r/AskNOLA • u/Madamexxxtra • Dec 09 '24
Hi, welcome to [r/AskNOLA](r/AskNOLA), looks like you’re planning a vacation to New Orleans are are looking for local advice.
This FAQ is a guide compiled from suggestions of users who frequent this sub and is meant to be a “best of the best” of New Orleans by New Orleanians.
A couple of things to think about before posting: PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE FAQ, search this subreddit or google first, and then ask specific questions or post a proposed itinerary for higher quality and more relevant suggestions. Help us help you by avoiding these broad inquiries:
Where should I eat or drink?/What are the “must-dos”?
Check out the SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS section below and if you have any further questions or need more guidance please make sure to include details about who you are and what you are looking for. For example: is there a particular type of food or beverage you would like to try, do you have any budget or dietary restrictions, what time are you looking to dine, what neighborhood will you be in - do you like history, music, the paranormal, nature, art, bridge infrastructure etc? The more you can tell us about your interests the better our responses will be.
What are some hidden gems?
We’re not hiding anything from you. New Orleans is a tourism economy and this city lives and dies by your patronage. We want you to go to the places we love and spend your money there.
What are the tourist traps I should avoid?
A lot of the places that make “best of” lists year after year are tourist traps, and they often are popular for good reason. Parkway Tavern is always near the top of the “best poboy” lists, is always full of tourists, and it’s actually one of the best poboy shops in the city. Pat O’Brien’s is 100% a tourist trap, yet it has an awesome courtyard, strong drinks, and the dueling pianos are a fucking blast. Don’t avoid a potential tourist trap merely because it’s a potential tourist trap if it’s something you’d otherwise be interested in.
Where do the locals eat/drink?
We eat fried chicken from gas stations and drink at the nearest quiet bar. Seriously. If you want to do the same, you won’t be disappointed, but I doubt that’s why you’re visiting.
Is it safe?
In the vast majority of the places you will be spending your time, YES. Exceptions would be: Bourbon Street after midnight, your Airbnb (see next question for more information,) and anywhere you’re wandering around wasted. Keep your wits about you, stay away from drunk idiots, don’t be a drunk idiot, don’t wander down dark empty streets and don’t talk to anyone offering you a bracelet or telling you they know where you got your shoes at.
What’s the best area to get an Airbnb in?
It is in your best interest to avoid short-term vacation rentals like Airbnb or VRBO. Airbnbs are often cheaper because they are in dangerous areas that no local would recommend tourists wander around at night, and out of state plates will be a target for car break-ins. Stay in a hotel. Hotels are in safer, well lit, popular neighborhoods that are within walking distance of all the action and have staff on hand to keep watch over guests and their belongings. If, for some reason, an Airbnb stay actually makes sense (typically, a stay longer than 2-3 weeks, or needing a consistent place for frequent business travel - both markets that existed prior to Airbnb but have been taken over by them), please try to verify that the Airbnb is legal by cross-referencing the address to the city’s permitting website and looking for a current short-term rental license. If you have a larger party please consider booking an entire Bed and Breakfast or looking at hotels like Hotel Perle, One11 Hotel, Homewood Suites or Sonesta ES Suites with connecting rooms, kitchens and access to laundry.
