Things to Eat, Drink and Do in New Orleans

Things to Eat, Drink and Do in New Orleans! My top picks for NOLA's best sightseeing, eating and drinking. Laissez bon temps rouler!

If there's one thing you learn when you travel, it's that cities are alive. They each have a pulse; a distinct heartbeat.

Take a reading on New Orleans, and you'll be left with a jazzy rhythm filling your ears, not to mention a fiery meal filling your belly. It is incredibly unique, complex and undeniably intriguing, and if you've yet to visit I highly recommend making plans to do so.

I've had the pleasure of traveling to New Orleans twice in the last 2 years, and I'm thrilled to say I'll be back for another visit in May for their renowned Jazz Fest. While I haven't been to NOLA during its most rambunctious time of year {Mardi Gras, of course}, I can imagine that the city is quite a sight to behold. I mean, it's pretty charismatic even when there's nothing major going on.

I've been wanting to share some of the highlights from my New Orleans visit since last year, but got caught up with the holidays {and so on and so forth}. With it being Fat Tuesday and all, I figured it would be a good time to circle back to the Crescent City!

Stay

New Orleans has an abundance of great spots to stay, but I can only speak on the two I experienced myself: the International House New Orleans and the Westin New Orleans Canal Place. Luckily, they both happened to be in fantastic locations, so I'd recommend either in terms of convenience.

The International House is an intimate boutique hotel located in the Central Business District, just two blocks from the French Quarter. In its heyday, the Beaux Arts-style building touted the distinction of being the first World Trade Center in the world. Naturally, the building has history and character due to its age, but it is nowhere near "old" or "stuffy." In fact, I'd say the one word that best describes its overall feel is "sexy."

Low lighting, velvet upholstery and unique pieces scattered throughout the hotel give off a swanky, yet inviting vibe. The room we stayed in was cozy, but comfortable {and I love that they have Aveda bath products; it's the little things.}. I was totally enamored with Loa Bar, the best lobby bar I've ever encountered, with its dimly lit, Voodoo-inspired atmosphere and recessed corners that draw you in to sit and sip for a spell. {No pun intended.}

If it isn't evident from this glowing review, I was quite pleased with International House and would definitely consider staying there again.

The Westin New Orleans Canal Place, in contrast, is more of a business class hotel. With its 437 guest rooms and sweeping views of the Mississippi River from floor to ceiling windows of the 11th the floor lobby, it wouldn't exactly be described as "quaint." Nevertheless, the accommodations are comfortable and contemporary and the address can't be beat. The hotel is connected to The Shops at Canal Place, and is half a mile from many of New Orleans' most popular attractions such as Jackson Square, Cafe du Monde and even a hop and a skip from Bourbon Street.

See & Do

There is an insane amount to see and do in New Orleans. Whether you're into architecture, nightlife, food or history, there is something for everyone to enjoy, and all of it comes with its own dose of NOLA swag.

Meander through The Garden District

Like taking a peek at pretty homes and gawking at elegant gardens? The Garden District is your jam. We boarded a street car that dropped us off at Washington Avenue where we hopped out and took in some of the sights by foot. Gorgeous mansions with details like scroll work-embellished wrought iron fences and towering columns bring you back to a bygone era of elegance and charm. {And thanks to the movie The Skeleton Key, you probably couldn't pay me to stay in one, as amazing as they are.}

Hit the "Streets"

One could easily spend their entire trip strolling up and down some of NOLA's iconic streets. Each has their very own identity and adventures to offer.

Magazine Street: The Quirky One. Stretching six miles and passing through six of NOLA's neighborhoods, Magazine Street is not just another road to turn on. You can find everything from shops to dining, art galleries to antiques, all with a funky flair. Check out these guides for specifics on places to pop in while you wander down Magazine.

Frenchmen Street: The Cool One. Smooth jazz and local art await you on Frenchmen Street. Sadly, this is the street I got to experience the least on both trips, but I hope to make up for it the next time since I hear it's the heart and soul of the New Orleans jazz scene. According to this, this and this, there are tons of hot spots worth visiting on Frenchmen.

