Curator’s statement
Take a peek at the Bachelorette party & travel guide I put together for my BFF as MOH. We landed on NOLA as a destination because the bride said she wanted to eat, to dance, to explore and to feel like she was traveling internationally. However, the location couldn't be too far away. For me, the Big Easy is the most European-feeling city in the US. It’s got it all — the food, the history, the music. It’s a city made for celebrating.
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Where to stay in New Orleans
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Things to do in New Orleans
Ghost and cocktail tour!
Music crawl on Frenchmen Street.
Shop on Magazine Street.
Explore City Park or the autobahn.
Spend a day at a local watering hole meets pool at The Country Club.
Places to eat & drink in New Orleans
Turkey + the wolf is legendary
Breakfast & lunch
Molly’s Rise & Shine absolutely nailed our catered group order. Every meal was fresh, flavorful and perfectly labeled despite all our dietary restrictions. I’d get the fried chicken & breakfast sammies 1000x over. & the OG spot, Turkey & the Wolf can’t be missed.
Stein’s Deli: Go for the bagels/sandwiches and espresso/coffee bar, and to see cheeky wall art of the owner (who just happens to have been featured on Queer Eye!)
Dinner
It’s hard to plan a dinner for a large group of a certain size in NOLA. You’ll want to accommodate everyone’s preferences and restrictions so no one feels left out or uncelebrated. Our group ended up being either just to big or just too small for a lot of places. Gris-Gris saved the day. Book the private Samedi room for a VIP dining experience with a custom menu, welcome cocktails and a gorgeous rooftop deck.
If we’d had more time, we would’ve made it to Mister Mao’s tropical roadhouse — a James Beard semifinalist. I’ll report back as I’m planning to eat there when we attend our friend’s upcoming wedding in March. The couple raves about it!
Backyard music & food
Instead, we spent hours eating and drinking at Bacchanal’s — build your own charcuterie or order plates from the kitchen. The outdoor oasis atmosphere and the bands can’t be beat.
Cocktails & bars
Bar Tonique: Best sazerac in the city. Industry bar, great quality at a great price.
Pirate’s Alley: This place has a fantastic collection of absinthe. Don’t be afraid, sip it straight! Watch it “ouzo” and turn from clear to cloudy.
Stop at the famous rotating carousel bar — we did it in the afternoon. It was less crowded so all the girls could all sit at the bar!
Need to know
Commanders Palace is a must. Go for the 25 cent martini lunch or the jazz brunch.
The cable car is slow, but fun! Don't expect a/c. There's an app.
Only go for crawfish when it's in season!
Travel Advisor
Sydney Getzin
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our New Orleans page.