Things To Do
Magazine Street
Stretching six miles parallel to the Mississippi River, from Canal Street to Audubon Park, Magazine Street is the ideal spot for a leisurely walk-about with plenty of shopping, bars and restaurants.
Audubon Park
Located across the street from Tulane University. The park includes walking trails, a golf course and the Audubon Zoo. It is a great family-friendly spot for a picnic or bike ride.
French Quarter
We know that coming to New Orleans means going to the French Quarter, especially for our first time visitors. If you're in the quarter we say pick up a drink at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop (the oldest bar in America) or Pat O'Brien's (the birthplace of the hurricane), grab some beignets from Cafe du Monde (duh) and walk around Jackson Square. If anyone tries to stop you and tell you they know where you got your shoes, keep walking!
Frenchmen Street
Frenchman is the less tourist-y version of Bourbon Street. There are plenty of great bars for live music like The Spotted Cat, DBA and Blue Nile. Some of our favorite Mardi Gras memories come from watching Krewe de Vieux on Frenchman.
The National WWII Museum
If you have extra time in the city you could easily spend an entire day here.
City Park
City Park is one of the oldest parks in the country and it has everything within its 1,300 acres. Including, but not limited to, The New Orleans Museum of Art, the amazing Besthoff Sculpture Garden, biking and walking paths, mini golf, live concerts, an amusement park and the world's largest grove of mature live oak trees.
Dooky Chase's Restaurant
This iconic New Orleans restaurant is legendary for a reason. It is the best spot in the city for authentic Creole cuisine. The late Chef Leah Chase turned Dooky Chase's from a sandwich shop and lotto ticket outlet into the restaurant it is today. It remains family owned and operated. Dining at Dooky Chase's is an experience everyone should have at least once.
Pêche Seafood Grill
Pêche holds a special place in our hearts. We both worked here for many years and consider it a part of our history. We recommend having a seat at the cocktail or raw bar. Everything on the menu is spectacular but our recommendations are a dozen oysters (Queen Bess if they have them on special), Sophie's favorite dish in the world: the steak tartare, and the baked drum.
Barrel Proof
A great beer and whiskey spot. Craft cocktails and amazing local food pop-ups too. Outside seating is the best place to people watch.
Gris-Gris
This neighborhood restaurant is Chris's favorite. Gris-Gris serves fine-dining level food in a comfortable and casual setting. Sit on the balcony or at the chef's bar and enjoy southern classics like the double cut pork chop or chicken and dumplings (a recipe from Chef Eric's mom). No matter what you do, order the bread pudding - Chris says it is the best dessert he's ever had.
Juan's Flying Burrito - LGD
Juan's has a few locations around the city but the Lower Garden District one is the best. Their House Rox Margarita is *chefs kiss*
Turkey and the Wolf
Bon Appetit named this sandwich shop America's Best New Restaurant of 2017 for a reason. You really can't go wrong here. Sophie's favorite is the Wedge Salad, Chris's is whatever they have as their daily special.
DNO Garden District
An awesome local shop on Magazine Street. A portion of proceeds are used to support New Orleans organizations & local creative work. T-Shirts, prints, stickers and more are designed and made in New Orleans.
Stein's Market and Deli
Stein's everything bagel with tomato slices and salmon schmear: guaranteed hangover cure.
The Bulldog, Uptown
One of Sophie's favorite college bars with outdoor seating and 50 beers on tap.
Rendezvous
Your typical dive bar in the heart of Magazine Street. Located near great shopping and restaurants. One of our go-tos after work.
Polo Club Lounge
The Polo Lounge is on the second floor of the Windsor Court Hotel and has one of the largest cognac selections in the city. The perfect spot for a nightcap or sazerac.
Luke
A Luke French 75 and a dozen oysters is what dreams are made of. Happy hour is everyday from 3pm to 6pm. 75 cent P&J oysters on the half shell and half price signature cocktails and beer.
Bywater American Bistro
Award winning Chef Nina Compton's second restaurant. Cozy, delicious, amazing.
Elizabeth's
The best breakfast in the city. Don't skip the praline bacon!
Paladar 511
A Marigny neighborhood staple serving up fresh pizza, pasta and seasonal sides. The Arancini is out of this world.
Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits
Bacchanal is Nola's backyard party and just a few blocks from our wedding venue. Bacchanal's old world wine shop has hundreds of selections to choose from. Once you have your bottle (or two), grab some glasses and an ice bucket and find a table in the courtyard to enjoy whatever local jazz band is playing that night.
J's Creole Wings
We think J's got us through lockdown. We stumbled on this place on UberEats and ordered more times than we would like to admit. J's is family owned and every sauce is made from scratch. You will not be disappointed.
Parkway Bakery & Tavern
Ask 10 New Orleanians their favorite place for po' boys and you'll get 10 different answers. Parkway is ours. You'll need a nap after the fried shrimp po' boy, or the roast beef with gravy (trust us), but it is so worth it.
Zasu
As of right now (June 2021) Zasu is only accepting private dining and catering inquiries due to COVID. But we're keeping our fingers crossed that Zasu will be back open normally by November 2021! This intimate, gorgeous restaurant from James Beard Award Winner, Chef Sue Zemanick, takes the freshest ingredients and finds new ways to explore traditional, southern dishes. We have many fond dinner memories at Zasu.
Lilette
We came here to celebrate our engagement and had one of the best dinners of our lives. Food and Wine Magazine summed it up best: "With his precise technique, premium ingredients and aversion to unnecessary flourishes, Chef John Harris taps into the essence of French and Italian cooking."
Saba
We had an unforgettable dinner at Saba after our small wedding ceremony last year. Warm pita straight from the oven and lamb ragu hummus? Yes please. The food is exceptional but the hospitality and service at Saba is what makes it so special. They also have a wide variety of vegetarian options.
Costera
This uptown gem is another one of our favorites. You don't usually think of coastal Spanish food when you think of New Orleans, but Costera will change that. Cocktails are a must.
Creole Creamery
The sweetest neighborhood ice cream shop with seasonal and signature flavors. Two doors down from Costera.
The Boot
The college bar to end all college bars. Happy hour Wednesday and Friday. Order a Boot Bomb just don't ask what's in it.
Maple Leaf Bar
The Maple Leaf Bar is one of the best places in the city to see live music. On Oak St in the Carrolton neighborhood of Uptown, the historic Maple Leaf is far from the craziness of downtown but still authentically New Orleans.
Jacques-Imo's
Self proclaimed "not famous" since 1996, Jacques-Imos is where you'll find quintessential New Orleans food like Alligator Cheesecake and BBQ Shrimp. Less than a minute walk to Maple Leaf.