Weekend Trip to NOLA
New Orleans has easily become one of my favorite cities to travel to over the years. There is so much to love about this iconic city. I love the French/Spanish architecture and influences that have been so perfectly preserved, the endless amount of history to learn, and of course the AMAZING food! Whether you are visiting for a girls trip, couples trip, or even a family trip…New Orleans has so much to offer! From different historical tours, the shopping, the sites, and did I mention all the amazing food?! Especially if you live in the South, New Orleans is a great and easy trip to plan on a whim! My husband and I have been a few times together and always try to make each experience different, which isn’t hard because there is really so much to see and do! We traveled over MLK weekend and it was the perfect little getaway. Along with a little guide of our weekend, I will also be sharing some other great things I have experienced in NOLA…like I said, the options of things to see and do here are endless!
Day One in NOLA
Travel Day
If you live in the South, New Orleans is such a convenient weekend trip! We flew out of Dallas Love Field, and of course we love to get an early start so we can make the most of our day once we land. Once we landed at MSY, we hoped right into a taxi (they make it super easy to hop into one as soon as you walk out of the airport!), but Uber and LYFT are great options too.
For this trip we stayed at The Royal Sonesta in the French Quarter. I have stayed in a lot of different parts of New Orleans when visiting, but if you want to be close to the hustle and bustle, the French Quarter is the place to be. Since we are in our 30’s now, we would probably choose a place not as close to Bourbon Street next time as it can be a little noisy, especially at night time…BUT we enjoyed our experience at this hotel and is priced reasonably.
Since we arrived so early, our room was not ready yet, but most hotels are great about holding your luggage so you can get your day started!
The Garden District
The Garden District in New Orleans is absolutely gorgeous! This can often be an area skipped by some visitors, but I highly recommend spending a day or at least a few hours there. The Garden District is about a couple of miles south of the French Quarter and it has the most spectacular homes to see, amazing restaurants, and some great local shops (there are also some great hotels in this area!). If you are staying in the French Quarter, I highly recommend taking a Streetcar to this area. If you take the Streetcar, download the Le Pass App to purchase your tickets before you hop on!
Lunch at Turkey and the Wolf
We were starving after traveling, so we hit up a new spot we have been dying to try! Turkey and the Wolf is quirky, fun lunch spot that will make you feel like you have transported back into your childhood. Best of all, it is DELICIOUS! We have seen it on multiple food shows and just knew we had to try it. We ordered the Fried Bologna Sandwich (Leighann’s Bologna, Via’s mom’s mustard, potato chips, shrettuce, mayo, American cheese on white bread) and the Ham Sandwich (Smoked City Ham, cranberry, herb mayo, 2 year old cheddar, arugula on a Virginia French roll. We also ordered a side of fries to share…but let me tell you I had my eye on the Wedge Salad (it looked so good!). Everything was so great about this place and I highly recommend!
Magazine Street and Exploring the Neighborhood
Magazine Street is the main strip in the Garden District filled with tons of restaurants, shops, and bars. We walked down a little bit of the street popping into different local shops. We also popped into one of our favorite bars for a beer, The Bulldog. If you love bulldogs, they have great little souvenirs!
Next, we just walked through the neighborhood looking at all the beautiful houses. I don’t know about y’all, but looking at historic homes is probably one of my favorite things to do. If it is your first time in the Garden District, I highly suggest downloading a self-guided audio tour. You can move at your own pace and learn so much about all of these historical homes, see a few celebrity houses, and houses where movies and tv shows have been filmed! I am a huge American Horror Story fan, so naturally I always love to stop by the Buckner House, which is famously now knows as the Coven House. Either way, exploring this beautiful neighborhood does not disappoint!
Drinks in the French Quarter and Dinner
For our first night out, we ventured into Orleans Grapevine Wine Bistro to start with some drinks. I have been to this place on a previous girls trip to NOLA and it never disappoints. We ordered a bottle of the Vampire Pinot Noir and loved it. They also have some great food options here as well!
For dinner we had a reservation at a new-ish restaurant in the Marigny area of New Orleans, The Elysian Bar. The Elysian is also connected to Hotel Peter and Paul, which has all used to be a church and school. If you are staying in the French Quarter, it is a little off the beaten path so I recommend taking an Uber or LYFT, but it is well worth checking out this unique gem. For drinks and appetizers my husband started with the Hot Toddy, I got the House Spritz (aperitivo, club soda, sparkling wine, citrus, mint), the Brioche Rolls, and the Oven Roasted Bone Marrow (beef bone marrow, cashew, pickled chioggia beet, mint). For our entrees I ordered the Crab and Ricotta Gnocchi (served with calabrian chili peppers, bottarga breadcrumbs) and my husband ordered the Crispy Pork Belly (served with purple cabbage pureé, hazelnut, charred cabbage). Everything was delicious and if you are looking for a hidden gem that isn’t just traditional New Orleans cuisine, you will love this place for a date night!
