While your hotel is in the historic French Quarter, we encourage you to venture to other areas of New Orleans. Below are our favorite neighborhoods in the city and our recommendation of things to do.

Marigny

This is the part of the city where we like the nightlife best, with Frenchman Street being the main attraction. It’s a whole cluster of great music halls and jazz clubs that locals love fiercely. All of the venues get very strong acts so wander down the street and stop in when you hear something you like. It’s especially worth staying out late here because the bands will often jam on the street after they finish their acts.

Eat

  • Praline Connection: We love to come here during the day time (especially during the summer when it's extremely hot and humid, but less saturated with tourists) to enjoy cocktails, southern bites and live music (often a solo pianist)

Drink & Dance

  • Three Muses: A restaurant and a bar; we've only been here to enjoy cocktails and live music. As this is a restaurant for most the night, it's a great place to have a drink before you ease into the rest of Frenchman
  • Apple Barrel: Probably one of the divey-est bars on Frenchman, but one of our favorites, as it gets less crowded than some of the others. We often tuck into here for Abita's when other places get too loud and hot
  • The Spotted Cat: A guaranteed good time. Any band that plays here is a blast to watch, and we love this place so much that even Ben dances here(!!!!)
  • dba: The owners also have an outpost in New York, but we love this place for live music (of course!) and drinks
  • The Country Club: It's a gay bar that doubles as a community pool, where you can rent a day pass. What is there not to love? Note that The Country Club is not on Frenchman, but is a short walk away

Garden District, Uptown, Carrollton

A world away from the craziness and high energy of the Quarter are the much more relaxed and residential areas west of the Quarter. This incorporates more than just the very pretty Garden District (specifically Uptown and parts of Carrolton) but the Garden District itself is where we spend most of our time. The architecture is amazing, the pace is more relaxed and you get a real sense for how so many New Orleanians spend their free time.

Eat

  • Big Fisherman: Inexpensive, questionable customer service, no place to sit(!), often closed early for no reason...and Christine's absolute favorite place to eat in New Orleans. Besides the sublime crawfish and bbq shrimp, this is a place that consistently knocks Christine's New York sensibilities out of her, which is a good thing every now and then. Don't worry about the lack of seating; head over two blocks to a dive bar called Rendezvous. If you buy a beer, you can sit anywhere you want to get your hands dirty with delicious, smelly seafood. Don't wear anything precious - you are bound to get crawfish seasoning all over yourself
  • Sucre: If you have a sweet tooth, this is our favorite high-end bakery in the city. We like their gelato and macarons. Bonus: the proprietor behind Sucre is catering our wedding, and is the co-owner of Le Petit Grocery
  • Le Petit Grocery: A James Beard finalist for Best Chef in the south, Le Petit Grocery has fantastic, elevated New Orleans classics. We like their brunch service and go crazy over their inventive cocktail list
  • St. James Cheese Company: We love to stop by this shop on our bike rides uptown to pick up delicious sandwiches, salads, cheese, charcuterie bread and jam
  • Coquette: If they have their dry aged steak on the menu, get it. This is a sophisticated restaurant that draws influences from neighboring southern states. They do a version of Nashville Hot Chicken that's a nod to the original, but is inauthentic in a good way
  • District: Grab a booth indoors or a table in the backyard and order donut sandwiches (yeah, we said it), the pork belly breakfast taco, any donuts and coffee. We love this place for breakfast or a mid-day pick-me-up. 
  • Stein's Deli: Surprisingly a good Jewish deli in the neighborhood. Stein's gets packed with customers at lunch, hungry for bagel sandwiches. It's right next door to District
  • Magasin: Clean, fresh, modern Vietnamese food. While we much prefer the mom and pop shops east of here, this spot is great for respectable pho and banh xeo
  • Dante's Kitchen: Sure, it's a bit of a trek, but Dante's is - hands down - our favorite place for brunch. Ben demands silence every time he eats their biscuits (they're that good), and Christine is thankful that she doesn't have to share her shrimp and grits, as Ben doesn't eat shellfish
  • Shaya: It's been getting plenty of accolades and awards, but we have to admit: the hype is real. If you are looking for lighter fare or are craving something other than Cajun or Creole classics, then come here. While we were surprised to hear that an Israeli restaurant is the most difficult table to book in NOLA, we totally "got it" after tasting their freshly made pitas, wonderful mezze, roasted lamb and more