Post Script: Short-term vacation rentals have significant negative impacts on this city. Airbnb/VRBO/etc pulls rental properties out of the long-term housing market, driving up rent and decreasing availability for residents. In New Orleans, neighborhoods that were once affordable for the working-class are seeing rates spike because property owners in these areas can make more money from short-term rentals for tourists than from long-term local tenants. Neighborhoods like the Marigny, Bywater and Treme, which were once home to lower-income, mostly Black and Latino residents, have seen a surge of gentrification. This displacement has led to a loss of cultural identity and community disruption as locals are being pushed out and can no longer afford to live there. Neighborhoods with a lot of short-term rentals also become more transient, with visitors cycling in and out rather than long-term residents who actually care about the community. The constant churn of tourists changes the essence of what makes these areas special and takes away from the authenticity that drew people in the first place. It destroys social ties and contributes to serious cultural erosion by shifting the dynamic of local neighborhoods which can make areas feel less like home and more like a tourist zone (case-in-point, the French Quarter). On top of all that, regulatory issues make it harder to address these concerns allowing Airbnb to continue disrupting housing markets without facing real consequences. The city has tried to place restrictions on Airbnb, but enforcement is inconsistent and a large percentage of these properties in New Orleans are not in compliance with local regulations and operate illegally. Airbnb only benefits property owners, most of which are multi-national corporations or investors and not local residents. Spending tourist dollars in restaurants and gift shops on Bourbon St doesn’t erase the deficit you inflict when you support these places. The people who create and sustain the culture you’re coming to visit are bearing the cost in terms of rising rents, displacement, and a loss of local identity. “No Locals Allowed”: How Corporate Giants Are Quietly Taking Over New Orleans Neighborhoods.
What are the best hotels?
We don’t know. We live here so we just aren’t staying in hotels. As far as the best neighborhoods to stay in: if you would like to be in the middle of it all and within walking distance of the most popular attractions check out the French Quarter. If you want to be a bit further away but still close then look into the Marigny for a historic neighborhood or the CBD for more of a downtown big city vibe. If you’d prefer to be in a more residential area but still a public transit ride away from the action go with the Lower Garden District or along St. Charles Avenue uptown. If you need specific recommendations please ask the main sub and be sure to mention your budget and priorities (comfort, convenience, style, location etc.) so that other tourists and frequent visitors can share their favorite places to book.
What is the best way to get into the city from the airport?
What are the best ways to get around town?
Should I rent a car?
Unless you’re planning to visit areas outside of New Orleans renting a car is not advised. The areas most frequented by tourists like the French Quarter/Marigny/CBD are walkable and often not parking friendly while other areas of interest like the Garden District/Magazine St and Midcity/City Park are easily accessible using public transit. Most of the swamp and plantations tours will have transportation to their location available.
Where is the best place to park my car overnight?
Pay whatever the hotel fee is. It is possible that a cheaper lot exists but it will be less protected and further away. Street parking is precarious at best for locals and break ins and theft are a very real possibility even in good areas but especially for an unfamiliar car abandoned in a residential neighborhood for days on end. You’re paying for convenience and peace of mind.
Summer?
If you’re coming between April and September it’s going to be hot. That might mean hot by your standards but from June to September it’s also hot by our standards. Bring lightweight breathable clothing and plan accordingly by staying hydrated and strategically doing your outdoor activities in the morning and maybe evening (it does not get cooler at night but there is no sun.) Otherwise plan to be inside in the air conditioning with the rest of us in the afternoon. Other tips to stay cool include: hotels with pools, snoballs, and handheld or neck fans.
Less summer?
Between October and May it could be anywhere from hot and balmy to chilly-cold (most likely not below freezing) and humid which many people say feels colder because the damp sets into your bones.
Rain?
New Orleans has a tropical weather pattern which means it rains often. During the summer it will likely rain everyday sometime in the afternoon. Bring an umbrella and water proof shoes and plan to be flexible.
Hurricanes?
Yes, if you're traveling between June 1 and November 30, you are traveling during hurricane season. We are not qualified to make storm forecasts, but The National Hurricane Center is. Check the NHC forecasts at least daily starting about 10 days ahead of your trip, and do your own risk calculus. Generally speaking, a tropical storm means temporary street flooding (from rain) and possibly losing power for a bit. A category 1 or 2 hurricane means more temporary street flooding (from rain) and very likely losing power for multiple days. A lot of locals evacuate for category 3 or stronger storms because the risk of property damage and losing power for a week or more is high. Personally, I wouldn't cancel a trip over a tropical storm, but would consider it for an actual hurricane. If your trip is scheduled immediately after a storm, check the news to see how much damage there is. Most businesses in the downtown area reopen fairly quickly (if they close at all), and large hotels are very safe during storms.
Make reservations and book ahead if you can, these places are popular for a reason and there might be long waits and limited availability, especially during high tourism times (spring & fall, holidays)
Where should I eat?
