New Orleans, Louisiana
With its unique mix of African, French and American influences, New Orleans is called the Big Easy with good reason. This is a party town, so prepare to have a lot of fun! Come, if you can, for Mardi Gras in early spring when the city really lets its hair down. And if you’re out of season, you can visit Mardi Gras World, where they make the costumes. But the party doesn’t stop – and all year round you’ll find jazz, Caribbean music, a thriving drag scene, and spontaneous street parties.
Know Before You Go
Characters Welcome
If you’re planning on traipsing around outside, you might want to bring a pair of rain boots or a rain jacket. That being said, this is also a city that embraces creative fashion statements. Be it wigs, glitter, or colorful accessories, you’re rarely going to be over-dressed for the occasion, festive attire is strongly encouraged, and if you have the urge to wear something sequined, do it.
Drink and Dash
The concept of the “go-cup” is one of the city’s most cherished entities; it seems weird or even sinful at first, but after you get used to it, taking your drinks to the street becomes second-nature. Keep in mind that glassware is prohibited, and no, you can’t drink and drive. However, souvenir cups are abundant at almost all of the local watering holes, and it’s liberating to grab a drink at the counter and head out on your next adventure. Which leads us to our next point…
Live Music
You simply haven’t experienced live music until you’ve been to NOLA. The so-called birthplace of jazz is home to a number of intimate concert venues and a ton of festivals that mark a variety of occasions. You will probably come across a second-line parade complete with a marching band, and the French Quarter is full of street musicians making the city come alive.
Crescent City
New Orleans is dubbed the Crescent City because the French Quarter was built at a sharp bend in the Mississippi River, so the rest of the city on that side takes on a sort of crescent shape as it follows the banks of the river. New Orleans technically sits in a “bowl” and most of it is at least six feet below sea level, thus more prone to flooding. Lake Pontchartrain, the eleventh largest lake in the United States, borders the northern side of the city. There’s also Bayou St. John, which connects to the lake, and numerous bogs and swamps just a few miles away. Pro-tip: people in New Orleans don’t often use “north” or “south” when giving directions. They usually just say “riverside” or “lakeside.”
Part on a Budget
Even at some of New Orleans’s most upscale restaurants, visitors from more expensive cities might find themselves marveling over how high-quality and cost-effective the experience is. Look for happy hour specials and prix fixe courses – especially during the summer, when the tourism industry is a little slower and restaurants and bars lower their prices to attract more customers.
Laissez le Bon Temps Rouler
Part of the charm of New Orleans is its spontaneous atmosphere, and it’s recommended that you put together a tentative itinerary. Here, the must-see attractions and restaurants are abundant, but don’t worry too much if you find yourself completely off-track or running a little late to the next scheduled activity because you felt the urge to have just “one more” staple food or cocktail. The best advice is to loosely plan, but allow yourself the flexibility to choose your own adventure along the way; often the best spots you’ll come across are the ones you didn’t even know existed in the first place.
Can’t-Miss Neighborhoods
Gentilly
Gentilly is a working-class New Orleans neighborhood that is located minutes away from the beautiful New Orleans Lakefront, the New Orleans French Quarter, and the famous Treme neighborhood, as well as the Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods. Ever been to the New Orleans Jazz Festival? Then you've been to Gentilly. If you ever find yourself hungry while you're in the Gentilly vicinity (the hood where I live), try one of the down-home places where you can grab a yummy bite to eat.
Bywater
The Bywater neighborhood in New Orleans is known to some as the hipstrict – NOLA's own Williamsburg. I’m not here to debate whether or not this is true, but Beyoncé’s sister Solange did get married in the area and also lives nearby, so you do the math. My opinion of the Bywater is that it’s a cute, quirky, historical neighborhood adjacent to the Mississippi River that’s full of colorful Creole shotgun homes and fun neighborhood spots that are only a hop and a skip from the French Quarter – so the appeal is quite apparent. Here are some of my favorite spots to hang out in (and eat at!) when I'm in the area.
Uptown
My neighborhood has everything: good coffee, delicious breakfast, pizza done right every time, and a night cap with drinks and music.
When to Go
The best time to visit New Orleans is from February to May when the weather is comfortably cool and the celebrations are in full swing. If you're not interested in Mardi Gras mania, plan to visit in December or January, when the city is calm and you don't have to worry about making hotel reservations a year in advance.
Featured Local:
Sara Perez-Ekanger
Sara Perez-Ekanger is a Bay Area native and the owner of New Orleans’s Antigua Floral + Styling, a design company specializing in weddings and events. Crediting her California upbringing, Salvadoran heritage, and Latin American travels with her unique artistic style, Sara began work as a floral designer before branching out to start her own company. When not designing, she can be found caring for her plants and pup, or at a local coffee shop enjoying a cappuccino.
Sara’s Must-Dos
Cochon Butcher
This place! If you like meat, Cochon Butcher is the place to be. I highly recommend the Buckboard bacon melt and the pork belly sandwich. Or even go with a friend and you can split half and half so that you get to try both! So delicious! It's usually packed out, but worth it.
Surrey’s Uptown
Start your morning with a cute little breakfast place! Sit outside under the shade at Surrey's and watch cars go down Magazine Street. I usually order migas – two eggs scrambled with onions, tomatoes, and poblano peppers, cheddar cheese, and corn tortilla chips, then topped with pico de gallo and potatoes. My husband has more of a sweeter tooth and orders the legendary bananas foster french toast. Overall, so delicious!
More of New Orleans
Euclid Records
Located in one of my favorite parts of town – the Bywater – is Euclid Records, one the most colorful spots for record-hunting. Their floor-to-ceiling windows, painted in bright pink and yellow, flood the super-organized and well-stocked floor with huge amounts of light. Specializing in rare vinyl, CDs, and other music collectables, Euclid is the place to scratch that audiophile itch when you’re looking to go beyond the French Quarter.
Deanie’s
Want an insane amount of delicious seafood on a plate in front of you? Deanie's is your spot. And if you're not planning on sharing that seafood platter with like 2 other people in your group, you may want to order something lighter. And the boiled seafood is good here too. Deanie's has a french quarter location but my favorite Deanie's is the one in Bucktown near Lake Pontchartrain. The Bucktown location has more of a quiet seaside town feel which gives you a chance to get away from the bustle of the French Quarter and see another part of the city.
Bacchanal
How about winding down your day in The Bywater with good friends, good wine, small plates, and live music? Don’t worry about reservations, there’s no pretense at Bacchanal Wine. Magical evenings happen here on warm nights when the wine is flowing and live music fills the outdoor courtyard. Off the beaten path at the very edge of the Bywater, you’ll feel as if you’ve found a private little oasis in the city. Sitting in the courtyard feels like hanging out in a friend’s backyard – a friend who serves gourmet food, has a great wine selection, and a live music setup. Let the good times roll.
