A New Orleans Travel Guide

There’s a saying: “You can live in any city in America, but New Orleans is the only city that lives in you.”

I won’t be forgetting my weekends in New Orleans any time soon, that’s for sure. In fact, I’m here updating this post after a second trip back. My friends and I decided to make it an annual adventure for her birthday. This famed, infamous and flirty Louisiana city has been on my travel bucket list for many years. The music, the food, the water, the diversity, the colors, the Voodoo, the French and more called us back.

Last year, the city turned 300. The New York Times named it as one of the top places to visit in the world in 2018. I can see why. We discovered everything from high-end restaurants to off-the-radar salsa bars. It’s best not to over structure your trip here. One street, one festival, or one restaurant easily bleed into another. You’ll meet bartenders and other travelers who have their own favorites they’ll lead you to. Instead of planning out each hour, I recommend keeping a list of recommendations (like this) nearby while remaining open to what you smell, hear and see. You never know what you’ll discover in a city like New Orleans.

Keep scrolling  to read my updated list of favorite spots in the Big Easy….

Where to Stay

We flew into New Orleans early Friday afternoon. We grabbed our luggage and called a cab to take us directly to our hotel.  The first time we popped out of our cab and walked into the The Royal Sonesta, we knew we had made the right choice. The hotel features a pool, comfortable and spacious guest rooms, and its own oyster and jazz bars. If we didn’t leave the whole weekend, we wouldn’t lack options to have fun right there. We decided to make it our home base a second year in a row.

The location in the French Quarter made getting to most of the other spots on this list fuss-free. We woke up every day and lounged by the pool, easily met people there, and stepped out to explore the city from its front doors when we were all done.

Where to Eat

Brennan’s was by far the most highly recommended food destination I discovered during my planning. The French and Spanish inspired restaurant is sophisticated, yet still has its own unique New Orleans flare. This is your big brunch move. Make a reservation ahead of time–they fill up fast. Bring extra dollars for desert and bubbly. You’ll want to stick around.

Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House was right around the corner from our hotel. We wanted some nice appetizers and an upscale cocktail before we went out. We loved our food choices here, which included crab fingers, duck meatballs, and faux mushroom “scallops.”

Latitude 29 inside of Bienville House Hotel was another fun find this year. The exotic menu was broken into categories like “Long Pulls” and “Short Hoists” and “Communal Drinks.” Each cocktail was it’s own sort of sculpture of ice, flowers, flags, and booze. The restaurant and bar’s “tiki cuisine” featured items like Shanghai Lumpia, Filipino style egg rolls filled with pork, shrimp, glass noodles, and mirepoix. This is the perfect afternoon pit stop, especially if you’re on your way to the water.

Café Du Monde or Café Beignet are both adorable sweet spots. Café Du Monde may be the most popular to visit. There are often lines around the block. Café Beignet was smaller, but just as adorable. There was no line and the photo opps were easier and cuter there if you ask me.

Lucky Dogs stands are all over town on the street corners. The New Orleans tradition allows you to eat on the go when you’re exploring. They’re especially clutch late night. There’s no shame in indulging in this affordable local favorite so you can be on your way and creating new memories instead of trapped behind a table. They’re delicious, ya’ll. Trust me.

We were led to Trenasse by a simple Yelp search when we were headed to Ace Hotel, in the business district. We wanted another nice evening of fine apps and cocktails before we hit the town. It’s located inside of the Intercontinental Hotel.  We ordered roasted oysters, Crawfish pie, and buffalo front legs. We washed it down with Prosecco recommended by the bartender.

NOLA Poboys was a must stop during our first day in town. I don’t know if this is the best spot for PoBoys, but it hit the spot. Walk in, order at the counter, and wait for them to holler your name. I actually ordered a salad with fried shrimp and I scraped by plate clean. The table ordered Poboys so we all got to try.  Dig in, rub your belly and keep the party moving. If you want to go on a Poboy adventure, I found list full list of the best places in the French Quarter.

The Blind Pelican was outside of the French Quarter area, set in an adorable part of town worth a saunter. Located on St. Charles Avenue, the restaurant cooks up fresh crawfish right out front and serves up big combo plates of corn and more. The outdoor patio feels a bit tropical and radiates laid back Jimmy Buffet vibes.

