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Neighborhoods
Head to Magazine street for more upscale shops (we do not spend much time here, but it is the classy, nicer part of NOLA and good for a daytime or evening stroll).
Audobon Park is one of the prettiest spots in town. Head here for an easy walk on a paved path under huge beautiful oaks. Tulane University is right across the street if you want to check out the campus.
77 locals recommend
Uptown/Carrollton
Head to Magazine street for more upscale shops (we do not spend much time here, but it is the classy, nicer part of NOLA and good for a daytime or evening stroll).
Audobon Park is one of the prettiest spots in town. Head here for an easy walk on a paved path under huge beautiful oaks. Tulane University is right across the street if you want to check out the campus.
Walk Royal Street for art galleries and buskers playing for tips. We suggest skipping Bourbon altogether, but if you are dying to see it, Bourbon is just one block off Royal
Stop in Jackson Square for street art and tarot card readers - Walk to the river and stroll along the boardwalk
Check out the original Cafe du Monde for some fresh friend beignets loaded with powdered sugar
Listen to MUSIC! Head to Frenchmen Street day or night for the best live music in town (the whole street is about 6 blocks, just hop around and duck into whatever sound calls you).
Check out the artists market across from D.B.A bar every evening.
Get the best muffuletta in town at Central Grocery
790 locals recommend
French Quarter
Walk Royal Street for art galleries and buskers playing for tips. We suggest skipping Bourbon altogether, but if you are dying to see it, Bourbon is just one block off Royal
Stop in Jackson Square for street art and tarot card readers - Walk to the river and stroll along the boardwalk
Check out the original Cafe du Monde for some fresh friend beignets loaded with powdered sugar
Listen to MUSIC! Head to Frenchmen Street day or night for the best live music in town (the whole street is about 6 blocks, just hop around and duck into whatever sound calls you).
Check out the artists market across from D.B.A bar every evening.
Get the best muffuletta in town at Central Grocery
We love Mid City and City Park and spend the most time here! For a fun day:
• Stroll along Bayou St John towards City Park
• Walk up the main entrance towards the Museum of Art (NOMA). To the left, enter the outdoor FREE sculpture garden. Walk around!
- Depending on your mood or company, consider heading inside to the Museum, or walk around the back of the art museum for the brand new Children's museum in City Park
- Grab a coffee and watch beignets being fried through a big window. Sit outside and enjoy this classic NOLA treat at Cafe du Monde (original location in the quarter, this is a new branch)
- Walk off your beignets by heading across the little bridges towards City Park Ave and stroll under the Spanish moss draped oak trees (Julia's favorite part of New Orleans)
- Be sure to walk to the singing tree which is full of big chimes and stretch out under the oak tree while gongs serenade you. Bring a blanket for a mellow hang watching people paddle on the lake (or rent a swan-shaped paddle boat yourself!)
Hungry?
Grab a po-boy at Parkway Tavern and Bakery (famous- Obama visited!) or for lighter fare check out 1000 Figs for scrumptious and affordable Mediterranean fare.
There is also a great lunch café in City Park on the outside of the Children’s Museum where you can sit on a big deck over the water and it is never crowded. Another great lunch café is in the NO Museum of Art in City Park. Both open to the public – don’t have to buy admission to the museum to eat at the cafes.
1516 locals recommend
City Park
1 Palm DrWe love Mid City and City Park and spend the most time here! For a fun day:
• Stroll along Bayou St John towards City Park
• Walk up the main entrance towards the Museum of Art (NOMA). To the left, enter the outdoor FREE sculpture garden. Walk around!
- Depending on your mood or company, consider heading inside to the Museum, or walk around the back of the art museum for the brand new Children's museum in City Park
- Grab a coffee and watch beignets being fried through a big window. Sit outside and enjoy this classic NOLA treat at Cafe du Monde (original location in the quarter, this is a new branch)
- Walk off your beignets by heading across the little bridges towards City Park Ave and stroll under the Spanish moss draped oak trees (Julia's favorite part of New Orleans)
- Be sure to walk to the singing tree which is full of big chimes and stretch out under the oak tree while gongs serenade you. Bring a blanket for a mellow hang watching people paddle on the lake (or rent a swan-shaped paddle boat yourself!)
