The Ultimate Guide to New Orleans:

What to Eat, Drink & Things That are a MUST DO!

“WHERE TO EAT. ”

Eating is our favorite hobby.

Here is a list of our absolute favorite places to eat in NOLA. There are some restaurants included that are highly recommended that we didn’t make it to, but we are dying to try!

District Donuts: Donuts and Stumptown Coffee, they’ve got different donuts everyday and other baked breakfast goods/sandwiches
Atchafalaya: Best Brunch. Best Bloody Mary bar. You pick your vodka/spirit, and top your own bloodies with all the extra ingredients! Pickled green beans are my fav southern topping. Live jazz performances on the weekends. Order the eggs Atchafalaya!
Surrey’s Café and Juice Bar: Located on Magazine Street in the Garden District. This was one of our favorite breakfasts we had! Get their banana foster French toast!
Elizabeth’s Restaurant: Their Bloody Mary’s are killer (Cucumber infused vodka!) and they have a “pour your own mimosa” deal. YES PLEASE. Their Fried Oyster and Potatoes dish was delish, we substituted potatoes for grits and it was amaze-balls. Local tip: it’s constantly busy downstairs, go upstairs and sit at the bar- you’ll get quicker and better service and it’s much quieter!
Café Amelie: Amazing atmosphere and food. Try the shrimp & Grits, gumbo, or pig and fig sandwich. We came back here twice because it was so good! They have a beautiful patio to enjoy, and an awesome bar with yummy cocktails!
Pascal’s Manale: Great for lunch or dinner. Open since 1913. Order the BBQ Shrimp! They have a great happy hour from Monday-Friday 3-6pm. Reservations are recommended!
St. Roch Market: This market area has tons of food trucks and lots of options to choose from!
Deanie’s Seafood: Service is okay, but the food is amazing! Po-boy city!!!
Olde Nawlins Cookery: Another classic. Order the seafood gumbo!
The Ruby Slipper Café: Great for Breakfast. Get the Bananas Foster Pain Perdu. Ruby’s has a few different locations, expect some sort of a wait! Worth the wait. The location on Frenchmen street is the least busiest.
Brennon’s : Make a reservation here! Again…try their Banana Foster.
Drago’s: Charbroiled Oysters (THIS IS A MUST!) Pair it with a nice glass of champs! There are two locations, the original is a pretty far drive, but the other location is downtown in the Hilton Riverside Hotel. Hit this one if you don’t want to travel far.

Loretta’s Authentic Pralines: Famous Praline Stuffed Beignets (Praw-leen is how it’s pronounced!)

Biscuits & Buns on Banks: This place has tons of great dishes. Order the Blueberry and Brie Waffles.
Domilise’s: Get the Fried Shrimp Po-Boy (Queue the drooling…)
Luke: SHRIMP & GRITS! Nuff said.
Mother’s: Best Jambalaya in town!
Creole Creamery: They have some awesome flavors here you can try, a unique yummy one is the Lavendar Honey Ice Cream.
Dat Dog: Gourmet Hot dogs (My fav is the Chicago Dog!) This place has a wrap around upstairs bar, right in the middle of Frenchmen street!
District Hand Pie & Coffee Bar: So many good options here, but try the Brûléed Cinnamon Roll.
Ba Chi Canteen: Not your typical Creole food, but this Steamed Buns Shop is a must try (Order the Bacos!)
Café Du Monde: THE ICONIC Beignets!!! Opened in 1862! You will see a huge line outside of this place, but what’s the local’s trick? It’s a seat yourself place. Just walk in, find an empty table. (even if it’s dirty) A server will quickly come by to clean your table, and take your order. Super quick, super HEAVENLY beignets. I still dream about these on the regular. #foodieprobs

“WHERE TO DRINK.”

We like boozin, yes we do. We like boozin, How bout you?

Drinking in New Orleans is a highlight of any visit. From locally produced Abita beer to cocktails to French wine and even to coffee, the Big Easy has enough drinks for everybody!

