Guidebook for New Orleans
Food Scene
Amazing place to get breakfast and hang out in the Marigny
Cupcakes are $1 if you order food!
267 locals recommend
New Orleans Cake Café & Bakery
2440 Chartres StAmazing place to get breakfast and hang out in the Marigny
Cupcakes are $1 if you order food!
Amazing chargrilled oysters! There's always a line but it's worth it
174 locals recommend
Acme Oyster House
724 Iberville StAmazing chargrilled oysters! There's always a line but it's worth it
Obviously a touristy place., but if you want to go, it's worth getting a chicory coffee or café au lait and an order of beignets. (What tourists don’t know—they don’t enforce a line. Many tourists make a line, expecting to be seated, but it’s first come first serve. Usually the line-standers aren’t great at snagging open tables when they become available. I usually go in a different entrance and just take a seat when someone else gets up.)
703 locals recommend
Cafe Du Monde French Market
800 Decatur StObviously a touristy place., but if you want to go, it's worth getting a chicory coffee or café au lait and an order of beignets. (What tourists don’t know—they don’t enforce a line. Many tourists make a line, expecting to be seated, but it’s first come first serve. Usually the line-standers aren’t great at snagging open tables when they become available. I usually go in a different entrance and just take a seat when someone else gets up.)
Green Goddess
307 Exchange PlGreat vegetarian options!
Great New Orleans food. Great Fried chicken and jambalaya. Total dive place!
163 locals recommend
Coop's Place
1109 Decatur StGreat New Orleans food. Great Fried chicken and jambalaya. Total dive place!
Tableau
616 St PeterBest fine dining in the quarter! (other options are Sobu or Irene's)
good menu for brunch and dinner, affordable, and super cute. In the gayborhood area of the quarter, and gay-owned!
63 locals recommend
Eat New Orleans
769 West 5th Streetgood menu for brunch and dinner, affordable, and super cute. In the gayborhood area of the quarter, and gay-owned!
known for their famous Mufaletta-- basically an Italian cold cut sandwich on a giant roll (bigger than my head)
128 locals recommend
Central Grocery & Deli
923 Decatur Stknown for their famous Mufaletta-- basically an Italian cold cut sandwich on a giant roll (bigger than my head)
Verdi Marte-- drunk food, po'boys. open 24 hours. gets infinitely better past midnight. Near Frenchmen.
173 locals recommend
Verti Marte
1201 Royal StVerdi Marte-- drunk food, po'boys. open 24 hours. gets infinitely better past midnight. Near Frenchmen.
Paladar 511
511 Marigny Stgood, decently priced weekend brunch, pricier for dinner
The Orange Couch
2339 Royal Stcute little cafe, AND THEY HAVE GELATO
make a reservation at least 2wks in advance. Expensive- 3-4 $s on yelp, and 100% worth it. Chef (Donald Link) won a James Beard Award in 2015.
261 locals recommend
Pêche Seafood Grill
800 Magazine Stmake a reservation at least 2wks in advance. Expensive- 3-4 $s on yelp, and 100% worth it. Chef (Donald Link) won a James Beard Award in 2015.
John Besh. One of the best places I’ve ever eaten. They have a $20 pre-fixe lunch on Fridays, which I’d recommend.
79 locals recommend
August
301 Tchoupitoulas StJohn Besh. One of the best places I’ve ever eaten. They have a $20 pre-fixe lunch on Fridays, which I’d recommend.
for brunch/breakfast. Order the Bananas Foster French Toast and/or the shrimp and grits. (veg/vegan)
392 locals recommend
Surrey's Café & Juice Bar
1418 Magazine Streetfor brunch/breakfast. Order the Bananas Foster French Toast and/or the shrimp and grits. (veg/vegan)
The Blind Pelican
1628 St Charles Ave$0.25 oysters for happy hour.
n my opinion, best pho in the city. Also solid Bahn Mi. (Mediocre vermicelli though)
122 locals recommend
Lilly's Café
1813 Magazine Stn my opinion, best pho in the city. Also solid Bahn Mi. (Mediocre vermicelli though)
Best Mexican food in town - Also great live music most nights, and SO MUCH tequila.