Drink

  • The Bulldog: Ben's favorite daytime watering hole. It's a sports bar with an outdoor patio that allows dogs, so expect to hang out with many of them! 
  • Rendezvous: People still smoke indoors here, the tables are sticky, the bathrooms are in questionable condition, but it's the only place that'll let you enjoy your crawfish from Big Fisherman. Bring wetnaps and you'll be fine! You are likely to find Christine here, holding a beer, with fingers smelling like crawfish the day before the wedding
  • Half Moon Bar: There is skee ball here!!!!!! Who cares about anything else

Do

  • Shop on Magazine Street: This is a long street, but it's worth seeing both on foot and bike. There are amazing antique stores and interesting local boutiques, but in Christine's opinion, not great for clothing shopping
  • Bike or take the street car down St. Charles: Lined with beautiful residential architecture and trees, St. Charles is one of the most beautiful streets in New Orleans. We prefer riding bikes (rent them nearby your hotel), but many people like the street car experience
  • Visit Audobon Park: Take your bikes to Audobon Park and enjoy a picnic! This is where we took some of our engagement photos. Runners, this is also a great park to get in a few miles
  • Tour Tulane University: We've never done this, but hear it's pretty
  • PureBarre: You're going to eat a lot in this city, so tone up while you're here!
  • Reyn: Beautiful yoga studio; try their Power Hour class

CBD (Central Business District)

The CBD is unsurprisingly where a lot of the office and city government jobs are. However, it’s hard to find an area of the city where the food is less than great and this area is no exception. A lot of the premiere, new, high-end restaurants are based here, but the CBD is just over Canal Street from the Quarter, so it’s an easy stroll.

Eat

  • Peche: We worship Donald Link (and deeply respect his contributions to the city immediately after Hurricane Katrina). If we had time for only one meal in New Orleans, we would come here (well, Christine would find her way to Big Fisherman somehow). From the catfish stew, to the grilled prawns, to the whole roasted fish with salsa verde (an absolute MUST!), to the key lime pie, you cannot go wrong here. Make reservations well in advance, because it gets booked quickly. If you get a table for 10 PM, take it - New Orleans is a nocturnal city. 
  • Cochon: Another Donald Link new school institution. This place is great for hearty, stick-to-your-bones, modern Cajun food.
  • Cochon Butcher: If you are feeling sluggish from a night out, come here for lunch the next day and enjoy elevated New Orleans sandwiches. We love this place, and always stop here for a quick bite before heading to the airport
  • Herbsaint: We know, this is the fourth Donald Link restaurant on our list, but we love him that much! Herbsaint has Christine's favorite higher quality gumbo and dirty rice in town. It was one of the first restaurants to reopen in New Orleans after Katrina, and is still recognized as a pillar of modern Cajun cooking today

Drink:

  • International House: The hotel bar is fantastic and worth stopping by for a cocktail before heading over to any of Donald Link's restaurants
  • Cellar Door: This is where we are having our wedding after party! It's still worth stopping by to enjoy their charming patio and downstairs bar area. We like to snack on their chicken chicharones with cocktails before dinner

Bywater

This area has gentrified significantly in recent years due to the younger, creative folks who have been moving in. It's a wonderful bike ride away from your hotel, and St. Claude Ave. is viewed by some as the "new Frenchman Street". If you walk or bike into a seemingly sketchy area, just turn around - you'll be fine. Lots of fun, and full of scruffy charm.

Eat

  • Satsuma: We laugh at how this cafe is considered healthy, but still unapologetically features bacon on the menu. That's New Orleans for you. Come here if you crave lighter sandwiches, salads or juices. A great lunch option for vegetarians (sans bacon).
  • St. Roch Market: This is the first major modern food hall to open in New Orleans. It's worth going here in a larger group so you can sample a little bit of everything, from oysters, to cocktails, to coffee, to Creole food, to charcuterie.

