Being a New Orleans native, I’m constantly being asked for recommendations when people are visiting the city for the first time. In my opinion, New Orleans is one of the greatest cities in the world, but tourists can get stuck spending all of their time on Bourbon street and miss out on the amazing culture Nola (New Orleans, LA) has to offer. This list is meant to help you get off of Bourbon and see the city (and if you MUST go to Bourbon, I’ll tell you which bars to spend your time at).
Stay
There are SO many hotels in New Orleans. I’m loyal to SPG (now Marriott Bonvoy), and they have some great ones downtown. I suggest staying downtown as it makes it easiest to walk, grab the streetcar, or grab a taxi.
Le Meridien New Orleans: Lately this has been the cheapest option when I’ve visited, especially during football season (just be prepared for LOTS of NFL fans!). As a loyal Marriott Bonvoy member, I’ve also found that this property tends to give upgrades more than any other in New Orleans, which is always a perk! This property also has mini-bars in the room, which is always nice for an early morning in bed Bloody Mary (trust me, it’s New Orleans, you’ll need it).
Westin New Orleans Canal Place: The Westin is my favorite hotel in general, and the one in New Orleans does not disappoint. It’s in a perfect location, on the edge of the Warehouse District, Downtown, and the French Quarter, and the lobby is situated on the 11th floor of the Canal Place building and mall. The glass elevator and view from the lobby are worth it alone to at least come in and grab a drink at one of the two bars they have.
Renaissance New Orleans Arts Warehouse District Hotel: Beware, there are two Renaissance hotels in New Orleans, so it can get a smidge confusing! This is the most recent spot I stayed in, and I’m bummed I’ve missed it all this time! It’s a little further away from the action on Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, but only by about a 10 minute walk. For me, it was perfect to be slightly outside of the action this recent jaunt, and the hotel itself was beautiful. They have a fantastic restaurant and coffee/beignet shop in the lobby, as well as an attached art gallery. It’s in a great location if you plan to do some restaurants and exploring in the Warehouse district, and also happens to be across the street from Lucy’s Retired Surfer Bar & Grill which is one of my favorite bars in the area.
Aloft New Orleans Downtown: Depending on what events are happening in the city, the Westin can get pricey pretty quick. The Aloft is my go-to when the Westin gets up there, as it usually stays pretty affordable. The rooms are much smaller, but the hotel is still very centrally located, and has a great bar in the lobby on the first floor. One downside, they don’t staff housekeeping at all hours of the day. They once accidentally missed our room and weren’t able to come back for it, and I’ve had to walk downstairs to pick up amenities before because of them being short staffed.
Ritz Carlton New Orleans: If you want to really treat yourself, the Ritz is where it’s at. I’ve been lucky enough to stay here a few times for weddings and conferences, and it’s really quite fantastic. They also have, in my opinion, one of the best spas in all of New Orleans, and if you have a Nola ID they’ll give you 20% off your service. They have an incredible bar where you can stop in to see Jeremy Davenport on a regular basis, and last time I visited even had a champagne vending machine in the lobby!
The Sheraton and Marriott are two of the largest hotels on Canal Street, but I generally would recommend against them. They’re large, but both a bit outdated. They are not typically that much cheaper than other options, and the four above are all great in my opinion.
Eat
Food is life in Nola. Prepare to gain at least 5-10 pounds on any trip to the city.
French Truck is a newer coffee chain that is popping up all over the city. The bright yellow stores are hard to miss, and the coffee is incredible. I’m a big fan of the iced New Orleans coffee, and they have locations within walking distance of every hotel downtown.
Birdy’s is a new spot on Magazine street that has quickly become my new favorite. I felt like I was in Los Angeles once I was back in the patio, and it’s the perfect outdoor brunch spot on a sunny day. The coffee selections were amazing, and the standout entree was the biscuits and gravy. They have multiple locations, so make sure you’re booking a reservation at the right one! It’s the perfect location to kick off a day of shopping on Magazine Street.
