Thinking about a trip to NOLA?! I have been lucky enough to visit the Big Easy a few times either on college party weekends, passing through on road trips, or concerts. Based on my time there and other research, I have created this travel guide to help you get a sense for what this dreamy, cultural center of the US has to offer. Let’s explore what to add to your travel guide to New Orleans.

Where to Stay

Hotels are the move for the most part in NOLA because of the local housing crisis. There are blocks of Airbnbs where no one actually lives and has driven the housing prices sky high for locals. A few hotel groups have taken note of this, restoring old high rise buildings and historic monuments into boutique hotels.

So which ones are the best?! Here’s my top 5 favorites:

• Columns Hotel- where we stayed. Click here to read my blog about the place!

• Pontchartrain Hotel- last stay in 2018

• Hotel Peter and Paul

• Hotel St. Vincent

• The Chloe

Things to Do

Go home with a tattoo or a bunch of memories you won’t remember from an afternoon of day drinking (cause yes, you can get to go drinks because there is no open container law). Here are the top things to do when in New Orleans.

French Quarter

Grab a beignet from Cafe du Monde, shop the art surrounding St. James Square, and walk around the photogenic neighborhood. The French Quarter, located right on the Mississippi River, was established in 1718 by you guessed it, the French. Only one original building stands from this time because of the swampy conditions of coastal Louisiana and multiple fires.

The town gained wealth when Spain gained control in the 1760’s. And after other weather conditions and fires decimated most of the town, the Spanish rebuilt with tile, iron, and plaster, giving the buildings the look they have today. The 70 square blocks of the neighborhood include bars on Bourbon Street, great shopping, and totally recommend coming to check out the street performers.

Museums

Also in the French Quarter, there are multiple museums in the old buildings that have been restored after Hurricane Katrina. I recommend checking out the Pharmacy Museum, the Historic New Orleans Collection, and The Voodoo Museum. There is also a WWII museum, modern art collections, and historic plantations just outside of the city if history is your thing!

Listen to Jazz

A couple of the most iconic places to catch live jazz music are Preservation Hall (pictured above on Bourbon Street) and Spotted Cat. Frenchman Street has 13 small jazz clubs and is Bourbon Street’s younger brother. Jazzfest happens annually in the springtime. Get your tickets here!

Shopping

One of the best things to do in NOLA is shop. There are tons of places full of feathers, naughty trinkets, and hipster vintage. We found a lot of the best shops in the Garden District. And if you are on the prowl for iconic, one of a kind Mardis Gras costumes, read more here!

• Shop Freda- women’s clothing

• Haus of Hoodoo- magic potions and witchy accessories

• DNO- iconic perch company

• Saint Claude Social Club- boutique designer clothing and jewelry

• Trashy Dive Lingerie- luxury lingerie

Garden District

The Garden District is accessible from the French Quarter by trolley car, which you can purchase via their app or on board with cash ($3/day per person). There are vintage boutiques on Magazine Street, local brunch spots, and epic boutique hotels (like the Columns Hotel) that have rooftop bars and restaurants in their courtyards. Keep reading for eats and drinks rec!

A little history about the area if you are a nerd like me… The neighborhood was portioned off the Livaudais plantation in 1832 to the wealthy American settlers into the 1840’s. Large antebellum style homes along oak lined streets just ooze old money and you’ll catch yourself saying, “I’ll take that one.”

One home that is a must on the American Horror Story fan’s bucket list should be the Buckner Mansion. In the 2013 Coven season (featuring my queen Stevie Nicks), the mansion was used to film the home of the witches coven for the third season of the FX show. Get the full story of Delphine LaLaurie and all the haunted history by taking this tour!

Where to Eat

Creole food is unmatched when it comes to flavor and fried down south cookin’. Here are the best places to get authentic cajun and a little something a little different for when you want to eat more than just gumbo and fried food.

• Brennan’s

• Napoleon House

• The Vintage NOLA- brunch

• Slim Goodies Diner- Garden District Brekky

• August

• The Columns- best burger of my life

• The Chloe- modern twist on Cajun

• Elizabeth St. Vietnamese at Hotel St. Vincent

• Mammoth Espresso

• Juans Flying Burritos

• Saint Roch Market

• Arnaud's & the French 75 Bar

And if you wanna impress the locals, you’re gonna wanna know how to eat crawfish… Here is a PSA to watch this TikTok from a queen of crawfish.

Where to Drink

No doubt you can go into any bar down on Bourbon Street and get you a Hurricane or Hand Grenade. You can’y miss it. But if you wanna class it up a bit, check out these chic cocktail bars that ooze sensuality.

• Bar Marilou

• NOLA Brewing

• Elysian Bar

• Carousel Bar

• Hot Tin

• San Lorenzo in Hotel St. Vincent

Catch a Show

Grab tickets to a Burlesque show at the Hotel Saint Vincent. If you have had your fill of loud bars with lazy entertainment, this luxury hotel in the Garden District has perfected the Southern Charm and embraces the sensual reputation of this town. But in an elevated way. It is queer friendly and actually recently featured on the Netflix show, Queer Eye. Click here to see all the places they stopped in the show on Eater.

Ghost Tour

Take a step inside the haunted mansions of the French quarter including Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo. It is said that she once tortured her house slaves in the very home you can tour. There are numerous accounts of paranormal activity in any old bar you may step into. However, if you want the full story, you’re gonna have to book the tour… Click here to book your ghost tour in New Orleans.

You may also visit her tomb in the exclusively accessed graveyards. The tour is the only way you can visit her grave and I highly recommend learning about how the city maintains their dead. If that is your sort of thing and all.

Swamp Tour

Would you kiss a croc?! On a swamp tour in New Orleans, you can. Take and airboat and glide over the intercostal water ways just 30 min out of town. You can even combine a swamp tour with a tour of Oak Valley Plantation, historical sugar cane farm with slavery history. Definitely for the adrenaline thrill seeker or adventure traveler.

When to Visit

The lowlands of Louisiana are HOT and STEAMY. Meaning don’t plan your trip to New Orleans unless you are ready for major swamp ass. Mid May is even cutting it close to 100 degree temps. Just bring all the personal fans and plan loads of inside activities if you are visiting in the summer. I recommend visiting before Christmastime or for Mardis Gras in the spring.

There are so many other things to do that are not on my travel guide to New Orleans. Keep your mind open and if you plan on drinking, stay in groups and stay aware as this town is notorious for pick picketers and armed robbery. But like any other large city traveler, you know to just keep your wits about you and belongings close. I hope this helps with planning your trip to the BIG EASY! HAVE THE BEST TIME!!