Hungry?
Grab a po-boy at Parkway Tavern and Bakery (famous- Obama visited!) or for lighter fare check out 1000 Figs for scrumptious and affordable Mediterranean fare.
There is also a great lunch café in City Park on the outside of the Children’s Museum where you can sit on a big deck over the water and it is never crowded. Another great lunch café is in the NO Museum of Art in City Park. Both open to the public – don’t have to buy admission to the museum to eat at the cafes.
Check out Studio BE (featured photo) for activist mural art. Stroll streets for traditional New Orleans colorful shotgun homes and lots of cutes cafes/restaurants.
106 locals recommend
Bywater
Check out Studio BE (featured photo) for activist mural art. Stroll streets for traditional New Orleans colorful shotgun homes and lots of cutes cafes/restaurants.
Food scene
Great burger spot and cool bar, located just down Esplanade toward the quarter.
386 locals recommend
Port of Call
838 Esplanade AveGreat burger spot and cool bar, located just down Esplanade toward the quarter.
Mimi's In the Marigny
2600 Chartres StreetGet fried chicken! Best fried chicken of my life.
Great bakery closeby – their lox bagel comes with fresh dill and is delicious
18 locals recommend
Leo's Bread
2438 Bell StGreat bakery closeby – their lox bagel comes with fresh dill and is delicious
Right near Lava Market and Pagoda Café- great Caribbean/Jamaican jerk chicken and fish
30 locals recommend
Coco Hut Carribean Restaurant
2515 Bayou RdRight near Lava Market and Pagoda Café- great Caribbean/Jamaican jerk chicken and fish
Great coffee shop. You must get their salted caramel brownie. Up Esplanade toward the Bayou
237 locals recommend
Fair Grinds Coffeehouse
3133 Ponce De Leon StGreat coffee shop. You must get their salted caramel brownie. Up Esplanade toward the Bayou
Famous po boy spot near the bayou. Great walking around around here up and down the bayou
681 locals recommend
Parkway Bakery & Tavern
538 Hagan AveFamous po boy spot near the bayou. Great walking around around here up and down the bayou
Good soul food, New Orleans style. Red beans and rice, fried chicken, etc. Great breakfast buffet
201 locals recommend
Li'l Dizzy's Cafe
1500 Esplanade AveGood soul food, New Orleans style. Red beans and rice, fried chicken, etc. Great breakfast buffet
Katie's
3701 Iberville StLunch and dinner, local food (oysters, seafood beignet, etc).
AMAZING sausages of all sorts, including alligator, crawfish and veggie/vegan options. Open all day and open late
359 locals recommend
Dat Dog
5030 Freret StAMAZING sausages of all sorts, including alligator, crawfish and veggie/vegan options. Open all day and open late
The Joint
701 Mazant StAmazing BBQ in the Bywater. All meat smoked in huge cookers out back
Cochon RESTAURANT
930 Tchoupitoulas StHalf butcher shop, half restaurant. Amazing food!
Our favorite doughnut place. Hole in the wall but the doughnuts are INCREDIBLE.
53 locals recommend
Buttermilk Drop Bakery
1781 N Dorgenois StOur favorite doughnut place. Hole in the wall but the doughnuts are INCREDIBLE.
Amazing huge outdoor patio with live music 7 nights a week. Wine/cheese shop where you pick out the bottle you want and can order incredible cheese plates for super cheap. Food also served tapas style.
839 locals recommend
Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits
600 Poland Ave Amazing huge outdoor patio with live music 7 nights a week. Wine/cheese shop where you pick out the bottle you want and can order incredible cheese plates for super cheap. Food also served tapas style.
Great local spot in the quarter for lunch or dinner. Pretty low key, waiters yelling at each other, cool vibe if you are up for a non fancy but delicious dinner. Great seafood.
163 locals recommend
Coop's Place
1109 Decatur StGreat local spot in the quarter for lunch or dinner. Pretty low key, waiters yelling at each other, cool vibe if you are up for a non fancy but delicious dinner. Great seafood.
