I know I’ve shared here before how much I love the city of New Orleans. My love letter to the city was posted just a few weeks ago. This is one of the places that I would recommend to anyone looking for a fun weekend trip in the US. The city is nothing like any other large city in this country, and it has something for everyone.
New Orleans is easy to navigate on public transportation (and especially fun on the old street cars) and on foot. You can easily see so much of the city, and nothing closes down until late in the morning hours, so if you’ve got the energy, you can enjoy the nightlife as well.
This guide is divided into the neighborhoods and areas of the city to explore and the things we love to eat and drink while here.
New Orleans Neighborhoods to Explore
Bourbon Street & The French Quarter
It is totally touristy and filled with drunk people at least 18 hours a day, but you should stroll through at least once. The drinks are extremely cheap during the day. We have come across a 3-for-1 drinks special in the past. With the sounds of bad karaoke and really good jazz floating through the air, it’s easy to understand the appeal for people visiting.
Royal Street is the next block over, and it is quite a bit quieter. It has beautiful art galleries and eclectic shops. I usually prefer strolling that street instead of Bourbon, but you can do both in a short amount of time.
Highlights include the Carousel Bar, Preservation Hall, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Bar, and all the interesting Voodoo shops. This walking ghost tour covers this part of town, so it would be a fun way to learn a little about the spooky history and mystical nature of NOLA. Head over to Jackson Square during the day and take in the street musicians and artists.
The Garden District
Using this guide, we took ourselves on a walking tour of the famous Garden District. The highlights included the inspiration for the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World and the Manning House. It’s nice to be able to go at your own pace and stop for coffee or a cocktail along the way.
One of the most famous cemeteries, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, is also located along the route of this walking tour. It may seem strange to add a cemetery to your travel wishlist, but the ones in New Orleans have some incredible history and are much different than what you’re probably used to. This top-rated walking tour gives a whole bunch of background information about the people who are buried here and the city itself.
The St. Charles Avenue Streetcar makes it easy to get to this part of town, and there are plenty of stops along the way. If you want to experience Mardi Gras but you’re visiting during the wrong time of year, don’t miss a visit to Mardi Gras World.
Magazine Street
District Donuts, French Truck Coffee, The Vintage, Turkey and the Wolf – all places I would recommend on (or near) Magazine Street. It’s a perfect stroll to pair with the Garden District. There are tons of great spots to drink, eat and shop. There are too many places to name, so just walk until something grabs your attention.
Warehouse District
Sandwiched between the French Quarter and the Garden District, you’ll find a neighborhood that has really started developing into its own excellent spot. With great restaurants, the World War II Museum, and cocktail bars, this neighborhood is perfect for people who want to try up-and-coming restaurants that aren’t necessarily on the typical tourist path.
The Marigny Neighborhood
The houses in this neighborhood are my absolute favorite to look at. While they aren’t as big as the Garden District, they are so colorful and beautifully decorated. I have spent many daydreams thinking about the front porches and the contrasting colors that wouldn’t look right anywhere but New Orleans.
I would probably describe this area as a hipster neighborhood. There are quite a few breweries and cool outdoor spaces. You can visit Crescent Park on the river or just enjoy walking among all the Creole cottages. It’s also a great place to look for colorful murals on buildings. Check out Anna’s, which was rated as one of the best bars in the United States.
Frenchmen Street
In my opinion (and many others), this is the place to see live music in New Orleans. The Spotted Cat Music Club and Snug Harbor Jazz Club are our two favorite places to visit there. There is also a great spot to shop for goods made by local artists. It’s located within the Marigny neighborhood, but it’s also an easy walk from the French Quarter.
Mid-City and the City Park of New Orleans
With 1,300 acres to explore, the City Park is a great place to spend a day while in town. There is a Cafe du Monde location in the park that doesn’t have a line like the one near Jackson Square. I promise the beignets are just as good. We also liked walking through the Sculpture Garden there (free).
The Mid-City neighborhood is a great place to explore near City Park as well. Things are a little quieter here, and there are fewer tourists, so you will get a better idea of the community in New Orleans. The Bayou Beer Garden is a great place to sit and watch the neighborhood go by.
