Food Scene
Quintessential New Orleans cafe/bar/restaurant! Formerly known as Schiro's, this was always my first stop when I was visiting NOLA. Great for traditional Southern breakfast... Indian/NOLA fusion.
68 locals recommend
Silk Road Restaurant & Wine Bar
2483 Royal StQuintessential New Orleans cafe/bar/restaurant! Formerly known as Schiro's, this was always my first stop when I was visiting NOLA. Great for traditional Southern breakfast... Indian/NOLA fusion.
I adore this place. It's a bit more chic/trendy (Edison bulbs, swanky interior), but very friendly. Fantastic cocktails, wine, food, & don't miss their brunch!
155 locals recommend
The Franklin
2600 Dauphine StreetI adore this place. It's a bit more chic/trendy (Edison bulbs, swanky interior), but very friendly. Fantastic cocktails, wine, food, & don't miss their brunch!
Guidebooks will tell you to brave the crowds for weekend brunch. I'm here to tell you that dinner is just as good! There's something for everyone, Southern comfort food to healthy vegan fare.
442 locals recommend
Elizabeth's
601 Gallier StGuidebooks will tell you to brave the crowds for weekend brunch. I'm here to tell you that dinner is just as good! There's something for everyone, Southern comfort food to healthy vegan fare.
They treat everyone like royalty at this fine dining establishment that's pure NOLA. Make reservations. This is the ultimate for special occasions.
574 locals recommend
Commander's Palace
1403 Washington AveThey treat everyone like royalty at this fine dining establishment that's pure NOLA. Make reservations. This is the ultimate for special occasions.
Who doesn't love an expertly crafted tiki drink? This is the real deal here. The food is phenomenal, too (vegan bahn mi is my jam, but there's all kinds of incredible Polynesian/Asian fare to enjoy).
18 locals recommend
Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29
321 N Peters StWho doesn't love an expertly crafted tiki drink? This is the real deal here. The food is phenomenal, too (vegan bahn mi is my jam, but there's all kinds of incredible Polynesian/Asian fare to enjoy).
They have good coffee here! Great spot to grab a cup and stroll.
104 locals recommend
St. Coffee on St. Claude
2718 St Claude AveThey have good coffee here! Great spot to grab a cup and stroll.
Wifi, coffee, ice cream, outdoor seating... very close to the house.
128 locals recommend
The Orange Couch
2339 Royal StWifi, coffee, ice cream, outdoor seating... very close to the house.
More of a food court than a market (though they do have a small produce and grocery section, as well as wine and beer). It's worth checking out for anything from juice to cocktails to oysters, to Korean food, to coffee. Speaking of coffee, Coast Roast is AMAZING. Literally two blocks (two left turns from the house)
466 locals recommend
St. Roch Market
2381 St Claude AveMore of a food court than a market (though they do have a small produce and grocery section, as well as wine and beer). It's worth checking out for anything from juice to cocktails to oysters, to Korean food, to coffee. Speaking of coffee, Coast Roast is AMAZING. Literally two blocks (two left turns from the house)
Fair Grinds Coffeehouse
3133 Ponce De Leon StLove their patio. Love their iced coffee.
Absolutely amazing coffee! Great place to duck into and get a coffee to go as it's really tiny.
42 locals recommend
Spitfire Coffee
307 St PeterAbsolutely amazing coffee! Great place to duck into and get a coffee to go as it's really tiny.
My favorite Lower Garden District coffee shop, mainly due to all the vegan baked goods and breakfast/lunch options!
148 locals recommend
Hivolt
1829 Sophie Wright PlMy favorite Lower Garden District coffee shop, mainly due to all the vegan baked goods and breakfast/lunch options!
One of my favorite places to eat in town! Tropical offerings from around the globe. Excellent options for all diets. Vegan dessert menu! Exotic juices (also in their cocktails). My favorite thing here is the vegan Brazilian cheese bread.
66 locals recommend
Carmo
527 Julia StOne of my favorite places to eat in town! Tropical offerings from around the globe. Excellent options for all diets. Vegan dessert menu! Exotic juices (also in their cocktails). My favorite thing here is the vegan Brazilian cheese bread.
Because sometimes you need a break from the rich New Orleans-inspired food! This place has great veg options in addition to seafood and meatier options... Walking distance! Located in a transformed Creole Cottage with a back patio.
18 locals recommend
Poke-Chan
2809 St Claude AveBecause sometimes you need a break from the rich New Orleans-inspired food! This place has great veg options in addition to seafood and meatier options... Walking distance! Located in a transformed Creole Cottage with a back patio.
