While a lot of college kids opt for Florida or Cancun for Spring Break, my friends and I headed down to New Orleans, Louisiana for an absolutely amazing few days. This trip is the perfect trip to take with friends and three or four days was the perfect length to see and do everything we wanted.
Though excessive, I planned this trip with friends very excessively, color-coded spreadsheets and all. We ended up checking off a lot of the spots on there and we also found some great new ones. The trip was filled with walking and a few friendly Uber rides, as well as amazing food and lots of dancing. In terms of spring break, it struck the perfect balance between partying and exploring. New Orleans has quickly become one of my favorite places, so here’s my ultimate guide to visiting New Orleans!
To Do
1. Visit Jackson Square
Jackson Square reminds me of Bryant Park, it’s so poppin’ and lively! Music is everywhere. There are vendors, tarot card readers and lots of tourists. You have to take a photo of the iconic statue and stop to listen to performers.
Bonus Tip: This is a short walk from the French Market. The French Market has lots of food and craft vendors, but it wasn’t my favorite. It’s fun if you have time to kill, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to go there again.
2. Party on Bourbon St.
So many Uber drivers warned us about this place and I don’t know if it’s because I’m from New York, but I wasn’t scared here at all. This place is so much fun. The live music is fantastic and almost every bar has no cover charge, meaning you can wander in and out of bars as you please. In terms of nightlife, we preferred the bustling party vibes of Bourbon St. to the laidback jazz of Frenchmen St.
And, as you walk along Bourbon, there are so many people up on balconies trying to get you to throw beads. If you want to have a little fun, get the dudes with beads to flash you their abs (we did this and cracked up). Or, if you want beads but don’t want to flash anyone, just dance a little and wave. My friend got a lot of beads just by twerking in the middle of Bourbon St. It was so much fun!
Places to Check out on Bourbon St.:
○ Razzoo – This was, by far, our favorite. The Phunky Monkeys played every night and they were so talented. Plus, their sets ranged from early 2000s hits to classic rock to modern music. It was such a fun blend of music and the dancing was great! Plus, there’s an outdoor patio if you get too hot.
○ The Beach – This place also has awesome live music and a huge outdoor dance floor.
○ Cat’s Meow – This famous karaoke bar was pretty fun!
○ Fatz Cats – This place had limited room for dancing, but had a lot of great live music similar to Razzoo.
○ Oz – This gay bar is so much fun on Thursday nights. We went to the comedy drag show cabaret and had so much fun watching drag queens perform and listening to comedians. Definitely come here on a Thursday!
Bonus Tips:
○ Wear shoes you don’t care about and can dance in. I wore my old white Vans because they’ve already been destroyed and they’re comfy. You’re sure to get drinks spilled on your shoes and you’ll probably end up stepping in mysterious puddles. Don’t wear open-toed shoes.
○ Get there early. The party never stops. We often headed down here at 8:30PM/9:30PM which was usually when the live music begins. This is the best because everything is crowded but not too crowded.
○ Don’t walk here. Split an Uber with friends. Some of the surrounding areas are a little bit shady, so it’s best to Uber to the area.
○ Stay where the lights and crowds are. The streets are very crowded and fairly well-lit, so stay there. Don’t wander outside of where the crowds are. There are some shady people, so just be aware of your surroundings.
3. Drink Mixing Class at The Maison
We had to book this a few months in advance and they only happen at the Maison on Frenchmen on Thursdays. We made half-portions of four of NOLA’s famous cocktails, like Pimm’s Cup and the Hurricane. Pimm’s Cup is one of my new favorite drinks and it’s one I never thought I’d like. Like, it has cucumber in it, one of my least favorite foods.
This was such a fun way to learn new drink recipes, get experience mixing drinks and learn a lot from bartenders. Be sure to get dinner beforehand and book this in advance.
Bonus Tip: Though this class is pricey, there’s usually a Groupon for it. Plus, it’s worth the money. You get to try four strong cocktails.
4. Walk Magazine Street
Though this wasn’t quite what we expected, this was a fun way to spend a nice weather day. Magazine Street has a lot of chunks of shops separated by some houses. It’s fun to look at everything and see what’s for sale. Be sure to wear comfy shoes!
Bonus Tips:
○ Take a bus for $1.25 toward the top of Magazine Street, around 5800. Then, walk toward the bottom. This is especially handy if you’re staying in the French Quarter like we did (you’re walking closer to home!)
○ Check out the Kendra Scott store! This store was beautiful and I got the prettiest necklace.
5. Shop at Riverwalk Outlets
This place had some really great shops and souvenir shops! It’s also along the river, which makes for some nice views, and has a Cafe Du Monde inside (more about that later). I also recommend checking out the free wine tastings at the Tropical NOLA winery on the first floor. The peach Moscato was AMAZING.
6. Explore Mardi Gras World
It was so cool to see all of the Mardi Gras floats and sculptures! They are absolutely beautiful and the process is insane. The walking tour was annoying because our group was so big and we couldn’t hear much, but we (and many others) ended up just sneaking away and wandering around all of the floats. So fun! Plus, you get a free slice of King Cake at the end. It tastes like a breakfast pastry!
Bonus Tips:
○ Take advantage of the free shuttle. It will pick you up and take you to MGW and it can help get you to your next destination. We were able to get dropped off right near Riverwalk and other groups got dropped off right at their hotel! Just ask in the gift shop.