55 locals recommend
Casa Borrega: Fonda & Mezcaleria
1719 Oretha Castle Haley BlvdBest Mexican food in town - Also great live music most nights, and SO MUCH tequila.
for Po Boys. Best po-boys in the city. Really really really good. Some veg/vegan options.
681 locals recommend
Parkway Bakery & Tavern
538 Hagan Avefor Po Boys. Best po-boys in the city. Really really really good. Some veg/vegan options.
Lola's
3312 Esplanade Aveno reservations, but the BEST paella.
New Orleans classics, and so good. Soul food. Open for lunch only.
250 locals recommend
Dooky Chase Restaurant
2301 Orleans AveNew Orleans classics, and so good. Soul food. Open for lunch only.
open for breakfast I think every day. AWESOME local food, and a really cool spot. usually there will be a wait. Some (veg/vegan)
442 locals recommend
Elizabeth's
601 Gallier Stopen for breakfast I think every day. AWESOME local food, and a really cool spot. usually there will be a wait. Some (veg/vegan)
the closest New Orleans comes to real, New Jersey/New York pizza. SO GOOD.
460 locals recommend
Pizza Delicious
617 Piety Stthe closest New Orleans comes to real, New Jersey/New York pizza. SO GOOD.
Delicious Gourmet food. I’ve loved every pasta dish I’ve had there. (veg/vegan)
100 locals recommend
Mariza
2900 Chartres StreetDelicious Gourmet food. I’ve loved every pasta dish I’ve had there. (veg/vegan)
afé and juice bar, (veg/vegan), and its neighboring bars, restaurants, and thrift shops.
376 locals recommend
Satsuma Cafe
3218 Dauphine Stafé and juice bar, (veg/vegan), and its neighboring bars, restaurants, and thrift shops.
Drinks & Nightlife
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar
941 Bourbon StOldest bar in New Orleans!
Carousel Bar
214 Royal St(exactly what it sounds like) at the Hotel Monteleone!
Bar Tonique
820 N Rampart StAmazing hand made cocktails - great place to start off the night!
This street is for music and dancing. Live Jazz at most places, especially the Spotted Cat, the Maison, and DBA. If you're getting there from the quarter at night, walk up Decatur. It's an interesting walk!
655 locals recommend
Frenchmen Street
This street is for music and dancing. Live Jazz at most places, especially the Spotted Cat, the Maison, and DBA. If you're getting there from the quarter at night, walk up Decatur. It's an interesting walk!
excellent all-vinyl-Soul DJ every Saturday night, generally good shows other nights
297 locals recommend
Hi-Ho Lounge
2239 St Claude Aveexcellent all-vinyl-Soul DJ every Saturday night, generally good shows other nights
one of the weirdest places I’ve ever been (featuring such acts as burlesque with snakes, topless bed-of-nails variety show acts, and Acro-cats, an acrobat with acrobatic cats);
264 locals recommend
Allways Lounge and Theater
2240 St Claude Aveone of the weirdest places I’ve ever been (featuring such acts as burlesque with snakes, topless bed-of-nails variety show acts, and Acro-cats, an acrobat with acrobatic cats);
Usually a rock/punk band. Slavic soul food in the back; get the pierogies, also the asparagus. (veg/vegan)
238 locals recommend
Siberia Lounge
2227 St Claude AveUsually a rock/punk band. Slavic soul food in the back; get the pierogies, also the asparagus. (veg/vegan)
Kajun's Pub
2256 St Claude Avekaraoke every night. Excellent place to end the night.
Mimi's In the Marigny
2600 Chartres Streetyummy tapas, cool vibe upstairs.
pretty grungy bar, excellent vietnamese food in the back. (veg/vegan)
166 locals recommend
Lost Love Lounge
2529 Dauphine St pretty grungy bar, excellent vietnamese food in the back. (veg/vegan)
Mag's 940
940 Elysian Fields Ave often good music, country night on Wednesdays
only really good craft beer bar in New Orleans, great balcony patio. Also notably: excellent selection of whiskeys. Some veg/vegan options, Great Grilled Cheese. Open 24 hrs.