Super close to the house! Traditional NOLA food (po-boys, red beans and rice) as well as veg takes on these and even their unique version of falafel with red beans.
Breakaway's Restaurant & Bar
Super close to the house! Traditional NOLA food (po-boys, red beans and rice) as well as veg takes on these and even their unique version of falafel with red beans.
Drinks & Nightlife
Pure magic! If you love the idea of drinking reasonably priced wine in a fairytale garden, listening to live jazz, this is the place for you! They have epic cheese plates & a kitchen too. DO NOT MISS.
838 locals recommend
Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits
600 Poland AvePure magic! If you love the idea of drinking reasonably priced wine in a fairytale garden, listening to live jazz, this is the place for you! They have epic cheese plates & a kitchen too. DO NOT MISS.
Total local hangout just off the mayhem of Bourbon St. Try their delicious frozen Irish coffee.
51 locals recommend
Erin Rose
811 Conti StTotal local hangout just off the mayhem of Bourbon St. Try their delicious frozen Irish coffee.
If you're into goth/industrial/metal, don't miss the Dungeon. Typical drinks, really really loud music and friendly bartenders! Oh and there's a scary frozen purple daiquiri that's kinda good :)
18 locals recommend
The Dungeon
738 Toulouse StIf you're into goth/industrial/metal, don't miss the Dungeon. Typical drinks, really really loud music and friendly bartenders! Oh and there's a scary frozen purple daiquiri that's kinda good :)
Oldest bar in the US. It gets extremely crowded on weekend nights, so it's not for everyone. It's super dark & they have a live piano singer that can be either fun or torturous depending on your taste
294 locals recommend
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar
941 Bourbon StOldest bar in the US. It gets extremely crowded on weekend nights, so it's not for everyone. It's super dark & they have a live piano singer that can be either fun or torturous depending on your taste
For fancy craft cocktail lovers... but more of a tropical feel. Their courtyard is quite the lovely place to throw one back... they also have pretty good small plates.
118 locals recommend
Cane and Table
1113 Decatur StFor fancy craft cocktail lovers... but more of a tropical feel. Their courtyard is quite the lovely place to throw one back... they also have pretty good small plates.
They have burlesque and variety shows! Check their calendar. ALLWAYS something fun happening here :)
264 locals recommend
Allways Lounge and Theater
2240 St Claude AveThey have burlesque and variety shows! Check their calendar. ALLWAYS something fun happening here :)
The best karaoke scene in town. Avoid Bourbon St. for karaoke. You can walk here from my house. It's very local and very friendly!
220 locals recommend
Kajun's Pub
2256 St Claude AveThe best karaoke scene in town. Avoid Bourbon St. for karaoke. You can walk here from my house. It's very local and very friendly!
Right down the block! A true local bar where you'll rub elbows with old men with good stories to tell as well as young newbies to the neighborhood. Their Bloody Marys come will all kinds of flair!
31 locals recommend
Marie's Bar and Kitchen
2483 Burgundy StRight down the block! A true local bar where you'll rub elbows with old men with good stories to tell as well as young newbies to the neighborhood. Their Bloody Marys come will all kinds of flair!
The ultimate live music spot on Frenchman! Try to grab one of the desirable window booths for people watching, especially at happy hour (no cover then).
387 locals recommend
d.b.a.
618 Frenchmen StThe ultimate live music spot on Frenchman! Try to grab one of the desirable window booths for people watching, especially at happy hour (no cover then).
An absolute must on your Frenchman crawl. There's always a good time to be had at this tiny music joint that doesn't have a cover.
521 locals recommend
The Spotted Cat Music Club
623 Frenchmen StAn absolute must on your Frenchman crawl. There's always a good time to be had at this tiny music joint that doesn't have a cover.
Gorgeous little Frenchy wine bar in a Creole cottage with divine atmosphere. While Bacchanal is packing 'em in, you're sure to get a seat here and enjoy the scene & romantic atmosphere among locals. Food menu is an acquired taste (tinned fish for example, but you can also get a cheese plate) so be sure and check that out to see if it's your thing. I come here to sit on the patio with a glass of French wine because I'm vegan and all I can eat here is bread and olives :)
143 locals recommend
N7
1117 Montegut StGorgeous little Frenchy wine bar in a Creole cottage with divine atmosphere. While Bacchanal is packing 'em in, you're sure to get a seat here and enjoy the scene & romantic atmosphere among locals. Food menu is an acquired taste (tinned fish for example, but you can also get a cheese plate) so be sure and check that out to see if it's your thing. I come here to sit on the patio with a glass of French wine because I'm vegan and all I can eat here is bread and olives :)
Phenomenal beer selection (not bad for wine, either). Upstairs has a slightly different selection. Fun to sit out the balcony and overlook St. charles!
