Call it what you want: The Birthplace of Jazz, The NorthernMost Caribbean City, The Big Easy, The Crescent City, or NOLA—New Orleans, Louisiana, has more charm, hospitality, and fun in its single pinky finger than most cities have on all ten toes. Here, read our official guide to experiencing the best of New Orleans.
Where to Stay
The Chloe
The Chloe was built in 1981 as a single-family mansion that now serves as a 14-room boutique property. We love the antique furnishings with a quirky twist, such as an armoire that acts as a passway to the bathrooms. Located in Uptown, along the oak-draped St. Charles Avenue, there’s serious porch culture here, where guests can sip cocktails to the clank of the streetcar. Behind the property feels like a secret oasis, with retro loungers and a refreshing saltwater swimming pool.
Hotel Peter and Paul
This former 19th-century Catholic church, schoolhouse, convent, and rectory is located in the hip enclave of the Marigny neighborhood and has been reimagined as the Hotel Peter & Paul. ASH designers scoured Europe for over 700 custom pieces to furnish the rooms, which are accented with swaths of gingham fabrics and perhaps a claw-foot bathtub, lofted sleeping quarters, or fireplace. The on-site Elysian Bar is a favorite among locals.
Where to Eat
Coquette
This classy corner Garden District-area restaurant sits in an 1880s building that has been home to an auto parts shop, a grocery store, and a residence. Now, the two-floor space serves contemporary Southern dishes in a gorgeous setting. We love to sit at the beautiful bar and order the smoked trout roe dip or carrot bolognese.
Turkey and the Wolf
It’s hard to choose a favorite among the growing (and completely unique) restaurant concepts from Mason Hereford—because they’re all superb in their own way—so we’ll go with the O.G. Sandwiches are supreme her, and everything from the fried bologna to the collard green melt are incredible.
N7
Tucked discreetly behind a fence in the Bywater neighborhood, N7 is a funky but visually stunning place that serves French dishes with a nod to Japanese flavors (and it works). You can’t go wrong sipping a natural wine with escargot in the leafy garden.
Where to Drink
Chandelier Bar
Located in the Four Seasons Hotel, the lobby-level Chandelier Bar serves as a showpiece anchor to the property. Here, guests can sip a martini under the custom chandelier made from 15,000 Bohemian crystals. Add an order of the caviar service to make it extra special.
Effervescence
Anything that’s dubbed as a sparkling wine lounge gets our vote. Effervescence, located on the edge of the French Quarter, celebrates all things bubbly. The menu is updated seasonally with a list of exceptional producers nationwide, and the flights are especially fun. That, and the Sunday caviar bagel brunch.
Bar Métier
Blink, and you might miss it. Bar Métier, located in the CBD’s Maison Métier hotel, feels as if you’re sipping cocktails in the world’s most design-forward library with rich red walls, leopard prints, velvet, and fringe. Hotel guests are treated to a private parlor behind a wall of bookcases.
Where to Visit
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
This museum boasts the largest and most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world–but still feels manageable to navigate. Located in the Warehouse District, the Ogden makes it a mission to showcase Southern artists, highlighting the culture and understanding of the American South. Don’t miss one of the fun nightly events or crafting happy hours.
City Park
City Park is one of New Orleans’ largest hidden gems for a tourist. Spread among 1,300 acres of green space, the park offers golf, tennis, boat, and bike rentals, a botanical garden, and even an amusement park. It’s also the location of the New Orleans Museum of Art and their Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Even more impressive, City Park has the largest collection of mature live oak trees in the world—the ideal shade for an afternoon picnic.
Preservation Hall
There’s nothing quite like an intimate performance at the historic Preservation Hall: a French Quarter staple whose mission is to celebrate the preservation of jazz music in New Orleans. We don’t want to ruin the experience, but expect a one-hour set of the most mind-blowing performance in the most no-frills location. Our tip is to book one of the benches in advance (no need to splurge on the front row—it’s a small space) unless you’re cool with standing room, only a floor seat (also fun in its own right).
Magazine Street
Magazine Street, which runs from Uptown to Downtown parallel to the Mississippi River, offers six miles of shopping, eating, and drinking. A few favorites for shopping: UAL, Out of the Closet, Hemline, Lionheart Prints, Joseph, and Peaches Records. For eating: Saba, Dakar NOLA, La Petite Grocery, Lilette, Guy’s Po-Boys, Molly’s Rise and Shine, Sucré, Casamento’s Restaurant, and Hungry Eyes. For drinks and music: The Club Ms. Mae’s, Le Bon Temps Roule, Barrel Proof, Bouligny Tavern, and the glorious Hotel Saint Vincent.
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