166 locals recommend
Avenue Pub
1732 St Charles Aveonly really good craft beer bar in New Orleans, great balcony patio. Also notably: excellent selection of whiskeys. Some veg/vegan options, Great Grilled Cheese. Open 24 hrs.
Half Moon Bar & Restaurant
1125 St Mary Sthas skee ball machines! $.25 per game.
Twelve Mile Limit
500 S Telemachus Stgreat cocktails without the fuss.
Chickie Wah Wah
2828 Canal Stbar and music venue; good BBQ
Ooh Poo Pah Doo Bar
1931 Orleans Avenuea must
wine store where they cork it for you, you go outside to a beautiful courtyard to drink it. Also have v. good food. Free wine tastings Sunday at 3. Live (often gypsy) jazz every night. (veg/vegan)
839 locals recommend
Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits
600 Poland Avewine store where they cork it for you, you go outside to a beautiful courtyard to drink it. Also have v. good food. Free wine tastings Sunday at 3. Live (often gypsy) jazz every night. (veg/vegan)
Sightseeing
Royal Street
Royal StreetStreet performers, art, and many other surprises!
Jackson Square
701 Decatur StStreet Artists, History, and Beauty! Check it out!
The birthplace of Jazz! And every Thursday for most of the year there are FREE concerts right by the house! Just stroll over!
In Armstrong Park is Congo Square; known as the birthplace of Jazz. New Orleans is the only place in America that I’ve heard of where during slavery, a) there were black people who were never enslaved, and b) enslaved people had a day off. On their days off, they would go gather, play music and dance in Congo square. It’s said that Jazz music found its roots there, and in the neighborhood that used to stand around it (Storyville) gave a lot of famous New Orleanians their start (Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, etc.)
252 locals recommend
Louis Armstrong Park
701 N Rampart StThe birthplace of Jazz! And every Thursday for most of the year there are FREE concerts right by the house! Just stroll over!
In Armstrong Park is Congo Square; known as the birthplace of Jazz. New Orleans is the only place in America that I’ve heard of where during slavery, a) there were black people who were never enslaved, and b) enslaved people had a day off. On their days off, they would go gather, play music and dance in Congo square. It’s said that Jazz music found its roots there, and in the neighborhood that used to stand around it (Storyville) gave a lot of famous New Orleanians their start (Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, etc.)
Shopping
Get yourself a real Mardi Gras wig! It's so much fun to try on these crazy wigs!
28 locals recommend
Fifi Mahony's
934 Royal StGet yourself a real Mardi Gras wig! It's so much fun to try on these crazy wigs!
Entertainment & Activities
Preservation Hall
726 St Petertotally worth going!
Parks & Nature
pretty rails-to-trails riverfront park. Take the Rusty Rainbow (Chartres and ...Piety?) over for a great view of the city and the skyline.
423 locals recommend
Crescent Park
2300 N Peters Stpretty rails-to-trails riverfront park. Take the Rusty Rainbow (Chartres and ...Piety?) over for a great view of the city and the skyline.
Nice place to hang out, there’s also kayak and canoe rentals. Try Bayou Paddle Sports ($20 for 2 hours), and also check Groupon and/or LivingSocial
238 locals recommend
Bayou St John
Nice place to hang out, there’s also kayak and canoe rentals. Try Bayou Paddle Sports ($20 for 2 hours), and also check Groupon and/or LivingSocial
Bigger than central park, and gorgeous. There's a tree there with tons of wind chimes in it near the Art Museum; great place to hang. See also: the Sculpture Garden, the Botanical Garden
1516 locals recommend
City Park
1 Palm DrBigger than central park, and gorgeous. There's a tree there with tons of wind chimes in it near the Art Museum; great place to hang. See also: the Sculpture Garden, the Botanical Garden
Audubon Park
6500 Magazine Stbeautiful - great place for a run!
Arts & Culture
The National WWII Museum
945 Magazine StOgden Museum of Southern Art
925 Camp StSecond Line Brewing
433 N Bernadotte Ston Sundays (except summer). Look ‘em up. Worth it.