Five Places to Visit in Lafayette to Feel Like You’re in ‘Old Lafayette’

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - The city of Lafayette seems to grow each and every week, and that's a good thing, but still, there are places in the city you can visit that give you that "Old Lafayette" feel.

Nostalgia is part of the Lafayette culture. We love to think back on events and places that may no longer exist, but luckily, there are still some places in Lafayette that make it feel like you're back in the 60s, 70s, or 80s.

Let's look at a few places you can still visit in Lafayette that have that "Old Lafayette" feel for some odd reason.

Let's start with the backbone of Lafayette: the university nestled on Johnston Street. Sure, there have been many renovations and additions to this beautiful campus, but when you walk on the grounds of UL, it still has that old-time feel, too, and that's a treasure.

Not long ago, I was on campus, and I recall telling myself that this place just "feels" like Lafayette. After all, it's got a swamp with alligators on the grounds.

Then there's Bordens near downtown Lafayette. One of the oldest buildings in Lafayette has been remodeled, but anytime you walk in for a nice, comforting treat, there's a feel to this place that still makes it feel like you're in Lafayette in the 1950s.

What an iconic place to bring your kids to Lafayette.

We stay downtown for the next place that will make you feel like you're in "Old Lafayette." Dwyer's Cafe just has that feel and atmosphere like you're in Lafayette in the 70s or 80s.

Not only does it offer you that nostalgic feeling, but Dwyer's also seems to have a small-town atmosphere, something you'd experience in a smaller Acadian town.

Sticking with places to eat, is there any restaurant in Lafayette more iconic than Judice Inn? They've stuck to tradition there, just look at their menu, and they are proud sponsors of the UL Athletics.

From the minute you step into Judice Inn on Johnston St., you feel like you're in "Old Lafayette." The feeling you get when you walk into Judice Inn is the exact feeling or experience you get when you walk into Borden's. It's truly "Old Lafayette."

And then there's the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Lafayette. Yes, like other iconic places in Lafayette, the Cathedral has undergone renovations and may not look like it once did many years back, but the building and the grounds still exemplify "Old Lafayette."

If you want to go back in time, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, walk the grounds of the Cathedral in silence, and you can just feel how majestic it is; that's "Old Lafayette."

Lastly, as an Honorable Mention, I want to acknowledge that Festival International in downtown Lafayette still offers a bit of Lafayette nostalgia in 2026. The festival has remained true to its location, and anytime you visit Festival International in Lafayette, again, it just "feels" like Lafayette.

There's something about the atmosphere and entertainment that has remained true for many years, giving you the "Old Lafayette" vibes.

Disclaimer: I know there are many more nostalgic places in Lafayette, and I encourage you to visit them all. Let's keep "Old Lafayette" alive in the 21st century.