We popped into this bakery because we could smell the fresh bread from Frenchmen street. It’s a great stop for baked goods and coffee while you stroll the neighborhood.
We absolutely loved this cafe in Marigny. You can stop in for baked goods and coffee, or sit to enjoy the full breakfast/lunch menu. We cannot more highly recommend the shrimp and crab quiche.
This restaurant is right off Jackson Square. While it’s always packed, you can usually get a table if you’re willing to wait. We recommend heading here for brunch — the crab benedict is amazing.
Cafe du Monde is a tourist trap for good reason. The beignets are a must during your NOLA visit! You may need to wait for a table, but the tables do generally turn over quickly.
This farm to table restaurant has everything from tofu lettuce wraps (you absolutely must order these) to a burger. We loved strolling around the Bywater neighborhood — there are some laid back, local bars nearby if you want to grab a beer before or after dinner.
Brennan’s is a classic NOLA dining experience. You can pop in for fancy cocktails, but advance reservations are a good idea for brunch or dinner. The restaurant is formal and expensive.
This is a great spot to grab a quick bite on Frenchmen Street. You can play it safe (meat and vegan options are available), or order a Cajun-inspired dog (alligator, crawfish, etc.). This spot alone is worth a visit to this neighborhood.
This charming hotel is located near the jazz bars on Frenchmen street. While it’s often booked for private events, you can occasionally get in for a drink and some jazz on the weekends.
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, built between 1722 and 1732 by Nicolas Touze, is reputed to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States. We recommend you stop in during the daytime so you can fully appreciate the historic building. The hurricanes are no joke here — don’t let their delicious taste fool you.
This bar has several locations in the French Quarter. It’s a great spot to grab a walking around beverage. We highly recommend that you order the “shark attack” — ask them to make it with “a LOT of enthusiasm”. Do not Google this. Just trust us.
Fritzel’s is a (relatively) laid back spot to catch some music on Bourbon. The bar is small and divey with intimate seating surrounding the stage.
This local haunt is just a few blocks from Bourbon. It is the perfect dive bar. Bring cash and make sure to tip the snarky bartenders.
While doing very important “advance work” for our wedding, this divey bar was recommended to us by a bartender. Wayne B’s review on Yelp (see link) really sealed the deal, convincing us to select this location for our after party. Bring cash. Don’t be a moron.
This dog-friendly pub in Marigny is where we will start our bar crawl on Saturday. The walls are adorned with photos of adorable doggos, and the people/dog watching is excellent. We have really enjoyed strolling aimlessly through this neighborhood — lots of funky houses and cool local spots to check out.
This bar is a great Saturday night destination for jazz music and dancing on Frenchmen Street. There is typically a cover charge and you may need to wait to enter.
This tiny jazz club on Frenchmen street is a blast. It is typically standing room only, and there is a cover charge to enter.
Another great spot to catch some jazz on Frenchmen street! We *think* there is no cover here, but don’t hold us to that.
This brewery is a great, laid back place to hang away from the Bourbon street bustle. When we dropped in, there was a crawfish boil food truck that did not disappoint. The beer meets Matt’s approval, which means it does not suck. It is family friendly.
This casual wine bar is a bit off the beaten path, but it’s worth a visit. You can buy bottles of wine from the shop to uncork with dinner, or order beer or cocktails from the bar. There is a large outdoor patio with eclectic seating, as well as an indoor bar area. There is usually a long line on the weekends, so we recommend that you come early. We also suggest taking an Uber or taxi to this location to be safe.
In full disclosure, we have not visited this museum but we hear it’s excellent.
There are lots of options for NOLA swamp tours. While definitely touristy, it is pretty fun to feed a gator marshmallows. You should wear comfortable, layered clothes as the weather can fluctuate a lot in November, particularly on the water.
We cannot personally vouch for these tours, but we have seen lots of these tour groups wandering the city — if this is your thing, you should check it out! There are many vendors from which to choose.
This historic square in the French Quarter is always bustling. Stroll through the square to check out local artists and street musicians.
Stroll through this bazar to check out local artists. Here you will find unique jewelry, funky paintings, and much more. Mary’s Seattle friends and Matt have waited patiently — on separate occasions — while she supported the local art economy during a night out on Frenchmen Street.
We (… Mary) stumbled into this cute boutique while strolling aimlessly around the neighborhood. Here you will find a wonderfully curated assortment of jewelry, clothes, and home decor made by local artists.