NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE
How Much Time Do You Need IN New orleans
New Orleans is a great place to visit for a weekend. If you have extra time, you can eat at more restaurants and try more drinks, but you can see most of the main sights in two days.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO EAT IN NEW ORLEANS
Loretta’s
If you only eat one thing in New Orleans, it should be warm and flakey Crab Beignets from Loretta’s. They are the best things in the world. You also NEED the sweet potato cookies. They’re soft and chewy and perfectly sweetened and spiced with cinnamon. Loretta’s has a stall in the French Market, as well as a standalone shop on North Rampart Street. We loved it so much we went three times in a week.
Shaya
Ever since going to Shaya, no other Mediterranean place has ever compared. The lamb ragu hummus is to die for – I’d come back just for this. Your best bet is to stick with the dips and veggies. For non-alcoholic drinks, the Lebanese ice tea was really unique with a rose flavor.
Cochon
Cochon dishes out upscale southern cuisine, but in a very comfortable environment. There’s lots of pig dishes here!
Cochon Butcher
The shop is right next to Cochon and sells sandwiches and other amazing food. It’s pretty easy to grab and go. They’re famous for their Muffelata, but the Smoked Turkey sandwich is also pretty great. It’s located right by the World War II museum so you can go before or after.
Mother’s
Mother’s is a classic spot for po’ boys – it’s a New Orleans institution. Order “the ferdi with debris”. Since it’s one of the more popular places, there will probably be a long line, but don’t let this deter you – it moves fast!
Le Petite Grocery
Le Petite Grocery may be my favorite place to eat in all of New Orleans. It has really solid southern food – you need to get the Blue Crab Beignets!
Cafe du Monde vs Cafe Beignet
While you’re in New Orleans you need to try beignets (fried dough doused in powdered sugar). There’s a big debate over which is better – Cafe du Monde or Cafe Beignet. In my opinion they’re both delicious, but Cafe Beignet wins because their beignets are fluffier. You should try them both – for research purposes. And don’t forget to get a cafe au lait to wash it all down!
Port of Call
They are famous for delicious burgers with a loaded potato on the side. They have Beyond Burgers too if you’re not a meat eater. The popular drink here is Neptune’s Monsoon. You should definitely try one, but maybe split it amongst the table since it’s a lot of sugar and booze in one drink.
GW Fins
I put GW Fins in the same category as Commander’s Palace and Arnaud’s. And out of the three (GW Fins, Arnaud’s, Commander’s Palace), GW Fins is my favorite. It’s a white tablecloth establishment with amazing service and even better food. The menu changes daily depending on the day’s catch, but if they have it, get the lobster dumplings, their famous “scalibut” (halibut crusted with thinly-sliced scallops), and the local drum. They also provide unlimited warm rolls at the beginning of your meal. For dessert, we recommend the bread pudding. It won’t disappoint.
Commander’s Palace
Commander’s Palace is an iconic New Orleans restaurant. The food is outstanding and the service is next level. Turtle soup gained its popularity here. It’s a bit more formal than some of the other restaurants in the city – depending on the time of day you visit, men may need to wear jackets.
Arnaud’s
Similar to Commander’s Palace, Arnaud’s is a New Orleans institution. Conveniently located off of Bourbon Street, it has 17 different dining rooms – one with live jazz. They’re known for their creole cuisine and flaming desserts – you must get the bananas foster! The service here was the best we experienced in all of New Orleans.
Parkway Bakery & Tavern Po’boy
Parkway Bakery is the way to go if you’re looking for the best po’boy in New Orleans.
Clover Grill
After a night out of drinking, you might be looking for a greasy spoon to soak up all that alcohol. Clover Grill is just the spot. This dive serves up greasy burgers, fries, and eggs. They also have a jukebox and you can pick out the music. There are only a few seats here, but if you can’t get one, you can place a to go order.
