really have such things on sight and available.
3. Communication is key and this was perhaps the greatest source of frustration. Response to e-mails was slow and in some cases, not at all. Being from out of town, there were some things we didn't know and therefore, questions would pop up. Timely responses were hit and miss.
4. All vendors used during the event must be licensed and insured. This is reasonable however, since we were doing some things ourselves, like flowers, we were not informed until the weekend before the wedding that certain decorations could not be used unless we hired a licensed/insured person to install them. We opted to forego the decorations that required a licensed/insured installer but on the day of the event, we were informed of further restrictions that we were not aware of until the last minute. Although we understand the policy, the communication of it was ill timed at best and added to the stress of an already hectic day.
In conclusion, the key to a successful wedding at il Mercado is having a good wedding planner, which we had in spades. It was the planner that made it happen, much more so than the il Mercado business personnel themselves.
Il Mercato was the perfect venue for my wedding. The space is so easily transformable. The staff was very nice and helpful, and the food was absolutely amazing. They were so willing to work with us to make the menu exactly what we wished. Everything went perfectly!
This past weekend my daughter had her dream wedding at Il Mercato, it was truly perfect. The venue is so beautiful , we had the ceremony and reception there, it was nice to have everything in one place. The staff is amazing to work with, and the food was Delicious. Our guests were in awe of how magical the night was. I would highly recommend Il Mercato, best wedding venue in New Orleans !!!!!
Not only is Il Mercato beautiful, the staff are so easy to work with. The venue is gorgeous on its own. Everyone LOVED the food. There were so many options, but I was able to give them the foods that sounded best. From there, they made the perfect menu! Overall, I am so glad I was able to have my reception at Il Mercato!
The Il Mercato is an absolute dream! The staff is amazing, shout out to Annie & Leilah who made wedding planning a breeze! If I had to do it all again I would! Even on a St. Patrick’s day parade route! You cannot go wrong with this beautiful venue!!
Not only was Il Mercato the most beautiful venue, but the staff was a godsend. I am forever thankful for everyone at Il Mercato from Katie's help since day one, to Leilah's month of help, even to the day of staff, you cannot go wrong! I would give 100 stars if I could.
Our wedding took place November 3, 2018. It was everything I dreamed of and more! This venue is the most beautiful venue in New Orleans - indoor and outdoor space for your guests, wonderful fireplace, crisp and clean appearance. The staff at Il Mercato is top notch. The entire evening was perfect thanks to their staff. Book this venue - I promise it is worth it!!!
we fell in love with the venue when we first saw it and knew we had to have our wedding at il mercato. we love the location and how it's surrounded by beautiful boutiques and stores. the vibe is very modern new orleans with updated antique architecture.
even though we were planning our wedding from california, the process was pretty seamless.
i received so many compliments on our choice of venue from our Californian guests as well as the service during the reception; it was really exceptional! And our guests thoroughly enjoyed the food! We really couldn't have asked for more, although this venue does come w a pretty hefty price tag.
One major thing of note though: only acoustic music is allowed during the ceremony. So make sure you read through all of the restrictions thoroughly!
Although the venue was beautiful and the food was delicious. I had a horrible experience planning my October 2017 wedding. My event coordinator, Annie, was uninformative about many critical details, and as a result we lost thousands of dollars because of it. She never disclosed house rules until the eleventh hour at which point my husband and I had to take a loss. I wrote her a letter the month before the wedding expressing my displeasure with the way our event was being handled and she promised me full disclosure and a better working experience. However the day of the wedding before I was about to walk down the aisle she told my flower girls that they could NOT drop flower peddles on their courtyard! Once again the eleventh hour and hundreds of dollars lost. All these months later I still live with these unpleasant memories on such a special day.
From the minute I stepped into Il Mercato, I knew I was having my reception there. Not only is it incredibly gorgeous, every second of working with them was Beyond enjoyable. From Annie, who gave us our first tour, dealt with all my crazy rental questions, AND sat through an entire tasting meal with me and my now husband, to Leilah who made sure the month leading up to and everything on the wedding day was perfect, everyone at Il Mercato was a dream to work with. Not only did they make me feel like my wedding was truly important and exciting to them, but they worked with me to make sure I stayed within a budget I could manage. I HIGHLY recommend this venue to anyone and everyone who wants the best service and the most beautiful wedding space in New Orleans!
We can’t say enough about how kind and professional Annie has been. We recently had a tasting and the food is beyond delicious. They are so organized and have been so helpful and easily accessible.
If you want a one stop venue that has the perfect mix of gorgeous outdoor and elegant indoor space look no further than il Mercato. My husband and I explored venues throughout the Quarter and Garden District and none afforded the beauty, convenience and quality of il Mercato. The staff was incredibly accommodating for all of our requests and I am so glad we chose this venue.
Annie Hall and the team at Joel were outstanding! For a stressed out bride, Annie made the whole experience of picking a caterer and picking a menu so much easier. She did an amazing job of working within my budget and coming up with a menu that - even months later - my friends and family are still raving about. How many weddings have you been to where food is the number one thing the guests comment on? From the fabulous food to their professionalism - on all fronts - Joel gets five stars
TO DIE FOR! Joel's was amazing for our 2/11/17 destination wedding in New Orleans from the beginning to the end. Annie with Joel's was instrumental in planning our wedding. She provided helpful recommendations and brainstorming sessions that gave us confidence in our process. We were obsessed with the food from our tasting, especially the mini grilled cheese and blue crab beignets. Our friends and family were blown away at the quality of the food, and they kept going back for more. They also commented on the quality of the service at our wedding and how fun the bartenders/servers were. We had a flip where the ceremony room was turned into the reception during the cocktail hour. Joel's was able to get everything setup during that 1 hour cocktail hour. The event ran so smoothly, and we had no doubts that it would because it was all in Annie's hands (the genius that she is). Could not have asked for a better caterer for our wedding!
