There's so much more to NOLA than Bourbon Street.
Like its iconic gumbo, New Orleans is a fascinating cultural stew. No city in the world can claim everything the Big Easy has to offer: Franco-Creole cuisine, spiritual home of jazz, one of the longest (and best-known) Mardi Gras celebrations in the world, more than 130 annual festivals and a faithful let the good times roll (“let the good times roll”) local atmosphere.
Whether you're in town to don pearls and ride Hurricanes or here on business with a few hours to spare, everyone should know that the city has much more to offer than the French Quarter. Here are our favorite lesser-known things to see and taste while everyone walks down Bourbon Street.
Take a seat with Monsieur Mao.
Eat your heart out
Of course, classic NOLA dishes – like Bananas Foster at Brennan and Rockefeller oysters at Antoine's restaurant – should be on your must-eat list. But there are also plenty of other delicious options from around the world. Just be prepared to venture beyond the crowds.
“I was an avid tourist before moving here and always thought the best restaurants were in the French Quarter,” says Jenny Adams, photographer and author of two books about New Orleans. “The French Quarter offers epic Old World meals, like that of Arnaudand great newcomers, like Mamou, Of course. However, the best meals are found in smaller, less talked-about places. Rosalita serves incredible Mexican street food in a courtyard in the Bywater. Another street food enthusiast is Authentic Thai Budsiwhere they serve Bangkok staples, like grilled pork shoulder with jaew sauce, in a pretty pink building in Marigny. My first choice (for Vietnamese) goes to Le's Baguette in Uptown. » Adams adds that the 20-minute drive to the French Quarter on the other side of town is worth it for pho broth flavored with cinnamon and star anise and pork banh mi with lemongrass.
Other stellar, globe-trotting restaurants include Dakar NolaModern and refined Senegalese cuisine is served at a communal table, FritaiHaitian favorites and Mr MaoIt's a delicious mishmash of global flavors and Southern influences.
The noises of the city.
Catch a jazz show (less crowded)
Preservation room is one of the city's iconic venues for live jazz. But tickets are selling out quickly. Luckily, in the birthplace of jazz, if you know where to look, you can catch a show every night of the week. The Ultimate Resource, Local Jazz Radio WWOZ concert scheduleis continually updated. New Orleans Jazz Museum also hosts free shows Tuesday through Friday at 2 p.m., ideal if you're traveling with children.
In other exciting music venue news, Dew Drop Innknown as NOLA's most influential mid-century music club, where giants like Ray Charles and Irma Thomas frequently came to perform, has been remodeled and will soon reopen.
Elevate your immersion
The art of cocktail making at NOLA is rich, deep and long. It is home to the largest cocktail festival in the world, Cocktail Tales, and is the birthplace of many world-famous specialty drinks, such as the Sazerac, Ramos Gin Fizz and Brandy Crusta. Around Bourbon Street, you'll find plenty of bright Slurpee-style drinks, which can distract from the standout creations at nearby bars.
“The Quarter is such an amazing place to have a drink right now,” says celebrity bartender Neal Bodenheimer, co-author of Remedy: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix Them and managing partner of several well-known local bars. “From our spots, Cane and Table And by Peychaudto classics like Arnaud's French bar 75 or the new guard, Jewel of the South And Dovetail, (guests can find great local bars). And of course, for those looking for tropical drinks, there's Latitude 29 And Manolito. »
Cross the river
Although Steamboat Natchez is the must-do sightseeing excursion on the Mississippi River (plus it offers a daytime jazz show and Sunday brunch), there is another ship, the ferry boat, with an important job: taking people to Algiers Point. From Canal Street, the $2 ferry crosses the river to Algiers Point in a scenic 30 minutes (this includes boarding time).
Algiers Point is a historic neighborhood with the Jazz Walk of Fame, Algiers Bike Path, Confetti Park (great for little ones), and many local places to eat and drink, like The little house. “There’s nothing more special than this funky little Mayberry that is Algiers Point,” says Hillary Hanning, owner of Little House. “It has its own heartbeat. It's a beautiful place that everyone should cross the river to experience.
