LOUISIANA. USA
NEW ORLEANS
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Discover the best restaurants, hotels and things to do with our travel guide
New Orleans is unlike any other city in the United States. While it’s claim to fame is being the home to Mardi Gras, it’s a city offering way more than endless boozing and dancing in the streets (not saying there is anything wrong with that).
From the sounds of live jazz on Frenchmen Street, over to the beautiful backdrop of historical homes and landscapes by Audubon Park and the Garden District… Get ready to immerse yourself in non-stop fun, rich culinary experiences, and incredible cultural adventures.
We visited New Orleans during Jazzfest, their annual super-festival celebrating the incredible jazz culture (+food, activities and more). With a mix of local tips, recommendations, and some good ‘ol self-led exploring, here’s a full breakdown of where to stay, what to do and most importantly, where to eat while New Orleans!
BUCKET LIST
Café du Monde
Bacchanal Wine Bar
Central Grocery Co. or Cochon Butcher
Casamento’s, Dragos, Galatoire’s
Domilise’s, Parkway Bakery
Willa Jean, Bywater Bakery
Shaya
Creole Creamery
District: Donuts. Sliders. Brew.
Hansen's Sno-Bliz
Willie Mae's Scotch House, Dooky Chase
Jacques-Imo's
TOP 5's
BREAKFAST/BRUNCH
Southern - $$ - Warehouse District
SURREY'S
Modern American - $ - Faubourg Marigny & Bywater
Southern - $ - Faubourg Marigny & Bywater
Southern - $ - Faubourg Marigny & Bywater
Bakery, Cafe $ - Faubourg Marigny & Bywater
LUNCH
DINNER
Cajun, Deli - $ - Warehouse District
LILLY'S CAFE
Vietnamese - $ - Garden District
Southern - $$ - Uptown
Modern Israeli - $$$ - Garden District
Diner - $ - Uptown
French - $$$ - Central Business District
Upscale Creole - $$$ - Garden District
Cajun - $$ - Warehouse District
Upscale Cajun - $$$$ - French Quarter
Upscale Creole - $$$ - Garden District
LIVE MUSIC
Live Music Venue - $$ - Uptown
Wine Shop, Outdoor Grille- $$ - F'burg Marigny & Bywater
Jazz Club - $ - Uptown
Jazz Bar - $ - F'burg Marigny & Bywater
Jazz Venue - $$ - French Quarter
MORE OF OUR FAVORITE SPOTS
SOUL FOOD
THE JOINT (BBQ) Faubourg Marigny & Bywater
WILLIE MAE'S SCOTCH HOUSE (Fried Chicken) Treme
DOOKY CHASE RESTAURANT (Fried Chicken, Gumbo) Treme
SANDWICHES
DOMILISE'S PO-BOYS (Po-Boys) Uptown
PARRAN'S (Po-Boys, Muffaletta) Uptown
KILLER PO-BOYS (Po-Boys) French Quarter
CENTRAL GROCERY CO. (Muffaletta) French Quarter
VERTI MARTE (Po-Boys, Muffaletta) French Quarter
COCHON BUTCHER (Deli, Muffaletta) Warehouse District
PARKWAY BAKERY & TAVERN (Po-Boys) Mid-City
MOTHER'S RESTAURANT (Po-Boys) Central Business District
STEIN'S MARKET & DELI (Jewish-Italian Deli) Garden District
CASUAL FARE
BOUCHERIE (Southern American, French) Uptown
CAMELLIA GRILL (Diner, Great Brunch) Uptown
PIZZA DOMENICA (Pizza, New Italian) Uptown
ST. JAMES CHEESE COMPANY (Grilled Cheese, Deli) Uptown
THE COMPANY BURGER (Burger Joint) Uptown
LILLY'S CAFE (Vietnamese) Garden District
TURKEY & THE WOLF (New American, Sandwiches) Garden District
DAT DOG (Hot Dogs) Garden District
LIUZZA'S BY THE TRACK (Southern, Seafood) Mid-City
1000 FIGS (Mediterranean) Mid-City
KATIE'S (Southern, Crawfish Beignets) Mid-City
PIZZA DELICIOUS (Pizza) Faubourg Marigny & Bywater
ST. ROCH MARKET (Food Hall, Market) S 7 Ward
BENNACHIN (West African) French Quarter
PORT OF CALL (Burger Joint) French Quarter
BRUNCH
SURREY'S CAFE & JUICE BAR (Healthy Options) Garden District, Uptown
CAMELLIA GRILL (Diner) Uptown
SATSUMA MAPLE (Healthy Options) Uptown
DANTE'S KITCHEN (Corned Beef Hash) Uptown
ATCHAFALAYA (Cajun/ Creole) Garden District, Uptown
COULI'S (BYOB Bloody's) Garden District
COMMANDER'S PALACE (Jazz Brunch, Fancy) Garden District
WILLA JEAN (Bakery, Southern Comfort ) CBD
MOTHER'S (Comfort Food) CBD
TWO CHICKS CAFE (American) Warehouse District
THE RUBY SLIPPER Faubourg Marigny & Bywater
CAKE CAFE & BAKERY Faubourg Marigny & Bywater
ELIZABETH'S (Southern Indulgence, Praline Bacon) Faubourg Marigny & Bywater
BYWATER BAKERY (Bakery, Cafe) Faubourg Marigny & Bywater
STANLEY (Eggs, Banana’s Foster French Toast) French Quarter
COURT OF TWO SISTERS CAFE (Courtyard, Jazz Brunch,) French Quarter
DESSERT
CREOLE CREAMERY (Ice Cream) Uptown
HANSEN'S SNO BLIZ (Shaved Ice) Uptown
SUCRE (Dessert Shop, Macarons) French Quarter
CAFE DU MONDE (Beignets) French Quarter
DISTRICT. DONUTS. SLIDERS. BREW (Donuts) Garden District
COULI'S (BYOB Bloody's) Garden District
COMMANDER'S PALACE (Jazz Brunch, Fancy) Garden District
WILLA JEAN (Bakery, Southern Comfort ) CBD
MANNY RANDAZZO KING CAKES (Bakery, King Cakes ) Metairie
ANGELO BROCATO ITALIAN GELATO & PASTRY (Bakery, Ice Cream) Mid City
NIGHTLIFE
LIVE MUSIC VENUES/ BARS
Tipitina’s (OG Jazz Club, Garden District)
Maple Leaf Bar (Crawfish Boil, Uptown)
Preservation Hall (French Quarter)
Pat O'Brien's Piano Bar (French Quarter)
Fat Catz Music Club (French Quarter)
One Eyed Jacks (French Quarter)
The Howlin’ Wolf (Warehouse District)