Fried Chicken
If you’re craving fried chicken, there are three highly recommended places:
Willie Mae’s, L’il Dizzy’s Cafe, and Dooky Chase’s
We’ve been to New Orleans a few times, but we still haven’t crossed everything off our list. Here are some highly recommended places we haven’t been able to dine at yet:
Palm and Pine, Galatoire’s, Mamou, Zasu
HOT TAKE – SKIP BRENNANS
I know Brennans is beloved by many, but I had a bad experience there and wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending it or visiting again. There are SO MANY fantastic restaurants in New Orleans. I feel like bad waiters can really ruin the experience and that’s what happened here. We had an extremely rude waiter and thought that the food was over-hyped. Try Arnauds, Commander’s Palace, or GW Fins instead. You can get New Orleans famous flaming bananas foster dessert there and the service is outstanding, unlike at Brennan’s.
FAMOUS DRINKS OF NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans is infamous for its bars, many of which have different and unique drinks. Here’s a shortlist of the most famous drinks and bars in New Orleans.
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Bar claims to be the US’s longest continuously running bar. It’s a super tiny spot with a dark and grungy inside and a small outdoor garden. The Voodoo Daiquiri is their famous drink, a frozen mix of Bourbon, Everclear, and Grape Juice.
Pat O’Briens
Pat O’Briens has a fascinating history. During the Prohibition, the bar functioned as a speakeasy. You’d need to say the password “storm’s a brewin'” to gain entry and enjoy illicit drinks. The famous drink here is The Hurricane – a super sweet mix of rum, passion fruit juice, and lemon juice. It’s like an alcoholic kool aid.
The Roosevelt Hotel OR The Elysian – Sazerac
The Sazerac could be considered a cousin to the Old Fashioned. It’s made with Whiskey or Cognac, Absinthe, a sugar cube, and bitters. Try one in the beautiful Roosevelt Hotel bar or at the cozy and bright Elysian.
Lucy’s Retired Surfer’s Bar and Restaurant
Lucy’s is one of two places I’d recommend for a Shark Attack – a drink made of rum, vodka and curaçao. The bartenders put some grenadine in a toy shark’s mouth before launching it into your drink. Lucy’s also has great, cheap Mexican food. During the day, it’s a casual bar, but at night, it can turn into more of a club with dancing.
Tropical Isle
Tropical Isle is famous for two drinks – The Hand Grenade and The Shark Attack. There are a few Tropical Isle’s along Bourbon Street – one even has a balcony so you can people watch from above as you enjoy your drink. The Shark Attack is the same as Lucy’s but Tropical Isle puts on more of a show when you order the drink. They’ll ring a bell and yell “Shark in the water!” before putting the shark into the drink and lightly throwing bits of ice at you. If you’re filming, they’ll turn up the theatrics and bring the shark close to your camera so you get a good video. It’s a fun experience!
You’ll probably see Hand Grenades everywhere on Bourbon Street. They come in bright neon green tube-shaped cups. You can get this super sweet drink either frozen or on the rocks. It’s filled with vodka, rum, gin and melon liqueur. To me, it kind of tastes a little bit like an alcoholic Mountain Dew.
Carousel Bar in The Monteleone Hotel
While this bar doesn’t have a famous drink per se, it’s definitely worth visiting. The bar is a functioning, slow-moving, 25-seat circular carousel. The bartenders stand in the center and the carousel rotates around them. You can sip your cocktail while taking a gentle spin around the bar. Try and go early or at an off-hour since the carousel only has a few seats and they fill up fast.
Port of Call
Neptune’s Monsoon – Port of Call is a divey burger restaurant on the fringe of the French Quarter, but they also have a famous drink, Neptune’s Monsoon. This drink is kind of similar to Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane, but it has more citrus (orange and pineapple juice). It’s said that a pirate would drink this before walking the plank.
Bacchanal Wine
Bacchanal Wine doesn’t have a specialty drink, but it’s a great live-music venue with outdoor seating. Definitely check it out while you’re in New Orleans.