Beautiful municipal park.
Go outside
New Orleans is not generally known as an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. However, city park, about 15 minutes by car or an hour and change by streetcar from the French Quarter, single-handedly changes that reputation. This 1,600-acre wonderland boasts 24 miles of trails, a botanical garden, waterways, a 36-hole golf course, and the city's oldest (and most majestic) collection of oak trees.
Kids will love visiting the fairytale-themed Storyland Playground, an adjacent old-fashioned amusement park (home to one of the oldest hand-carved carousels in the United States) that is highly interactive. Louisiana Children's Museum. Art lovers, you too are in luck, because City Park is where you will find the New Orleans Museum of Art and a free sculpture garden with more than 100 pieces. And the outdoor fun doesn't stop when the sun sets. Ride a gondola on a romantic bayou tour or rent an LED-lit swan boat or Surrey bike.
The New Orleans treat.
Gorge on donuts without delay
The Crescent City experience isn't complete without a pillow of piping hot fried dough dusted with powdered sugar. French-Creole settlers introduced the beignet to the city in the 18th century. The first one Coffee of the world opened in the French Quarter in 1862. Since then, locals and visitors have been lining up for these glorious paper bags filled with sweet treats.
But if you don't want to wait in line at some of the more popular spots, there are 10 other (sometimes obscure) outposts to sample them. “Most people don’t realize there is a Café du Monde in City Park, usually with no lines,” says Lauren Bates, founder of Wildlands, a travel agency specializing in small group tours for women. “I love stopping there to order their famous donuts, then walking a few minutes to Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. »
Other places also have amazing donuts. Forbes Four Star Travel Guide Four Seasons Hotel in New Orleans» Miss River has a divine version fried in butter (the Café du Monde is caressed in cottonseed oil). The locals are heading towards Morning call near City Park for its DIY powder donuts. Or, you can get adventurous with wild variations, like galette des rois donuts during Mardi Gras season at The vintage on the street of magazines.
The colorful floats of Mardi Gras World.
Celebrate Mardi Gras all year round
Even if you don't attend NOLA's Carnival celebrations in February or March, you can get a taste of it all year long. While Mardi Gras World It's not exactly a secret that behind-the-scenes tours of how parade floats are made are special. And the fact that you can sometimes come across artists working on their pieces is unique.
But there are also two lesser-known museums focused on Mardi Gras that are also worth a stop. On the second floor of Arnaud's restaurant, the Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum offers a small, well-curated collection of ball gowns and traditional costumes for free. And channeling the wilder side of the festival, the Mardi Gras Museum includes a parade and an interactive costume closet.
The warm interior of the Ritz-Carlton.
WHERE TO STAY
Four Seasons Hotel in New Orleans
Located along the river, Four Seasons Hotel in New Orleans is a five-minute walk from Bourbon Street and a short walk from Orleans view (an interactive cultural museum and viewing platform) and Audubon Aquarium. Another notable feature of the hotel is its 75-foot heated rooftop pool, which is not common in NOLA.
The New Orleans hotel's restaurants and bar are other highlights. A beauty boasting a stunning 15,000-piece crystal chandelier, the Chandelier Bar is home to a beloved martini made with a generous dose of three different gins and make-your-own garnishes. The hotel's Chemin à la Mer restaurant, helmed by prominent local chef Donald Link, is an elegant affair of warm service, splurge-worthy menu items (oysters and foie gras, anyone?), a wine list with a multitude of surprises organized by the sommelier. Views of Emily Kitzmiller and the Mississippi River.
The four-star Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans offers white glove service in the French Quarter. Book one of the recently renovated Maison Club rooms or suites for access to the hotel's private club called with fireplace.
The recently renovated four-star Ritz-Carlton Spa, New Orleans is the city's largest spa and offers the latest restorative treatments. Catch live music at the hotel's Davenport Lounge. It's a hotspot for locals and visitors, so be sure to reserve a table in advance or book dinner reservations at M Bistro, the hotel's signature restaurant, which overlooks the lounge.
