New Orleans Recs

[ellipses84]

MM gives the best travel advice! Tell me about your favorite places to see, visit, eat at, etc. but not necessarily the crowded touristy spots. I've never been there (or anywhere else in the south, really). I'd like an authentic experience and to spend time doing things I couldn't do other cities. We'll be within walking distance to the major tourist attractions and we'll have a car. 4th of July activities, too!

[Mushe]

Three Muses for music, amazing hand crafted cocktails, and delicious small plates.

Heard about it here.

[alexis]

Katie's and Gumbo Shop are both really good. Gumbo Shop had been voted best gumbo in New Orleans for many years.

We went on a swamp tour that I enjoyed. I've heard Ship Island is a really fun day trip, but we haven't had a chance to go yet. City Park has a fairy tale themed play ground if you're going with kids.

[v]

C&P from what I posted on Travel the other day (ignore Cassamento's -- it is closed in July, and the link at the end will bring you to others' suggestions)

We stayed at the Ritz Carlton which probably doesn't help you because it is a Marriott. But the location was very convenient without being in the thick of the French Quarter.

Honestly, I hated the French Quarter. It is pretty, but the Bourbon Street scene is so icky. So I was happier with the stuff we did outside of that area. We did a bike tour with a company called Freewheelin Bike Tours and it was a great way to see the city. We also enjoyed walking around the Garden District.

We had great meals at Cassamento's and Domenica. I will never forgive myself for having planned out trip in a way that made a visit to Willie Mae's impossible. We went to Jacques-Imo's because of the raves we read and I thought it was good but not great.

We went to both Cafe DuMonde and Cafe Beignets for beignet. I won't bother to try to pick a favorite because really, you should try both.

Read more: pandce.proboards.com/thread/457364/3-days-nola#ixzz3edUb8wAm

[womet]

If you've got a car, you could visit Laura Plantation and Oak Alley Plantation. They're near each other and are about an hour drive west of New Orleans.

I've enjoyed the cemetary tours (since the dead have to be buried above ground, I thought it was interesting and different). I've also done walking tours of the Garden District and a haunted tour at night.

[yentl]

I don't have a ton of recs because I didn't go for long, but Ditto V that Bourbon St. is gross. I mean, go see it, but then get out of dodge. I much preferred Magazine St. Commander's Palace for their Jazz Brunch. OMG amazing. Definitely do a Swamp tour if you can. That was really fun.

[genet313]

Dick and Jenny's
Brightsen's
lunch at Commander's Palace 
Arnaud's
Port of Call has great burgers if you want something casual

The D-Day Museum is worth seeing and a pretty quick tour.  I would skip the Art Museum, it's not great.  
Honestly it's worth taking the St. Charles trolley all the way through uptown and back - sit and relax (though it's hot...it'll be fine)

A walk around the Marigny is always fun and there are some cool artist's studios and small galleries in the area.  Plus it feels way off the beaten path and not touristy which is nice.  Snug Harbor is good for music

[Pom]

Cafe Amelie. Most romantic courtyard great food in the French Quarter
Commanders Palace. 25 cent margaritas. Awesome food. Lovely to walk around Garden District and cemetery near CP.
Also stayed at the Ritz. Great service and convenient. Terrific beignets @ Ritz. With amazing caramel and vanilla sauces.
Deanie's Seafood. Right behind Ritz. Lobster pizza. Yum
Ride the streetcars and go to the Roosevelt- gorgeous hotel and a drink at Sazerac's

[pantsparty]

We ate at The Ruby Slipper (3 times, it was right next to our hotel, so we had breakfast there each day. SO GOOD), Redfish Grill, ACME Oysters (get the Peacemaker po boy), and GW Fins. We also went to Comandeer's Palace because I wanted those .25 martinis, but we went on Sunday and derr, it's not offered then! However, I was glad we took the streetcar out to the Garden District. Quieter than Bourbon Street, a lot of fun shops, and just beautiful to walk around.

If you want AMAZING music, Frenchmen Street is where it's at. This was my favorite night in New Orleans. A ton of little bars, all with fantastic music. So much fun!

We did the same bike tour v recommended and LOVED IT. My H originally did not want to go, but admitted he was glad we did once it was over. Ha! The beignets we ate at Morning Call Cafe were my favorite of the entire trip. my.getinsellout.com/providers/freewheelin-bike-tours/skus/creole-crescent-bike-tour/info?pl=-1#horizontalTab1

We wanted to get in to see a show at Preservation Hall, but unfortunately we JUST missed the cut-off for the latest show. Boo.

