top of page
File_000.jpeg

NOLA Tips

Presented by

bluegardenia.png

Food & Drink

  1. Doris Metropolitan

    • Fancier fare. Steaks are their specialty. 

    • We also love their Carpaccio, Steak Tartare, and Beet salad.

  2. Peche

    • Amazing seafood, great oyster bar, and great atmosphere.

  3. Mr. B’s  (traditional NOLA fare)

    • Dinner or Sunday brunch.

    • Try the Gumbo Ya-Ya, the shrimp and grits, the BBQ Shrimp, the pecan pie, and the bread pudding.

  4. R’evolution (dinner, cocktails)

    • Fancier fare.

  5. Sylvain (brunch or dinner)

  6. Brennan’s 

    • Traditional New Orleans fare served in a classic New Orleans setting.

    • Try their specialty, the bananas foster.

  7. Felix’s  (oysters)

    • Felix’s is across the street from Acme and half the wait. Try to sit at the bar so you can watch them as they shuck oysters. You will get better service and get to know the shuckers! Tip the shuckers!​

  8. Royal Oyster House (oysters)

    • If it is nice outside, ask to sit outside on the upstairs balcony.  It is perfect for two and a great spot to people watch.  All of their oysters are great and you can't go wrong with their crab claws. 

  9. Café Amelie (brunch, cocktails, dinner)

    • This is one of the most beautiful courtyards in NOLA.  It is perfect for a brunch, a drink, or dinner. The vibe at the charming courtyard and the refreshing drink, the French 75, cannot be beat!

  10. Other places in the French Quarter that are good:

  11. Bar Marilou 

  12. Elysian Bar/Restaurant (beautiful old church venue)

  13. N7 (French and Japanese inspired)

  14. Irene’s (dinner) 

    • Romantic Italian fare. 

  15. Jacque Imo’s (dinner)

    • If you want to venture outside of the Quarter, Jacque Imo's is a must (this place is famous).  Please get the alligator cheesecake and the fried green tomatoes to start.  Also try the stuffed catfish and the BBQ shrimp.

  16. Le Petite Grocery (dinner)

    • Another great restaurant outside of the Quarter, right on Magazine St.  This place is fabulous and every item on the menu is delicious.  On the way home from Le Petite Grocery, go over to St. Charles Avenue and take that back to the Quarter.  It is such a lovely drive and has the most beautiful homes in the Garden District.

    • On the way home (or on your way there), stop at the Columns Hotel for a drink.  This place is like walking back in time.  It is an old Garden District Mansion that is now a hotel and is the perfect location for pre or post dinner cocktails!  

  17. Carousel Bar (Inside the Hotel Monteleone) 

    • There is an actual working carousel inside the bar that you can sit at accompanied by a piano player. 

    • This is right across the street from Mr. B’s – so it is a perfect place to grab a drink before or after dinner!

  18. Country Club

    • This place is incredible for brunch.  

  19. Café Du Monde

    • Yes, this is touristy, but you still must go and get a café au lait and beignets!  Tip: it is open 24 hours and is a must after an evening gallivanting around the French Quarter.

  20. Cane and Table – great craft cocktails! 

  21. If you are staying at the Roosevelt Hotel for the wedding, check out The Fountain Lounge and Sazerac Bar. They are super close and are fun places to pop in for a quick drink.

  22. Commander’s Palace is a tried and true New Orleans classic. Their jazz brunch is great.

  23. Bacchanal

    • It's simple. You walk in, purchase a bottle of wine, pick out some cheese, and they take your items to build a custom cheese platter just for you. You have to walk into the back garden area, adorned with twinkle lights overheard, and listen to some great New Orleans music. Very popular with the locals.

  24. Shaya

    • Yelena once stabbed Justin in the hand with a fork for trying to take a bite of her caviar dip. Seriously, it's that good.

  25. Tin Roof in the Pontchartrain Hotel

    • Incredible rooftop bar.

  26. Saba

    • In Uptown and owned by the original chef from Shaya. They have amazing dips and Israeli food as well.

  27. Avo (in Uptown, northern Italian)

  28. Lilette (in Uptown)

  29. Paladar 511 (incredible Italian place in the Marigny)

  30. Effervescence (champagne bar)

  31. Meril

    • This is one of Emeril Lagasse's restaurants. Good for small plates, pre-going out dinner. In the CBD/Warehouse District.

  32. Court of Two Sisters

    • Great jazz brunch.

Music

  1. On Bourbon. 

    • Fritzel’s European Jazz Club - 733 Bourbon St.

      • Old school type jazz club

    • Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse - 300 Bourbon St.

    • Preservation Hall - 726 Saint Peter Street

    • Pat O’Brien’s - 718 Saint Peters Street

      • Dueling piano bar (check if it has opened back up with Covid)

      • Fun fact: Hurricanes were invented here, but my favorite drink is the 57 Chevy

  2. Frenchman Street - this is the “local's Bourbon Street” – lots of different types of music.

    • Just walk along Frenchman and see what is playing at:

      • d.b.a. - 618 Frenchman St.

      • Spotted Cat - 623 Frenchman St.

      • Snug Harbor - 626 Frenchman St.

Other

  1. The cemetery tours are very cool and unique. You'll learn about some very interesting aspects of the history of New Orleans.

  2. Take a carriage tour, but look for a two-person carriage.  These are usually parked on Decatur on edge of Jackson Square.

  3. The WWII museum. This is the perfect spot if it is raining - this place is incredible!  The 4-D movie is very cool.

  4. Spa at the Ritz Hotel!

  5. Audubon Park is a lovely place to stroll and/or picnic.

  6. Take a walk down Magazine Street and enjoy all of the unique shopping.

  7. Drink and Learn is a great cocktail centered walking tour – you learn while you drink. Perfect!​

  8. A Garden District tour is also a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

  9. Take one of the many French Quarter based Ghost Tours.

  10. Walk around the French Quarter.

bottom of page