○ Get that student discount! Just ask and show your ID.
To Eat & Drink
1. Cafe du Monde for Beignets
People often say these are overrated (maybe they are) but damn, they are delicious and at only $2.75 for three, they’re a great deal! My friends and I got these almost every day of the trip. The line at the original location near the French Market was very long, but it moves pretty quickly.
Bonus Tips:
○ Hit up the Cafe du Monde location in the Riverwalk Outlets. The line is very short, the beignets are just as good, and you can watch them making them behind the glass!
○ Watch the powdered sugar! Especially if you wear a lot of black. Powdered sugar gets everywhere when you eat these, so be extra careful.
2. Joey K’s for Lunch or Dinner
This place on Magazine Street was so home-y and old school. Though we waited a while for our food, it was so worth it and our waitress gave us a discount for waiting so long. I got the chicken cordon bleu with sweet potato fries, mashed potatoes, gravy and cornbread and let me tell you, I devoured the whole plate. The food tastes so authentic and fresh, you can taste the home-cooking. If you want a taste of Southern cooking, this is a must visit spot!
Bonus Tip: The menu specials change every day (and some days have free cornbread) so check before you go! I recommend going here on a Wednesday.
3. Two Chicks Cafe for Brunch
We actually came upon this place because the place we’d initially wanted to visit was closed. And, man, I am so glad it was. This place is like a Pinterest board come to life with mismatched chairs, mismatched mugs and mason jar lamps. The mimosas are huge and so affordable…plus they were delicious!
My friend loved her strawberries and cream crepe and I loved my custom omelet with gruyere, Andouille sausage and green onion. This place is such a wonderful find and I miss it already.
4. Ruby Slipper Cafe for Brunch
First of all, the logo is a red high heel with an egg in it and it’s beautiful. Second of all, this place has the best coffee. I usually load my coffee with cream and artificial sweetener, but this coffee didn’t need any cream or much sweetener at all. My friend and I split the pancake flight, which let us try a bunch of their most popular and famous pancakes.
Bonus Tips:
○ This place is super crowded at brunch time, so go on Yelp and join the waitlist as you’re on your way. It saved us about 20 minutes and we ended up being able to jump the line! There are no reservations, so the waitlist is as good as it gets.
○ If you order the pancake flight, split it with a friend. You get three giant pancakes that are basically the size of your head. I’m glad the waiter gave me that heads up!
5. Oceana Grill for Dinner
We ended up accidentally being seated outside, but I’m glad we did. It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed the courtyard. The cajun chicken alfredo pasta is a must-try. If you love some extra crisp and kick, ask for it blackened!
6. Drip Affogato for Ice Cream
Okay, we may have gotten this for dinner as per my demand. It was so worth it. This place was super cute and their banana ice cream was the best ice cream I’ve ever had. I’m so picky about banana ice cream, but I was blown away. My friends all enjoyed their ice cream and waffle cones, so definitely come here for a tasty treat. I didn’t try their specialty coffee and ice cream, but I bet it was also amazing.
7. Central Market for Muffulettas
My super Italian grandma recommended this to me and I am so glad she did. Muffulettas are basically a delicious Italian sandwich that originated in NOLA at Central Market. It’s packed with olive spread, meats and cheeses. It’s the best sandwich and I miss it already. The photo above is already partially eaten…I couldn’t wait.
Bonus Tip: You can only order a full one cut in fours or a half cut in half. Split a half in half with a friend, it’s huge and filling!
To Skip
1. Solo Drinking Mysterious Drink Specials
Especially on Bourbon St. Almost every place avoids telling you exactly what’s in the drinks they’re making. Some famous ones are “The Grenade” and “Shark Attack” from Tropical Isle and “Swamp Juice” from The Swamp.The Shark Attack was pretty fun, the bartender rings a bell, throws a small alligator in the drink and then slams a grenadine-filled shark into the drink. This was best shared!
Almost everyone on Bourbon St. is carrying a giant plastic grenade beverage container. My friends and I split them between the three of us (which, is a great idea if you’d like to try drinks without spending a lot of cash and without getting super drunk). Most of the drinks are really strong and they don’t taste too sweet. Tread with caution! Avoid gimmicks and stick to your tried and true cocktail orders or, share new drinks with friends.
2. Daisy Dukes
This is the first place we visited based on online recommendations but we were really disappointed. The food wasn’t great and it had the vibe of an IHOP, but more Southern and crappier. Skip this chain and head somewhere else.
3. District Donuts
For a place with “donuts” in its name, we were so disappointed to arrive at 10:30 AM and find literally only two donuts available. While my Samoa donut was good, it wasn’t really what I had been hoping for. Also, the coffee was fairly unimpressive. I would skip this place and head somewhere else for dessert.
4. The Museum of Death
This was, frankly, overpriced at $14 (for students). It was also pretty disturbing, I mean, duh, because it’s a museum of death, but it had a lot of morbid photos and gore. I was fascinated by the letters from serial killers and some of the stories, but I didn’t really need to see photos of murder victims, a photo of JFK’s dead body and bodies being embalmed. Plus, the museum itself was fairly small. Only visit this place if you’ve got a strong stomach and are really into death, man.
What are some of your favorite travel destinations?