NOLA brewing: One of New Orleans best breweries!
21st Amendment at La Louisiane: Located inside Hotel Mazarin’s bar, amazing live jazz, and bomb cocktails.
The Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel: a classic hotel with Italian marble floors and crystal chandeliers. The Sazarac drink quickly became one of my new favorites.
Cane and Table: New Orleans style Latin Tapas and drinks. Happy hour from 3-6pm Mon-Fri with select cocktails for $6.
Bar Tonique: French Quarters Bar that’s small, yet classy- with a dive bar feel. It has live music and cheaper cocktails.
Parleaux Beer Lab: A great beer house with some awesome brews. Local beer, games, and a huge patio! Dog friendly :) We shared a flight of beers here, they were all super tasty!
Empire Bar: Awesome Happy Hour from 4-7 Monday through Friday on weekends from 2:30-7!
Hotel Monteleone Carousel Bar: This place can get poppin’ if you are trying to find a seat on this turning carousel. This place is a local and tourist favorite. As the bar slowly rotates, you can grab a newly inspired cocktail or classic.
Barrel Proof: Whiskey, whiskey, and more whiskey is what you'll find here. With over 300 different whiskeys and more spirits, you’ll be sure to find something here you love.
Hot Tin: A rooftop bar located atop of the Pontchartrain Hotel in the Garden District. Check out this awesome bar accompanied with cocktails and killer views.
The Country Club: This bar has a pool. Yes, a pool. Brunch, cocktails, mimosas, and more. Very LGBQT friendly! Stop by anytime for traditional mixed drinks you'd expect at a restaurant-bar-pool party.
Bacchanal Wine: Best wine shop in town! This bottle shop/bar is a definite gem. This backyard bar is terrific for live music, of course. Wine store, cheese shop, music venue, and restaurant, what more do you need? We wanted to live here forever.
Commander’s Palace: Upclass bar with 25 cent martinis when you buy an entrée. OKKURRRR.

“WHERE TO STAY”

We love grabbing an Airbnb anywhere we travel, so here’s a list of some neighborhoods/streets that are PRIME to stay on or near. I’ll also include some great hotels to stay in if you’re looking to spend a little more!

Airbnb Where to Search:

Favorite neighborhoods: The French Quarter, The Garden District, Bywater (We want to stay here next), and Marigny neighborhood

Recommended Hotels:

The Westin, Winsor Court, Omni Riverfront, Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Loews New Orleans Hotel

“THINGS TO DO (MUST DO’S!)”

There are SO many fun things to do in Nola, we can spend a full week here exploring and doing different activities. I’ve included what we have done in the past, and some other “must do’s” during your stay in the Big Easy. Create your own adventure, and get lost in this awesome city!

Burlesque Show: A MUST DO! We love the Gravier Social Club
Have a romantic Jazz dinner or a private dining dinner aboard the famous Steamboat Natchez! This is something we are dying to do. The steamboat looks amazing and has some great music/foods!
Magazine street: Shopping, great eats, beautiful neighborhoods. We walked up and down this lovely street. You’ll need to Uber here, it’s across the freeway!
Check out a parade or city event! There is always something going on. Check out the site at the end of the blog to find an event near you!
Cemetery Tour: Is a definite must do! You don’t need a tour guide to enter the cemeteries in New Orleans (there is a ton) but having a tour guide definitely teaches you a lot more about the city, the cemetery/tomb process, and answers questions you may have! Check out this tour!
Royal Street: Royal street is known for it’s awesome antique and thrift shops as well as it’s street performers!
Frenchmen Street Drinks and Music: Best place for live music, it’s where to locals go! Great bars throughout
Bourbon Street: People watch, drink, bead it up, EXPLORE!
Find a haunted pub tour, or just plain cocktail/bar hop tour!
Ghost Tour/Vampire Tour: We went on a ghost tour and saw some orbs! It was awesome!
Canal Street: A long walkable street full of things to see
Go to Jackson’s Square: Where all the artists go to paint! Walk around the awesome parks
Street Car: Ride the historic street car anywhere! I’ve heard some advice to ride it to the Garden District (Download the streetcar app!) it’s super affordable and convenient.
Food Tour: Airbnb has some really great local food tours to check out! Or try checking out Eatwith.com for a local creole style dinner party.
Swamp tour: Another must do!
Rent Bicycles from Blue Bikes NOLA: It’s only a 6 dollar start up fee, all based through an app, and it’s 20 cents a minute after that. Super check and easy way to get around town. They are all over the place. We did this the entire time we were in town!
Earn yo motha fuckin’ beads ;)

Needing some more ideas for things to do?

