Night or day, music here or there, food at this place or that, you are bound to have a good ole time in New Orleans. There is no wrong answer, only just right. I love to compare NOLA to an adult playground, similar to Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean.
Of course, NOLA is so much more than that. For starters, I believe the local cuisine beats the pants off any other city, has a rich and colorful history and always carries a happy tune with its festive energy and incredible music. Get yourself to the Big Easy to let loose and have a carefree good ole time! Here are just a few things I did on my last trip there:
1. BRUNCH @ BRENNAN’S
Put the beads away and button-up for this sit-down meal. Brennan’s has a sophisticated air; walls with muted frescos, a gorgeous courtyard, banana’s foster made table side (a blaze of fire will wake the dining room up), and lectin-free options on an already impressive menu. Oh, and did I mention a coffee sommelier at brunch for your table? Yes, I’ll have another chicory press, please. In the warmer months, sit outside in the courtyard for an enchanting atmosphere to pair with that glass of bubbly. Isn’t every day a celebration? On vacation it certainly is. If you are a brunch lover like me, this is probably where the word “brunch” was birthed. I ordered the pastured poached eggs in a mouthwatering leek and fennel purée. Simply “magnifique”.
2. CRUISE THE FRENCH MARKET
Yes, kitschy, but well worth a poke around the market to check out the local odds and ends on display. Everything from feathered Mardi Gras masks to stacks of baby alligator heads (I’m not endorsing buying alligator heads, it’s just what to expect when exploring the peculiarities of the market). Oddly enough, the tourist trap is not too pricey and you can easily find some interesting souvenirs to take home to the kiddies or someone you may know in dire need of a voodoo doll…
3. VOODOO
You can’t go to NOLA without peeking your head into a few voodoo shops! Creepy altars are strewn with a mishmash of disturbing bits and pieces, candles to entice your next lover, voodoo dolls to torture your nemesis and questionable powdery concoctions for any imaginable desire. There are numerous stores in the quarter, off Frenchman Street and throughout the town. Spellbinding or not, voodoo is a part of Louisiana’s vibrant history that will certainly lure you in for curiosity’s sake.
4. CAFE DU MONDE
Just near the French Market is the ever-famous Cafe Du Monde, for freshly-made beignets and coffee open 24 hours a day. It’s not uncommon to see a long line down the street just to get it. Before I was lectin-free, you can bet your bottom dollar I ate a few of those heavenly, light and airy beignets sprinkled with powdered sugar. Memorable for sure, but now it’s just a coffee stop for me. Fun fact: I was flooded out of Jazz Fest one year and ended up late that same evening for an “I-feel-sorry-so-for-myself-pick-me-up-beignet”. Who did I see? None other than Stevie Wonder who I was supposed to see perform that day! Great minds; we had the same idea after a canceled show!
Another spot to check out is Cafe Beignet on Royal Street; less crowded and awfully cute. Eat there or not, you’ll find yourself taking a picture of this adorable restaurant gem.
5. MUSIC ON FRENCHMAN STREET
What’s a trip to NOLA without live music? On Frenchman Street, every spot seems to have fine music spilling out onto the street. It’s your pick! You could spend a whole day or even night checking out each spot. What’s incredibly unique to New Orleans is the music is always great, no matter where you go. Walking the street late at night? Don’t be surprised if suddenly a full brass band appears out of nowhere and impromptu plays a set. All experiences are good experiences in the Big Easy. It’s like the food, it’s almost impossible to have a bad meal which is equally said about the music. The music is top notch and will leave you feeling jolly!
6. UPTOWN, BABY!
Take the St. Charles streetcar from downtown to uptown for just $1.25 each way for a slightly different experience, outside of the French Quarter. Lafayette Cemetery, Commanders Palace and Superior Seafood are on this end of town. It’s fun just to walk around the neighborhoods if you love architecture or head over to nearby Magazine Street for great boutique shopping, restaurants and to peek into an antique shop or two. I particularly loved Shake Your Bon Bon for beautiful clothes and funky jewelry, Magpie for unique vintage pieces, and Petit Paris Market and Confiserie for old-world French sweets.