Where SHOULDN’T I eat?
Please don’t ask the main sub why - the answer is that better options exist and these places are universally considered underwhelming/overpriced (if not outright bad) by people who live in New Orleans
What bars should I go to?
Where can I get famous New Orleans drinks?
Where is the best coffee?
Where is the best place to see live music?
Popular Venues: Anywhere on Frenchmen Street, Preservation Hall, Maison Bourbon, Fritzel's, Mahogany Hall, Tipitina’s, Maple Leaf Bar, Le Bon Temps Roule, Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge, Bayou Bar
All Ages/Under 21: Jazz Museum, Preservation Hall, Davenport Lounge at the Ritz Carlton, Bamboula’s, Broadside, Bayou Bar, outside of the Rouses on Royal Street in the French Quarter during the day
What shows should I see while I’m in town?
Where do I catch a second line?
Where should I go see a show?
What clubs should I go to?
What neighborhoods have the best shopping?
Where should I go if I’m looking for something specific?
What outdoor spaces should I visit?
How should I explore the swamp?
What attractions will my kid/s enjoy?
Where can I find places to eat with my kid/s?
What are the best Museums?
Which plantation tour should I do?
Which city tours should I take?
Post Script: TIP YOUR TOUR GUIDES, MUSICIANS & SERVERS. New Orleans is a service industry economy and whether or not it is a good or fair system many of the people providing the services that make your vacation to this city so special rely on tips to make a living wage. Please respect that this is a part of the culture you are coming to experience and prepare accordingly.
Plan early, book WAY in advance, expect everything to be more expensive.
When is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which changes every year. However Carnival is the season that proceeds the day and starts on January 6th. The main event is Wednesday night to Fat Tuesday but depending on the length of the season most of the weekends before the big week will have parades. Here is the parade schedule. Look up a parade tracker in your phone’s app store - it will have schedules and routes, and is also useful for live parade updates.
Where is Mardi Gras?
Most of the big parades follow St. Charles from uptown into downtown. You can check out one of the more typical routes here. The two weekends before Mardi Gras all the action is on this route, but Lundi and Mardi Gras much of the action is downtown. Uptown parades (the ones on St. Charles) are the parades with the big bands and elaborate floats that throw all the beads etc, downtown parades (usually start in the Marigny but go through parts of the French Quarter, Treme and Bywater) are more walking parades focused on costumery and unique handmade throws. No parades roll down Bourbon street and the only thing you’ll be able to see from a rented balcony is a sea of drunk tourists.
Where should I stay?
Get a hotel on the St. Charles parade route or as close to the parade route as you can afford, and no farther away from the route than you can walk, with easy access to a bathroom. If you don’t have children I’d recommend staying in the CBD or Warehouse District so you can get the full parade experience while being central enough to walk uptown (“west”) or downtown (“east”) as necessary. Long walks are fine, especially when you’re drunk, but closer spots are great for staging drinks and snacks and for mid-parade pees or naps. You might be tempted to stay outside of the city in Kenner/Metairie/the West Bank because it is less expensive and/or quieter but this would be a big mistake. Any money you save on lodging will be eaten up by transportation: ride shares to the cheap hotels in the ‘burbs will likely run triple digits and take possibly hours - and if ‘time is money’ you’ll be wasting a lot of it in traffic.
How should I get around the city during Mardi Gras?
Is Mardi Gras family friendly?
Yes and no. For a more family friendly experience look for a spot before the turn from Napoleon to St. Charles or on St. Charles between Napoleon and Jackson. For Endymion try somewhere closer to its Midcity start and get there early. And while both the Uptown and Midcity routes will have pockets of college student tomfoolery for the most part it’s local families and the parade content and costuming is fairly tame. However French Quarter and Marigny parades usually feature more nudity and politics (except for Chewbacchus, Barkus and ‘tit Rex.) Of course Bourbon Street is not for the children but the only people who do the entirety of Mardi Gras there only want to party and don’t know any better.
What parades should I see?
