Stuff to do in New Orleans

Here’s a list of some stuff to do while you’re visiting New Orleans, mostly revolving around eating, drinking, and walking around the city. Just a quick reminder, crime is a thing in New Orleans. I try to avoid walking around alone at night in dark or desolate places. The French Quarter is generally safe between Bourbon Street and the Mississippi River, and in other neighborhoods just keep an eye out.

Nola.com almost always has an article about new restaurants around the city; see Eat/Drink section.

Check the WWOZ Livewire for live music show times and locations for a given day.

#1 Recommendation - If you’re in town on a Friday, R Bar in the Marigny has free Cajun food. Depending on the time of year its jambalaya, shrimp, or crawfish. I’m a huge fan. Good food, great bar. It’s near Frenchmen St.

Coffee

• French Truck - LGD. This is a very popular stop for hot and iced coffee.
• Mammoth Espresso - CBD. Serious coffee and tea done very well.
• Lovage - CBD. This is inside the Ace Hotel so its as hip as it gets.
• Fairgrinds - Fairgounds. On Esplanade near the Fairgrounds. A beautiful area with big trees and there’s an upstairs balcony. Great spot to get some sun and watch the time pass. There’s also a wine shop (Swirl) and an excellent mediterranean restaurant (1000 Figs) next door. – Hey! Coffee - 7th Ward. This is a local roaster with a wide reach and really good coffee. It’s located on the Lafitte Greenway. It has recently become my go-to for beans or if I want to sit in the sun while I sip my coffee.

Cocktails & Wine

• Bar Tonique - FQ. ~$10 per drink and they’re good. Also just a fun spot to hang out with a group.
• Bacchanal - Bywater. Wine bar with jazzish live music usually. It’s far from downtown but worth the trip. If you go way out there, check out some other stuff around the Bywater. 
• Delachaise - Garden District. Another wine bar uptown with tasty food. It may sound strange but its not uncommon to go for wine and fries. They do both well.
• Sazerac Bar - Roosevelt Hotel, CBD. Classic cocktails. $20+ per drink

Dives and local bars

More touristy

• Black penny - FQ. Large beer list, good space to hang with a group.
• Chart Room - FQ on Chartres. Cash only. Cheapest beers in the Quarter. This place usually has a great mix of weirdos, tourists, and locals. 

More local

• Rusty nail - Warehouse District.
• R Bar - Marigny.
• Bud rips - Bywater.
• Markeys - Bywater.
• J&J’s - Bywater.
• BJ’s - Bywater.
• Twelve Mile Limit - Mid City.
• Parasol’s - Irish Channel.

Food

This list can be endless so these are just a few places. Definitely ask me if you want more suggestions

• Atchafalaya - This might be Katie and my favorite restaurant. It’s pricey but really really good. And it’s outside of the more traveled area so you’ll get to see a different side of the city. Excellent drinks, excellent seafood.
• Shaya or Saba - Israeli food by Chef Alon Shaya. It’s on the fancy side but completely approachable. In my opinion, it’s best to go here when you have time to stay a while and enjoy the multiple courses. Probably tied with Atchafalaya for my favorite restaurant.
• Peche - Solid seafood. Family style is the move here.
• Cochon - Same owners as Peche and Butcher. This food is heavier and mostly pork. Also pricey. Don’t go here if you plan on doing anything after. Do go here if you want to food coma.
• Petite Amelie for lunch. Won’t blow you away but its a pretty nice place to hang out. Sandwiches and stuff.
• Croissant d’Or - Just before leaving New Orleans I was really into this place. It’s a fun spot for a lazy breakfast. Buttery croissants. It’s closed on Tuesdays.
• Butcher for lunch sandwiches. ~$15 per sandwich and real tasty
• St James Cheese Co for lunch. ~$15 per plate. Good food and relatively quick for a sit down restaurant. There’s a location in the Warehouse district and another one uptown on Prytania St

Any of the John Besh restaurants:

• Domenica
• Luke
• Shaya
• Willa jean Domenica and Luke have awesome happy hours from 4-6pm. Luke has 75 cent oysters and they are excellent. Domenica has half off pizza which is also a great deal. All of these places have first come first serve bar areas which serve the full menu. If you can’t get a table, it’s not impossible to sneak into the bar with a small group. 

Music

Frenchmen st

• Apple Barrel
• Spotted cat
• Bamboulas
• Maison
• Frenchmen Street Art Market

St Claude (~10 minute walk from frenchmen st)

• Karaoke at Kajun’s
• Hi Ho Lounge
• Siberia

Uptown

• Maple Leaf
• Gasa Gasa
• Circle Bar

Other stuff to do and see:

• A picnic at The Fly
• Walk around the Garden District. If its not long enough, walk all the way into the French Quarter!
• Audubon Park
• Piazza di Italia. It’s hit or miss but when it is turned on (there are neon lights all over this fountain) it’s real cool.
• Bayou St. John is great to just hang out. Get food to go and snag a spot on the Cabrini bridge.
• Grab a drink and go for a walk because you can.