Day Two in NOLA
Beignets in the French Quarter
When you think of New Orleans, one of the most iconic foods you think of are Beignets and they never disappoint! One of the most iconic and oldest establishments that offers delicious Beignets is of course Cafe Du Monde. It is an iconic MUST DO in NOLA, especially if it is your first time visiting. However, be prepared to wait in a line, especially during peak hours (it is well worth the wait!) However, if you have been to New Orleans before and don’t want to wait for a Beignet, I highly recommend Cafe Beignet. It is just as iconic and just as delicious and they have several locations in New Orleans (we went to the one off of Royal Street). We snagged an order of Beignets to share (typically come with 3…and they are massive!) and some coffees.
Brunch and Drinks in the Bywater
Elizabeth’s Restaurant
Who doesn’t love brunch?! I know I do! And you cannot go wrong with this not-so-hidden gem! We ventured over to the Bywater area (again it is a little off the beat path…definitely a more locals vibe then touristy.) to have brunch at Elizabeth’s Restaurant. This is another restaurant we kept hearing about and knew we had to try it out. Keep in mind they do not take reservations and it can get a bit crowded, but it is worth the wait! We started off with some drinks, a Bloody Mary for my husband and a Pimm’s Royale for me (a mix between a Pimm’s Cup and a mimosa). For our entree’s we ordered the Red Neck Eggs (Fried Green Tomatoes with Poached Eggs and Hollandaise with a side of Fruit), the Eggs Florentine (Creamed Spinach and Fried Oysters over Potatoes, Topped with Poached Eggs and Hollandaise) and a side of the infamous Praline Bacon. All of the food was absolutely AMAZING! I swear everything looked great on the menu, so whatever you order I guarantee will be delicious.
Bacchanal Wine
If you want to feel like a local in New Orleans, hang out at a cool, laid back place, and drink some wine…this is the place to go! Bacchanal Wine is also located in the Bywater and let me tell you, it is the coolest little spot! When you walk in you pick out what bottle of wine you would like in the store. You then will get a chilled bottle, grab some wine glasses and a wine bucket, and head outside to the backyard. The backyard is super quaint and chill and usually has live music. There is also a bar upstairs where you can order glasses of wine (if you don’t want to commit to a bottle just yet!), cocktails, beer, and food. A super cool thing you can do as well is buy cheeses inside of the store and then they will bring it out to you charcuterie style! This is a great hang out for everyone and will not disappoint!
Jackson Square
I love walking around Jackson Square. It is iconic New Orleans and has the best views of the St. Louis Cathedral and the Mississippi River. You can check out local artists, shops, and even get your Tarot Card read (which I did just out of curiosity…when in NOLA!) You are also close to the French Market, which has tons of great shopping and yummy foods to try!
A Classic Night in the French Quarter
After freshening up at our hotel, we were ready for our classic NOLA night out! We hit up a couple of bars in the French Quarter (I will share my favorite go to places later!) and then we headed to our dinner reservation at Galatoire’s Restaurant. Galatoires is one of the oldest, still operating restaurants in New Orleans so it doesn’t get more classic than this place. I have been dying to tryout out this iconic restaurant and I am so glad we finally did. If you want authentic, classic New Orleans food with a little bit of glam you have come here (I highly suggest getting a reservation)! I of course started with a glass of Pinot Noir. We wanted to try a little of everything so we started with the Oysters Rockefeller (oysters on the half shell, herbsaint scented spinach), the Jambalaya, and the Turtle Soup (yes it is Turtle…but it is a must try NOLA cuisine). We then shared the Red Fish with Lemon Caper Beurre Blanc and the Potatoes au Gratin.
After dinner, we headed out to some cool and fun iconic spots in the French Quarter and Bourbon Street. The Carousel Bar at The Monteleone Hotel is a must no matter how many times you have been to NOLA. The bar is an actual moving carousel! It is such a cool vibe and they have great drinks (with live music going on sometimes!). It is a very well known place so you might have to wait a little bit to actual sit on the carousel, but it is totally worth the wait! On our way back to our hotel, we stopped on Bourbon Street. It can for sure get a little crazy there sometimes, but it is worth checking out and grabbing a few drinks. We stopped at the iconic Pat O’Brien’s for, you guessed it, a Hurricane. Pat O’s has multiple locations now in different cities, but this is the OG, so you should for sure stop by!