Uptown - St. Charles parade route (mostly)
Downtown - French Quarter & Marigny (get the parade tracker app or talk to locals about where they hit these parades up)
Should I buy tickets or seats?
Parades are free but some hotels and restaurants sell seats in stands that include access to a bathroom usually and food sometimes. I wouldn’t recommend buying seats unless you can’t get a hotel on or close to the route or have mobility issues. It’ll limit you to one spot and the people around y’all might not be your jam. As long as you have nearby bathroom access I’d recommend going out on the street with the masses and getting into the whole spirit of clamoring for cheap throws next to children and little old ladies. It’s part of the charm.
What do I do at/how should I watch a downtown parade? (Mosaique, Chewbacchus, Boheme, Krewe du Vieux, Barkus, Red/Dead/Green Beans)
What do I do at/how should I watch an uptown parade? (Everything else)
What should I wear?
If y’all are the kinda people who love costumes, go at it and go all out!! If not, grab some glitter and sequins and purple green and gold clothes and throw them together like a drunk magpie. Otherwise wear comfortable close toed shoes and bring nothing that would make you sad if beer was spilled on it. Fanny packs and small backpacks are ideal to keep your valuables on your person and ensure you’re not taking up too much space with a larger bag.
Where should I eat?
Don’t limit yourself to reservations. Getting anywhere on time during carnival is nigh impossible. And it’s practically criminal to miss a parade for a sit down meal. Eat king cake for breakfast, Popeyes, fried chicken and plates from corner stores and gas stations for lunch and dinner with the rest of us.
What other things should I do besides Mardi Gras while I’m in town?
Accept the fact that you’re traveling to a citywide party; either join in or reschedule your trip. I would not recommend talking a tour or going to any museums. Not because they’re not amazing but because Mardi Gras weekend is devoted to Mardi Gras. Traffic anywhere will be a nightmare and many places will have reduced or limited hours. The people doing your tours or checking you in will be nursing hangovers and jealously wishing they could be at the parades you’d be missing to do the other thing. Don’t do the other thing. It’s Mardi Gras. Do that.
Anything I should make sure not to do during Mardi Gras?
When is Halloween celebrated?
Usually the weekend of October 31st or the weekend closest to October 31st. However there will be spooky things to do most of the month.
When will people be costuming?
Always. It will be completely normal for you to wear a costume whenever but specifically Krewe of Boo Saturday and the days leading up to Halloween most people will also be in costume. You should put some serious effort into your costume, or at least some money, or you’ll stick out like a tourist thumb.
What should I do Halloween night/weekend?
We go hard for Halloween, and there’s no one organized anything for Halloween. If you look around, you’ll find Halloween shows at some of the bigger music venues, but the majority of us just costume and walk around the Quarter and Marigny. I highly recommend you do the same. You can do it Halloween night, you can do it all Halloween weekend, you can do it for a full week before Halloween... The biggest crowds will be on Bourbon Street and Frenchmen Street. The venues to look for shows at are Tipitina’s, Howlin’ Wolf, House of Blues, etc. Anything selling tickets for Halloween that’s not for music will be a complete waste of money (I may or may not be including the Halloween Saints game in that statement...). If you’re in need of something quieter on Halloween, I’d still recommend costuming and going out, but sticking to the edges of the crowd. It’s worth going out just to see some of the costumes. The crowd tends to stick to a few blocks of Bourbon and Frenchmen Streets, and fall off pretty quickly outside those areas. By the time you get a few blocks away, you can probably find a comfy bar stool and a cheap drink with ease.
What are some spooky tours?
What are some spooky places to visit?
What festive things are there to do during Christmas time?
Check out this calendar to see what festivals are happening during your trip.
Check out this website to find out what events are going on every day during your trip.
Special thanks to [u/tyrannosaurus_cock](u/tyrannosaurus_cock), [u/big-boss-bass](u/big-boss-bass) and many users on [r/AskNOLA](r/AskNOLA)
r/AskNOLA • u/rafaeldeep182 • 4h ago
Hey everyone! My brother and I are spending one day in NOLA, and we're looking for recommendations for bars with a balcony where we can sit, have a few drinks, and watch Bourbon Street from above with good prices.
