3 days in New Orleans - what to do?

[reeinaz]

I'm taking my 1st cruise in December out of New Orleans. I'm staying in New Orleans for 3 extra nights at the end of the cruise (Thurs-Sat). This will be my 1st time in New Orleans too.

So far on my to do list, I have:

• WWII Museum
• Voodoo Museum
• The Presbytère
• Dooky Chase
• Mother's
• Gumbo Shop
• Cafe du Monde
• Acme Oyster House

 

Are there any other attractions, I should add to my list? I plan on exploring the garden district and French Quarter on my own or via a walking tour. I would like more options than what I have in case I'd like to do more. 

As far as the restaurants go, am I missing a place I should really try? I'm looking for places where locals would eat, which I know isn't necessarily the places recommended to tourists. For instance, I'm from Philly and I don't know anyone who gets cheesesteaks from Pat's or Geno's, but these are always on the must do lists for Philadelphia.

 

I'm also a fan of the Sidecar and Sazerac and would love to try "authentic" versions of these drinks if anyone can recommend a place to give these drinks a try. My hotel is on Canal St, a few blocks away from St. Louis Cemetery, but Uber and public transportation wouldn't be a big deal at all to me to get around.

[princeton123211]

16 hours ago, reeinaz said:

As far as the restaurants go, am I missing a place I should really try?

Commander's Palace is a must for a first trip to the city. Willie Mae's for fried chicken lunch. Antoine's and Arnaud's have great brunches. Galatoire's is the locals pick for the legacy establishments. While tourists go to all of these, so do locals. You'd be selling yourself short by not experiencing some of them. 

 

With either Dooky (I'm not the biggest fan but it has its following) or Willie Maes-- make sure you Uber in and Uber out. The neighborhood has gotten better, but I wouldn't walk too far in any direction from either establishment. 

 

17 hours ago, reeinaz said:

I'm also a fan of the Sidecar and Sazerac and would love to try "authentic" versions of these drinks if anyone can recommend a place to give these drinks a try.

Most places have a pretty good Sazarac but the place that invented it is the Sazarac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel. Well worth a visit. While we're on the subject of drinking, you'll end up doing a lot of it. Avoid places that will end you in one swoop like Pat O'Brian's hurricanes which are lethal (theres your Pats or Genos cheesesteak). You'll want to make it a slow burn so you can get through your day and experience it all-- no need to get tanked on the first stop. 

 

A must is the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone-- show up off peak if you want to sit at the rotating bar. Its charmingly wonderful. On the way to or from Commander's Palace (again, you must go) you'll find the Columns Hotel and inside you'll find their Victorian Lounge which is one of New Orleans hidden gems in an old mansion in the Garden District. 

 

In the Quarter, Arnaud's French 75 bar and Lafittes Blacksmith Shop (best to save for night time) are a good choice. If you go to see a quick show at Preservation Hall (which I recommend you do) just pop into any of the bars nearby (with the exception of Mr OBriens as noted above) and grab a drink to go-- you can carry them anywhere in town and drink in the street. You'll want something to swig on while you listen to the jazz.

 

Honorable mention in the FQ is the bar at the Ritz-Carlton-- its extremely nice, extremely air conditioned, and its an oasis from the madness of the French Quarter when you need it. The Polo Club Lounge also fits this bill at the Windsor Court Hotel if you are over that way. 

 

As for dive bars, and as a good Philadelphian I hope you are a dive bar fan, one of my all time favorites there is Snake & Jake's Christmas Lounge. It looks sketchy from the outside but just go in and have fun-- the fewer questions the better. In the Quarter a great dive is the Chart Room. 

[reeinaz]

. @princeton123211 Thanks so much for the suggestions. And yes, I love a good dive 🙂

[jgmpuma]

New Orleans is all about music. For current listings:

 

www.wwoz.org

 

It lists venues by location and genres.

[reeinaz]

I got a feeling that I'm gonna need at least a 2nd trip to NOLA 

[lynncarol]

Highly recommend the New Orleans Museum of Art and its sculpture gardens. They have a lovely building and one of the best collections of Asian art/pottery! Even better, you can easily get there by trolley. There used to be the Morning Cafe across the street with delicious beignets but I believe that is under new ownership now.