I had my wedding at il Mercato on 2/11/17. In my humble opinion this is the most beautiful venue in New Orleans. It is a spectacular space with impeccable style and I could not imagine having our reception anywhere else! Also, a big thank you to Joels Catering for the most fabulous food!!
This food was truly exceptional! Our guests raved about how delicious all of the food was and some said that it was one of the highlights of the wedding night. I was so impressed with the quality of the food and the variety I had to choose from. The shrimp and grits were out of this world and my guests talked about the lobster bisque for days. I would highly recommend to any bride!
From the moment we walked through the court yard gate, we knew this venue was for us. The fireplace and brick courtyard, the arches, the wood floors, the library and barn doors, even the powder room was to die for. I could go on for days. The food was out of this world and the service was beyond compare. We worked with Katie, and she answered every question big or small and helped us feel very prepared for our big day. I would not change an inch or a second of our wedding day and a big part of that has to do with this amazing venue.
The team at Il Mercato was great. They were always very responsive to questions and were easy to work with. The venue itself is beautiful and blended perfectly with our minimal decor vibe.
Our guests said it was the best wedding food they had every had! And you can even take the word 'wedding' out of that statement and it would still apply!
They were easy to work with and so accommodating when it came to making last minute changes and additions.
Highly recommend!
My husband is a chef and so we wanted awesome food at our wedding at the Beauregard-Keyes House. When people heard that great food was our priority, every single one of our New Orleans friends and vendors said one word: "Joel!" And they were right. Joel organized a Friday night passed hors d'oeuvres cocktail party and our Saturday night wedding with passed hors d'oeuvres, an oyster bar, and a buffet reception. They were accommodating with creating a Frankenstein bar (they supplied the spirits and mixers, we selected and brought in our own wines) and doing a really amazing groom's surprise caviar service. All in all, they were consummate professionals (Tey especially is a ROCK STAR), delightful to work with, and, last but certainly not least, the food was amazing and everybody loved it. A wedding truly fit for a chef!
Joel's catered our rehearsal dinner (175 people) and our wedding (200), and flat out, killed it. They were beyond. Just hire them already.
Katie, the coordinator is awesome. She's young, hip, and totally gets good food. She is beyond accommodating, always calm and stress-free, and just plain downright cool.
When we were first planning our wedding, we were really picky about the food- it was really important to us and we wanted to choose every item. Joel's accommodated every request- even hunting down recipes from our favorite restaurant in Los Angeles to make a taco we loved from our first date-- they are THAT dedicated. And the taco they made was pretty damn good.
One of the best parts of using Joel's were the servers. They are so much freaking fun. They were personable, friendly, attentive, and even danced while they were serving food. They just made the whole night feel light and fun, and completely kept the tone we were setting of an upscale night picnic. One of the coolest things about the servers was that they all remembered our guests from the rehearsal dinner the night before. Our guests felt special when their drink was remembered or they were greeted by name, and that made us happy. As the bride and groom, we had heard horror stories from friends who never ate at their own weddings bc the day went too fast. Not us-- Katie put staff members on us and, wonderfully, also our parents, to make sure we were always looked after- it was like the food Secret Service. If I turned around, my favorite drink was already there waiting. They remembered what my mom liked to drink and always had it for her too. They stalked us with delicious treats in hand, and it was awesome. They just made everything special.
The food deserves its own review because its just downright delicious. I don't know what they put in their grits, but I could have just eaten those all night. We did a family-style meal with fried chicken, pork shoulder, grits, seasonal salads, biscuits, a full dessert bar and late night sliders passed around... it was amazing. We had multiple guests tell us that it was the best food they ever had, and the best compliment that we can give is that nothing tasted like wedding food.
The entire experience was perfect. Rock on Joel's.
My event coordinator Kate went above and beyond to make everything perfect on my wedding day. We held our wedding at Hermann Grima House in New Orleans. This venue is BYO- Everything! This was intimidating at first but Kate made everything so easy. Joel Catering provided all rentals (tables, plates, flat wear, serving station and even two bars! Bartenders and waitresses. Kate even went above and beyond helping with some small decor details on the day of the wedding. She was always very attentive to all of my questions and great at responding to my emails. Almost all of the them within the day of writing her! I am from Philadelphia and did not go to NOLA at all during planning process. Everything was over the phone or email. Without Kate and Joel catering I do not know how my wedding day would have turned out. They were the perfect team for the job. The food was beyond amazing and all of our guests commented on how it was their favorite meal their whole visit to New Orleans which is saying a lot in this town! Guests raved about the " Late Nigh snack" We served Beignets, sliders and fries an hour before the reception was over. The shrimp and grits are a MUST! I felt that their prices were very reasonable for the quality of what you are getting!
Joel is one of the best caterers I've ever dealt with -- and I work in restaurant and hotel PR in a major city. The food was impeccable. The manager, Meg Skism, was on top of every detail and always had a smile. The servers were warm, professional and perfect in every way. I even forced them to serve a family style meal and sub pie for cakes. They didn't bat an eye. They just made it all work.
everything was as we requested and as promised
Everyone at my wedding keeps talking about how amazing the food was. It was really important to me to have amazing food at my wedding. I hate when you go to a wedding and leave hungry. I heard that Joel's was the best so I had to go with him. We had a tasting and it was just amazing. The shrimp and grits were to die for. We had late night sliders and fries passed around and everyone loved them!! I couldn't be more pleased with Joel's.
Contact
1911 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA
Il Mercato's photos