If you have any other must-visit bar recommendations, we'd love to hear them too!
We're planning to start the night at Tropical Isle with a Hand Grenade. Thank you🍹
r/AskNOLA • u/Beneficial_Drop8694 • 10h ago
Looking for a restaurant for my farewell brunch a day after my wedding, any ideas? I would love a restaurant that doesn’t have any problem with my guests paying individually😅. I’m not sure of the amount of guest that can come yet.
Edit: Thanks for the recommendations! Paying individually would be nice but already knew there was a slight chance that it would not be a thing. So it’s not a big deal, thanks! - management.
r/AskNOLA • u/ActsofJanice • 21h ago
Hey y’all!
So I was born and raised in Metairie. I now live in the Acadiana area two hours away.
Without droning on and on, let’s just say I could fill a novel. I’ve worked my butt off since ai was 15 and my house is about to go into foreclosure, which means I lose the $230k+ I out into it, my last furkid and what I have left my late alcoholic fiancé’s family didn’t steal while I was in the mental hospital right after he died (my classic games and systems, my two bench saws, my art/sculptures, and I don’t even know what else from the trauma). He went through all my money and 401k, broke my vehicle, and lost 5 out of 6 of my furkids (who I considered my children). After I got out, I met up with a certain NOLA “rapper”—trying to keep this as short as possible for y’all, but besides some truly hideous and illegal stuff, he posted a video of me clearly under the influence and nude from the top up. Despite emails, appeals and StopNCI.org.
I’ve been and out of mental hospitals (Oceans and Abbeville here and Oceans on the Westbank). This really all kicked off when I was held, robbed, hooded and tied at gunpoint at work after offering to switch with another manager so she could go to a Mardi Gras ball.
I have agoraphobia, anxiety, bipolar, C-PTSD, depression, OCD, and PTSD.
The reason I’m posting: Is River Oaks worth the hype? Because my late fiancé broke my vehicle, I’d have to jump through hoops to get there. But the ones I’ve been to literally have you in front of the tv 96% of the day besides meds, meals, bed, and the days the MD/NP visit. At the last place, I was there for 30 days and they literally only had THREE groups (one was defining and recognizing triggers, I forget the other two).
River Oaks and the Institute of New Orleans seems different. Can anyone PLEASE share their or their loved ones’ experiences or anything else. I have Medicaid Healthy Blue, I can’t see med transport taking me what whole way, but maybe an Uber to the bus station here and an Uber to River Oaks from there?
Any and all help is more appreciated than y’all can know! I have been pretty much bedbound since before he died and now just stay curled up in fetal position all day, crying at what I have lost and still yet to lose. I can’t exist like this! I promise I searched before posting!
Thanks again!!💜🙏💛🙏💚
r/AskNOLA • u/InterestingPlan2614 • 1d ago
Hello! Any good food halls/malls close to downtown that have a good amount of vendors to choose from and isn't infiltrated by chains? I.e. focuses on local NOLA vendors rather than Auntie Anne's, etc.
Thanks!
r/AskNOLA • u/InterestingPlan2614 • 1d ago
Hello!
Looking for a nice 4 or 5 star hotel that has jazz performances on Sunday, Monday, and/or Tuesday nights. Any recs?
Thx!
r/AskNOLA • u/nyspacegirl7 • 1d ago
The hotel we're staying at includes credits for various local tours. Although we've visited before, we've never been on any of the steamboat cruises. Are they any good? I already know not to choose the meal option. There's plenty of places on land with far better food. Appreciate any recommendations.
r/AskNOLA • u/Intelligent_Talk6594 • 18h ago
I’m genuinely scared btw. I was washing my face after crying, and while walking to my towel I could feel some mucus coming out so I instinctively sniffed really hard…but then I realized that my nose was dripping with the tap water I washed my face with and a bunch just went way up my nose. Should I be worried of N. Fowleri???
