If you have a weekend to spend in New Orleans, where would you go or what will you do?
I know, it sounds like a very short trip. Believe me, I know it so well, flying from California the whole day and spending two full days to New Orleans then flying almost the whole day back again. But did I regret going? NOT AT ALL. Would I do it again? Maybe not. Only because I am coming from California with almost a whole day of travel time and there are just so many things to do and restaurants to eat at, that two days won’t be enough to make up for that long transit. If you live closer and New Orleans is just a short flight, DEFINITELY go for it!
But if you really do not have that much time and can only spend a weekend in NOLA, it is still possible! Although let me warn you, you will definitely want to go back for more! I can vouch for it, because that’s exactly how I felt after leaving.
If you are planning for a quick weekend trip, here’s a sample itinerary for you!
DAY 1: Fly to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and check in your hotel. We stayed in Selina Catahoula Hotel and I love that it’s very central. The hotel is just a short walk from St. Charles streetcar line, the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, a bustling food scene, and some of the best museums and retail in the region.
After checking in, walk to Seaworthy for dinner. The restaurant showcases wild-caught and sustainably harvested oysters from American waters as well as locally sourced fish and other seafood. We were early for our dinner reservation so we walked to nearby bar, Bar Marilou.
Bar Marilou is a French-style bar in a former library, mixing up creative cocktails accompanied by small plates. Their drinks are all so good and the vibe is amazing. Totally a spot that you shouldn’t miss when in New Orleans. There’s also a hidden room behind bookcases which I thought was pretty cool.
DAY 2: Wake up early (or not, since you’re on vacation) and explore the French Quarter. We passed by Cafe Beignet and got our first of many beignets for this trip. You can also grab a cup of coffee here before you explore.
Stroll through Jackson Square to see the iconic Andrew Jackson statue and the St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest cathedral still in use in North America. We also saw a lot of artists there dancing and displaying their art work.
You can either go to Royal Street for some shopping or go to brunch at Brennan’s. Royal Street is an eye-pleasing mix of classy antique shops and boutiques, fine jewelry stores, colorful art galleries and world-class hotels and restaurants.
Many of the contents of New Orleans’ most elegant estates of the 19th and 20th centuries are for sale in the antique shops here. It would be hard to find a better place to shop for them anywhere in this country.
Brennan’s has charmed the palates and hearts of patrons with its splendid ambiance, impeccable service, and authentic Creole cuisine. Masterful dishes like Bananas Foster and Eggs Hussarde are Brennan’s originals, imitated across the globe.
Other places to visit in the area are:
French Market– features shopping, dining and music in a tradition that is uniquely New Orleans
Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo and Reverend Zombie’s Voodoo Shop – located in the historic New Orleans French Quarter. Locals, tourists and the strangely curious have enjoyed these stores and they offer a wide variety of items to help in both learning and practicing spiritual and religious ceremony.
Presbytere – It is home to two permanent exhibits: The Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond exhibit tells of rescue, rebuilding and renewal. The exhibit documents the event, the aftermath and southeast Louisiana’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum – the museum is housed in the site of the apothecary of America’s first licensed pharmacist. Its mission is to further interest in the history of pharmacology and promote its further development for the benefit of the general public. We went on a Monday and it was closed. It is open Wednesdays to Sundays from 12PM to 5PM.
You can walk back and rest in your hotel for a little bit before exploring Freret Street in the evening. Stop by Cure before dinner.
Cure has been named one of “America’s Best Bars” by Esquire, listed as one of the “Best Cocktail Bars in the U.S.” by Food & Wine, and hailed among New Orleans’ best cocktail bars. They opened in 2009 on Freret St. and is largely credited with pioneering the craft cocktail movement in New Orleans and revitalizing the now bustling neighborhood.
Then enjoy Modern Mexican in a casual setting at Vals NOLA for dinner. They serve street food favorites such as elotes, tacos, fresh chips, guacamole and salsa, and not to mention their marvelous lineup of margaritas!
DAY 3: Continue the quest for the best beignet by going to Cafe Du Monde for breakfast. The Original Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand was established in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market. The Cafe is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It closes only on Christmas Day and on the day an occasional Hurricane passes too close to New Orleans.
Take the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar to Lower Garden District. We rode down to Audubon Park where we walked around. The ride itself is very fun! You will see huge houses with beautiful architecture along the way.
Head back and get off at Jackson Avenue and then walk to Magazine Street. The Garden District is a dynamic community grounded in a strong sense of tradition. Some of its homes are still known by the names of the families that built them over a century ago.
Magazine Street is my favorite out of all the places we explored. There were so many cute boutique shops and trendy restaurants.
Go to Elizabeth Street Cafe for lunch. It is a stylish and charming Vietnamese cafe plus French bakery serving pastries in the morning and Vietnamese classics like pho, bánh cuôn, and bánh mì for lunch and dinner. The restaurant is just too cute and the food is equally good!
Go shopping (or window shopping) in Magazine Street. Some stores worth checking are Monomin, Elle and Saint Claude Social Club.
Stop by District Donuts for some specialty donuts.
Continue exploring Magazine Street or head back to your hotel to relax and then head out to dinner at La Petite Grocery.
La Petite Grocery is a more than century-old building that’s acted as a cornerstone of the community throughout the years. They put a creative spin on traditional New Orleans cuisine with much-loved dishes like Turtle Bolognese and Blue Crab Beignets.
Blue Crab Beignets just unlocked a type of beignet I didn’t know I needed. It’s a MUST TRY!
Enjoy the rest of the night with live music on Frenchmen Street. Head to D.B.A. or The Spotted Cat Music Club.
Day 4: Make sure you check out Loretta’s for breakfast before heading back to the airport for your flight back home. By far my favorite beignet is Loretta’s praline beignets. We sat down and ordered and realized it was so good so I went back to buy another order but it was sold out right away. That was just in a span of 5-10 minutes. I couldn’t believe it but it was so good I actually believe it.
Fly back home and take all your good memories in New Orleans with you! I left New Orleans with a desire to go back ASAP with my husband because I know he would enjoy the city as much as I did. Till next time, New Orleans!
This is just a sample itinerary based on our trip. Please feel free to substitute any activity with the ones you like! Let me know in the comments any questions you have!
**I would also like to mention that with the current COVID-19 situation, all businesses that we visited asked to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test and required that you wear a mask upon entry.**
xo,
Cherrie