Check out this website here!

Happy travels!

Until next time,

Hi.

Mar 1 New Orleans: Where to Eat, Drink & Things You Must Do!

The Ultimate Guide to New Orleans:

What to Eat, Drink & Things That are a MUST DO!

Eating is our favorite hobby.

Here is a list of our absolute favorite places to eat in NOLA. There are some restaurants included that are highly recommended that we didn’t make it to, but we are dying to try!

District Donuts: Donuts and Stumptown Coffee, they’ve got different donuts everyday and other baked breakfast goods/sandwiches

Atchafalaya: Best Brunch. Best Bloody Mary bar. You pick your vodka/spirit, and top your own bloodies with all the extra ingredients! Pickled green beans are my fav southern topping. Live jazz performances on the weekends. Order the eggs Atchafalaya!

Surrey’s Café and Juice Bar: Located on Magazine Street in the Garden District. This was one of our favorite breakfasts we had! Get their banana foster French toast!

Café Amelie: Amazing atmosphere and food. Try the shrimp & Grits, gumbo, or pig and fig sandwich. We came back here twice because it was so good! They have a beautiful patio to enjoy, and an awesome bar with yummy cocktails!

Pascal’s Manale: Great for lunch or dinner. Open since 1913. Order the BBQ Shrimp! They have a great happy hour from Monday-Friday 3-6pm. Reservations are recommended!

St. Roch Market: This market area has tons of food trucks and lots of options to choose from!

Deanie’s Seafood: Service is okay, but the food is amazing! Po-boy city!!!

Olde Nawlins Cookery: Another classic. Order the seafood gumbo!

The Ruby Slipper Café: Great for Breakfast. Get the Bananas Foster Pain Perdu. Ruby’s has a few different locations, expect some sort of a wait! Worth the wait. The location on Frenchmen street is the least busiest.

Brennon’s : Make a reservation here! Again…try their Banana Foster.

Drago’s: Charbroiled Oysters (THIS IS A MUST!) Pair it with a nice glass of champs! There are two locations, the original is a pretty far drive, but the other location is downtown in the Hilton Riverside Hotel. Hit this one if you don’t want to travel far.

Loretta’s Authentic Pralines: Famous Praline Stuffed Beignets (Praw-leen is how it’s pronounced!)

Biscuits & Buns on Banks: This place has tons of great dishes. Order the Blueberry and Brie Waffles.

Domilise’s: Get the Fried Shrimp Po-Boy (Queue the drooling…)

Luke: SHRIMP & GRITS! Nuff said.

Mother’s: Best Jambalaya in town!

Creole Creamery: They have some awesome flavors here you can try, a unique yummy one is the Lavendar Honey Ice Cream.

Dat Dog: Gourmet Hot dogs (My fav is the Chicago Dog!) This place has a wrap around upstairs bar, right in the middle of Frenchmen street!

District Hand Pie & Coffee Bar: So many good options here, but try the Brûléed Cinnamon Roll.

Ba Chi Canteen: Not your typical Creole food, but this Steamed Buns Shop is a must try (Order the Bacos!)

We like boozin, yes we do. We like boozin, How bout you?

Drinking in New Orleans is a highlight of any visit. From locally produced Abita beer to cocktails to French wine and even to coffee, the Big Easy has enough drinks for everybody!

NOLA brewing: One of New Orleans best breweries!

21st Amendment at La Louisiane: Located inside Hotel Mazarin’s bar, amazing live jazz, and bomb cocktails.

The Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel: a classic hotel with Italian marble floors and crystal chandeliers. The Sazarac drink quickly became one of my new favorites.

Cane and Table: New Orleans style Latin Tapas and drinks. Happy hour from 3-6pm Mon-Fri with select cocktails for $6.

