Somehow it’s already August and SOMEHOW our weekend getaway to New Orleans was two months ago and this post is WAY overdue. So much to do and so little time to do it all! This was pretty much the theme of our long weekend in New Orleans. Like I had said in my previous post about New Orleans, I do an obnoxious amount of planning to figure out all there is to eat, drink, see, do, shop etc so our list going down was pretty aggressive. I will say, we did a damn good job of hitting most of the main points we agreed we needed to see. The city was celebrating their tri-centennial and being out and about with all of the celebrations was really incredible. Our West Coast bodies had a tough time toward the end of the trip with the extreme heat and humidity so next time (there will be a next time)…we want to go in either April or October, which are said to be the best months to visit! I threw together my “City Guide to New Orleans” with a map of all the places we went as well as added some “additional recs” to the bottom of each category that we wanted to see but didn’t have a chance to! Thank you to everyone who gave us suggestions and recommendations to help make our trip so memorable. I hope you enjoy and get the chance to visit New Orleans soon!
STAY
- Garden District / Airbnb: We stayed at the most beautiful Airbnb in the Garden District. Loft in style (which we are obsessed with), close to downtown, across the street from a park and a spectacular patio that let you people watch for days. Calvin was a wonderful host, extremely accommodating and takes amazing care of his place!
- Ace Hotel: We ended up extending our stay in Nola for one extra night and we were so glad we did. We moved from the Garden District to the “CBD” or Central Business District and stayed at the Ace Hotel. Amazing location, friendly staff, rooms were dramatic and comfortable, the lobby bar was fabulous and the rooftop bar was PACKED. We would absolutely stay here again!
Additional Recs: Soniat House, Catahoula Hotel, Henry Howard Hotel, Pontchartrain Hotel
EAT / DRINK
COFFEE/BREAKFAST/BRUNCH
- HiVolt Coffee: One block away from our Airbnb – perfect neighborhood gem and great coffee!
- Stumptown: In the Ace Hotel – perfect for your morning coffee and your afternoon pick-me-up. Some of my favorite decor I have seen in a coffee shop!!
- Drip Affogato Bar: A place dedicated to Affogato?! SIGN ME UP! Down the block from The Ace Hotel in the Central Business District.
- Palace Cafe: Decent breakfast – we went for the jazz brunch and while the food wasn’t out of this world it was a very entertaining breakfast right in the heart of all the hustle and bustle.
- Court of Two Sisters: Huge back patio with the most insane vine canopy I have ever seen. Good buffet food with anything you could think of – perfect opportunity to try some New Orleans staples!
- Revelator Coffee: Hidden away in the Contemporary Arts Center and with blasting AC – highly recommend this stop which is also half bookstore. We stopped in after a full morning at the WWII museum only a few blocks away.
- Merchant: After a long day of walking around and not being able to get an Uber because there was so much construction and traffic…we wandered by Merchant and it was a welcomed surprise.
Additional Recs: Satsuma Cafe, Surrey’s Cafe and Juice Bar, Brennan’s, Lil Dizzy, Ruby Slipper Brunch, Mammoth Espresso
LUNCH/DINNER
- Shaya: Going into the weekend I had heard nothing but raves about Shaya and this gem did not disappoint. This was my favorite dinner of the trip. Israeli cuisine was not something I thought I would be super excited about while visiting New Orleans but I was very wrong. I have heard that Shaya is also a perfect lunch!
- Cavan: First night in New Orleans, first meal we had. I had seen photos of Cavan online and was dead set on going here. Set in an old home, which I easily would have lived in, the dining room was transformed into a stunning room with bright pinkish chairs, chandeliers with dim lighting and fabulous food. I have also heard this place is a great lunch spot as well!
- La Petite Grocery: Right across the street from Shaya, La Petite Grocery was our first stop of Sunday night for Cocktails. I can’t wait to go back and try their food but I can tell you that based on their cocktails alone, it was 100% worth going to. Fun corner lot and great staff – a new favorite!
- Peche: If the name means fish, it had better mean they can serve a mean seafood selection and that they did. On our last full night in the city, we stopped by Peche for a wonderful seafood dinner. Just a short distance from our hotel, we got to walk through the CBD (central business district) and see what the nightlife there had to offer. We loved this restaurant!
- Seed: Okay this is a strange NOLA rec…but after a long and hot tour we NEEDED a smoothie and this was the closest stop for us. This sweet little cafe is totally plant-based so if you desperately need a salad, something green or a fabulous smoothie I recommend popping in here!
Additional Recs: Doris Metropolitan, Commander’s Palace (go for lunch – 25 cent martinis!!), Herbsaint, Cochon, Willie Mae’s Scotch House, Felix’s, Central Grocery, Curio, Lilette, Seaworthy, Turkey & the Wolf, Upperline, Sac-a-Lait
COCKTAILS/LATE NIGHT
- Cure: The first bar we went to when we got in town – very upscale and amazing cocktails. I had my favorite (and most expensive) Sazerac of this trip here.
- Effervescence: A champagne bar right off the French Quarter? YES PLEASE. Came highly recommended and it was a perfect food/heat/afternoon break with great bites and heavenly cocktails and champagne!
- Ace Hotel, Lobby Bar/Rooftop Bar: One of my favorite things = your hotel has a killer bar in-house. This made for a no-decision-needed afternoon when we wanted a fun happy hour, we could just walk downstairs and order! The rooftop was PACKED and we went up there before we walked to dinner.
