Caroline & Jess' New Orleans Wedding!
What To Do In New Orleans!
Ace Hotel, and Alto Rooftop Bar and Pool
I'd highly recommend getting a room here for the weekend for all the out-of-towners. It's central to the downtown area, and very pretty and curated. This is my favorite rooftop pool in the city currently, and downstairs there are two bars. One is a cool leathery lounge with large pillars and dim lights. The other is a restaurant, with huge ceilings and marble.
Frenchmen Street
People here consider this the local version of Bourbon Street. EVERY SINGLE joint on this street features big open windows and local bands playing jazz and blues. Some of our Favorite Spots include The Dragon's Den, 30/90 and one of the most famous old venues in the city, The Spotted Cat. We'll definitely be taking you here for the after-after party!
Bourbon Street
Yup! While we don't go here too often compared to other spots to party in the French Quarter, it's always fun and does have some pubs and dance halls I personally enjoy a lot. I LOVE this new daquiri shop called Slush that serves boozy gummy bears, and Tropical Isle Bar where you can get a theatrical drink called the Shark Attack (comes with large toy shark that they slosh around violently in your drink.) Definitely a fun grown ups things to do.
City Park
AMAZING park, the largest in the city. Sculpture gardens, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), delicious 24 hour cafe that serves beingets. This place is some of the oldest grounds in the city, and preserves those classic, massive oaks and swamp critters you see on television in a really romantic setting.
Magazine Street
Magazine is 6 miles long, and all shopping, food and bars. In the uptown portion of town, it's really pretty and you can spend a whole day there. I often recommend it to tourists!
The National WWII Museum
HUGE museum, and extremely well done. A really cool interactive tour, The Road to Tokyo and The Road to Berlin, follow characters deployed to either the Pacific or European tours during the war. There are also movies made just for the museum by Tom Hanks.
Pirate's Alley, and the Pirate's Alley Olde Absinthe House
This, without a doubt, since I moved here, is my favorite bar. Located on the corner of Pirate's Alley nestled between the old prison, and St. Louis Cathedral, this tiny nook bar makes incredible drip absinthe right in front of you, of course with pirate themed bartenders and salsa music. Hemingway created a drink here called Death in The Afternoon, which is champagne with absinthe. It is also supposedly one of the most haunted streets in the city! Pirate Jean Lafitte's brother Pierre, Spanish colonization period's Father Dagobert, who sings monks' chants at night. The 20's writer William Faulkner died in his home located above a book shop in his namesake, etc. In short, if you want to take a ghost city tour and follow up with this classic spot I'd highly suggest it.
The Country Club
One of the most popular pools in the city, located in the Bywater neighborhood. Founded in the 70's by the local gay men of New Orleans, it became open to all genders in the 80's. This pool is tropical, stylish and has a very interesting mixed crowd of ages and orientations. Jess loves the hot tub and sauna, and I love the food and outdoor bar. I'll most likely take you here.
New Orleans Lager & Ale (NOLA) Brewing
So, there's a ton of breweries and amazing local creations in NOLA, but I really like a lot of the beers that this place produces. There's outdoor seating and good atmosphere.
Kajun's Pub
I love coming here with my friends. It's a divey karaoke joint that occasional hosts drag shows as well. I personally go for screaming 80's karaoke and the cheap drinks. Really fun locals spot!
QiQi
One of my favorite gay bars in New Orleans. It used to be my favorite German pub, haha! They just opened this year, and have awesome singles night, industry nights and performances from some of the best drag performers in the city. They also have a killer pop up restaurant inside that makes delicious veggie cheese potato skins!
The Dungeon
Looking for something a little edgy?! This French Quarter metal-themed bar is darkly lit, blasting metal and glam rock, and has three bars. Hidden in a little corridor down a little alley, it's a really cool gem that invites in anyone from the goth locals to the bro out-of-towners.
Lilly's Café
Our favorite, favorite FAVORITE place to eat in the city when we want pho and bahn mi, which is like, always. We've known Lilly a long time, and I've even breifly worked in her kitchen. Locals and many celebrities enjoy her food and it's highly acclaimed with a really homey feel. Trust me, you've gotta visit Lilly.
Parkway Bakery & Tavern
The most classic spot in the entire city for po'boys! Celebs and locals and tourists alike looovee this place. The Obamas even came here! I went with my parents on their last visit and it was amazing. If you're looking for the real ideal, go to this old famous New Orleans classic and skip the French Quarter.
Luke
This restaurant is one of our favorite happy hours spots ever. Tons of spots here do oysters during their happy hour, but here they are .50 cents! The specialty cocktails are delicious, and the pate charcuterie board is awesome.
Cafe Beignet
I would say Café Dumonde would be the place to go for the beignet fix, but honestly, it's not from a local perspective. A beignet is truly a square hollow doughnut with a lot of powdered sugar. CD is overpriced, often has rats as it is outdoors and right by the river and is has a line around the corner. Café Beignet on the other hand, is on pretty Royal Street in the Quarter and has a little patio, nice dessert options and often a nice guy playing guitar. I always point locals here.
Arabella Casa Di Pasta
This really local Bywater spot is right on the edge of the Marigny neighborhood. Every time I crave handmade pasta (always) we come here. They have this kinda geek chic coziness with a lot of Star Wars references and yummy beers. Jess loves the meat sauce, and I love the black peppr pasta.