An insider guide to shopping, eating, and exploring your way through The Big Easy. Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!
A Rendezvous in Mid City
Make your way to Mid City to experience all of the hidden gems this funky neighborhood has to offer. Take a stroll down Bayou Saint John and gawk at the stunning cottages along the water (make sure to check out the Pitot House). Rent a kayak or a paddleboard for a true adventure but watch out, there are alligators in the water. If you come at the right time, you may hit a festival like Bayou Boogaloo. Across from Bayou Saint John is New Orleans City Park - an area full of The New Orleans Museum of Art, and a free (!!!) botanical garden, and activities for your kiddos. Hungry? Grab a po boy at Parkway Tavern, brunch at Cafe Degas, chow on some BBQ at Blue Oak Barbeque, or grab a quick, healthy bite at 1000 Figs. Want more? Head to the Fairgrounds for horse races and gambling (in moderation I hope)! If you are staying in the French Quarter, you can bike to Mid City via the Lafitte Greenway.
Shop Your Way Down Magazine Street
New Orleans is a hotbed of small businesses, eclectic shops, and worldy antiques. Magazine Street runs from Uptown to Downtown and is extremely walkable. Take the streetcar Uptown (if you are staying in the Quarter), and make your way back downtown on Magazine. Below are some of my favorite places to shop!
- Tyler + Tate
- Rivers Spencer
- Pilot and Powell
- Sue Sartor
- Hazelnut
- KREWE
- Elle
- Perlis
- Leontine Linens
- UAL
- Consign Consign
- DNO
- Dirty Coast
- Lucy Rose
- Dunn and Sonnier
- The Occasional Wife
- Peony
- TASC
Uptown Funk
Uptown NOLA holds a special and beautiful place in my heart. Skinny, bumpy streets are lined with stunning shotgun homes, colorful cottages, and hidden gardens. Take a stroll around Audubon Park and be sure to stop to marvel at the ancient oak trees, or detour to the Audubon Zoo. Take the street car (NOT a trolley) down Saint Charles to admire the historic homes. Grab a drink at the historic Columns Hotel, or do as the locals do and find the closest dive bar. I love The Kingpin. Live music is an part of everyday life so check out the lineup at Tipitina's. Food is never far in New Orleans. Some uptown favorites are below:
- Looking for oysters? Try Pascal's Manale (the BBQ shrimp is an essential) or Casamento's.
- Want a boozy, iconic brunch? Commander's Palace.
- Craving the best sandwich of your life? Turkey and the Wolf. Trust me on the fried bologna sandwich.
- Great lunch spots: La Petite Grocery, Shaya, Domilise's
- Clancy's for a quintessential dinner reservation. I order the crabmeat salad every time.
- Coquette is a great dinner spot with a warm atmosphere, great cocktails, and an ever changing menu.
- Pigeon and Whale is the hot, new spot in town with the same owners as Turkey and the Wolf.
- Other great dinner spots: Saba, Mosquito Supper Club, Mister Mao, Atchafalaya, Costera
Make Your Way to the Bywater and the Marigny
Next stop on the neighborhood tour are the Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods. The Bywater and the Marigny are adjacent to the French Quarter and offer a artsy, lowkey vibe with a great music scene. The neighborhoods are full of art studios - I can't want to check out Studio Be. Head to The Country Club for a drag brunch. Continue the cocktail tour at Bacchanal Wine Bar or the Elysian Bar. Head to Frenchman Street in the evening for live music. Other great restaurants in the neighborhood include Bywater Bistro, Paladar 511, and N7.
French Quarter Fun
I don't know a single soul who doesn't love the good, the bad, and the ugly in the French Quarter. If you are a history buff, check out the WWII Museum. Passionate about the arts? Check out Ogden Museum of Southern Art - my favorite painting in the world by Bo Bartlett "Young Life" is displayed there. Preservation Hall is a music hall with live traditional jazz (buy a ticket before). Get yourself a classy drank at Cane and Table or Jewel of the South. For a dive bar scene (my first choice forever and always), try Chart Room or Lafitte's. The owner of the Columns Hotel just opened Five's, an intimate raw bar with delicious cocktails and a lively atmosphere. Brennan's, Antoine's, or Galatoire's are all classic dining establishments with fabulous traditions, delicious food, and the best service imaginable. Looking for more restraunts? Try Sidecar, Josephine Estelle, Herbsaint, or Seaworthy.