Day Three in NOLA
The French Market and Frenchman Street
We started off day three by walking to the French Market. The French Market has tons of little shops, great food options, and is just a fun environment. It is like a Farmer’s Market, but NOLA style. I highly recommend checking it out especially if you are wanting to try all different kinds of foods!
We then headed to Frenchman Street to grab some lunch! We went to a local favorite that we love, Dat Dog. If you love a good hot dog, then this place will be a dream! This was our first time at the one on Frenchman, but they also have locations on Magazine Street in the Garden District and Freret Street. We ordered the Jimmy’s Chicago Dog, a Burger Dog, Cheese Fries, and of course…a couple of Purple Haze beers. Dat Dog is a great lunch spot whether you are looking for a quick bite or a cool hangout!
After lunch, we walked around a little more and did a little shopping. Of course, we decided we still needed some more food so we stopped by the infamous Acme Oyster to share a half order of the Charbroiled Oysters. We then took the Streetcar back to the Garden District to check out a super cool spot that was recommended to us, The Pontchartrain Hotel. If you are wanting to stay in the Garden District, this is a super cute boutique style hotel. What we were most excited to check out there was the Hot Tin Rooftop Bar. Again, it is adorable, has yummy drinks, and views of New Orleans that are to die for. We loved it and will for sure be back here to visit!
Preservation Hall
One of the things we were most excited about was going to a show at Preservation Hall to listen to Jazz Music because how can you come to New Orleans and not listen to some jazz?! Preservation Hall is most of the most iconic jazz music halls. It is an intimate space, no phones are allowed out during the show, and Taylor Swift had just recently visited here…so of course I was excited to check it out! Because it is so small, I do reccomend buying tickets beforehand. You can pay for a seat or to be standing, but if you purchase a ticket you are gurenteed a space. This show was one of the coolest things I have ever been too. It was so authentically New Orleans, the music was amazing, and the show overall was so entertaining. We will for sure be coming back here!
Cowboys Fans in NOLA
For our last night in New Orleans, we kept it pretty chill. Mostly because the Dallas Cowboys had a HUGE game going on that night and of course as Dallas natives, we had to find the perfect spot to post up for the game. We stopped at Muriel’s Jackson Square to share some small bites before heading to the bar for the game. We shared the Wedge Salad (Iceberg lettuce topped with a creamy Creole dressing, grape tomato, red onion & crumbled blue cheese…but we substituted the blue cheese for feta cheese) and the Boudin Egg Roll (served with a vibrant mirliton jicama slaw and a crispy andouille vinaigrette). Their dinner looked great as well, so this is for sure a must place try!
For the game we decided to watch it at The American Sports Saloon and we were not the only Cowboys fans there, which made it so fun! We ordered some beers and a couple of appetizers…it was all about the snacking this night! We ordered the Mozzarella Sticks and the Saloon wings (Garlic Parm and Hot Honey). This might be a sports bar, but the food was SO GOOD!
We ended the night celebrating a Cowboys win and trying Absinthe for the first time at the infamous Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House (which I will talk more about!). Not my favorite drink, but we figured why not!
Other MUST DO’S in NOLA
Like I said, New Orleans is a place I have traveled multiple times with my husband, friends, and even family. There is SO much to do! Here is a list of a few more of my favorites and things to do for everyone!
Breakfast and Brunch
Brennan’s Restaurant- Another iconic NOLA restaurant! It really is great for any meal…make sure you get the famous Banana’s Foster (they make it for you right at the table!)
Cafe Conti- The best crepes!
Commander’s Palace- another iconic place that you can’t go wrong with any meal! They have great brunch drink deals!
Lunch
Central Grocery Company and Deli- home of the famous Muffuletta! They were closed when we went so we didn’t get to try it out, but it is a MUST!
Dinner
Commander’s Palace- Again, great for any meal!
Superior Grill- As a Texan, sometimes you just need a Mexican Food fix! I have only been to the Shreveport location, but this place is pretty yummy!
My Go-To Drinks and Bars
Erin Rose- Home of the famous and best Frozen Irish Coffee…I go here everytime!
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar- It is one of the oldest still operating bars in America! Get yourself a Purple Drank!
Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House- I talked about them earlier, but they by far have THE BEST BLOODY MARY.
Tours
Ghost Tour- I have done a Ghost Tour multiple times and I love them! This is a MUST DO!
Cemetery Tour
Swamp Tour
Visit Viator to book tours! There are so many to choose from!
New Orleans truly is an amazing destination. Whether it is your first time visiting or your hundredth, there are always SO many new and old things to do. I truly believe this is one of the most unique cities in the United States and there is a little something for everyone. If you are interested in going to New Orleans and need some recommendations, follow me on my Instagram and DM me. I would love to help you have the most amazing NOLA experience and most of all live your life truly on your vacation!