Tujagues is one of my newest favorites, and we’ve been twice for brunch in the last few months. They recently re-opened a brand new upgraded location, and it’s so beautiful. They are also known for the Grasshopper drink, which is a boozy mint drink, and it’s so delicious. They also have an incredible coffee drink that is VERY boozy, which from the photo above you can tell I was not expecting.
Broussard’s Jazz Brunch is so fun, and I can’t believe how long it took me to finally visit. Everything is delicious, and it’s great to go with a group so you can try everything. Standouts were the Oysters Broussard, the fried oyster wedge salad, and the Josephine Benedict.
Miss River: The Four Seasons hotel recently opened in New Orleans within the past year, and Miss River is the star of the resort for sure. Not only is it one of the most beautiful restaurant I think I’ve ever been in, the oyster stew is possibly the most delicious soup I’ve had in my entire life. HIGHLY recommend making this a stop on your trip. They’re known for their fried chicken, which comes out as a whole chicken, then cut up table-side with red beans and dipping sauces. Get there early to have a drink in the beautiful Chandelier Bar in the lobby.
Nola by Emeril: Y’all, this might be slightly touristy, but LORD is it good. I suggest ordering a bunch of shared plates for the table, as everything they make is amazing. My favorites include the fried alligator, frog legs, bbq shrimp, and the duck confit pizza. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu, and the fact that the restaurant is right off of Bourbon street doesn’t hurt either!
Restaurant R’evolution: This is our new most favorite place in all of New Orleans. The food is INCREDIBLE. We over order every single time we come because there is just too much on the menu to handle. Blue crab beignets, gumbo stuffed quail, caviar towers, foie gras, just everything. Their mains are even better – steaks, lobster gnocchi, quail three ways, so many things to choose from. Make sure to ask for Kevin when you go, and tell him that the Denault’s sent you!
Jacque-imo’s: This is the PERFECT place to eat if you’re planning to go to Maple Leaf to see Rebirth (every Tuesday!!). The ambiance is incredible, and the food even more so. They have a jalapeño cornbread that I dream about. They don’t take reservations, so get there early, put your name in, and grab an Abita or cocktail and head outside to drink under the Oak trees while you wait.
Atchafalaya Brunch: Think shrimp & grits, duck hash, and Eggs Atchafalaya – a dish of poached eggs, fried green tomatoes, jumbo lump crab meat, and hollandaise sauce. This is hands down my favorite place to brunch in New Orleans. It’s a small restaurant, so make sure to get reservations ahead of time. If you do have to wait, do the true New Orleanian thing and order a drink to take outside and drink under the trees on Louisiana Ave.
Cooter Brown’s for a Po-Boy: You CANNOT have a trip to Nola without eating a Po-Boy. Short for “poor boy” after the low paid dock workers who were the original customers of the first po-boy shop, the most common po-boys are made of either fried seafood or meat on New Orleans french bread. My personal favorite at Cooter’s is the Alligator Sausage. This place is definitely what most would consider a dive bar and they have an extensive beer list, so order your sandwich, grab a beer, and settle in with the locals. It’s also only a few blocks from Audubon Park and Tulane/Loyola Universities, so it’s a great spot to hit after a tour of the far end of St. Charles Ave.
Commander’s Palace: Commander’s is a fine dining restaurant with a 25 cent martini brunch/lunch. That’s right. 25 CENT MARTINIS. There is a limit of 4, but if you’ve spent any time in Nola, you know that 4 martinis is PLENTY.
In addition to the martinis, the food is incredible. Expect true New Orleans cuisine from the Brennan family – some of the most well known restauranteurs in the city. Make sure to call ahead – you’ll need reservations, and the 25 cent martinis are not offered at all times.
Cochon Butcher: This casual spot is fantastic for lunch. They have an extensive menu of sandwiches, as well as tons of charcuterie boards so that you can try their expansive meat selections.
Superior Seafood: This spot on St. Charles has some fantastic appetizers, and often I only order a bunch of those instead of an actual meal. The crawfish cornbread above is one of my favorites, and their bbq shrimp is also phenomenal. Make sure to also order one of their frozen drinks!
