City Guide: New Orleans
New Orleans was my home for four years while I studied at Tulane University. It is by far my favorite city and I constantly feel the need to go back and visit (even though I just graduated in May). It is a unique city with lots of character, craziness, and funky music… and obviously the food is AMAZING. I think NOLA is an underestimated city. There is so much more than the crazy drinking scene and I think it makes a great weekend vacation with friends or loved ones.
It holds such a special place in my heart. I grew into myself, dealt with heartbreak, love, loss and happiness. But most importantly it is the first place I felt like I belonged. It will always hold such a special meaning to me and I hope you get the chance to experience it for yourself.
WHEN TO VISIT
The best time to visit is anytime from October-April. It is best to avoid summer as the weather is quite hot and humid. However, there is always something going on in New Orleans. From Jazz Fest, Buku, Voodoo, Mardi Gras, Southern Decadence… there is never a weekend without a festival.
WHAT TO DO & SEE
ACE Hotel Pool- If the weather is warm enough… or if it isn’t too hot, the ACE Hotel is my favorite place to go. Typically there isn’t a cover charge unless it is busy season. Here, you can enjoy a trendy pool with lounge chairs, great music, and cool delicious cocktails.
The Drifter- Another super cool pool. This is definitely for a younger more outgoing audience. Lots of pool goers are topless and it is super LGBTQ friendly. I love going with friends, tanning on their famous pink “carpet” and sitting pool side with a drink. They often have life music!
City Park- This park is huge! It is a perfect way to enjoy nature.
Mardi Gras World- If you aren’t here for Mardi Gras I HIGHLY recommend going to Mardi Gras World to see some of the floats and action to what festival season is all about.
Bourbon Street- I recommend this more so during the day as it is less sleezy but it is a must if you are in NOLA. This is the famous drinking street and honestly the weirdest sights you’ll ever see. Typically you’ll only spot tourists here.
Jackson Square- Located in the French Quarter, this square is right near Cafe Du Monde. This square has actually been my phone background for 5 years and I have no intention of changing it anytime soon! This square is beautiful for sitting or just passing by.
Voodoo Tour in French Quarter- I love all things magic and mystical. When I first toured Tulane my mom and I took a voodoo tour and loved it! There are so many to choose from but I loved how historical it was by showing places where real events took place. Plus its a great way to walk around and see the French Quarter.
Audubon Park- If you follow along with my page you’d know this place is really special to me. The park is across from Tulane’s campus and I went every single day the year after my mom passed away. It was a way for me to clear my head, get in a little exercise and connect with nature/ my mom. It is just under 2 miles looped and has a park and golf course.
The Fly- On Friday’s when its nice weather, you’ll see hundred of Tulane students and near by families enjoying some wine, food, games and a beautiful sunset along the Mississippi river.
Festivals- Every single weekend there is a festival like I mentioned above. Sometimes they are really random (like strawberry festival) and sometimes they are a huge event! Just google search New Orleans Festivals to see which one is happening when you’re in town.
Ashely Longshore’s Gallery- Ashley Longshore is an up and coming artist you want to know about. Her work features bright colors, some swear words and lots of rhinestones. Her pieces are well above most peoples price ranges but her gallery is free to the public.
FOOD
Get ready for a long but incredible list. I’ll asterisk my absolute favorites so if you only have a weekend those are your must try’s. However if it made this list… its pretty damn good.
Breakfast/ Brunch:
Raw Republic*- Healthy juices, smoothies, lunch food and açaí bowls. Their upstairs is perfect for doing work.
Bearcat*- MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE restaurant in all of New Orleans. This is somewhat new but it is always so crowded. On weekends there will be a wait but it is so worth it I promise. Lots of vegan options but “normal” food as well. I always got the side pancakes, side eggs, and you must have their Almond Milk Chai Latte.
Steins- My sorority catered from Steins for bagels every Friday. It is a typical deli with tons of sandwiches and beverages.
