Lauren & Tony
To Geaux (our favorites!)
Café Du Monde Riverwalk
When you get to town, bee-line for beignets and cafe au lait (get the frozen version if its really hot) at the place that made it famous. You'll never be so happy to be absolutely covered in powdered sugar. There's nothing else on the menu, but there really doesn't have to be.
New Orleans Creole Cookery
Other places in New Orleans claim to have the best char-grilled oysters. This place is THE BEST. (We tried the others... maybe you want to do so yourself). Grab a dozen, or more (you will want more....) and pair it with a classic New Orleans hurricane. They have Cat 1 for the light of heart but if you want to do it right, get a Cat 5. If it's too strong, take it 'too geaux' cause it's New Orleans, and you can most certainly take your drink out and about!
Central Grocery and Deli
This is where the muffuletta was invented. Like - the actual place. Anywhere else you ever get a muffuletta in the world is just imitating this place. We crave it between visits. We dream about this sandwich. Grab one and take it to a bench on the riverwalk. Then go back and grab another before you board the plane home (we have done this and fully endorse muffuletta for breakfast!). **NOTE** Central Grocery is still closed after suffering significant damage during Hurricane Ida. BUT YOU CAN STILL GET A CENTRAL GROCERY MUFFULETTA! They're selling them through Zuppardo's Family Market, 5010 Veteran's Memorial B;vd, Metairie, LA 70006. That's between the airport and your hotel. Or on your way to the causeway. Really, it's on your way to anywhere because you need a muffuletta.
Cochon Butcher
If you know us and love us, you know we have been leaning towards vegetarian / vegan eating over the last few years. But we happily become carnivores @ Cochon Butcher. Grab a charcuterie platter and a blanket, a few beers and plop down @ the Fly. Or dine in and chow down on le pig mac. Or whatever they're serving. You won't be disappointed. If you prefer upscale cuisine, head next-door to the actual Cochon. It's sooooooo good.
Willie Mae's Scotch House
BEST. FRIED. CHICKEN. EVER.
Juan's Flying Burrito - LGD
Mexican food in New Orleans?! Yes. Sooooooo yes. This place is amazing. Never disappoints. Grab a burrito, nachos, margarita, quesadilla, fajita... You'll be full and happy.
Shaya
You haven't had pita til you've had pita from Shaya. They imported a PITA OVEN FROM ITALY. They only make pita in that oven all day every day. It's a Mediterranean oasis on Magazine Street. Dip your ridiculous pita in a million fresh plates of hummus and the best baba ganoush. Eat falafels. Live your best life. Let us know when you go so we can meet you there. We may even be late to the wedding cause we stopped for Shaya beforehand. Worth it.
Copper Vine
Inside is beautiful. Outside is a botanical garden in the middle of the city. Grab a pitcher of frozen sangria and a bunch of delicious apps and contemplate why you don't live in New Orleans full time. Check indeed.com for local careers then realtor.com for houses. We've been there and done that.
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
Hands down one of our favorite places in New Orleans. Stroll (or kayak or bike) around trees and sculptures and art and amazing views. It's free. It's absolutely amazing. Check out the 'dueling oaks' just outside the entrance. It's a beautiful spot, which was probably 'romantic' way back when, but we are not planning on the drama (or murder) for our union.
Audubon Nature Institute
Who doesn't love a trip to the zoo? Especially when the refreshment stand sells daiquiris. There's even a famous song about it. 'They All Ask'd for You'. Google it. Then try to get that song out of your head. Sing it around the zoo.
Steamboat NATCHEZ
Take the sunset cruise on the Steamboat Natchez. I'ts 2 hours of gorgeous, breezy cruising along the Mississippi while getting a little history lesson. There's also a Creole Queen riverboat, but we never did that one and the Natchez never disappointed. Don't bother with the dinner option aboard the Natchez. Food is mediocre and you are much better served on the ship's deck getting the history of this amazing port that is the Mississippi River and watching the sun set over our favorite city. There's plenty to eat in New Orleans before and / or after, and there are snacks @ the bar so we promise you won't go hungry.