r/AskNOLA • u/EntertainerJaded8448 • 1d ago
My fiancée and I are headed to New Orleans this upcoming week and have been hearing a lot about swamp tours. Any recommendations on which company to go through? Is it true we won't get a refund if the weather doesn't allow us to get on the water? Thanks!
r/AskNOLA • u/Similar_Ad_6004 • 2d ago
I am a bisexual woman in my early 30s and just moved here by myself for work. Sorry that this absolutely reeks of transplant, but I'm from a very lefty East Coast bubble and did not realize that making friends, especially queer woman friends, in my early 30s would feel so hard. It's felt like most of the options (run club type things) haven't been operational in a few years, or only happen a few times a year. How are women making friends in the queer community, bonus points of you've done so having the experience of repeatedly showing up to things alone 😊
r/AskNOLA • u/Melly_Jelly1 • 1d ago
I’m coming back to Tulane this August and I plan on bringing my car. Is street parking reliable enough for me to bring my car and if not if anyone is willing to lease out a parking spot around the Tulane area that would be great too.
r/AskNOLA • u/Thirteen15nola • 22h ago
Hello All,
I am the leasing agent for Thirteen15 Apartments located on Tulane's Downtown Campus! Here to spread awareness to our community!
Looking for your New Orleans home?
Located in the historic former Warwick Hotel on Gravier Street, Thirteen15 opened in January 2022 and was designed specifically for the Tulane community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and colleagues.
Our 12-story community features 154 fully furnished studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, all within walking distance of Tulane's downtown campus and the city's growing medical corridor.
Community Features
• Fully furnished apartments
• Internet included in every apartment
• Smart TVs in every apartment (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc. ready)
• 24/7 concierge and management services
• Access-controlled building
• Tulane University Police Department presence
• Nightly guards from 8 PM – 8 AM
• Complimentary coffee bars in the lobby and conference room
• Reservable conference room for meetings and study sessions
• Guest suites available for visiting family and friends
• Tulane Shuttle Stop directly in front of the building
• Convenient access to the downtown fitness center and Wave City Market
Community Information Packet: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/82683491/
We look forward to welcoming you to Thirteen15 soon! In the meantime, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about our community. APPLY TODAY!!
r/AskNOLA • u/InterestingPlan2614 • 1d ago
Howdy! I'm bringing a group of folks who don't eat pork to NOLA and I'd love to give them a taste of Louisiana BBQ. Any restaurants that A) have good NON pork bbq and B) can fit 30 or so people?
EDIT: Thank you!! Noted that Nola isn’t really a bbq city.
r/AskNOLA • u/NotReadyToday • 1d ago
I would like to learn how to sail and would love to hear from anyone in the sailing community about where to start. I am a fit, healthy 60 year old with boating experience but zero sailing. I am retired and have time to devote so am more interested in a kind of 3x per week, deep immersion learning experience. Feedback appreciated.
r/AskNOLA • u/bepostiv3 • 2d ago
Top to do:
1. Gator tour - airboat and seeing gators is a blast. Bring beer for the airboat, you can drink on board. Most hotels will have pickup at the hotel or you can take a cab. did “Airboat Adventures”. Hands down this is the best thing to do and I do it every time I’ve been. Daytime activity. Anyone know of the one that takes the airboat towards open waters to show the impact of erosion?
Ghost tour - I enjoyed the walking one of the French quarter but there are driving ones as well.
Steamboat Natchez - right across from Jackson square - hop on and take the steam boat up and back down the Mississippi. Live band on board. Daytime activity.
Free Sightseeing - take the trolley down Canal street to the cemetery (Lincoln Cemetery and Katrina Memorial are located in the same general area - it’s a nice walk). Alternatively, The driving ghost tour above will also take you to a cemetery and that one will have a guide but that one obviously has a fee.
Free Sightseeing - Jackson square - cool to see and walk around. Market to purchase stuff around the square and a flea market down the street. Youll see it in the walking ghost tour.
Sightseeing - If you ever watched the TV show “the originals”, there was a lot filmed at the napoleon house.
