Last weekend was one of the funnest I’ve had in a while! I took my first bae-cation with my boyfriend and we celebrated love at my childhood best friend’s wedding. This all took place in the LIT AF city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Before our trip, we got so many recommendations of things to do that we weren’t able to fit them all in. Here are a few awesome spots we did squeeze in that I’d definitely recommend to anyone visiting New Orleans for the first time.
First off, try to stay in the French Quarter if you end up adding these recommendations to your plans. This area of New Orleans is pretty much walking distance from any of the following places!
HOTEL: Courtyard Marriott in Downtown New Orleans (French Quarter)
This hotel was close enough to all of the places we wanted to check out in this part of town. It was also located in a more “quiet” part of the French Quarter and not too close to Bourbon Street, so the noise at night wasn’t too bad, but you could still definitely hear some of the people walking around outside. We did have a balcony though, so be mindful when booking if you are a light sleeper. The staff was very nice and accommodating.
FOOD: Be prepared to break your diets…(and your wallets, because the only thing you’ll be doing is eating and drinking!)
Cafe Du Monde– This place is a New Orleans staple. It’s a few blocks off of Bourbon Street near Jackson Square and is definitely a must-see if its your first time visiting. However, beware of the long lines on weekends. I would definitely either plan to get there early morning or try to visit it during the week if you’re stay allows it. Side note: the only thing on the menu are beignets + coffee and a few other beverage options. It’s also ca$h only. Hack: if you don’t care too much about getting the picture in front of or inside the actual Cafe du Monde, the New Orleans airport has a miniature version of the restaurant and the lines are much shorter.
**Cafe Beignet is a great alternative to Cafe Du Monde. The lines are not as crazy, there is a high chance that a live band is playing & it’s right on Bourbon Street. Matthew and I did not eat there, but we enjoyed the live music and ambiance.
Red Fish Grill– This restaurant is right at the beginning of Bourbon Street. They serve a delicious seafood based cuisine with a pretty good wine list at a fair price. Order the BBQ fried oysters and thank me later! (they’re a bit spicy). If you really want to get into the New Orleans spirit, you have to order a shrimp Po-Boy. The sandwich itself is not AMAZING, but it definitely gives you that New Orleans flavor. If you’re into smokey flavors, order the “Local Favorites” Grilled Gulf Fish Tacos.
BB Kings– This restaurant has a variety of options to choose from for your meal. From the typical New Orleans seasoned food to lighter options. On our last day, I was really craving a grilled chicken sandwich and could not find any other restaurant that had one. Luckily, we stumbled upon BB Kings right by Cafe Du Monde and the French Market. We were also able to hear the live band playing jazz during our lunch!
The Ruby Slipper Cafe– This is probably the best brunch spot in the French Quarter! There were so many delicious options, it was hard to choose what to order. I went with their Seasonal Stuffed French Toast which in this case was stuffed with a delicious sweet potato cheesecake filling – SURPRISINGLY so good (*the picture below is actually of a regular French toast and I switched it afterwards but was too hungry to take another picture). Matthew ordered the Croque Madame, which was a delicious breakfast sandwich. Our brunch was served with some very strong French Truck coffee. However, I still stand by the Cuban Colada being the strongest coffee out there. Hack: the wait gets pretty long, so opt in to join their waitlist online before making your way to the restaurant and it will save you some time on waiting for your table!
Dat Dog– This bar/restaurant is located on Frenchmen Street a little outside the French Quarter. (I hear it’s the Bourbon Street of the locals). This place pretty much only serves hot dogs with as many toppings as you can think of. For my plant-based babes out there, there are some vegan-dog options also! You can also order plain or loaded tater tots- which is what I did. We stopped by Dat Dog’s after my friend’s wedding at around 1:00am so it’s definitely a late night hot spot on the weekend! It closes at 12:00am on week days
DRINK & PARTY: Like I said, you WILL be drinking in New Orleans (if you’re over 21 of course)
Bourbon Street– the main place to party in New Orleans. This should definitely be on your to-do list while visiting. Bourbon Street is up and running all day and all night long, so if you are just strolling through this part of town feel free to stop by one of the local bars, order a drink and keep on going! Yup, you can take your drink to go. There is no law against having an open container on the streets, so feel free to take your drink and keep on exploring. There are plenty of bars that sell Daiquiris and pizza, so you can fuel your body while loading it with alcohol (lol be careful it may catch up to you).
As far as drinks I recommend trying the Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s. It’s been a long-time favorite and in-house recipe. This drink is served in a lamp shaped glass and tastes like fruit punch! Beware though, you will feel that storm brewing if you drink too many. It’s a mix of fruit juices and rum. Another must-have drink is called a Hand Grenade. Don’t take its name lightly. This drink WILL F you up. You’re in New Orleans though, so if you feel safe and have eaten or just want to get wasted and have fun, then by all means try it! The drink is served at a FEW bars on Bourbon Street.
SIGHT SEE- It’s not ALL party…
While the purpose of this trip was to celebrate my friend’s wedding and not to sight see, we did catch some cute things and places that are worth visiting. The St. Louis Cathedral is a must-see spot in New Orleans. On the outskirts of the French Quarter, near the water and Cafe du Monde lies the most beautiful Cathedral. This is where my bestie got married and it’s a high-demand venue for weddings.
The Louisiana State Court of Appeals in New Orleans is also located in the French Quarter near the Omni Royal Hotel and very pretty to look at from the outside. I’m not positive if they give tours or let you in without an appointment, but the architecture is beautiful!
Finally, the Shops of the Colonnade-French Market which is open during the week and on weekends, is a great place for bargain shopping, walking around and even eating! It’s near the Jackson Square and a little past Cafe Du Monde taking up 6 blocks of the French Quarter. Here you will find unique items to take back home or just spend some time getting to know New Orlean’s local artists and craftsmen.
To see our true experience of this wonderful city visit my Youtube Channel and check out my latest vlog here. If you liked this travel guide, feel free to pin it on Pinterest and share it on social media!
PS: if you visit any of these places let me know in the comment section and tag me on Instagram.
