I recently had the chance to visit New Orleans for a beautiful wedding on New Year’s Day. The whole weekend was full of amazing food, lots of drinks, and even more walking! Below is a list of all the places I visited minus a few bars!
Bywater
We stayed at an adorable airbnb in Bywater. I don’t regret staying away from the French Quarter but know that parking is extremely expensive and Ubers can add up!
Saint Germain is a French wine bar with an amazing outdoor seating area. We enjoyed a couple glasses of wine before our dinner reservation at N7.
N7 is a neighborhood French restaurant and wine bar. The restaurant is set off the street behind a tall fence amidst a garden, with indoor and outdoor seating. The whole ambiance is magical — I could have stayed for hours. We enjoyed the grilled bok choy, sake cured salmon tartine, and steak au poivre.
French Quarter
Bourbon Street is the historic street right in the heart of the French Quarter. This 13 block street is home to many bars, neon lights, and loud music. The coolest part are the balconies — people party and throw beads! I enjoyed walking down it once but I think I got my fill quickly!
Pier 424 Seafood Market is located right on Bourbon Street and is the perfect place to grab a Bloody Mary and raw oysters!
21st Amendment was my favorite bar in the French Quarter. We visited New Year’s Eve while there was a live Jazz band. I enjoyed the Frenchy: strawberry vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and champagne.
Carousel Bar & Lounge was the coolest bar I have ever visited. The bar is like it sounds, a carousel — yes, it moves! We enjoyed a spin on the 25-seat, bright, circus-clad Merry-Go-Round while enjoying a few cocktails! Seating is difficult to come by so make sure you are patient.
Pierre Maspero’s has bottomless mimosas sooooo you know that’s where we went to brunch! I enjoyed the Andouille & Eggs and I seriously can’t stop thinking about it. It might have been one of my favorite meals of the trip!
Cafe Du Monde is definitely a tradition when visiting New Orleans, you’ll see from the long lines! We enjoyed our beignets and café au lait during our final morning.
Urban South Brewery was where the rehearsal dinner was at so we got to enjoy this awesome spot! Come here to enjoy a beer or seltzer with plenty of space!
Frenchman Street
Frenchman Street was my favorite area of town. This street is way less crowded than Bourbon and is bustling with live music. We loved spending a whole afternoon/evening exploring the different bars and restaurants.
- The Spotted Cat Music Club – enjoyed music
- d.b.a – enjoyed music
- Snug Harbor – enjoyed the Jambalaya for dinner
- Marigny Brasserie – enjoyed the Chicken & Andouille Gumbo for lunch
Sightseeing
I wish I could have done more sightseeing but it was hard due to the wedding. We did get to experience a cemetery tour and it was such a memorable experience.
Unlike most other New Orleans cemeteries, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is accessible only via guided, licensed tours. That’s because the cemetery has been subject to vandalism over the years. A little bit of history: The city’s high water makes in-ground burials impossible so a coffin buried underground would simply float back up to the top. That is why they use “oven faults” or “wall faults” to bury the dead. Many oven vaults house the remains of countless family members. After a body is interred, it is left undisturbed in the grave for a period of one year and one day. At that point, the remains may be pushed to the back of the tomb, leaving room for another body to be interred. Of course I was eager to see the resting site of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, I even left an offering!
Please let me know if you have any questions or help planning a trip to NOLA! It was definitely a fun trip and a great location to ring in the New Year!
Sips and Trips with Paige 