Bar Tonique: French Quarters Bar that’s small, yet classy- with a dive bar feel. It has live music and cheaper cocktails.

Parleaux Beer Lab: A great beer house with some awesome brews. Local beer, games, and a huge patio! Dog friendly :) We shared a flight of beers here, they were all super tasty!

Empire Bar: Awesome Happy Hour from 4-7 Monday through Friday on weekends from 2:30-7!

Hotel Monteleone Carousel Bar: This place can get poppin’ if you are trying to find a seat on this turning carousel. This place is a local and tourist favorite. As the bar slowly rotates, you can grab a newly inspired cocktail or classic.

Barrel Proof: Whiskey, whiskey, and more whiskey is what you'll find here. With over 300 different whiskeys and more spirits, you’ll be sure to find something here you love.

Hot Tin: A rooftop bar located atop of the Pontchartrain Hotel in the Garden District. Check out this awesome bar accompanied with cocktails and killer views.

The Country Club: This bar has a pool. Yes, a pool. Brunch, cocktails, mimosas, and more. Very LGBQT friendly! Stop by anytime for traditional mixed drinks you'd expect at a restaurant-bar-pool party.

Bacchanal Wine: Best wine shop in town! This bottle shop/bar is a definite gem. This backyard bar is terrific for live music, of course. Wine store, cheese shop, music venue, and restaurant, what more do you need? We wanted to live here forever.

Commander’s Palace: Upclass bar with 25 cent martinis when you buy an entrée. OKKURRRR.

We love grabbing an Airbnb anywhere we travel, so here’s a list of some neighborhoods/streets that are PRIME to stay on or near. I’ll also include some great hotels to stay in if you’re looking to spend a little more!

Airbnb Where to Search:

Favorite neighborhoods: The French Quarter, The Garden District, Bywater (We want to stay here next), and Marigny neighborhood

Recommended Hotels:

The Westin, Winsor Court, Omni Riverfront, Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Loews New Orleans Hotel

There are SO many fun things to do in Nola, we can spend a full week here exploring and doing different activities. I’ve included what we have done in the past, and some other “must do’s” during your stay in the Big Easy. Create your own adventure, and get lost in this awesome city!

Burlesque Show: A MUST DO! We love the Gravier Social Club

Have a romantic Jazz dinner or a private dining dinner aboard the famous Steamboat Natchez! This is something we are dying to do. The steamboat looks amazing and has some great music/foods!

Magazine street: Shopping, great eats, beautiful neighborhoods. We walked up and down this lovely street. You’ll need to Uber here, it’s across the freeway!

Check out a parade or city event! There is always something going on. Check out the site at the end of the blog to find an event near you!

Cemetery Tour: Is a definite must do! You don’t need a tour guide to enter the cemeteries in New Orleans (there is a ton) but having a tour guide definitely teaches you a lot more about the city, the cemetery/tomb process, and answers questions you may have! Check out this tour!

Royal Street: Royal street is known for it’s awesome antique and thrift shops as well as it’s street performers!

Frenchmen Street Drinks and Music: Best place for live music, it’s where to locals go! Great bars throughout

Bourbon Street: People watch, drink, bead it up, EXPLORE!

Find a haunted pub tour, or just plain cocktail/bar hop tour!

Ghost Tour/Vampire Tour: We went on a ghost tour and saw some orbs! It was awesome!

Canal Street: A long walkable street full of things to see

Go to Jackson’s Square: Where all the artists go to paint! Walk around the awesome parks

Street Car: Ride the historic street car anywhere! I’ve heard some advice to ride it to the Garden District (Download the streetcar app!) it’s super affordable and convenient.

Food Tour: Airbnb has some really great local food tours to check out! Or try checking out Eatwith.com for a local creole style dinner party.

Swamp tour: Another must do!

Rent Bicycles from Blue Bikes NOLA: It’s only a 6 dollar start up fee, all based through an app, and it’s 20 cents a minute after that. Super check and easy way to get around town. They are all over the place. We did this the entire time we were in town!

Earn yo motha fuckin’ beads ;)

Needing some more ideas for things to do?

Check out this website here!

Happy travels!

Until next time,

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