Chickie Wah Wah (Mid-City)
Hi-Ho Lounge (Faubourg Marigny & Bywater)
*FRENCHMEN ST (Faubourg Marigny & Bywater)
Blue Nile (Frenchmen St)
Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro (Frenchmen St)
The Spotted Cat Music Club (Frenchmen St)
Maison (Frenchmen St)
Cafe Negril (Frenchmen St)
DBA (Frenchmen St)
WINE BARS
Bacchanal Wine (Live Music, Faubourg Marigny & Bywater)
The Delachaise (Garden District)
COCKTAIL BARS
Bacchanal Wine (Live Music, Faubourg Marigny & Bywater)
The Delachaise (Garden District)
Cure (Uptown)
Sazerac Bar (Fancy- CBD)
Café Adelaide & the Swizzle Stick Bar (CBD)
The Carousel Bar & Lounge (Fancy- French Quarter)
Arnaud’s French 75 (Fancy, Cigar Bar- French Quarter)
Three Muses (Faubourg Marigny & Bywater)
BEER GARDENS
Bayou Beer Garden (Mid-City)
The Bulldog (Garden District)
The Rusty Nail (Warehouse District)
DIVE BARS
Parasol’s (Firecracker Shrimp Po-Boys, Garden District)
The Saint (Garden District)
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop (French Quarter)
STAY-SEE-DO
ACTIVITIES
French Quarter
Historic, romantic, vibrant, and downright decadent, the French Quarter is many things –“boring” is not one of them
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Café Du Monde
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CityWalk/ Jackson Square
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Antique Shopping Royal Street
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Bourbon Street
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French Market
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Audubon Aquarium
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Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium
Garden District
Home to NOLA’s rich and famous. The homes sit among ancient oak trees and picturesque streetcars. It is considered one of the city’s most charming neighborhoods
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Shop Along Magazine Street
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Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, (good starting point for discovering this neighborhood)
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Southern Food & Beverage Museum
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District Donut
Warehouse (Arts) District
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National World War II Museum
Bywater & Faubourg Marigny
Revitalized section of town downriver from the French Quarter is home to many small galleries, coffee shops, a new waterfront park and some of the best examples of Creole architecture and colorful homes in town. It’s the perfect place to see the city’s vibrant use of color
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Crescent Park
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Live Jazz on Frenchmen Street
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Frenchmen Street Night Art Market
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Cake Cafe, Bacchanal Wines, Bywater Bakery
Uptown
Great spot to relax and take a break and have incredible views of the Mississippi River
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Audubon Park (near Tulane, jogging path, picnic tables)
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The Fly (on the water and near the Audubon Zoo. It’s a local favorite)
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Hansen’s Sno-Bliz, Creole Creamery
Mid- City
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Bike around City Park
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New Orleans Museum of Art
Tours
Swamp Tour · Cemetery Tour · Haunted Mansion Tour · Witch Tours
HOTELS
The Roosevelt Hotel
★★★★
French Quarter
W New Orleans
★★★★
Urban-chic in the heart of the French Quarter
The Troubadour
★★★★★
Trendy boutique hotel with rooftop bar in CBD
Ritz Carlton
★★★★★
French Quarter
Hotel Monteleone
★★★★
Classic Luxury in the French Quarter
The Soniat House
★★★★
Picturesque Southern-style townhouses in the French Quarter
The Ace Hotel
★★★★
Boutique, hipster vibes with a poolside rooftop garden in the Arts District
Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
★★★★
19th-century warehouse turned boutique digs in the Arts District
Royal Sonesta
★★★★
French Quarter
SHOP
Exodus Goods
Womens, Gifts, French Quarter
Nadine Blake
Gifts, Home, French Quarter
Krewe du Optic
Independent chic eyewear, French Quarter
Fifi Mahony’s
Funky wig shop, French Quarter
Porter Lyons
Jewelry, French Quarter
United Apparel Liquidators
Designer discounts, French Quarter
Re:Fresh
Mens streetwear, French Quarter
Peony
Womens, Garden District
Tchoup Industries, DVRA, Disko Obscura
Gifts, Garden District
Saint Claude Social Club
Womens, gifts, Garden District
Monomin
Womens, Garden District
Hattie Sparks
Womens, Warehouse District
Stonefree
Womens Fashion, CBD
Defend
Gifts, Warehouse Districts
Friend
Mens, Warehouse District
Freda
Womens, Warehouse District
Neon Heart
Womens, Mens, Uptown