J’s New Orleans Guidebook
Dive Bar
The best dive bar rated by Playboy magazine! My dive bar! Love this place. Happy Hour is 7-10pm. Owner is Dave Clements. Ask for him. I know all the bartenders. Drop my name once you know what it really is!
99 locals recommend
Snake & Jake's Christmas Club Lounge
7612 Oak StreetThe best dive bar rated by Playboy magazine! My dive bar! Love this place. Happy Hour is 7-10pm. Owner is Dave Clements. Ask for him. I know all the bartenders. Drop my name once you know what it really is!
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar
941 Bourbon StDrinks, Music, People
Love this spot. Potato skins, a Dry Dock burger and good people. Check out the best view of downtown from this location. You can see the French Quarter and DT NOLA from across the river. Worth the drive over the bridge or take the ferry from the end of Canal Street downtown for $1.50
54 locals recommend
Dry Dock Cafe
133 Delaronde StLove this spot. Potato skins, a Dry Dock burger and good people. Check out the best view of downtown from this location. You can see the French Quarter and DT NOLA from across the river. Worth the drive over the bridge or take the ferry from the end of Canal Street downtown for $1.50
Neighborhoods
Bywater
Hip, culturally different cool.
This place is awesome. Between Louisiana Ave and Washington Street on Magazine = why I bought this house in the first place. It's got great eats, cool bars and walkable! Parasols and Tracy's for poboys and pints. The Bulldog for beer and bar food, Balcony Bar sit upstairs. Keeps going!
29 locals recommend
Irish Channel
This place is awesome. Between Louisiana Ave and Washington Street on Magazine = why I bought this house in the first place. It's got great eats, cool bars and walkable! Parasols and Tracy's for poboys and pints. The Bulldog for beer and bar food, Balcony Bar sit upstairs. Keeps going!
Walkable New Orleans neighborhood on the Westbank (Locals do say, "The West Bank is the Best Bank" and if you live on this side of the river, in general, you're called "Wankers." Old Point Bar worth a look, Dry Dock Cafe and a walk along the river levee at dusk / sunset.
44 locals recommend
Algiers Point
Walkable New Orleans neighborhood on the Westbank (Locals do say, "The West Bank is the Best Bank" and if you live on this side of the river, in general, you're called "Wankers." Old Point Bar worth a look, Dry Dock Cafe and a walk along the river levee at dusk / sunset.
Food scene
Go upstairs and enjoy great tapas and drinks. Live music! Call ahead to find out! Welcome to the Marigny! People love it here.
673 locals recommend
Mimi's In the Marigny
2600 Chartres StreetGo upstairs and enjoy great tapas and drinks. Live music! Call ahead to find out! Welcome to the Marigny! People love it here.
I am personal friends with the Owner, Zak Rahman and Chef G. Ask for them. Tell them I sent you! This is an asian/indian/new orleans infusion. Cool scene, serene, quiet. Live music nearly every night. Great food! Get the crawfish rolls!
68 locals recommend
Silk Road Restaurant & Wine Bar
2483 Royal StI am personal friends with the Owner, Zak Rahman and Chef G. Ask for them. Tell them I sent you! This is an asian/indian/new orleans infusion. Cool scene, serene, quiet. Live music nearly every night. Great food! Get the crawfish rolls!
Great place to watch a game and get a brew with friends. It's an open warehouse scene. It's also kid friendly believe it or not. Bring em!
85 locals recommend
Urban South Brewery
1645 Tchoupitoulas StGreat place to watch a game and get a brew with friends. It's an open warehouse scene. It's also kid friendly believe it or not. Bring em!
Great Food! Great! Worth the wait. Just do it! Grab a beer next door at the Maple Leaf while you wait
406 locals recommend
Jacques-Imo's
8324 Oak StGreat Food! Great! Worth the wait. Just do it! Grab a beer next door at the Maple Leaf while you wait
Cafe Du Monde across from Jackson Square for beignets and coffee.
43 locals recommend
Cafe Du Monde French Market
800 Decatur StreetCafe Du Monde across from Jackson Square for beignets and coffee.
What I do:
1. Don't bother with eating here.
2. Go to the bar and purchase a couple coupons (plastic chips) for a dozen raw oysters.
3. Grab your beer at the bar and go over to the shucker.
4. Trade in your chip for a dozen freshly shucked raw oysters.
5. Mix your favorite Saltine cracker mix and wash, rinse repeat.
6. Then, go out on the town. Barrel Proof next anyone?
97 locals recommend
Pascal's Manale
1838 Napoleon AveWhat I do:
1. Don't bother with eating here.
2. Go to the bar and purchase a couple coupons (plastic chips) for a dozen raw oysters.
3. Grab your beer at the bar and go over to the shucker.
4. Trade in your chip for a dozen freshly shucked raw oysters.
5. Mix your favorite Saltine cracker mix and wash, rinse repeat.
6. Then, go out on the town. Barrel Proof next anyone?
House Of Blues
225 Decatur StMusic
Coffee Shop
In an old Whitney Bank building, this is my favorite coffee shop in New Orleans for the atmosphere. Get a cup, grab a paper, a book or bring your laptop and enjoy for an hour or more.
70 locals recommend
Rue De La Course
1140 S Carrollton AveIn an old Whitney Bank building, this is my favorite coffee shop in New Orleans for the atmosphere. Get a cup, grab a paper, a book or bring your laptop and enjoy for an hour or more.
Brunch Place
I know the Head Chef Adrian. Food is healthy, good and a change from your norm comfort food you will usually find in New Orleans. While the weekend brunch line is long...it's worth the wait. Why else would people be standing there?
392 locals recommend
Surrey's Café & Juice Bar
1418 Magazine StreetI know the Head Chef Adrian. Food is healthy, good and a change from your norm comfort food you will usually find in New Orleans. While the weekend brunch line is long...it's worth the wait. Why else would people be standing there?
Traveler advice
Don't miss
Places
Of course! Love New Orleans. I have some favorites. Frenchmen Street for live music. Tune into WWOZ-FM Live Wire when in town and it will hone you in on live, local music playing on that day. Google it too! Parkway Bakery and Tavern for the best poboys in town. Get a shrimp poboy 'dressed.' Dressed means lettuce, mayo and pickles. Bywater Marigny is about as culturally hipster and diverse as it goes there. Wander down to Mimi's in the Marigny and enjoy a drink upstairs with great tapas. Nearby is Silk Road, an Indian/Asian/New Orleans cuisine infusion. Ask for Zak the Owner or Chef G.
Customs and culture
WWOZ-FM Live Wire
Find it online! Check out the music scene in New Orleans! It will clue you in DAILY to live local music playing in town