Also, if it rains, my husband and I plus and our teenage grandkids really enjoyed Mardi Gras Museum

Edited September 10, 2019 by lynncarol

[dctravel]

On 7/25/2019 at 8:56 PM, reeinaz said:

Are there any other attractions, I should add to my list?

I would strongly consider Mardi Gras World. The tour is fascinating, as you get to watch them make floats for next year's Mardi Gras parades and see old float pieces from past years.

[Joebucks]

Lots of good things in this thread. For me, I MUST get the Muffaletta at the Central Grocery for lunch, then some kind of shrimp/fried chicken at night.

[reeinaz]

58 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

Lots of good things in this thread. For me, I MUST get the Muffaletta at the Central Grocery for lunch, then some kind of shrimp/fried chicken at night.

I've heard the muffuletta from central grocery is a must try. Admittedly I'm not sure what a muffuletta is other than a type of sandwich. I'm eager to see what the fuss is about, much like our cheesteakrs here are basically a type of sandwich. But ohhhh boy. Once you've had a proper one, you immediately figure out what the hype is about.

 

My hotel is a few blocks from We Dat's Chicken and Shrimp. That's gonna be my 1st stop after dropping off my luggage for some deep fried yumminess.

[Joebucks]

15 hours ago, reeinaz said:

I've heard the muffuletta from central grocery is a must try. Admittedly I'm not sure what a muffuletta is other than a type of sandwich. I'm eager to see what the fuss is about, much like our cheesteakrs here are basically a type of sandwich. But ohhhh boy. Once you've had a proper one, you immediately figure out what the hype is about.

 

My hotel is a few blocks from We Dat's Chicken and Shrimp. That's gonna be my 1st stop after dropping off my luggage for some deep fried yumminess.

 

Muffaletta is an italian sandwhich with your typical meats. The difference here is it is topped with an "olive salad". Really good

[Bankshot]

Also try Preservation Hall for some good music and Felix for roasted oysters.  We also like to take the streetcar out to the Garden Dist.  Jackson Square is always interesting and be sure to try the Benignes (sic) at Cafe' de Monde.  Deanie's restaurant has good local food.

[Luvmypups]

Willa Jean for breakfast is a must have for us on our trips to New Orleans. 

[PBTravelBug]

I know the OP has now been to New Orleans but decided to post anyway for future reference. New Orleans is my favorite city. We visit as often as possible and were lucky to live there for several years as college students. 

 

My few of my favorite places in New Orleans:

- Jambalya at The Gumbo Shop on St Peters Street (it is a sentimental favorite as it was my first meal in NOLA on my first visit 30+ years ago)

- Grab a muffuletta from Central Grocery. Head over to Jackson Sq and people watch

- Must have beignets and cafe au lait from Cafe du Monde

- Strolling down Royal Street 

- Checking out the French Market

- Piano Bar at Pat O's - fun anytime of day in my opinion

- Jean Lafitte's for a purple slushy drink

- Best Burgers: Port of Call OR Snug Harbor. They are related. Port of Call is more  of a dark dive bar atmosphere. Snug Harbor has more of a restaurant feel with jazz music. Both have amazing burgers! 

- Ride the Street Car Uptown to River Bend - grab a bite at Camelia Grill - finish the meal with a slice of pecan pie on the grill topped with vanilla ice cream. Walk off the pie by taking a walk down Maple Street and over to Tulane University.

- Favorite Po Boy = Shrimp PoBoy at Frankie & Johnnys - washed down with an ice cold Barqs root beer in a glass bottle

- Magazine Street - so many shops & restaurants!

- SOOOOOO MANY Restaurants to list.... Commanders Palace (Garden District), Galatoires (FQ), Katies (Mid City),

Gautreau's (Uptown)

 

Thanks for letting me share!

[wesorbeth]

On 9/10/2019 at 2:32 PM, dctravel said:

I would strongly consider Mardi Gras World. The tour is fascinating, as you get to watch them make floats for next year's Mardi Gras parades and see old float pieces from past years.

We visited Mardi Gras World the last time when we were in New Orleans.  Our hotel took us there as our hotel was evacuated due to the Hard Rock collapse, it was neat but I don't think I would pay to see it.