What to Do in New Orleans

Our travel editor marches to the beat of the Big Easy.

We've Got the Beat

If there’s one word that’s synonymous with NOLA it’s “jazz.” After all, the airport is named for Louis Armstrong, and no matter where you are, the streets of the city quite literally sing. While Bourbon Street gets all the hype, true music fans head to Frenchmen Street in the Marigny, which abuts the French Quarter. Favorite spots include D.B.A., the Spotted Cat and Snug Harbor. For a more upscale experience, enjoy a nightcap and listen to live music at the Polo Club at the Windsor Court Hotel. Note: Zydeco (a purely southern Louisiana music genre) is a little harder to find — ask your waiters, tour guides or taxi drivers for their favorite places to enjoy Cajun music.

new orleans music
Photo Credit: Richard Nowitz

#EEATS

Food is as much a part of experiencing New Orleans as are its sights and sounds. And the city boasts not only its own cuisine, but also an exciting food scene that’s constantly evolving.

new orleans menu
Photo Credit: Richard Nowitz

One of the hottest spots of the moment is Cochon in the hip Warehouse District. As the name indicates, the menu is heavy on pork (even the biscuits have lard) and regional classics. Linger over lunch on the outdoor upper gallery (balcony) of Dickie Brennan’s Tableau in the French Quarter. Overlooking leafy Jackson Square, it’s the perfect perch for bird’s-eye people-watching.

new orleans food
new orleans dickle brennans tableau
Photos courtesy of the New Orleans Conventions and Visitors Bureau

The best brunches are at Café Amelie in the French Quarter, which boasts one of the most romantic courtyards around, along with the best shrimp and grits in the city. Café Atchafalaya in the picturesque Garden District has a cool make-your-own Bloody Mary Bar and some of the tastiest cold-brew coffee on the planet. To try your hand at local cuisine, take an interactive class, complete with tastings, at Langlois Culinary Crossroads.

cocktail
Photo courtesy of The Old No.77

Next: Where to stay ► 

Pages