There are three drinks I haven’t tried yet, but have heard I need to on my next visit:
Napoleon House – Pimm’s Cup
Tujague’s – Grasshopper
Old Absinthe House – Absinthe House Frappé
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO AND SEE IN NEW ORLEANS
Walk Around the French Quarter
The French Quarter, New Orleans’ oldest neighborhood, is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, historic architecture, and cultural diversity. With its narrow streets, iconic balconies, and lively music scene, it’s a captivating destination where visitors can immerse themselves in the city’s rich heritage. We did a Free Walking Tour and found it super informative. We highly recommend it.
St. Louis Cathedral and Mississippi River Walk
The St. Louis Cathedral, located in Jackson Square, is a historic landmark in the French Quarter known for its stunning architecture. Cross the street to stroll along the Mississippi River Walk.
World War II Museum
This museum in New Orleans is dedicated to preserving the history and memory of World War II. It features immersive exhibits, artifacts, and personal stories, offering visitors a comprehensive look at the global conflict. This museum is MASSIVE. We spent 4 hours there and felt like we only saw half of the museum. We recommend starting with the Japanese and German exhibits, then going back into the main exhibit area. The Japanese and German exhibits are newer, extremely informative, and really well done.
Jamnola
Jamnola is an immersive art experience in New Orleans, offering a unique blend of art, music, and technology. It’s closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Pharmacy Museum
Located in the French Quarter, the Pharmacy Museum showcases the history of pharmacy practice in the 19th century. It’s closed on Mondays and Sundays.
Cemetery Tour
Since New Orleans is below sea level, all the cemeteries in the city are above ground. Explore the unique cemeteries on a guided tour. Tours are offered at very specific times, with options to visit St. Louis Cemetery, Lafayette Cemetery, or Metairie Cemetery, the latter being free to enter. Some cemeteries require a guide to enter. The guides are excellent – they tell amazing stories about some of the more famous residents there.
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
Nestled within the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park, this sculpture garden features a stunning collection of outdoor art installations.
Audubon Park
A picturesque urban park located in Uptown New Orleans, Audubon Park offers walking trails, lush green spaces, and recreational facilities. It’s a peaceful retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle. The main loop around the park is almost 2 miles.
Shop on Magazine Street
Magazine Street is a popular shopping destination in New Orleans, known for boutiques, galleries, and antique shops spanning several blocks.
Palace Art Market on Royal Street
This late-night art and flea market on Royal Street has vendors selling unique artworks, crafts, and custom jewelry. It’s open from 7 pm to midnight and closed on Tuesdays.
Walk through the Garden District
The Garden District has some of the nicest houses in New Orleans. Walk through the streets and admire the large, historical homes. Lafayette Cemetery Number 1 is in the Garden District and so is Commander’s Palace so you can easily plan to see all three while you’re in the area.
Frenchmen Street
You have to go here. No ifs ands or buts. This is New Orleans right here! It is the name of the street that is lined with bars and live music. At night time (starting around 9:30 pm) they play jazz music and have shows in all of the bars that line this street. Sometimes there is a cover – it is usually no more than $15. These covers are usually well worth it. The talent of musicians in this city is out of control.
Walk through Armstrong Park
Armstrong Park is right on North Rampart Street. It’s a small park with a musical theme. There are a bunch of cool statues and bridges. It’s worth it to take a quick stroll through.
Visit Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar
Oldest bar in New Orleans and one of the oldest in the country. They have been serving drinks since the 1700’s!
Take the St. Charles Streetcar
Take the streetcar as a fun way to break up the day (or when your feet get tired). Choose the route that will take you down St. Charles for a scenic ride.
Jean Lafitte Park
If you’re looking to get slightly out of New Orleans and see a really cool swamp, head to Jean Lafitte Park. Without traffic it’s only 20 minutes outside of the city center. Start at the Visitor Center. The rangers there can help you with a couple things:
– The rangers will tell you where they recently saw gators so you can head there first.
– A good portion of the park was damaged in recent storms, so they can tell you which trails are open and closed.
– There is a small boardwalk trail behind the Visitor Center. We saw our first gator here! They can direct you to this trail if you can’t find it.
We spent about two hours here and walked two trails. We could have spent more time exploring if we didn’t have a dinner reservation.
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