What to Do in New Orleans?

Much of New Orleans consists of walkable neighborhoods full of restaurants, bars, art, shopping, music, and oddities. The best experiences are often those you stumble upon. That being said, we’ve compiled a short list of places and ideas to get you discovering what New Orleans has to offer.

Think of each of these recommendations as a starting point for an adventure. Take a walk in the French Quarter. Roam around the Marigny and Bywater. Head up Esplanade to the Bayou. Take the St. Charles street car. Stroll along Magazine Street. We love giving tailored recommendations, so please reach out to us if you’d like additional suggestions for what to do à la Nouvelle-Orléans. 

La crème de la crème

It was hard to narrow this down! Below is our best attempt at providing a short list of favorites.

  • Breakfast: Molly’s Rise and Shine, Lagniappe Bakehouse, Leo’s Bread, Ayu Bakehouse
  • Coffee: Coffee Science, Old Road, Hi-Volt, Pond Coffee
  • Dinner: Brennan’s, Bacchanal, Sneaky Pickle/Bar Brine, Margot’s, Budsi’s, Peche
  • Bars: Twelve Mile Limit, Anna’s, Verret’s, Vaughn’s, Cosimo’s, Jewel of the South, Faubourg Wines
  • Late Night: Verti Marte (food), Kajun’s (karaoke), R Bar (proximity to Frenchmen Street), Saturn Bar (live music), ????
  • Shopping: Domino Sound Record Shack, Low Timers (vintage), Blue Dream (vintage), Seasoned (cookware)
  • Activities: Picnic on Bayou St. John, ride the St. Charles Avenue street car, walk along the riverfront park from Bywater to the French Quarter, see the Sculpture Garden in City Park, art galleries on Royal Street.

More New Orleans-y things 

Red beans! Brass bands! Gators! Here are some more recommendations for things to do that are unique to New Orleans.

  • Live Music: Check WWOZ Live Wire for daily live music offerings. We recommend anything on Frenchmen Street (Maison has no cover), Preservation Hall, Mahogany Jazz Hall, Tipitina’s, The Maple Leaf, BJ’s Lounge, and Kermit’s Treme Mother in Law Lounge.
  • Swamp, Haunted French Quarter, Cemetery Tours: No specific recommendations here. According to Reddit, consider Airboat Tours by Arthur, Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours, and the Preservation Resource Center’s cemetery tours.
  • History: Historic New Orleans Collection, Backstreet Cultural Museum, The Presbytère, Whitney Plantation (50 minute drive towards Baton Rouge)
  • Po Boys: Verti Marte, Guy’s, Domilise’s, Parkway, Frady’s One Stop
  • Gumbo: Lil Dizzy’s, Vaucresson’s, Liuzza’s by the Track, Bywater Bakery (breakfast gumbo)
  • King Cake: Unfortunately, king cakes can only be consumed during carnival season (January 6th until Mardi Gras). However, beignets are a year round affair. Go to Cafe du Monde in the quarter or in City Park!
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