Joey K’s: Order the Eggplant Napoleon as an appetizer and thank me later. Fried eggplant covered in a crawfish cream sauce and fried shrimp. It’s heaven on a plate (I told you you’d gain 10 pounds). The decor is super cool as well, and they sell most of it, so it’s a great place to grab a New Orleans momento.
Central Grocery: Another must eat sandwich in New Orleans is the muffuletta. Central Grocery is the origin of this Italian sandwich of salami, ham, mortadella, provolone, mozzarella and a delicious olive salad. There is typically a line, but you shouldn’t have to wait more than about 30-45 minutes, and it’s well worth it. One whole sandwich is about a foot in diameter, so opt for a fourth or half size.
La Petite Grocery: This is my favorite place to go for a nice dinner out with my family when I’m in town. Justin Devillier was named best chef in the south by the James Beard Association, and it’s a worthy win. For appetizers you MUST get the blue crab beignets. Also recommended are the fried oysters, fried green tomatoes, and the ricotta dumplings. For entrees, I almost always order the panéed rabbit. The turtle bolognese is another fan favorite in my family.
Maypop: Highly recommend coming here for their Dim Sum Brunch, which is not at ALL traditional dim sum, but instead a beautiful fusion of Chinese dim sum with New Orleans ingredients. Standouts include the pork and cane syrup sausage stuffed sesame balls, and the “baodin” a boudin bao.
Tsunami: Amazing sushi in downtown New Orleans. This has become our go-to lunch when we’re working remotely, and our favorite post Saints game drunken snack during the NFL season. They have a great Sake list (including a bottle aptly named “Black and Gold”) and an extensive menu with some fun standouts, like the iko fries, which are chunky slices of calamari, deep fried, and dipped in a spicy mayo!
Rock n’ Sake: Another great sushi spot in New Orleans, with less raw options, but some incredible fusion options. It also has one of the most amazing atmospheres – think fun light fixtures, loud and energetic music, and lots of larger parties celebrating. Their cocktail list is incredible, with a lot of sake forward mixes, and I don’t think I’ve ever been here and NOT seen a birthday party do sake bombs. While they do tend to have a lot of large parties, I enjoy coming with just Eric every once in a while to grab food/drinks at the bar or at one of the smaller tables they have scattered around!
Saba: If you’re looking to feel a bit healthier, Saba is a great option. A mediterranean spot from chef Alon Shaya, it’s one of my absolute favorites, and we visit the sister restaurant in Denver all the time. They have a great selection of hummus’ and dips to start with, and delicious entrees. My absolute favorite is their roasted cauliflower with whipped feta.
Drink
New Orleans doesn’t have a closing time, and many bars stay open all night. In addition, you can bring your drink to go and drink in the street, so be prepared to drink ALOT.
The Columns: The Columns is a hotel on the historic St. Charles Ave. with an amazing bar downstairs. When you step inside you feel like you’ve gone back in time. I suggest ordering a Pimm’s Cup – they make the best one I’ve head in my entire life. Once you get your drink, head outside to the front patio to watch the streetcars pass by or head into the side room for live music on some nights.
Ms. Mae’s: This is the diviest bar that you will ever find. It is also a 24/7 bar. Drinks are also $1.75 and in some cases you can get a double for less than $3. The novelty of being open ALL OF THE TIME as well as the cheapness of the drinks is reason enough to make a stop here during your visit. In college we mostly used this as the best place for pregaming, as well as the spot to go if you happened to still want to drink once it started getting light outside (Nola is a special place). I once happened to go on the night of (morning after) Tulane’s graduation and it was so packed at 6 am that I could barely get to the bar.
The Bulldog: The Bulldog is a great bar for beer – they have over 50 beers on tap and over 100 different bottles. It’s very popular with young professionals after work, and their patio is great for people watching up and down magazine street. In addition, if you go on a Wednesday night for pint night, you get to bring home every glass you drink, and they’re all uniquely decorated with New Orleans designs and Bulldog logos. They also have a kitchen, and their fries and nachos are GREAT after a couple of brews.