Camellia Grill- This is a famous diner. There are limited seats so there is always a wait but if you are hungover the grease will cure you and bring you back to life. Oh and they take pieces of their pie and turn it into shakes… life changing.
Willa Jean*- This is a very touristy and aesthetically pleasing place but so worth going.
Humble Bagel- This place only does bagels but it is so good for when you are hungover. I love the lox bagel but make sure to go early because when they sell out they don’t make more and they ALWAYS sell out.
Surrey’s Cafe- I really love the menu here. I haven’t been in years (since I went with an ex and now it reminds me of him lol) but it is seriously so yummy. They have great fresh juices too.
Ruby Slipper Cafe- This is typical New Orleans unhealthy but good for your soul food. Everything on this menu is stellar, and when my family came to visit they loved this the best. Tip: you can put your name down in before arriving on Yelp so you don’t have to wait.
Satsuma Cafe- This cafe is infamous among Tulane students especially since it is so close to campus. You will always see 10 students grabbing lunch here but the food is super yummy.
Paladar 511- The menu here is insane. All the food I’ve ever eaten here is amazing and I recommend the lemon ricotta pancakes and breakfast pizza. Make sure you come hungry.
Lunch:
St. James Cheese Factory*- If you like cheese this place is for you. If you are lactose intolerant or vegan you should definitely avoid. Their sandwiches are so fricken delicious, I always go with the hooks cheddar.
Cochon Butcher- If you like meat sandwiches this place is a must.
The Daily Beet*- I love everything on their menu. They recently opened a second larger location but their salads and bowls are so mouth watering and perfect after a workout.
Dinner:
Emeril’s Delmonico* $$- Okay so if I had to choose a favorite dinner place this would be it. Super expensive so its just for special occasions but everything is amazing on their menu. This is a must go. It gives off the most southern vibes making you feel like you stepped back 50 years in time. Dressy attire.
LUVI- I only went once but I constantly think about how good this meal is. It is japanese inspired food with a small intimate setting. Perfect for small groups or date night. I love their shrimp dish.
Mais Arepas- I didn’t even know what an arepa was until going to this restaurant. It is a great date night or GNO and the arepas are to die for. Oh and they have pitchers of sangria… what more can a girl ask for?
Shaya*- Yes there has been controversy over previous management… BUT I think this is so much better than Saba (its attempted replacement). I think you will have one of the best meals of your life. It is mediterranean and it is best to share everything. My favorite dishes are the cauliflower hummus, Okra (trust me on this it will be your fave), and the Shakshuka.
Mint- This is a super causal vietnamese restaurant in the uptown neighborhood. The pho is amazing as well as everything else on their menu. You will never have a bad meal here.
Superior Seafood*- One of the more popular celebration places among the Tulane population this restaurant has amazing seafood (aka get their oysters). I had the best salmon of my life here and don’t forget to eat the bread. It’s al so yummy. Oh and amazing frozen drinks! Two and you are drunk.
Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits*- Not exactly a dinner restaurant but I thought it made more sense to put under dinner than nightlife. My friends and I would often go on nice nights (as most of it is outside). You buy a bottle of wine there and some cheese and they make a cheese platter from you. The cheese is actually sourced from Saint James Cheese Factory, which I recommended for lunch. They have life music and it is a super relaxing environment. It is worth the Uber trip out here I promise.
Dessert:
Snowballs- If you are here during the warmer months I highly recommend cooling off with snowballs. Since the people of New Orleans never dear with snow they somehow mixed up names and named snow cones snow balls. Either way somehow New Orleans does it better.
King Cake- This isn’t a place but rather a recommendation of something to find. King Cake is a circular croissant like cake with tons of icing, fillings, and sugar. The best part is there is a naked plastic baby inside one of the pieces.
NIGHTLIFE
Wrong Iron- This is a relatively new bar that somehow seems like its been around for years. It is popular on weeknights or when then is a football game on. Most of the bar is outside and allows for fun games and great beers!