Sightseeing - SE corner of Governor Nicholls street and Royal street - and Lalaurie Mansion - American horror story season 3 loosely based on this and shot next door. Will see in walking ghost tour.
World war 2 memorial - cool to see, lots of history, interactive and HUGE!
Audubon Park - really cool nature park to walk through and ties into Tulane University. I like checking out universities all over so I like to stop there. Trolley will connect direct to canal street/burbon street and is an old fashioned street car. Want to see a green wave football game - good atmosphere?
Bars:
1. Fat Cats - Burbon Street - great rock band covers
2. The dungeon (Burbon street ish - 738 Toulouse St) - hole in the wall - very cool to see, there is a coffin, torture rack, cages, etc inside, it’s very unique.
3. Ticklers Piano Bar (Burbon Street) - dueling piano bar taking requests.
4. Frenchmen Street - great live jazz - bars all side by side but go to Cafe Negril, DBA and Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. Just walking down the street here is cool with live musicians on the street.
5. Fritzels European jazz bar (Burbon street) - affiliated with the vampire cafe…won’t say more.
Food:
1. Pelican Club - nice atmosphere great seafood.
2. Emerils- famous chef
3. Oceana grill - cool seafood Bloody Mary.
4. Cafe du monde Decatur street across from Jackson Square - original beignets - amazing!
In general if out walking at night Burbon street south east is good, id avoid walking north west from Burbon street.
I have been to SAINTS games as well and what a party! Love it.
I haven’t checked out preservation hall yet but will next time I’m in town. Also interested in voodoo and tarot card reading and unique stuff like that and would love recommendations!
r/AskNOLA • u/Mother-Station1001 • 1d ago
Hello! Will be traveling to NOLA this week and looking for the most horrifying places there with real ghosts. My partner doesn't believe in spirits and trying to make that change before end of the trip. No tours please.
Edit: in case it wasn't obvious, not asking if ghosts are real. Anyone that believes drop the recommendations lol
r/AskNOLA • u/Jillzilla621 • 1d ago
Can anyone confirm a location that is carrying the mocha flavor Hubigs pies? Thank you!
r/AskNOLA • u/ThatWarlockD00d • 2d ago
I’m a local here and love spicy food, but nothing is ever spicy enough.
I’ve heard secret Thai is the hottest, but I’m looking for something downtown/uptown.
Someone recommended nomiya, but I go there all the time and it’s really not that spicy.
So yeah I’m open to suggestions
r/AskNOLA • u/Many_Student_7787 • 2d ago
Hello beautiful people. Planning on making my first trip to NOLA in the coming months (preferably the beginning of October) but have lived vicariously through literature and films for many years. Your city is beautiful and the vibes seem unmatched and I cannot wait to come and experience it firsthand. My questions pertaining to suggestions for that visit will come at a later time but specifically I'm here today to hopefully receive some information relevant to planning a very small ceremony to get hitched and document the event. Very small as in: my better half and I, plus whoever we get to kinda unofficially "officiate", and also someone to take pictures.
We've been together for nearly a decade and this man truly is a fuckin catch but him and I are both pretty laid back and aren't too interested in involving the government or the official powers that be too heavily in our love for each other. Hence we're leaning more towards just dressing up, exchanging rings, and some heartfelt vows and leaving the rest the way it is so a marriage license won''t be necessary.
I've always been a spooky kid who has spent a lot of time photographing cemeteries but obviously I don't want to be disrespectful to those who are at rest. We both love nature and the old southern gothic aesthetic. I'm not opposed to a church setting as long as it's not going to be too expensive or too over the top religious. Neither of us has ever been photographed professionally, and we really are just two normal basic semi-decent looking human beings but still I want to have nice pictures to look back on for years to come because I am sentimental as fuck.