Carousel Bar: Located inside the Hotel Monteleone, the Carousel Bar is exactly what it sounds like – a bar that is modeled after, and rotates like, a carousel. If you get there early enough, you can snag a seat at the mirrored bar and slowly spin in a complete circle while listening to the amazing live music. Eric and I love this bar so much, that we fashioned the bar at our wedding after it! Don’t worry, it doesn’t go too fast 🙂
The Sazerac Bar: The Sazerac originated at this bar within the beautiful Hotel Roosevelt. Not a Sazerac fan? The gin fizz here is also amazing.
Pat O’s: So you decide you HAVE to go to Bourbon? This is the spot to hit. Pat O’s is knows as the best place to get the famous Hurricane drink, and their dueling piano bar provides HOURS of entertainment. You can also splurge and take the souvenir Hurricane glass home with you if you’d like.
Tropical Isle: If you’re already on Bourbon, you have to stop by Tropical Isle and get a Hand Grenade. It’s the second most popular drink on Bourbon, and it’s super sweet. Opt to get it without ice to make it a double.
Do
One of my favorite new spots in New Orleans is the Sazerac House. It’s a museum and drinking excursion in one (figures in Nola). The self-guided tour (that is FREE!) takes you through the history of cocktails in New Orleans, focuses even more specifically on the Sazerac. Throughout the tour, you get to taste a few of the most famous cocktails as you learn about them. While the tour and the drink experience is completely free, you do have to reserve a spot ahead of time, so make sure to grab tickets online in advance.
See Rebirth Brass Band at Maple Leaf: Rebirth is one of the best brass bands in the city, and you can see them every single Tuesday at the Maple Leaf bar. I recommend heading to Jacque-imo’s for dinner first, and then walking over. Wear comfortable clothes, because you’ll be doing a lot of dancing, and a LOT of sweating. Check out some of their music here.
Jackson Square: Jackson square is the beautiful main square of the French Quarter in New Orleans. At one end of the square is Decatur street and Cafe du Monde, and the other end is the incredible St. Louis Cathedral. Along the sides of the squares you’ll find super talented artists, street performers, and fortune tellers. Take some time to walk around and pick up some really amazing New Orleans art and find out what your future has in store for you.
Cafe du Monde: Believe it or not, this was my first job in high school – but not at this location. Grab a seat and order a cafe au lait and an order or two of beignets. A beignet is a fried french donut that is then covered in powdered sugar. They’re delicious, cheap, and addicting. Fair warning, the powdered sugar gets EVERYWHERE so beware if you happen to visit while you’re wearing dark colored clothes!
French Market: After you’ve stuffed your face with beignets, walk down decatur to the French Market – a collection of stands with all sorts of fun New Orleans trinkets, jewelry, and amazing food. Grab a fresh fruit daiquiri, some alligator on a stick, and do some local shopping!
Lafayette Cemetery: I know this sounds weird, but cemeteries are very unique in New Orleans. We are a city that exists mostly below sea level, and because of that, all of our cemeteries are 100% above ground in very ornate mausoleums. Lafayette Cemetery is right next door to Commander’s Palace uptown, and is a great place to walk around and see the unique and beautiful tradition of burying above ground.
Streetcar down St. Charles: The most iconic of the streetcars in New Orleans runs up and down St. Charles Ave. from Canal street downtown all the way to the universities and Audubon park uptown. It’s a great way to get from one side of the city to the other, and along St. Charles you can see some of the most beautiful mansions in the south.
Tulane/Loyola: These two historic, beautiful universities are located literally right next to each other, and it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. If you’re planning to take the Streetcar down St. Charles, this is a good place to get out, take a quick walk around the universities, and then head across the street to Audubon Park.
Audubon Park/The Fly: Audubon Park is a 350 acre park directly across from Tulane and Loyola. It’s a great location for getting a perfect instagram photo with the oak trees. There is also a running track and a golf course on the premise. Along one side, the park borders the river. We call that area “the fly” and it’s a great place to spread out a blanket, set up some corn hole, and have a few drinks in the sun on a nice day.
