New Orleans is one of the most exciting cities to visit in the United States, if not the most exciting. It has such a magical vibe, full of Creole and voodoo influences, and deserves not to be dumbed-down because of a few bad po’boy sandwiches and bachelorette parties on Bourbon Street. And whatever you do, do not skip Bacchanal, the best bar in the country.
Eat
– Saba. If you had heard that Shaya was the best Israeli restaurant in NOLA, well Saba is the new Shaya. Owned by Alon Shaya, this Middle-Eastern restaurant still fires these steamy pitas, drawing inspiration from Israeli street food and local Louisiana ingredients.
– Café du Monde. A touristy staple of New Orleans, coffee and beignets: beware of the lines, but at least it’s open 24/7.
– Compère Lapin. A charming franco-creole bistro helmed by Nina Compton and her husband in an industrial setting. Antoine, Coquette and Herb Saint are good backup options.
– Cochon. The place to go for all things meaty, it’s fingerlickin’ good. In the same area, go to Peche for your dose of seafood.
– Willa Jean. A cool breakfast spot adored by locals and visitors.
– Mother’s. The traditional place to get soft shell crab or a po’boy sandwich, if you haven’t already had one at Parasol’s or Parkway’s.
– Galatoire. A classic New Orleans restaurant institution dating back to 1905. Jacket & collared shirt are mandatory for men, but it’s part of the charm. Eat in the downstairs room, especially for lunch on Fridays Lunch: either wait outside for a couple hours or get your hotel concierge to take care of it. Commander’s Palace and their 25c martini is also an old school restaurant, but Galatoire is definitely where you should go.
– Pizza Delicious. If you’re tired of traditional spots and upscale bistros, Pizza Delicious is a casual, counter-serve restaurant with thin-crust pizza and a decidedly hipster ambiance.
– Dooky Chase. Though the legendary Leah Chase has passed away, Dooky Chase still lives on with traditional Creole cuisine. Sunday supper at Mandina’s is an excellent backup option.
Drink
– Bacchanal. Do not skip this place. Nothing compares to it and no words will do it justice. Bacchanal is a wine and cheese store with a large backyard, where bands play upbeat jazz while you’re sharing a cheese board and the bottle of wine you’ve carefully selected. At the risk of repeating ourselves, this is the best experience you’ll have in NOLA.
– Music clubs. Avoid Bourbon Street and head to the Spotted Cat, Snug Harbor, DBA, Apple Barrel, or Blue Nile. The only good bar on Bourbon Street is Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, one of the oldest bars in the country.
– Cure. A firehouse turned cocktail parlor, Cure is emblematic of the craft cocktail culture which started in New Orleans and spread across the country.
– Bar Tonique. Quirky and tiny, Bar Tonique is where the locals go, don’t expect any tourists over there.
– Sazerac Bar. Drinking a Sazerac in its birthplace inside the Roosevelt Hotel might be overrated, but it’s an institution. Although a better option for an old school hotel bar would be the Columns Hotel Uptown, or drinks by the pool at the Country Club in Bywater.
– The Carousel Bar. Yes, it is as gimmicky as it sounds to be drinking at a bar built into an actual moving carousel — but it has its charm.
Do
– Preservation Hall. Get there an hour early and wait in line, but it might very well be your best experience in New Orleans. A legend for good reason, where cellphones aren’t allowed and people are crammed up in an old room, listening to some of the city’s best jazzmen.
– Bayou tour. Get one of the small boats, even if more expensive, and get ready to see some alligators: Cajun Encounters, Louisana Swamp Tours.
– Treme. Catch the old-school trolley or walk down Saint Charles Avenue to see colonial houses and Audubon park.
– French Quarter. Walk around Jackson Square, visit William Faulkner’s house-turned-bookshop, St Louis Cathedral, and stop by Café du Monde to check if the line is long to get those beignets!
– National WWII Museum. If it’s raining or you’ve got an afternoon to kill, this might be the most interesting museum in town, along with the New Orleans Museum of Art.
– Estates. Some are in the mood for plantations (if so, Laura and Whitney are two good choices), others will enjoy visiting the Pitot House (the only creole colonial house open to the public) or Longue Vue House and Gardens.
– Record stores. Louisiana Music Factory, Peaches Records and Euclid Records should quench your thirst for vinyls.