Great cheapish Mexican food. Two locations, one on lower Magazine uptown and one in the Central Business District downtown
172 locals recommend
Juan's Flying Burrito - Mid-City
4724 S Carrollton AveGreat cheapish Mexican food. Two locations, one on lower Magazine uptown and one in the Central Business District downtown
Great tacos and other Mexican inspired food. Amazing maragaritas you can order by the pitcher.
228 locals recommend
The Rum House
3128 Magazine StGreat tacos and other Mexican inspired food. Amazing maragaritas you can order by the pitcher.
Great seafood spot. Lunch or dinner. Make reservations, in CBD
261 locals recommend
Pêche Seafood Grill
800 Magazine StGreat seafood spot. Lunch or dinner. Make reservations, in CBD
Café Reconcile
1631 Oretha Castle Haley BlvdLunch; near MLK; teaches NOLA teens to work in restaurant industry
Pizza Delicious
617 Piety StBest pizza! Also pastas and salads
Italian family run: outrageously good. Funky and not expensive
199 locals recommend
Mandina's Restaurant
3800 Canal StItalian family run: outrageously good. Funky and not expensive
Russell's Marina Grill
8555 Pontchartrain Blvdnice outdoor patio- good brunch eats right near the lake
Royal Sonesta New Orleans
300 Bourbon StBig nice fancy brunch in the quarter
Fancy, beautiful brunch with a huge courtyard in the quarter
84 locals recommend
The Court of Two Sisters
613 Royal StFancy, beautiful brunch with a huge courtyard in the quarter
Ruby Slipper Cafe
315 S Broad StGood hearty breakfasts. Awesome biscuits
Drinks
Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29
321 N Peters StFamous tiki bar
Bar Tonique
820 N Rampart StPretty close on Rampart. Delicious fancy drinks
Great bloody mary’s and amazing food. Fancyish but divey sports bar
143 locals recommend
Twelve Mile Limit
500 S Telemachus StGreat bloody mary’s and amazing food. Fancyish but divey sports bar
Old famous hotel on St. Charles Avenue, Uptown. Drink cheap champagne on their huge porch for the afternoon
220 locals recommend
The Columns Hotel
3811 St Charles AveOld famous hotel on St. Charles Avenue, Uptown. Drink cheap champagne on their huge porch for the afternoon
Famous dueling pianos (my friend Hannah is one of the piano players- ask for her/tell her you were recommended by Julia!) and gorgeous outdoor patio. Well known as a great place to get smashed on Bourbon. Order a Hurricane.
243 locals recommend
Pat O'Brien's
718 St PeterFamous dueling pianos (my friend Hannah is one of the piano players- ask for her/tell her you were recommended by Julia!) and gorgeous outdoor patio. Well known as a great place to get smashed on Bourbon. Order a Hurricane.
Music
Preservation Hall
726 St PeterFamous place to go to hear neighborhood musicians
Best area to go to hear live music (about four city blocks with numerous jazz and music clubs). Live music pretty much any time of day. MUCH better than Bourbon!
655 locals recommend
Frenchmen Street
Best area to go to hear live music (about four city blocks with numerous jazz and music clubs). Live music pretty much any time of day. MUCH better than Bourbon!
Traveler advice
Getting around
Rideshare + Bluebike Info
Uber and Lyft are your friends and price varies by busyness. French Quarter and most every place else you’d want to go is within 15 minutes.
Rent blue bikes (they are electric and go quite fast!) by the hour or day and drop them off at any station around town (https://bluebikesnola.com/)
Traveling with kids
Fun Family Friendly Activities
• Audubon Zoo (the best!! In a beautiful spacious park).
• Storyland (in City Park- storybook themed playground and climb areas-- super fun!)
• Aquarium (small but nice)
• Mardi Gras World (see all of the floats! Super fun to check out)
Customs and culture
Recommended Activities
For anytime ideas:
o WWOZ 90.7 best radio station; it also streams. Check out live music listing at https://www.wwoz.org/calendar/livewire-music
o Gambit: www.bestofneworleans.com (see music and events calendar for any particular day)