Where to Drink

We headed to Hotel Moteleone right after checking into our hotel. The bar is located on the first floor of the hotel, where a carousel bar spins slowly as people sit and sip martinis. I recommend going during the week and earlier in the day to slide into a coveted seat at the spinning bar. Otherwise, there is plenty of space to sit, chill, and watch the carousel over a martini or two.

The name Ace Hotel was on everyone’s lips down in New Orleans. The hotel features a public rooftop pool that’s a hub for fun. Not only does the hotel have a pool, it has a restaurant and a bar with a great food program.  During our second visit to New Orleans, we discovered an amazing band playing in the lounge’s listening room here. After some music, we got cozy on the leather couches and made new friends.

The Hot Tin Rooftop is the freshest new rooftop bar in town. The bar used to be a penthouse and is designed as if it were a 1940’s artist’s loft. The menu features champagne and bright cocktails. You can enjoy a 270-degree view of Downtown New Orleans and the Mississippi River.

LaFitte’s Blacksmith Bar is a classic haunt in New Orleans.  It is reputed to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States, built between 1722 and 1732. It’s dark inside, but features an open patio and second bar. We caught a mix of locals and bachelor parties visiting the spot during the early afternoon.

Go ahead and indulge yourself. Walk to Tropical Isle for a Hand Grenade. The sweet green drink is known as the “Most Powerful Drink” in New Orleans. It will set your day off right. You’ll feel like a cheese ball, but you’ll feel damn good.

Where to Dance and Jam

We stepped into RF’s Martinia Bar on a whim Sunday night. We were having a hard time getting to our Uber driver because of the traffic. As we walked towards his car, we heard the sounds of salsa as we walked by RF’s. We stepped inside and never looked back. We were twirling and dancing on the dance floor in no time. Local band Yocho was just what the doctor ordered. RF’s has music other nights of the week and I would trust them to deliver good talent.

We followed our intuition to AllWays Lounge and Theatre after RF’s. As you know, I had my phone stolen by Sunday, and I really regret not having photos of this experience. The swing bar was packed with a diverse–in age, race, style, and drink choices–and lively group of people. A full band kept couples coming on and off the raised dance floor, spinning and creating a moving dreamland.

The drive to Bachannal Wine was a fresh departure from the French Quarter. The ride snaked us along the river and uncovered other pockets of life along the way. You will enter through the wine shop, where you can buy a bottle before you head into the courtyard to snag a table with friends. The stage is almost always full with a band. The two-story building features a great bar program. We indulged in drinks like the OMG! with honey suckle vodka, elderflower, basil, and other magic.

If you want jazz, Preservation Hall is the spot to be. The 1960s era music hall hosts nightly shows that raise money and honor the tradition and culture of jazz music. The bands play right on the floor and bring the music up close and personal to you. I was excited to learn about the Preservation Hall Foundation and it’s commitment to lift up life in New Orleans.

Maple Leaf Bar was recommended by several friends and bloggers as a classic spot to party in town. The live music scene is alive and well here. The calendar shows bands playing nearly every night of the week. On Sundays, the bar hosts a crawfish boil around 10 p.m. just before a welcome trio.

Where to Explore

St. Charles Avenue is known as “The Jewel of America’s Grand Avenues.” The street is lined with a collection of historic mansions, boutiques, restaurants, and more. This is where we discovered The Blind Pelican. Do yourself a favor and set aside time to saunter around here.

Jackson Square is a historic park in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It sits right on the Mississippi River–Decatur Street, to be specific. Horse-drawn carriages, street vendors, musicians and fellow adventurers color the area with energy and curiosity. You’ll find lots of classic photo opps here.

The Riverfront usually holds all kinds of fun. Both years, we visited during the New Orleans Oyster Festival. I discovered a new band, Maggie Koerner during the festival. Outside of festivals and celebrations, you can follow the “Moonwalk” any da of the week. You’ll discover public art, industrial shopping traffic, historical monuments, street musicians, and more.

If we had another day, we would cemetery hop. I found this list of cemeteries not to miss in New Orleans. I think it’s wise to take time to think about death, life, and more during a visit to the nation’s hub of Voodoo history and culture.  Not only are the cemeteries full of stories, they are downright gorgeous. Above-ground tombs punctuate rows of ferns and trees at every one.

A Special Thank You

This trip wouldn’t be possible if a dear friend hadn’t extended the invite to me to spend her birthday with her. Thank you for being adventurous, driven and generous, Jasmina. I’m truly fortunate to have you in my life and by my side in business and in pleasure.