Courtney & James
Things To Do
Courtney's Google Maps List
Courtney has been collecting her favorite spots for several years - be advised that this list has WAY too many recommendations!
Coffee/Bakery-Style Breakfasts
Bywater Bakery: Recommend the croissant breakfast sandwich & a bakery sweet treat Ayu Bakehouse: Steps from the venue; recommend the boudin boy and the muffaletta breadstick District Donuts: A few locations around the city Stein's: Amazing bagel sandwiches Cafe Beignet - Cafe Du Monde may be more famous, but Courtney prefers the fluffiness and flavor of the beignets at Cafe Beignet (the one on Royal Street)
Brunch-y Restaurants
Who Dat Coffee Cafe: Recommend the catfish benedict and the bloody mary Horn's Eatery: Recommend the Creole Slammer and the Grits & Etouffee - Horn's also does half-orders of most breakfasts! Elizabeth's: Recommend the praline bacon and the fried green tomatoes Bearcat: This place is delicious! Both vegetarian and omnivore friendly Tableau: A bit of a fancier brunch experience next to Jackson Square in the French Quarter
Casual Lunch/Dinners
Dat Dog: Have you ever wanted a hotdog with crawfish etouffee on top? Now you can have it! Alma - A delicious Honduran breakfast/lunch restaurant - We love their baleada. Parkway Tavern - Our favorite PoBoy spot - We vote for shrimp or roast beef, fully dressed. Sukho Thai - Great Thai food for take-out or dining in! St. Roch Market - A food hall with a variety of stalls and vendors; something for everyone. Pizza Delicious - Great pizza, delicious Caesar salads, and the perfect chocolate chip cookies. Delivery, take-out, or dine-in. Coop's Place - A (very) divey restaurant with Southern & New Orleans classics; one of James’ favorites MRB - A casual bar with a courtyard and some surprisingly good poboys Gumbo Shop - Great spot to try three types of gumbo, jambalaya, and more
Crawfish
Crawfish season is in full swing! A lot of bars & breweries will have crawfish pop-ups the weekend of the wedding; here are a few locations that always have crawfish. Clesi's - Takeaway or dine-in Bayou Beer Garden - We'll have a spot reserved here on Sunday for a (totally optional) post-wedding brunch, but they are slinging crawfish & sides every afternoon.
Fine(r) Dining (Reservations Recommended)
Arnaud's - A French Quarter classic GW Fins - Upscale seafood dining Sylvain - Creative Southern food & great cocktails Doris Metropolitan - A steakhouse & our favorite anniversary date spot Paladar 511 - Amazing Italian food, just a block from our house so you can find us here just a little too often Sneaky Pickle/Bar Brine - Sneaky Pickle by day and Bar Brine by night; a vegetarian-friendly spot with locally-sourced ingredients
Activities & Sightseeing
Save Our Cemeteries Tour - this is our favorite tour, like, ever. So interesting and the ticket fee goes to cemetery preservation. Reserve online! Shopping on Magazine Street - There are endless shops! We like Zele for varied & affordable art. WWII Museum - You could spend hours here. It's one of the best history museums in the US! Mardi Gras World - Get up close & personal with Mardi Gras floats & learn how they are made! St. Charles Streetcar - Take a ride uptown and look at some beautiful houses. $1.25/person; download RTA Le Pass app to go cashless City Park - Visit the botanical garden, wander around the free sculpture garden, or explore kid-friendly Storyland Park Swamp Tour - This is a day trip; we enjoyed the air boat tour by Louisiana Tour Company Pirate Tour - Learn about the wild & gruesome history of piracy in New Orleans! Jackson Square/Lafayette Cathedral - An iconic view Ghost Tour - Many options; we've liked Haunted History Caesar's Casino - Self explanatory!
Live Music
There is no shortage of live music in New Orleans; these are just a few places we think are fun! Frenchmen Street Venues: Maison Spotted Cat 30/90 Blue Nile Pat O'Brien's - come for their cloyingly sweet Hurricane, stay for the dueling piano bar inside (or the lovely courtyard outside!)
Dive Bars
R Bar on Royal Street Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop - The oldest bar in America! Molly's at the Market - Get the frozen Irish coffee Pepp's - One of our favorite local haunts. Vaughn's - Divey with live music! Markey's Bar - Great for a stop during a Bywater stroll.
Cocktail Bars
Elysian Bar - Tucked into Hotel Peter & Paul, this is a beautiful bar in a converted Catholic church. Cure - A modern, lovely cocktail bar Uptown on Freret street. Cane & Table - A Carribean bar & restaurant with refreshing, tropical cocktails Jewel of the South - A beautiful spot that recently won the James Beard award for Outstanding Bar - their cocktail program is incredible!