Drink

  • Saturn Bar: It's definitely a dive bar, but we love this place. Christine has fond memories of dancing here to the 9th Ward Marching Band during Mardi Gras with her girlfriends, and Ben likes any dive bar that exists in the world
  • Mimi's in the Marigny: A fun restaurant/bar with pool tables. Close to our wedding venue! (Note: we have not tried the food here)

Do

  • Bacchanal: It pains us to call Bacchanal a restaurant or a wine bar, because it's so much more than that. Yes, it serves excellent food. Yes, their wine list/store is extensive. And the cheese...oh, the cheese. And the live music! The backyard! Look, we love this place. If you want to kill 3-4 hours eating fantastic food, drinking wine and listening to live bands in a lovely, charming backyard, come here. It's great to go in small groups or large groups, just keep in mind that there are often lines at night time. We love going during the daytime to avoid the wait

French Quarter

The face of New Orleans for so many, the French Quarter is not subtle. Specifically, Bourbon street is undoubtedly boisterous and more than a little bit crazy. It’s not where we spend much of our time, but if you are up for that sort of experience, that side of the Quarter is worth doing once, just to experience it. But not to worry, there is life in the quarter beyond Bourbon Street!

Eat

  • Restaurant August: High-end dining and a tasting menu, New Orleans style. Recommended for couples, if you have a reason to celebrate.
  • Nine Roses: Our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the city. The first location opened in Gretna, which is too far by bike and not the most convenient by Uber. They recently opened up a location in the quarter, and while it's missing many dishes from the extensive Gretna menu, you can still find perfect bowls of pho and plates of banh xeo
  • Green Goddess: Second to Dante's Kitchen, Ben's favorite spot for a solid brunch
  • Deanie's: Don't want to brave Big Fisherman for BBQ shrimp? (Side note: Christine really means it. GO TO BIG FISHERMAN) Deanie's is right next door to your hotel, and they have tables and seats for everyone! While it's a bit of a tourist destination, it's still delicious. Do not waste any of the precious sauce from the shrimp; indulge in the warm bread that they give you and sop up all of the delicious, buttery sauce
  • Sylvain: One of the chicest restaurants in the quarter. Great cocktails and modern New Orleans food

Drink

  • Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop: A total tourist destination, but Ben loves to get purple alcohol slushies from here. Christine thinks they are disgusting but always makes Ben share whatever he orders. (Note: New Orleans has "fun" open container laws. If Lafitte's gets too crowded, order your slushie to go and sip it while walking to Frenchman Street!) 
  • The Goldmine: A great dive bar that is close to your hotel
  • Arnaud's French 75: A classic New Orleans bar to enjoy champagne, French 75's and cigars. It's old school, in the best way possible
  • Carousel Bar: There is a carousel in the middle of the bar, so, like, whatever

Do:

  • Walk down Dauphine Street or Royal Street: These streets are much more quiet than Bourbon and offer beautiful architecture and charm
  • Walk around Jackson Square: It's a touristy area, but it's close to your hotel and will take no more than 15 minutes of your time. If you don't mind crowds, walk around this area - it's pretty! There are also plenty of local string quartets and bands performing on the street at all hours of the day

Other

As with a lot of other melting pot cities, New Orleans is filled with different neighborhoods, each with different characters and reasons to go. Plenty are worth your time (although you may want to save them for another trip). To flag just a few:

Gretna - Outside of California, New Orleans has one of the largest Vietnamese populations in the country. Along with East New Orleans, Gretna is the hub of Vietnamese life within the greater city limits. We’ve explored these areas several times and always found interesting cultural things to see as well as some great food. Highlights include Five Roses and Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery. Visiting these areas will absolutely require a car rental or a long Uber ride.

The (Upper & Lower) Ninth Ward - We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Hurricane Katrina, which recently had its 10th anniversary. While we’re busy having a great time, we spare a thought for the fact that the city went through a terrible tragedy. The subsequent recovery has been wonderful in many ways and brought new life to the city, but the city is still a patchwork of rebuilding efforts.