We ate all our best meals in the Bourbon Street area, but it's definitely seedy. My favorite day on Bourbon Street, actually, was on a Monday. We had a late flight out so we just walked around the streets. It was so quiet and a nice time to see the city.

It was November while we were there, but I would definitely recommend closed-toe shoes. The streets are dirty, and if you're walking around the Garden District, the sidewalks are all jacked up. Flat shoes are going to be your best bet.

It was one of our favorite trips. I talk about going back all the time! LOL.

[BeagleMama]

Following along because I will be there in September - thanks!

[Deleted]

I really like this company for swamp tours. They don't use air boats (they're horrible for the swamp critters). The staff is wonderful and it's not too far outside of NOLA. www.cajunencounters.com/

Someone mentioned Ship Island, which I love. We go every year when we see family in Mississippi. It's a bit of a drive though, not sure how long you plan on spending in NOLA, but if you're there several days and want a beach trip it's worth it. The ferry ride takes about an hour to go 10 miles off the coast. You can stay a full day or half day. They serve cheap refreshments on the boat and the island, which also has showers, picnic areas, beach chair and umbrella rentals. The water isn't quite Florida clear, but it's a much nicer beach with clearer water than you'll find on much of the gulf coast. The fort is nice for history nerds. www.msshipisland.com/

[compassrose]

www.cochonrestaurant.com/

The food is amazing, and it's worth the wait (get a sandwich from the Butcher Shop if you are pressed for time). It's by the convention center, so you can actually park on the street pretty easily.

[starryfish]

Acme oyster house
Cafe beignet

[ellipses84]

Thanks everyone! I've been slammed at work all week, so I haven't had time to plan much. I've written down all the recs and will try to narrow it down on the way there...we leave in a few hours and I still need to sleep tonight!

[mskitkat]

Jul 3, 2015 0:25:46 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

Thanks everyone! I've been slammed at work all week, so I haven't had time to plan much. I've written down all the recs and will try to narrow it down on the way there...we leave in a few hours and I still need to sleep tonight!

See you there! I'm visiting this weekend, too.

[compassrose]

Have a good trip! Let us know how it goes!

[everafter07]

Jun 30, 2015 23:09:58 GMT -5 Mushe said:

Three Muses for music, amazing hand crafted cocktails, and delicious small plates.

Heard about it here.

Ditto Three Muses, we went 2x while in NOLA. Also, Kermit Ruffin's Treme Speakeasy was AWESOME. We got there early to make sure we got a table and closed the place down.great jazz, he happened to be there that night, but I've heard it's great even without him.

[tacokick]

Sylvain. We are seriously going back just to go there again

[tacokick]

The Museum of Southern Food has neat events too

[v]

Jul 4, 2015 23:25:45 GMT -5 tacokick said:

The Museum of Southern Food has neat events too

WHAT? How did I not know about a food museum?

That's going to the top of my list for next time.

[niq]

Jul 1, 2015 9:14:22 GMT -5 operagirl said:

I live in NOLA:

; Napoleon House; Columns Hotel; Polo Lounge at Windsor Court; Music on
Lunch at Commanders & walk around Garden District
Beignets at Cafe Du Monde
St. Louis Cathedral, museums around it
Audubon Park (zoo)

These plus Le Madeline are my favorites. Not a local, just visited several times.

[tacokick]

Jul 5, 2015 9:09:29 GMT -5 v said:

Jul 4, 2015 23:25:45 GMT -5 tacokick said:

The Museum of Southern Food has neat events too

WHAT? How did I not know about a food museum?

That's going to the top of my list for next time.

And there is a cocktail museum in the basement!!

[pamela]

Jul 1, 2015 7:56:50 GMT -5 genet313 said:

Dick and Jenny's
Brightsen's
lunch at Commander's Palace 
Arnaud's
Port of Call has great burgers if you want something casual

The D-Day Museum is worth seeing and a pretty quick tour.  I would skip the Art Museum, it's not great.  
Honestly it's worth taking the St. Charles trolley all the way through uptown and back - sit and relax (though it's hot...it'll be fine)

A walk around the Marigny is always fun and there are some cool artist's studios and small galleries in the area.  Plus it feels way off the beaten path and not touristy which is nice.  Snug Harbor is good for music

Have you been to the DDay museum in the last few years? They have massively expanded it from DDay to WWII and it is far from a quick trip. Amazing museum though. We spent 3+ hours there and need to go back. We didn't do more than run through the newest phase and couldn't read everything because DS was done.  

Jazz brunch at Arnaud's is a family favorite for us.  It's pricey, but s ton of awesome food.  

[hurricanedrunk]

Hoping to get there next year, commenting to bookmark. Hope you have a great trip!!