How to Spend a Long Weekend in New Orleans

New Orleans, Louisiana has always been on my list of cities to visit someday so it was wonderful to finally get there this past February. We arrived right after Mardi Gras to find the city-wide cleanup in full swing. Reminders of the celebration were everywhere, from the temporary bleachers on the street to the beads hanging from the trees. While I’m sure it would’ve been a unique experience, I was a little relieved to miss Mardi Gras. By visiting when we did, we avoided a lot of crowds and the very real possibility of getting vomited on in the street. As you might know, New Orleans is one of few American cities with open container laws, so visitors tend to overdo it with the numerous nightlife options that this city boasts.

Clocking in under four hours, the flight to New Orleans from New York is super convenient for a short trip. We opted to stay at Hotel Monteleone, which was historical as well as centrally located within the French Quarter. If you, like myself, like to be able to explore on foot as much as possible when traveling, this is the perfect homebase for your trip.

Our first stop was to get some delicious barbeque. We went to Blue Oak BBQ and ordered a pulled pork sandwich as well as the two-meat combo plate with brisket and chicken. For sides, we had garlic mac n’ cheese and brussels sprouts. I know brussels sprouts aren’t for everyone but these are the best we’ve ever tasted. I never thought I’d dream of getting the chance to eat a specific vegetable again but these were next level. They also have a great drink selection. I recommend the “I’ll Be Damned” frozen bourbon slushie. Also, get here early if you want a full selection- they run out of certain menu items like ribs, which can be a real bummer to miss out on when you’re only in town for a short trip.

After dinner, we caught some live music and enjoyed some cocktails at the hotel bar before hitting Bourbon Street. There’s lots of bars to choose from, but you can’t go wrong finding a spot with a balcony to hang at and people watch.

One of the coolest spots to have a drink at is The Old Absinthe House, known for, you guessed it, their absinthe. If you’ve never tried this liquor, it has a strong licorice taste. Their absinthe frappé, comprised of sugar water and absinthe, is lit on fire when served. The bar itself is covered practically floor to ceiling with business cards of visitors. This place is definitely a must-visit on Bourbon Street.

Other bars worth checking out are Pat O’Brien’s and Lefitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. The former is known for their signature rum cocktail, the Hurricane. Be sure to catch one of the dueling piano shows in the lounge while you’re there. Lefitte’s, an 18th- century pub and historical landmark, is disputedly the oldest bar in the country and serves up the Voodoo Daiquiri, a grape-flavored daiquiri with bourbon and Everclear. It was late in the night by the time we dropped in, so I opted not to add grain alcohol to my day but I’d definitely like to try this drink during a future visit.

The next day, we slept in after a long first night out. We made our way to Bearcat in the Central Business District for brunch. Just a heads up, they don’t take reservations, so you’ll definitely have to wait for a little but they do get people in and out fast. We shared the breakfast potatoes; crispy potatoes with a mornay sauce (bechamel with added cheese) and scrambled eggs on top. I’m really not a breakfast person and I could’ve had these as my meal. They were that good. For my main, I had a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit, which was excellent. My boyfriend loved the Cajun gravy biscuit and side of sausage that he had. You really can’t skip this place! There’s an uptown location too if that fits better with your other areas of interest.

You’ll probably need a nap or a walk after that meal. Being less than a thirty minute walk from Jackson Square, this is a great time to see that area. You can also see the Mississippi River after admiring the picturesque square and St. Louis Cathedral. My favorite part of this area, however, was Café Du Monde. While it was every bit as touristy as I expected, I think the beignets (French-style doughnuts) are more than worth the hype. Besides beignets, this cash-only New Orleans fixture is known for its chicory coffee. There was some debate in my research over who serves the best beignets and it came down to Café Du Monde or Café Beignet. While Café Beignet offered more variety with chocolate topping and strawberries, I preferred Café Du Monde where the beignets stood alone without needing any add-ons.

To top off our day of amazing eats, we had dinner at Morrow’s in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood. This is another great spot that doesn’t offer reservations but is well worth the wait. There’s a few bars in the area to kill time at until you can be seated. We chose to hang at St. Roch Tavern which was close by, divey, and affordable with friendly bartenders.

At Morrow’s, we had some great mojitos and my boyfriend enjoyed the gumbo. I had the Morrow’s fried chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and mac n’ cheese. My boyfriend had a fried shrimp platter and sautéed spinach. We both loved our meals. I only wish I could’ve eaten more of it without getting full!

A good alternative area to Bourbon Street that we found to be a little more low-key was Frenchmen Street. The bars here had an older crowd for the most part. We enjoyed the live music at The Spotted Cat Music Club and getting drinks at Brieux Carré Brewing Company.

Whether or not you stay at the Monteleone, you should make time to visit the Carousel Bar there. Spinning since 1949, it is the only rotating bar in New Orleans. It takes fifteen minutes to make a full rotation so you won’t have to worry about any motion sickness while you sip a drink and snack on some truffle fries.

Other foods you’ve got to try in New Orleans are po boys, jambalaya, and muffaletta. Luckily, these dishes can be found all over the city. We went to Killer Po Boys to try some sandwiches. Muffaletta is another traditional sandwich with meats, cheese, and olive dressing that is unique to the area and definitely worth sampling.

One last restaurant worth mentioning is The Rum House. Located on Magazine Street, a popular spot for shopping and food, they craft tasty beverages and tacos. I was also surprised and delighted that a quality mac n’ cheese was a possibility for a side at a taco place. (If you haven’t noticed yet, yes I do have the palate of an 8-year old but a ~discerning~ one, I’d say.)