Additional Recs: Mimi’s, Pat O’s, St. Joe’s Bar, The Carousel Bar, Lafitte’s Blacksmith, The Sazerac Bar, Seaworthy, Cane & Table, Column’s Hotel – The Victorian Lounge, Bacchanal Wine, Bouligny Tavern, Hot Tin Rooftop Bar, The Trolly Stop Cafe, Jack Rose
FOOD SPECIALTY
- Beignets: I am grouping this into one because you should really just try a variety while in town because…why not. Go to: Cafe du Monde, Cafe Beignet, Restaurant R’evolution, New Orleans Coffee & Beignet Co.
- Po Boys: Killer PoBoys, Crabby Jacks, Domilise Sandwich Shop & Bar, Guy’s PoBoys
- St. James Cheese Co: Cheese heaven.
- Bacchanal: Came as one of the most recommended places we go but sadly, we didn’t have time. Located in Bywater literally on the bank of the river, this bottle shop has live music, cheese boards, and an extensive wine selection. Grab some wine, a cheese board, and head outside to listen to music and enjoy your afternoon!
- Hansen’s Sno-Bliz: I had never heard of a Sno-Bliz until coming to New Orleans and if you are going to try one, Hansen’s is the only place you need to go.
- Sucre: Four of your famous King’s Cakes, please!! A confectioners paradise.
- Loretta’s Authentic Pralines: Not only known from Pralines – their beignets are amazing as well!!
- Saint Roch Market: Gourmet lover’s dream. The most amazing shopping + dining + drinking under one roof!
SEE / DO / EXPLORE
- National WWII Museum: NO WORDS. This place was incredible. We went on Memorial Day which made it that much more special. It was absolutely packed so I would recommend buying your tickets ahead of time online – you will skip the massive line. I would also HIGHLY recommend seeing Beyond all Boundaries (if it is still there). It is a 4D WWII documentary narrated by Tom Hanks.
- Neighborhoods: Go explore the neighborhoods! They are all SO different and unique that I was in love with each personality. These were the neighborhoods we spent the most time in:
- Garden District
- Central Business District
- French Quarter
- French Quarter Phantom Tours: I am a sucker for ghost stories and I think old cemeteries are fascinating. For our “ghost tour” I signed us up for the Garden District Tour with French Quarter Phantoms. This ended up being half architecture tour and half cemetery tour. Unfortunately, it was SO HOT that we had a hard time enjoying ourselves and would want to go again at a cooler time of year. Would absolutely recommend!
- St. Charles Streetcar: This was on top of my New Orleans Bucket List. You can catch the streetcar and ride it from one end of the Garden District all the way to the other, turn around and come back so you can see both sides of the street. It was wonderful and a nice escape from the severe heat!
- Jackson Square: The square encompasses everything you would hope to see in a lively town square; live music, artists, street performers, weddings, tourists and anything else you can think of – you will see in Jackson Square. Grab some beignets, find a spot under one of the big trees and just people watch!
- Cemeteries: I have always been fascinated with the construction of southern cemeteries and how everything is ABOVE ground. These places are true works of art and are (in my opinion) very calming to walk through. Sadly, many of the cemeteries are vandalized, making it harder and harder to get into some of the most famous plots without an official tour guide. I listened to this awesome podcast, Beyond Bourbon Street, and learned a lot about the history of the New Orleans cemeteries (as well as a plethora of other NOLA facts!) and which ones you should make a point of seeing:
- Lafayette Cemetery
- St. Louis Cemeteries 1, 2 & 3
- Frenchman Street: Where all of the locals we talked to said “go here if you want a local scene” and it did not disappoint. *Also great tip…if you want to get picked up in an Uber/Lyft from Frenchman St., walk to the corner of Decatur and Esplanade (one block off the main street) and you will get a ride 10x faster than if you stay on the main street!*
Additional Recs: Swamp tour (so sad we didn’t get to do this…next time!!), Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo, City Park, Pharmacy Museum (also was high on our list but didn’t have time), The Art Garage, NOLA Museum of Art
- JAZZ/MUSIC:
- Spotted Cat: We stayed for a couple of hours watching two different sets at the Spotted Cat. A small but deep jazz club with great performers and a vibe that can’t be beat.
Additional Recs: Preservation Hall, Dos Jefe’s Uptown, Tipitina’s, The Maple Leaf, Three Muses, d.b.a., Arnaud’s New Orleans
SHOP
- Krewe: This glasses shop was so much more than retail. The displays are beautiful and at the back of the shop is also a cafe where you can enjoy a COMPLIMENTARY FROSE!!
- Goorin Bros: I know this shop isn’t special to New Orleans but the French Quarter shop had such amazing character. It’s a must stop if you want a special hat!!
- Antique Stores: I am lumping this one together because in reality…unless you are an antique fanatic (like my parents) then you probably won’t be able to tell a huge difference in the shops. I find them FASCINATING and loved walking through them: M. S. Rau Antiques, Dop Antiques (wanted to go and didn’t have time), Keil’s Antiques
- The Stacks: This was the same bookstore that the above Revelator Coffee is housed in. They specialize in the arts and creative for their book selection…something I could get lost in for hours.
Additional Recs: Leontine Linens (drool), Sunday Shop, Octavia Bookstore
Look for my next post which will just be a post with my photos from the trip! There were too many to choose for only one post!
