The Ultimate New Orleans “Things to Do” Travel Guide

• Ghost and cemetery tours: New Orleans is filled with a rich history of ghosts and mysterious legends. Learn all the stories about what makes this city so spooky, from eerie apparitions to haunted landmarks, and uncover the secrets that linger in the shadows of its historic streets.

• The Chloe: Cool off from the thick New Orleans heat and go for a dip at The Chloe hotel pool.

• Visit the National World War II Museum: This immersive museum allows you to vividly learn about our nation’s history and involvement in the Second World War.

• Shop on Magazine Street: Stroll the six miles of Magazine Street to discover an eclectic mix of boutiques, antique shops, local eateries and art galleries, offering a unique shopping experience that captures the vibrant spirit of New Orleans.

• Visit the Bead Shop: Located on Magazine Street, just two blocks west of Napoleon Avenue, the Bead Shop offers an endless supply of charms for a local bracelet and necklace making experience.

• City Park: Explore the 1300 acres that make up City Park. Visit the sculpture garden, Museum of Art, Louisiana Children’s Museum and the Café du Monde, all located within the park to spend an afternoon reconnecting with nature.

• Steamboat Natchez: Roll down the Mississippi River on the Steamboat Natchez, the last authentic working steamboat on the Mississippi.

• Festivals: Check out the New Orleans event calendar online and check out which of the over 130 festivals are going on in the city!

• Uptown and Audubon: Go for a walk under the willow trees in Audubon Park and visit the animals in the Audubon Zoo. Insider tip: travel beyond the zoo through the gates to the right and spend the afternoon picnicking at Riverview Park or better known as “The Fly” by Tulane students, and watch the sunset across the Mississippi River.

• Dance the night away on Frenchmen Street: Known by locals as the “local’s Bourbon Street,” Frenchmen offers one of the best spots to find live music, unique bars, diverse art markets and delicious late-night eateries.

There is no question that The Big Easy does it best. The food options are endless, and each of them is so uniquely New Orleans.

Listed in no particular order, here is the ultimate list of restaurants, cafes, diners, desserts and more to check out in New Orleans.

Brunch, because who’s waking up early in The Big Easy?

• The Ruby Slipper: Located in numerous places along the Mississippi. There's a reason this is a classic.

• Bearcat Café: A brunch must! Make sure to wake up early, especially on weekends, because Bearcat does not take reservations and only offers first-come, first-served seating! Favorites: Vegan ranchero and smoked salmon toast.

• Birdy’s Behind The Bower: Offers outdoor seating and a bright atmosphere to start your day off right!

• Riccobono’s Panola Street Cafe: Located residential uptown, Panola Street is a fabulous local brunch spot.

• High Hat Café: A relaxed and casual cafe offering high-quality southern food.

• Molly’s Rise and Shine: A laid-back diner uniquely decorated to capture the New Orleans spirit. Favorites: Scotty’s collard greens and grits and crispy rice salad.

Lunch/dinner

• Barracuda: A casual, outdoor, walk-up order restaurant, Barracuda offers the best tacos in New Orleans. Colorful picnic tables in the back offer a fabulous spot for families, date nights and celebrations. Favorites: Crispy fish taco, deluxe.

• Sofia Nola: An Italian restaurant that offers great pasta, pizza and more. Favorites: Penne alla vodka pasta.

• The Bower: I have celebrated my birthday here three years in a row now, a fabulous spot for dinner and drinks.

• Pere Antoine: My dad and I’s favorite place to have a father-daughter date. We’ve been eating here the last six years and it never gets old. Favorites: Blackened catfish.

• Creole Cookery: Every time my family is in New Orleans, we have always made sure to have one dinner at Creole Cookery. A fabulous spot for classic Cajun food.

• Superior Seafood: Perfect place for a seafood dinner with friends and family. Happy hour deals are a must! Favorites: Happy hour deals on the frozen pomegranate mojito and raw oysters.

• Turkey and the Wolf: A casual counter-service joint offering the best sandwiches in New Orleans.

• Boil Seafood House: Crawfish. Crawfish. Crawfish. A seafood boil is a New Orleans must, and Boil offers some of the best seafood around (if you aren’t invited to a local backyard boil).

• Shaya: Great Mediterranean food and a wonderful place for a date night.

• Pizza Domenica: If you’re looking for a good ole slice of fresh pizza, Pizza Domenica is the place to go!

• Chais Delachaise: My favorite happy hour spot offering half-off mussels, sliders, goose fat fries and wine list, by the glass and by the bottle! Favorites: Pomme frites (goose-fat fries) and mussels.

Drinks, duh.

• Port Orleans Brewery: A casual brewery and taproom offering locally made beers and food. A great space for a large group to watch a game or just enjoy each other's company.

• Tchoup Yard: Similar to Port Orleans and a local favorite, Tchoup Yard is a large backyard-type space perfect for large groups to enjoy a late night together.

• Pat O’Brien's: Located on Bourbon Street, Pat O’s is the birthplace of the classic New Orleans Hurricane and the Original Dueling Piano Show!! A must-visit New Orleans spot!

• Hot Tin: Located on the rooftop of The Pontrachain Hotel, Hot Tin offers a fabulous view of the city with wonderful drinks, perfect for date night.

• The Columns: A beautiful hotel restaurant and bar on St. Charles Avenue offers delicious drinks and food.

• Cure Nola: An upscale cocktail bar located uptown and tucked away from the hustle and bustle. Perfect place to grab a drink and indulge in the bar’s unique flavors.

• The Vintage: This Magazine Street bar offers delicious desserts, drinks and the perfect place to gossip with your girlfriends.

• Monkey Board: A rooftop bar that captures the charm of New Orleans with a perfect sunset and skyline view.

Coffee

• LUCA Eats: Tucked away in the residential streets of uptown, right next to Tulane’s campus, LUCA Eats offers a delicious selection of coffee, tea and breakfast options for those that might be nursing a hangover. Favorites: Avocado toast and the apple and brie sandwich.

• French Truck Coffee: A New Orleans classic for daily coffee and a quick breakfast. Favorites: New Orleans iced coffee, avocado toast and smoked salmon toast.

• Cherry Coffee Roasters: A cute corner coffee for the perfect cup of morning coffee.

• Café Du Monde: The line at the main location on Decatur Street can get long, so I would recommend heading to City Park to grab the same delicious beignets with half the wait time. Or my favorite, grab some Café du Monde at the airport as a last treat before leaving New Orleans.

• Café Beignet: I think these beignets might be the best in New Orleans. Light, fluffy pillows of donut-like pastry coated in powdered sugar for the perfect sweet treat.

Dessert

• Hansen’s Sno-Bliz: Now locals can get pretty passionate about their favorite sno-ball stands, but I can confidently say that this is the best sno-ball place in New Orleans. Nothing beats it. Since opening in 1939, Hansen’s has kept the same (something) at heart. There are no shortcuts to quality!

• Creole Creamery: This ice cream parlor offers some of the best treats on a hot New Orleans day. Creole embraces the vibrant and quirky aspects of the city in their unique and ever-changing ice cream flavors.