St. Charles also happens to be the parade route for Mardi Gras, so point your gaze upwards towards the trees to see countless colored beads of years past. Who knows what stories these beads have!
7. LAFAYETTE CEMETARY (No. 2)
Head on over to Lafayette Cemetery No. 2 (yes, there are two!). Only one is open to the public (unfortunately, vandalism closed Lafayette No. 1). However, LC 2 is open during the day to cruise the above-ground tombs. It’s gorgeous to walk through. I love visiting NOLA around Halloween, it has the most amazing festive vibe for a hauntingly good time. Lafayette also happens to be next to Commander’s Palace, a restaurant treasure. Make sure to make a reservation way in advance and try their famous turtle soup!
8. HAPPY HOUR – SUPERIOR SEAFOOD
50 cent raw oysters at Happy Hour? Count me in! Superior Seafood has an older traditional vibe that feels authentically New Orleans. Just like music and beignets, when in NOLA, you have to eat a few oysters! An oyster bar with “master shuckers” will take care of you and the bartenders make some pretty mean cocktails. Let’s not forget that it’s legal in NOLA to take a “roadie” (adult beverage to-go) where ever you go. Maybe keep shop Magazine once you have a delicious frosé in tow!
9. ANTIQUING
Speaking of antique stores, when you’ve made your way back towards French Quarter is Secondline Arts & Antiques. It’s full of odds and ends and wraps around to what looks like two different storefronts. It’s massive and eerily quiet in the back rooms. There is a ton to see here and the prices are great. The antique stores are really something to see and would be entirely tempting if I lived in the vicinity; many pieces that are worth every penny.
There are numerous antique stores to explore in NOLA, many on Magazine Street as well. Here is a website I found for a list of local shops if you are serious about antiquing: https://www.neworleans.com/things-to-do/shopping/antiques-shops/
10. BACCHANAL WINE BAR
What looks like a wine shop (with a line out the door) is really a wine bar that takes “counter orders”. With your glass in hand, head out back to Bacchanal’s gigantic outdoor seating area to crack your bottle of wine with friends. Expect more live music with a guaranteed vibrant scene packed with other wine enthusiasts. Plan ahead to arrive on the early side. When outside, watch for scouting possums that trail blaze the fence line. Possums apparently like their wine and music too!
11. CAROUSEL BAR AT HOTEL MONTELEONE
Yes, it’s an actual bar that spins… ever-so-slightly. I don’t think a fast-moving carousel and alcohol are a good mix, do you? Rest assured, Carousel Bar is fun, always lively and a great place for a pre-dinner or even an after-dinner cocktail. It’s a classic, not-to-miss spot for great people-watching, right in the thick of the French Quarter. Yes, I’m mentioning a lot of bars, but it is the Big Easy… just take it easy!
12. LAFFITE’S BAR
This bar is a “must” above all other places on this list. Lafitte’s is a watering hole that dates back to the 1700s. Yes, Lafitte’s has seen the Louisiana Purchase and I’m sure a few pirates and fur trappers along the way. It is still only lit by candles; no electricity here. With a large classical piano in the back, try to find a cozy corner and grab a (cheap!) drink to listen to some tunes. I absolutely love this spot. There’s little-known behind Lafitte (the man himself). Worth an internet stalk before you step inside his establishment.
13. DINNER AT R’EVOLUTION
Supremely southern, check this restaurant out for Creole and Cajun fare in the heart of the French Quarter. R’evolution has an extensive Creole menu, a moody evening ambiance with top-tier service. I loved this spot, but then again, I’m a fan of incredible food that speaks of the region I’m in and fanciful places that are darkly-lit.
I love New Orleans… When you need to let loose, listen to live music, or experience a mind-blowing meal, NOLA will never let you down. Everyone you meet is in a good mood and it doesn’t surprise me that Nola has been coined the “City that Care Forgot”. I’m confident you can find amazing places to discover when in NOLA, with or without my advice. It would take a lot of effort to have a “bad time” there; restaurants (even dives) are delicious and there’s a good time waiting for you on every corner of every street. Thanks for another great time, Big Easy and until we meet again!
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