🍽️ Restaurants

Vegetarian-focused restaurant with a rotating menu. One of Romain’s favorite places.

Fun spot for Creole soul food in Carrollton. Expect a wait! This is a great place for dinner before going to the Maple Leaf.

Delicious Thai food with a great bar. This is where Laura and Romain had their first date!

Beautiful atmosphere; has pizza, pasta, seasonal offerings, and an extensive wine menu. Making a reservation is advised!

Lovely French restaurant and wine bar in the Bywater.

Great for a fancy night! Rotating menu at a beautiful spot in the French Quarter. Making a reservation is advised!

Fun, 1980’s-themed spot on Magazine Street uptown.

Take your chances at this classic French Quarter restaurant! Great New Orleans food, inexpensive prices, and “snarky” staff (their word, not ours!).

One of Laura’s favorite places. Classic Italian fare in a charming French Quarter setting where you’re encouraged to draw your own version of the Mona Lisa on your paper tablecloth. If they like what you draw, they might put it on one of their menus or tape it in the window!

Down-home barbecue spot in the Bywater.

Iconic spot with a rich history located in the Treme. Here, you can experience the culinary legacy of the late Creole chef Leah Chase.

Classic Italian Creole food in a mom-and-pop style restaurant that’s been in Mid-City since 1947. They’ll give you your drink in a frosted goblet!

Fantastic, old-fashioned Uptown steak restaurant. Don’t ask for a menu!

Another great steak restaurant in a beautiful, old-school space that’s been there since 1934.

And so many more!

🎺 Live Venues

Fun weekend shows, particularly Sunday nights.

Cute daytime shows for Sunday brunch or late night grub. One of the last places still providing food at any time of the day or night!

Legendary bar with live music. Rebirth Brass Band used to have their famous Tuesday night residency there. Their music programming is guaranteed to be excellent with a focus on funk and other energetic music styles.

The classiest Jazz bistreau on Frenchmen Street! Their Jazz program is the best in Jazz, traditional or not. You can also grab a bite at their restaurant while waiting for your show.

Iconic venue. It was a place for musicians to jam and practice the traditional style of New Orleans Jazz. Later, it was transformed into a venue to preserve and showcase the best that New Orleans has to offer in this style. Get your tickets ahead of time!

If you go on Wednesday nights, you can see one of Romain’s favorite musicians, Herlin Riley, play.

Frenchmen Street (Marigny)

Spotted Cat and DBA are fun, but there are a bunch of venues to choose from along this strip.

The only cigar bar in town with music throughout the week.

St. Roch Tavern (Marigny/Bywater)

Monday night is country night!

Vaughn’s (Bywater)

There is an Italian string band and potluck most Wednesdays. Their Thursday night shows are legendary! Kermit Ruffin used to play those nights, but these days Corey Henry and his Funktet hold the spot.

🎃 Seasonal/Halloween Stuff

Cemetery tours

Doing a cemetery tour can be an interesting way to learn more about New Orleans and its history. Popular cemeteries include St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and Metairie Cemetery.

Ghost tours

Take what you hear on a ghost tour with a big grain of salt, but they can provide a fun night of storytelling, especially around Halloween.

Small but fascinating, this museum explores the history and folklore of Louisiana voodoo. Perfect for a first time visit to New Orleans!

Pharmaceutical artifacts and archives housed in a beautiful French Quarter building, which was the apothecary and home of the first licensed pharmacist in the United States.

Day of the Dead parade

Within the first few days of November, there is usually a Day of the Dead parade that makes for one of the most lovely nights of the year.

🏛️ Museums

Laura is the Archives Manager here! This museum provides an expansive look at the American experience in WWII. Word to the wise, the museum campus is quite large and can take a few hours to see thoroughly so plan accordingly.

This is a must-see stop for anyone interested in New Orleans history and culture! This museum is free, open to the public, and located in the French Quarter.

Ran by Al Jackson, the museum might be “petit,” but it is mighty! Al, himself a published historian, has collected some very interesting pieces and is a treasure trove of historical facts about New Orleans, its creole Jazz scene, and more.

Located in the historic Old US Mint, this museum would be ideal for anyone with an interest in the history of jazz music. Conveniently, the museum is located between the French Quarter and Frenchmen Street, for anyone hoping to explore those areas.

This museum is in the Treme, the oldest African American neighborhood in the United States, and documents the history of Mardi Gras Indians, jazz funerals, and second lines. Mardi Gras Indian suits are intricate works of art, and the Backstreet Cultural Museum has the city’s largest collection of them. This would be a treat for anyone interested in learning more about these vital parts of New Orleans culture.