166 locals recommend
Avenue Pub
1732 St Charles AvePhenomenal beer selection (not bad for wine, either). Upstairs has a slightly different selection. Fun to sit out the balcony and overlook St. charles!
My favorite neighborhood wine bar/shop! It's so cute in here. They have a great variety of wines to buy and enjoy at the bar or at one of the tables (or, of course, take out) by the bottle and they have a limited selection of wines by the glass... all at awesome prices.
152 locals recommend
Faubourg Wines
2805 St Claude AveMy favorite neighborhood wine bar/shop! It's so cute in here. They have a great variety of wines to buy and enjoy at the bar or at one of the tables (or, of course, take out) by the bottle and they have a limited selection of wines by the glass... all at awesome prices.
Really fun bar with delicious Vietnamese food served late in the back. Lots of veg options!
166 locals recommend
Lost Love Lounge
2529 Dauphine StReally fun bar with delicious Vietnamese food served late in the back. Lots of veg options!
Because... CHAMPAGNE bar. What else do you need in life? It's a thoroughly gorgeous place. One of my favorite things to do is to order a bowl of cajun spiced popcorn and glass after glass of Champers (I love their back patio but inside is absolutely glorious).
36 locals recommend
Effervescence
1036 North Rampart StreetBecause... CHAMPAGNE bar. What else do you need in life? It's a thoroughly gorgeous place. One of my favorite things to do is to order a bowl of cajun spiced popcorn and glass after glass of Champers (I love their back patio but inside is absolutely glorious).
Parks & Nature
Enter at Elysian Fields (make a left if you're coming from the house, walk to river). A gorgeous place to take a long walk and enjoy NOLA nature.
423 locals recommend
Crescent Park
2300 N Peters StEnter at Elysian Fields (make a left if you're coming from the house, walk to river). A gorgeous place to take a long walk and enjoy NOLA nature.
Walk along this peaceful spot and you may even get to see some interesting wild life. You can rent kayaks and I strongly recommend you do this.
238 locals recommend
Bayou St John
Walk along this peaceful spot and you may even get to see some interesting wild life. You can rent kayaks and I strongly recommend you do this.
Essentials
Steps away + a good place for staples if you're a vegetarian/health conscious, though there's a little bit of everything from produce to snacks to toilet paper.
195 locals recommend
New Orleans Food Co-Op
2372 St Claude AveSteps away + a good place for staples if you're a vegetarian/health conscious, though there's a little bit of everything from produce to snacks to toilet paper.
Where else can you find Mardi Gras masks/beads (souvenirs!), coke, and organic chocolate? This is a truly unique place to "make groceries." 5 min walk, cheaper than the food CoOp next door.
211 locals recommend
Mardi Gras Zone Supermarket
2706 Royal StWhere else can you find Mardi Gras masks/beads (souvenirs!), coke, and organic chocolate? This is a truly unique place to "make groceries." 5 min walk, cheaper than the food CoOp next door.
Huge new supermarket with an awesome amount of grab & go kind of stuff. Just a couple blocks from the house. Amazing wine/booze selection too.
316 locals recommend
Robért Fresh Market
135 Robert E Lee BlvdHuge new supermarket with an awesome amount of grab & go kind of stuff. Just a couple blocks from the house. Amazing wine/booze selection too.
Entertainment & Activities
One of COC's bike tours is unforgettable. They are the first to offer bike tours in NOLA and they are the absolute best. They offer an arrange of tours from culinary, to drinking, to historical.
47 locals recommend
Confederacy of Cruisers
634 Elysian Fields AveOne of COC's bike tours is unforgettable. They are the first to offer bike tours in NOLA and they are the absolute best. They offer an arrange of tours from culinary, to drinking, to historical.
Shopping
For extremely unique/artsy NOLA gifts, IJ Reilly's is a must! Pricier but infinitely cooler than anything you'll get in the French Quarter, I promise.
6 locals recommend
I.J. Reilly's Knick Knacks and Curiosities
632 Elysian Fields AveFor extremely unique/artsy NOLA gifts, IJ Reilly's is a must! Pricier but infinitely cooler than anything you'll get in the French Quarter, I promise.
Arts & Culture
Mardi Gras Indian Culture!!! Be prepared to be amazed...
22 locals recommend
House of Dance & Feathers
1317 Tupelo StMardi Gras Indian Culture!!! Be prepared to be amazed...