Planning a trip to “The Big Easy”? No?? Well I think you all should add it to your list :) We recently got back from an amazing weekend in “Naawlins’”, and let me just say, WOW, sooo much fun! @visitneworleans put together an amazing couple’s getaway for Harper and me and our good friends @michaelandmatt. We did so much and I have so many recommendations to share. I was simply blown away by the culture, music and options for delicious foods. So get ready to take some notes. Here is our New Orleans Travel Guide!

Where to Stay

Old No.77 Hotel and Chandlery

We loved our stay at the lovely Old No.77. It’s a beautifully designed hotel just a short walk from the French Quarter.  It was an old converted chandlery, which means a place where candles were made (I had to look it up). Actually, I think they still might make some candles, as I saw some for sale in their lobby. The rooms were cute, and we especially loved their restaurant and bar Compere Lapin. For fun, I recommend ordering the ”Copper Bunny”, a very delicious cocktail served in an unnecessarily heavy and difficult to drink copper bunny.

And check out this interior! So beautiful.

 What To Do

Bike Tour through Marigny & Bywater

The best way to explore New Orleans is easily by bike. The city is super flat, and it feels European in the amount of people taking bikes as their main means of transportation. It’s the best way to get out of the French Quarter and explore all the colorful and charming neighborhoods the city has to offer. We scheduled a bike tour led by Freewheeling Bike Tours, and it was honestly so much fun and informative. Our tour guide shared with us countless stories about how the city was established, and how that history created a culture that eventually led to its important role in the later civil and gay rights movements.

We rode through Marigny, a nearby neighborhood known for its brightly colored homes and cute café’s.

  We also checked out some beautiful murals near the site where Plessy boarded a “whites only” train, leading to the Supreme Court case Plessy v Furguson. Highly recommend. Such a fun way to learn about New Orleans (plus it’s also a great way to burn off some of those beignets).

 Cocktail Walking Tour

As you all know, WE LOVE COCKTAILS. So I was excited to learn we booked a really fun cocktail walking tour through the French Quarter. Drink & Learn started at 10am, which is definitely earlier than I usually start drinking, but hey, when in New Orleans right? New Orleans has a rich cocktail history, known for creating the well-known Sazerac and Hurricane. Our guide was very informative, funny, and clearly had a passion for cocktails. She’s authored a book on the topic and even ended the tour with an acapella song she wrote about cocktails. By the end we were definitely feeling a bit tipsy lol.

 Go Out to the Gay Bars in the French Quarter

New Orleans is well known for its nightlife, so of course it is going to also have a vibrant gay scene. I recommend checking out the little grouping of gay bars on Bourbon St. Our favorites were Oz and The Corner Pocket. Both are great places to grab a drink and dance. They also both have great balconies where you can gaze down and watch all the madness from above. Great place to people watch!

 Listen to Live Jazz on Frenchman Street

Checking out the Jazz scene is another must while in New Orleans. I recommend wandering around Frenchman Street in the evening. It seemed like every bar we entered had a local musician or band performing.  This is where you feel the real magic of New Orleans.

Where to Eat and Drink

Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits

One of our hands down favorite spots in New Orleans was this adorable wine shop called Bacchanal.  It’s a simple concept, but executed perfectly.  You basically pick out a bottle of wine and some cheese, and then they put together a beautiful cheese platter for you to take out and enjoy outside. The interior space is small and unassuming at first, but there is actually a huge outdoor backyard with twinkle lights, lots of cute tables and amazing live music outside. Pro Tip: Get here early, because it’s very popular and the tables get nabbed quickly. We sat at ours for hours, enjoying the delicious wines and chesses while listening to some local jazz musicians.

Brennan’s

Our favorite Brunch’s was definitely Brennan’s. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, Brennan’s is a local brunch institution. I highly recommend the Eggs Benedict and their famous flaming banana dessert, Banana’s Foster. Also check out their tasty brunch cocktails. The interior of Brennan’s has that millennial pink tropical vibe, perfect for all those perfect Instagram shots.

 Killer PoBoys

The best spot to grab a quick lunch is easily Killer PoBoys. PoBoy’s are essentially delicious sandwiches filled with meat or fried seafood on french bread. Soooooo delicious, and sooo Louisiana. Plus it’s quick and easy, so perfect for when you are out exploring the French Quarter.

 Café Du Monde

A trip to New Orleans isn’t complete without a late night trip to Café Du Monde. Famous for their beignets and coffee, this place is an absolute no brainer. It’s open 24 hrs, so if you see a long line of tourists you can always check back at a different time. We went at night and didn’t have to wait at all. The fresh beignet was the perfect nightcap to the evening (Just be careful to not inhale the powdered sugar while taking a bite…I learned the hard way).

Jack Rose

 One of our favorite dinners was at the eclectic and beautifully designed Jack Rose. The walls were all filled with old oil paintings of portraits and flower still life’s, creating a very fun and cooky interior. The cocktails were all very unique and tasty, while the fried chicken I ordered had me drooling. They also had some great live music happening at their adjacent bar.

Cane and Table

Definitely check out Cane and Table if you are out exploring Frenchman Street. It has a dark candlelit mood and the food was superb.  I ordered the crispy ribs and Harper had the arroz con pollo, and they were both incredible!

Jewel of the South

If you’re looking for elevated cocktails, look no further than Jewel of the South. This is a very cute bar known for also serving a delicious dinner. It’s a popular spot with the locals (and tiny), so we unfortunately weren’t able to get a table for dinner. Nevertheless, we still enjoyed hanging around their beautiful bar, and the cocktails were A++++

Summary

As you can tell, we all had so much fun in New Orleans. It was the perfect getaway filled with laughter, amazing food, and great music. If you’re looking for more ideas, definitely check out www.neworleans.com to plan your trip. Also, make sure to check out Matthew and Michael’s blog post on New Orleans as well at https://www.michaelandmatt.com/. Hope you all enjoyed the blog, and let me know in the comments if you have any favorite places we missed. Thank you for reading!