This museum features the works of artists from all over the American South. Their photography exhibits are not to be missed!

This is the oldest fine arts museum in the city and includes a lovely sculpture garden. The museum and sculpture garden are in City Park, which is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon.

This is a very fun stop for anyone visiting New Orleans for the first time! This is where many of the city’s Mardi Gras floats are made. Here, you can watch as artists construct and paint the floats in real time and get a close look at completed floats and props.

🚎 Excursions

Uptown Streetcar Ride

One of the few preserved historical items of the city, the historical St. Charles streetcar line still features the traditional streetcar (our local name for trolley!). It runs all the way uptown from the foot of Canal Street and costs $1.25! It’s a perfect excuse to take a leisurely ride and observe the fancy houses on St. Charles, maybe stop at a couple of places, check out the Audubon zoo, or go all the way to Jacque-Imo’s and the Maple Leaf!

Audubon Park + Zoo

While you’re there, you can also take a walk along the levee!

City Park

Swan boat rides, the art museum and sculpture garden, walking paths, and nearby places for snacks, drinks, etc. Angelo Brocato is close and specializes in Italian desserts and gelato!

Crescent Park

A nice walking path along the river with views of the city and passing boats and barges. The park is also close to Bywater restaurants, bars, and Euclid Records.

Algier’s Point

Algier’s Point is a cozy, historic neighborhood on the Westbank that you can get to by car or ferry. It has several restaurants and a great view of New Orleans from across the river.

Bayou St. John

Bayou St. John is a peaceful neighborhood in the middle of the city and a great place to watch birds, fish, the occasional alligator, and a beautiful sunset over the water. There are also many bars and restaurants nearby for dinner or a drink before or after.

🚗 Day Trips from New Orleans

Abita Springs + Causeway Bridge

Spanning 24 miles across Lake Pontchartrain, the Causeway Bridge is a beautiful, surreal way to enjoy the lake, especially in great weather or at sunset. This bridge will take you to the Northshore. We recommend Abita Springs in particular. There, you can visit the Abita Mystery House, the Abita Brewing Company, farmer’s market, and more. It’s a very cute getaway for a day!

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Ocean Springs is one of our favorite places to visit for a short trip. The Walter Anderson Museum is always great, there’s a public beach that’s fun to walk along, excursions to nearby islands, and the downtown is quaint with lots of restaurants and bars.

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Another adorable Mississippi stop only an hour outside of New Orleans. Complete with beach access, museums, restaurants, and 100 Men Hall, a historic venue known for its connection to blues music.

Shell Beach

Located at the very far end of St. Bernard Parish, Shell Beach is a small fishing community. It’s a great day trip to go see the bayou and spend some time at the Hurricane Katrina memorial, which overlooks Lake Borgne. Maybe you can stop for some catfish while you’re there!

Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours & Barataria Preserve

Just a 30 minute drive outside of New Orleans can put you in the heart of the swamp. Visiting the Barataria Preserve and walking along the boardwalk is a very immersive way to get close to the flora and fauna of the swamp, including its beloved alligators. Taking a guided swamp tour via boat or airboat is always a great time, too.

About an hour away from New Orleans, Laura Plantation focuses on the life of the last owner, Laura Locoul, the conflicts between Creole and Americans, and, to a good extent, the life of the enslaved on the plantation. They also offer tours in French.

Also about an hour outside of New Orleans, the Whitney Plantation specifically focuses on the lives and legacies of the enslaved people who were forced to work their lands. The plantation remains a sobering, but important part of understanding the history of Louisiana and the larger South.

🧳 Multi-Day Trips from New Orleans

Lafayette + Breaux Bridge

Lafayette is the center of Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole culture. It’s a great place to take a trip for a couple of days, preferably over a weekend, to see a Zydeco show and visit a nice restaurant. Their food scene is amazing! While there, you can also check out the Acadian Village, a historic Cajun village and exhibit. Breaux Bridge is a cute country town with great antique stores. Nearby, you can visit Lake Martin for some beautiful scenery.

Avery Island + Tabasco Factory Tours

If you find yourself in Lafayette, Avery Island is only a 45 minute drive away. Avery Island is a beautiful place to enjoy gardens, bird watch, or see alligators. It’s also the headquarters of the Tabasco hot sauce, and you can tour the museum.

Natchez + Vicksburg

If you feel like venturing into Mississippi, Natchez and Vicksburg are two cities worth visiting. Both are river cities with Civil War history, historic downtowns, and connections to art and culture. Each one is about 3 hours away from New Orleans.

Dauphin Island

Though it’s likely a better experience in warmer weather, Dauphin Island in Alabama is a beautiful little beach town and a nice opportunity to get out of the city.