New Orleans Food and Drink Favorites
Beignets
When a location has a special dessert, I see it as my duty to try it. The famous spot for these pillowy treats is Cafe du Monde near Jackson Square. If you are looking to try them multiple times, I would recommend stopping at Cafe Beignet on Royal Street, the Cafe du Monde location in City Park or one of the specialty shops on Magazine Street that have different flavors.
Chargrilled Oysters
If you’ve always wanted to try Oysters, but the idea of sucking down something slippery from the bottom of the polluted ocean isn’t your cup of tea – these are the perfect choice. They are cooked instead of raw, but how they prepare them is different than you will find in other places. Grilled with butter and topped with a little cheese and some dipping sides, this is the only way I ever want to eat Oysters again. Acme is a famous spot near Bourbon Street for these and our personal favorite of the few spots we tried.
Hurricanes
Pat O’Brien’s is the home of the famous Hurricane. It’s not my favorite drink because it’s extremely strong and not cheap. We had a great bartender there last time we watched Dueling Pianos that made us a “rainstorm” and it was much better. It’s also worth noting that you can carry out your drinks anywhere in NOLA, so you will see lots of people on the streets with open containers.
Po’Boys
When you need a filling snack from all the walking you’re doing, find a sandwich shop and order a po’boy. Every local person has their own favorite place, so it’s hard to get it wrong. I stuck to shrimp, fried oysters, and even a crab option. If you’re a meat eater, consider roast beef because it seemed to be a popular choice at most of the places we stopped.
Food Halls
Food markets are a favorite of ours no matter what city we are visiting. Being able to eat from multiple vendors at the same time brings me great joy. No decisions required because you can order a little bit from each place that looks great.
St Roch Market is our favorite in New Orleans. Our AirBnB was within throwing distance of the market this time, so it was super easy to visit. We have been multiple times and there is always plenty of seating, new foods to try and good vegetarian options.
Auction House Market is a newer place we tried this time. It is a little fancier of a food hall, and with that comes a higher price tag. We grabbed a couple of smoothies and just did some window shopping, but the options here looked amazing as well. Plus, the place is gorgeous.
New Orleans Basic Info
Where to Stay
In the Garden District, we stayed in this hotel and really loved it. It was affordable and right across from a cable car stop making it incredibly easy to get around.
For something on the other side of the French Quarter, try a VRBO in the St Roch neighborhood. It’s easy to walk and get around, but you’ll have a quieter and calmer stay here.
If you really want to stay in the French Quarter, I would avoid being right on Bourbon Street or even within a few blocks. It’s a fun place to hang out, but not the best if you want to relax in a quiet area. Try a boutique hotel in that area, like this stunning place with excellent reviews.
Getting Around
The streetcar has a few lines that will take you to many of the neighborhoods mentioned in this post. Ubers are also easily accessible. I wouldn’t recommend renting a car if you fly here since it’s incredibly walkable.
Recommended Reading/Watching Before You Go to New Orleans
I always like to brush up a little on history and information and get excited before I visit places. I have a whole list of books to check out about New Orleans, but I haven’t finished any yet. Ann Rice is probably the most famous author from the area, and the Garden District walking tour will take you to a few of her homes.
I do have a few movies/TV shows I highly recommend. Princess and the Frog (Disney+) is one of my favorite Disney movies. The music is incredible and doesn’t follow the typical Disney princess storyline. Trouble the Water (Amazon Prime) is a documentary about Hurricane Katrina, and it was heartbreaking to watch. It includes tons of footage from people who stayed behind because they had no way to evacuate. When visiting, you will see reminders of this disaster because the city is still rebuilding. Treme (HBO) is another show that we started watching recently and would highly recommend.
New Orleans is the Perfect Weekend Destination
Whether you’re coming for a special occasion, like the Eras Tour or the Super Bowl, or just looking to enjoy the incredible food and culture of the city, it’s an ideal weekend getaway destination in the United States. Let us know if you plan a trip to New Orleans or have any favorites we didn’t mention! We cannot wait to get back again to explore.
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