I just returned from a fabulous long weekend in New Orleans with my college friends.  

It was such an amazing trip with loads of great food, drinks and shopping.

I reached out to a few Nola buddies for suggestions in addition to my college friend who lives there.  

Here is my Ultimate New Orleans Travel Guide.

Stay:

Soniat House – the only place to stay.  The epitome of southern hospitality. 

 

Galleries and Artists Studios:

Alexis Walter

Ashley Longshore

Alex Beard

Amanda Talley

Gallery Orange

Julia Street Galleries are all with a stop…

Mallory Page showing in her studio and

Martine Chaisson Gallery

Callan Contemporary

Soren Christensen Gallery

Lunch at Herbsaint is the perfect lunch in the Arts District.

This is a great graphic about the galleries and area…

Brennan’s is also not to be missed for a classic New Orleans meal is a beautiful atmosphere

and the bananas foster is INSANE!

 

Amazing artist Alexis Walter shared the best of the best.  We had the pleasure of touring her stunning home and studio too. What a treat!

Alice of Empire State Finery is a Nola native and shared her favorite haunts.

My absolute favorite restaurant is Jaques Imo’s.  It is on Oak Street, Uptown off of Carrollton, so you would need to drive or take a cab.  The atmosphere is really fun and you can literally order anything on the menu and it will delicious.  The only hitch is that they take reservations for five or more people, only.  So you need to either have five with you, or wait for a table.  The plus is, Maple Street Bar is right next door and you can sit and listen to some music and the Jaquesimos hostess will come and get you.  There are also a couple of new fun bars on that street that have recently opened up as well, in the case that you are looking for some post-dinner activity.

Warehouse/French Quarter

Cochon (Donald Link restaurant – awesome duck gumbo and true nola food and good bar next door called the Butcher).

GW Fins – One of my favorites – great seafood.  

Galatoires – You go here for the atmosphere, sit downstairs, great for a long lunch but you may have to wait a while – will be really fun on a busy weekend, just be prepared to wait. Definitely order the soufflé potatoes and fried eggplant – awesome & honestly a big part of why people go  there. 

Casual Places/Daytime

Port of Call – Burgers,  Huge drinks. Again no reservations, be prepared to wait (the huge drinks help with that).

Gumbo Shop

Mother’s – Poboys

Central Grocery – Muffaletta. Near the French Market.  Pick up one to go and take it to the river across the street for a picnic.

Royal Street (French Quarter)

Great street for shopping, especially antiques.

Magazine Street (Uptown)

Uptown – Lots of shopping, antique and otherwise.  You could walk the whole street from start to finish if you’re in the mood to just shop and browse.  Around Jackson Avenue is a great cemetery that is cool to see (may sound strange, but there are countless cemetery tours in NOLA, as they’re so different than other places). 

Beignets!

Cafe du Monde (On Decatur – one of the main streets of the Quarter)

Late Night…

Camellia Grill (Original one is Uptown, but they just opened a location in the Quarter)

Music…

Frenchman Street (neighborhood on the opposite side of Esplanade from the Quarter) – take a cab there – don’t walk it

Snug Harbor

 DBA

Bourbon Street –

Cat’s Meow – Totally cheesy karaoke place, but really fun if in the mood.

Bourbon Street Blues Club – Always has pretty good bands. Where locals go if they happen upon Bourbon Street)

Gold Mine – SUPER late night, fun music…when you should be going home but are still out, head here 😉

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