Fleurty girl
Just the CUTEST souvenir shop. There's a location on Magazine Street if you don't want to French Quarter this place. They also have Golden Girls stuff. If you know the bride you know that this is important. The t-shirts there are soft and sassy. We dare you to go and not buy SOMETHING. Impossible.
Dirty Coast
Another amazing local souvenir shop. We have collected a lot of art from there. In the summer, the 'swamp ass' masks and t-shirts are, well, accurate. They also have midnight jasmine and king cake candles. Pretty cool stickers, too. Our cars all adorn the classic, 'be a New Orleanian, wherever you are'. And we are!
Abita Roasting Co. Madisonville
Take the drive across the causeway (24 mile overwater bridge!) and grab brunch here. Not sure if the view or the menu is better? Drink some freshly brewed coffee and / or grab a flight of mimosas (they serve freshly squeezed juices in carafes with a bottle of champagne) along with fried green tomato eggs hollandaise, sweet potato beignets or..... whatever your breakfast heart desires. Watch people pull up and park their boats out front and also peep the yachts floating by. There's a gorgeous courtyard in the back with twinkle lights in case dining lakeside isn't your thing. Like the saying goes.. there's not a bad seat in the house.
Bayou St. John
Rent a kayak and paddle around the islands and be happy. Like we do. Get some cool instagram shots under the bridges. It's a nature oasis in the middle of the city, and one of our favorite places to paddle.
Bayou Adventure
Kayak rentals for our outdoorsy guests. This is located north of Lake Pontchartrain. You purchase tickets at this little shop (can also grab a bite to eat) then they will give you directions to the rental launch site. We did this with Gabi and Evan - it's a beautiful paddle through the bayou into Lake Pontchartain. We thought maybe we'd go swimming in the lake but there were a few too many gators already enjoying the area sooooooooo we stayed in the kayaks!
Cajun Encounters Tour Company
Super fun swamp tour - you will see some HUGE gators. It's also a great nature and history lesson. Check Groupon for discounts a la Tiffany Haddish ;).
Toast on Laurel
Best little breakfast spot. Start of with abelskivers (puffy little pancakes) and finish off with really anything else on the menu.
Ruby Slipper Cafe
You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning! Mimosas galore... but they're really known for their delicious eggs benedict options... we usually do "the Peacemaker" - a choice of 2 of their most famous breakfast dishes. The eggs cochon is RIDICULOUS.
"The Fly"
We can't rephrase it better than what the website will tell you, "tucked behind Audobon Zoo across the Mississippi River levee, this waterfront portion of Audobon Park is a great spot to relax and take a breath from the hustle and bustle of New Orleans. Known to locals as "The Fly", folks come out here to hang out, toss a frisbee, have a crawfish boil, barbecue, or watch the sun go down over the river".
The National WWII Museum
A must-see new and ever-expanding museum displaying how it really was for the Greatest Generation. From rations to D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge to Hiroshima, the museum will take you back in time.
Crescent Park
Great views of the New Orleans skyline from the river. Entrance to the park is in Bywater, a funky neighborhood known for their colorful row houses. Grab breakfast @ Elizabeth's in Bywater (get the praline bacon) right by the entrance to the park and check out some spectacular views of the city. Great place to go for a walk down the paved trail among some beautiful gardens and burn off whatever you ate last night.
Abita Brewing Company
Grab a local beer @ the brew pub (or a root beer!). They have lots of board games to choose from. Not sure if tours are up and running yet, but still a delicious stop for a cold beer. (Our favorites: Strawgator and Lounging Iguana).
Cemetery Tours
New Orleans' famous cemeteries are amazing and haunting. Visiting is restricted to tour groups only unless you have a family pass. There are many cemeteries you can tour, but St Louis' Cemetery #1 is where you'll find Marie Laveau along with many other famous graves, past present and future (Nick Cage). Have Bry tag along with you for some extra excitement!