Bourbon Street: The Wild One. Oh, lawd. Put your party pants on and have the Alka-Seltzer on hand for the morning after; Bourbon Street is a party animal's paradise. {And totally not my speed, if I'm being honest.} Here's the thing: you HAVE to go. It's one of the most famous landmarks of the city. So, if you're past the point in life where rowdy is appealing, take a quick walk down the street during the daytime hours {although, it's pretty smelly when the hot sun is beating down, fair warning} and check that off the bucket list. If you're up for some raucous, shoulder-to-shoulder "fun", then head there in the evening for drinks and debauchery.

Get "Spiritual"

New Orleans is a city of supernatural energy, from its famous cemeteries to its mysterious, deep roots intertwined with voodoo culture. I am a complete chicken when it comes to most of that stuff {again, thanks The Skeleton Key}, and while I didn't delve too far into that part of NOLA's underpinnings, I couldn't help myself from checking out one of several of its cemeteries. While that may seem like a strange thing to do on vacation, it's a "thing" for New Orleans visitors, and once you take a walk through one of the historical burial grounds you'll likely understand why.

We visited Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 as it was one of the ones that you can stroll freely without needing to be part of a paid tour, and I have to say that although I was a bit wary and maybe a tad spooked, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. The grounds are serene and, dare I say, beautiful. If you are interested in a guided visit, there's a wide array of options available.

If your curiosity leads you to examine the more occult, there are also lots of shops and museums that explore the esoteric.

Buying in the Bayou

I rarely get to shop when I'm on vacation with my husband, but I did get to do a little browsing when I visited with a group of girls. The French Market is probably one of the most visited shopping spots in New Orleans -- it does, after all, hold the distinction of being the oldest open air market in the country. You can browse stall after stall {6 blocks worth!} of everything from handcrafted goods to touristy junk and even grab a bite while you're there.

Magazine Street, lined with shops and boutiques, is another good option for finding some uniquely NOLA souvenirs.

Other Sights

Jackson Square: A beautiful spot to snap some pics, but also a great area to catch a jazz street performance while you rest your weary feet or check out some of the art displayed by local artists.

St. Louis Cathedral - If you're into churches and architecture, then you'll love this historical basilica and all its intricate details. If not, then you'll probably love the air conditioning. 😉

This is just the tip of the iceberg! So much to explore.

Eat

Ok, now let's get to the GOOD stuff -- the food! There is no shortage of "must-try" food in New Orleans, just as there is an excess of sub-par tourist trap dining. My favorite ways to find the best spots in just about any city are to: 1. Ask a local or 2. Check out Eater & Yelp. Using those methods I've almost never been led astray.

All that being said, here are just a handful of the places we tried that you might not want to miss!

Cafe Du Monde. Beignets & chicory coffee. Duh.
Acme Oyster House. Chargrilled Oysters. TRUST ME.
Domenica. Happy Hour, small plates & drinks.
Willa Jean. Biscuits. For the love of Pete, go get one.
The Crepe Cart {at the French Market}. Um... crepes.

Central Grocery. THE Muffuletta sandwich. Share.
District Donuts. Yes, donuts. But also really good food.
Red Dog Diner. Good lunch spot. Fun drinks.
Hansen's Sno-Bliz. Snoballs of all flavors. Not what I was expecting, in a good way!

Drink

LaFitte's Blacksmith Shop. Oldest structure used as a bar in the U.S. Grungy but necessary.
Arnaud's French 75. My favorite. <3 Fabulous drinks & serene, upscale atmosphere.
Napoleon House. Another historic structure, cool vibe and good drinks.
Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone. Truly unique. The carousel bar actually rotates. Hard to get a spot, though.
Loa Bar. This one gets a double mention since it's in the lobby of International House, where we stayed. Love the atmosphere.

Well, are you still reading??? This list should give you a good place to start when it comes to eating, drinking and seeing everything New Orleans has to offer, but there's so much more!

While you plan your visit, check out some of my favorite New Orleans-inspired recipes:

King Cake Cuties {Mini King Cakes}
Oven Baked Beignets with Cafe au Lait Dipping Sauce
Cajun Jambalaya
Hot Cajun Shrimp Dip
Jambalaya Flatbread

If you've visited New Orleans, be sure to leave a comment and let me know your favorite spots!