Do any of you have any recommendations for perhaps all inclusive "wedding" packages we could look into- particularly one that wouldn't mind helping your girl out with her wedding day makeup, or maybe just some photographers aware of beautiful off the beaten path spots ? I'm not going to say that I'm trying to be cheap about this but I'm also going to say from the jump that while willing to pay a fair amount- I was never the little girl who dreamed of her wedding day so not willing to put myself in debt over a few hours and some pictures if that makes sense...
r/AskNOLA • u/Tourist_Dapper • 1d ago
My husband and I will be coming to town for a few days for a quick getaway, and we’d like to get a small tattoo to commemorate the trip.. maybe even a flash art piece.. are there any shops near the French Quarter that do walkins?
r/AskNOLA • u/TeacherGood6428 • 2d ago
Any experiences with Lumina apartments in mid city? Tour seemed great but there were a lot of people complaining in the office when I stopped by to tour the other day…LMK
r/AskNOLA • u/Lordlordlord456 • 1d ago
Taking a solo road trip for my bday this upcoming weekend. Was hoping to not stay in the french quarter but it seems all yhe nice hotels I was considering are there. I’d ideally like to be by frenchman but it seems there arent as many nice hotels there? What does the parking situation look like? Any paid and SAFE lots walking distance from jazz bars?
Also was looking into the monteleone hotel, any other hotels anyone would recommend?
r/AskNOLA • u/ItsBeyonceBitch • 2d ago
Hi NOLA! I’m flying in tomorrow to reunite with my long distance best friend for the week. It is both of our first times visiting, and we will be in town until Monday. Should we be concerned about the forecast? I’m from the Midwest, so tropical storms are a bit out of my range. If you have any tips or advice, things to pack… please share as I get prepped to travel tomorrow. I want to be adequately prepared and have realistic expectations about what to expect while making the most out of time. Any and all input is appreciated! Thanks!
r/AskNOLA • u/KingPieIV • 2d ago
Hi all, here's a draft itinerary for a trip the second weekend in December. We aren't drink every night people(though there is a fair bit of it in the itinerary). We also aren't going to walk all day, A because my wife's back wears out after awhile, and B because I get in trouble for putting too much in itineraries. Main things to fill in is if there are spots we've missed that can go Monday, and if there are other hole in the wall places like the Seance lounge, or Lafitte's. Would rather food destinations be uniquely New Orleans, rather than generically good. Only thing locked in is the hotel. In our early 30s. Also apologies for the bullets being wonky, they were copied from a google doc.
Thursday:
· Fly to New Orleans, arrive at hotel ~3:00 pm
· Check in at Hotel Mazarin
· Walk to Café du Monde
· Explore French Quarter:
o Royal Street
o Jackson Square
o St. Louis Cathedral
· Dinner at Muriel’s Jackson Square-Seance lounge ahead of time
Friday
Morning:
· Brennan’s
· Wander French Quarter, potential stops
o Jackson Square
o St. Louis Cathedral
o Royal Street
o Moon Walk Riverfront
o French Market
· 2 PM: Food and Cocktail Tour: 115 Bourbon St
· Back to the hotel, or relax and people watch
Evening:
· Dinner at Verti Marte
· Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop
Saturday:
Morning:
· Ride the St. Charles Streetcar
· Explore the Garden District and Magazine Street
· Brunch at Atchafalaya-would do this Sunday for the live Jazz, but the tour only Steamboat isn't available Sundays
· Continue exploring
· 2 PM Steamboat Natchez-just the tour no food
Evening:
· Napoleon House
· Wander in the quarter, or back to the hotel
Sunday
Morning:
· Breakfast French Quarter or Beignets at City Park
· Streetcar to City Park
· City Park
o Sculpture Park
o Botanic Gardens
· Walk along Bayou to Parkway Bakery
· Parkway Bakery Po’ Boys
· Uber back to hotel to nap
Evening:
· Preservation Hall
· Mr. Bs Bistro
· Monteleone Carousel
· Pat O’Brien
Monday
· Breakfast
· 10 am High Priest Robi Voodoo, 1298 Armstrong St.
· Lunch
· Fly home,
I got this from my hotel on my work trip last year but sadly was not able to use it. dm me for the code!
Back of card says it’s “only valid for 7 days after activation” (https://imgur.com/a/DZDshKC) but I don’t think it ever got “activated”, just tried using it on a random activity on the website and it worked.