Fleurty Girl: Fleurty Girl is a local store on Magazine street that sells unique New Orleans merchandise. They have a wide variety of male and female shirts with Nola sayings on them, as well as lot of household items. I made a trip here every time I’m home to stock up on my Nola gear.
Harrahs Casino: Located right in the middle of downtown, this is a great pitstop for some gambling and free drinks. As long as you’re actively gambling at a table or a machine, you can order free drinks from the cocktail waitresses walking the floor. If it’s not a holiday, you can typically find blackjack and craps tables with fairly low minimum bets, even lower if it’s a weekday.
Go to a Saints game: Now I know I’m biased, as it’s no secret that I’m a HUGE New Orleans Saints fan, but even as a non-fan, it’s a great experience. I’ve been to a lot of away games at a lot of different stadiums, and New Orleans is definitely unique. The dome gets loud, the fans never stop screaming, and if you’re a fan of another team, you’ll immediately make 20+ new friends who all want to give you recommendations of where to eat and what to do while you’re visiting.
Go to a Pelicans game at the Smoothie King Center. Basketball games in New Orleans are a bargain compared with most other cities, and the arena is right in downtown, which makes it super easy to walk to and from for a game. It’s a great city to travel to for any sporting event in my opinion! This most recent season, we lucked out with two back to back Warriors v Pelicans games so that Eric and I both got our basketball fill.
Elevator in Canal Place: I know this sounds super random, but it’s one of the best ways to get some amazing views of the city. Head into the Canal Place mall, and take the center glass elevators up to the 11th floor, which is also the lobby of the Westin hotel. You’ll catch some great views, and then can grab a drink in the lobby overlooking the river.
WWII Museum: This is another place I used to work in New Orleans. I spent 100 service hours here during high school taking groups on tours of the museum and I can say, after 100 hours walking the museum, I STILL go back whenever I get the chance. It’s an incredible collection of WWII items and tells an important story in our history. If you can make the visit, plan to spend at least a few hours wandering the exhibits.
Aquarium and Insectarium: The aquarium in New Orleans is amazing. It has a ton of different exhibits including a two story rainforest exhibit. There is also an insectarium down the street where you can eat a bug if that’s your type of thing. The aquarium, insectarium, and the zoo are all owned by the same company, so you can purchase discounted tickets to all of them. There is also a boat ride you can take up and down the river from the aquarium to the zoo and back if you have the time. It’s a long ride, but gives you a unique view of the city from the water.
The Abita Brewery: Take a quick drive across the lake to the Abita Brewery. They have an awesome outdoor patio where you can sit and taste all of their fantastic brews, and it’s a great spot to buy cases of beer at super cheap prices to bring home. They also have a great gift shop, and do tours outside of COVID times.
After-Hours Bowfishing: This may be the most unique thing on this list, and also the most fun (saved the best for last!). This is exactly what it sounds like – you’ll go out into the water after-hours (around 8-midnight) and you’ll go fishing with bow and arrows. Essentially, you’re shooting the arrow into the fish, and then the bow has a reel attached to pull it in. You also get to keep what you catch, so if you’re luck, you’ll have dinner for the next few days! You’ll need some time for this one as it’s about an hour outside of downtown, and make sure to dress appropriately – while it may be warm most of the time, there are a lot of bugs so a hat, long pants, and mosquito spray are a must.
Seasonal Do’s aka Festivals
Jazzfest: Let’s be honest, the food is the main act at Jazzfest for sure. You almost have to go both weekends just so that you can try everything you’ll want to consume. In addition, the music is amazing, and it seems like the only popular music festival these days where you actually have space to sit down and lounge while you watch major acts. Granted depending on weather you might be lounging in mud, but sometimes that makes it all the more fun.
Do you have other tips for great things to do in New Orleans? Questions about an upcoming trip? Let us know in the comments below!
