New Orleans is one of my favorite spots to visit. I love the tradition, culture, and history in this adorable city. Y’all know how much I love Tiana…. and I feel just like her walking in this city! The French culture, Cajun food, and amazing shops make it the perfect place to visit! This was my second time passing through and it was even better than I remembered from last time!
Where to Stay
When it comes to hotels, New Orleans has so many cute boutique style ones. There are definitely some “rougher” parts in this town, so I would steer clear of renting a house if you don’t know the area well.
Hilton Riverside: This is where we stayed this visit. There are some great restaurants and bars located inside this hotel, which makes it super convenient. Additionally, there is an easy entrance to the Riverwalk Mall that is fun if you want to go shopping. This hotel is located right near everything touristy, so it is a great location. The hotel room itself was older, but well kept.
Omni Riverside: Andrew and I have this one our bucket list. It looks amazing inside and we just adore the Omni! This hotel was right across the street from where we stayed, so again, location is perfect.
Hotel Pontchatrain: We stayed here on our first visit a few years ago. If you are a sucker for a good themed hotel, you will love this one. Historical, fun, tons of character, and an amazing rooftop bar that makes for the perfect night cap. Located right across from a Street Car station, so if you want to ride around on one of those, it is super convenient.
What to Do
For activities, I recommend walking around the French Quarter and hitting up all the touristy spots! Definitely walk around during daylight though.
Jackson Square: Lots of history here. You can look around, explore, shop, and go to Cafe du Monde!
Magazine Street: All the fun shopping and places to eat. Stoney Clover Lane is located here and the store was so cute. I love how all the SCL locations have specific patches that you can only get at that location. This storefront had about 8-12 unique New Orleans patches to choose from. SO cute. Magazine Street has tons of other fun stores too if you are in the mood to shop.
WWII Museum: Andrew and I did this last time we were here and it was amazing. I’m not normally one for a long museum, but this one is super cool. Lots of great stories, visuals, and really well kept. This one could easily take half a day, so make sure you plan for enough time. This is located downtown, so super convenient.
Where to Eat
The food in New Orleans is just spectacular. There are so many restaurants that it can be overwhelming to choose, so here are our favorites from this trip!
Luke: More of a fancy dinner but not too expensive. This restaurant is located inside the Downtown Hilton Hotel and it was stunning. Such a great vibe and super fun drinks. I believe Happy Hour is from 3-6pm so make sure you go during that time. They had half off drinks and cocktails and they had some super yummy and unique ones! We had the roasted Brussel sprouts (heavenly) and split the Etoufee which was perfect.
The Carousel Bar: Located inside the famous Hotel Monteleone, this bar literally has a carousel INSIDE. You can sit at the bar and it rotates slowly. Super cool. The bar itself was huge and the atmosphere was perfect. We got Old Fashioneds and they were very good.
Cafe Du Monde: A staple when you go to New Orleans. This coffee shop is RICH in history and just super good. Coffee & Beignets, what more could you need in life? I encourage you to check out their website and read about the history of this market because it is amazing. I got a coffee mug, of course.
R&O’s: I was super skeptical about this place, but Andrew said he loved it so we tried it. SO good. They are most known for their Po-Boys, which are a NOLA staple. Basically, it is a sandwich on French bread. Super good. If you are in New Orleans, you definitely need to try some.