Bulldog- This is the same owner as Wrong Iron but is more centrally located. Here you can spot lots of dogs. It is popular on Wednesday nights among college students and is known for their witty glasses that you are allowed to take with you (at least everyone does I am not sure if we are supposed to).
Pat O's- You must be 21 for this (and obviously that is the legal drinking age) but they will take fake IDs. That being said this was my favorite bar to go to senior year of college because of the Piano room. Anytime we had a sorority event downtown we would always end the night here singing along to live piano music. You can request songs by writing on napkins and adding a small tip.
Hot Tin- This bar is located on the roof of a hotel and is fun to go to with friends to start off the night. The ages are a wide range and it has a 20’s vibe to it. The view is also spectacular.
Tchoup Yard- This bar is really similar to Wrong Iron. There are two bars with a huge courtyard between the two. It is perfect for drinking with large groups as well as playing games.
Tipitinas- In the summer this live music venue is free so a lot of students go at the beginning and end of the school year. It is so fun to go with friends and even family. There is always something great playing and there is actually two levels.
30/90- Located on Frenchman Street, this club is more for locals when they want to have a night out. Frenchman is home to many bars more targeted to the locals so it is slightly less grimy than bourbon street.
Blue Nile- Right next to 30/90 this Frenchman street bar often has life music. We often went here with fraternities to enjoy a night downtown but it has tons of locals and an older audience.
SHOPPING
Magazine Street- This long street is home to many cute boutiques with all price ranges and a ton of unique second hand shops.
DNO- Stands for Defend New Orleans. I love this shop as it is perfect to get “touristy” yet cool gifts. I wear their tie dye top every time its clean.
Stonefree- If you like more bohemian wear this is perfect for you! It is not cheap but the pieces are always so fabulous and I usually get something anytime I’m there. Also AMAZING swim collection but definitely not cheap. Bonus: there is usually a super cute dog in the shop.
WORKOUTS
Romney Studios*- This is my absolute favorite workout studio in the world. If you love working out and are in town I recommend their BOSU class since it is very unique.
Barre3- I love this barre class since it mixes cardio and barre. The class moves super quick and you are never bored.
Cyclebar- This is a great cycle studio in New Orleans. The studio is large and super clean. They use a long bar for the arms section. My favorite instructor is Fabiola!
Tour Cycle- Also a great cycle studio. It is located in the CBD so was a little far from school. My friend was an instructor there and I went for her classes which were AMAZING but the classes were usually super small which I wasn’t a fan of.
Grace Yoga & Pilates- This is a super small studio but it is my far my favorite yoga class to take in New Orleans. I loved the flow of the class and the teacher used essential oils throughout as well as a partner section which I thought was super unique.
City Surf- This class is a unique approach to fitness as you are working out on a surfboard that constantly moves. It helps with balance and core strength although definitely not for everyone you need to be a little fearless.
Free to Be- Also a great yoga studio in town. I think this flow is most similar to Core Power which is my favorite studio from Chicago.
WHERE TO STAY
Since I lived in New Orleans I never needed to look into accommodations. I recommend getting a hotel in the Garden District. It is a lot less touristy, quiet, and typical New Orleans. There are a lot of cute boutique hotels in this area too and its about midway between uptown and downtown.
TRANSPORTATION
Sadly the New Orleans public transportation is quite horrible. To get anywhere across town you either need a car or call an Uber. There is a streetcar that I absolutely recommend taking however it is super slow but so much fun to take as an attraction along Saint Charles Street.
THINGS TO NOTE
There are open container laws in New Orleans so you are free to take your drinks anywhere you please as long as they aren’t in glass.
The people are super open minded and I suggest being open to new experiences when traveling here.
It is not a crazy free for all unless you only stick to Bourbon Street and the French Quarter.
You must try beignets and crawfish! During warmer months a lot of bars/ restaurants have crawfish boils.
If you don’t drink New Orleans has plenty of options to have an amazing trip.
I have hundred of more recommendations, feel free to reach out if you are looking for something you didn’t see.
“LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULER”
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL