New Orleans

[jujubiee4]

Any more specific questions, I'm happy to help!

Any areas we should avoid? Also do they still have where you can see mardi gras floats in
a museum or something? Also please recommend some kind of scary tour for young adults/
teens. My daughters have been dying to go. We want to go either in January or March. Which
is better? Thank you!!

 

[Wakey]

I was there summer. Cafe Du Monde is good and very good value (cash only). Chalmotte Battlefield trip on the steamer is brilliant as the historian is top notch and tells you about Katrina as well on the way back. The swamp tour is great- Disney animators supposedly went on the one we did for the research for Princess and the Frog. They hand feed the wild gators with marshmallows.

 

[JLTraveling]

Any areas we should avoid? Also do they still have where you can see mardi gras floats in
a museum or something? Also please recommend some kind of scary tour for young adults/
teens. My daughters have been dying to go. We want to go either in January or March. Which
is better? Thank you!!

As far as areas to avoid, just don't go wandering into the neighborhoods that would be a long walk or a taxi/Uber ride away (there are some hidden gems, but for a first trip, stick to the beaten path). The French Quarter is just fine, and so is the Marigny (next neighborhood across Esplanade, where Frenchmen Street is. The Treme (next neighborhood across Rampart Street) can be a little sketchy, but if you go during the day it's fine. If you want to see the big historic plantation homes in the Garden District, take the streetcar--there are a few sketchy areas between the Quarter and the Garden District, but everybody and their brother rides the streetcar, and it's safe.

For Mardi Gras floats, you'll want to go to Mardi Gras World (https://mardigrasworld.com/). It's fantastic, and they run a free shuttle from the French Quarter. You'll get up close and personal with the floats, and can take photos if you want. You may also see float builders working on them.

For a scary tour, NOBODY beats Haunted History (https://hauntedhistorytours.com/). They're incredibly well researched and authenticated, and they present a good mix of documented facts and spooky speculation. Definitely teen-friendly, except for the pub crawl. There is a bar break in the middle of each tour, about 15 minutes, but kids are allowed in bars here as long as they don't go UP to the bar, or you guys can wait outside. All the tours are great, but I'd do the 5 in 1 for your first. They touch on a little of everything that the other tours go into more in depth (ghosts, vampires, voodoo, etc.)

As for when to visit, I'd do January, and plan to be in town over one of the weekends with Mardi Gras parades. Carnival season starts on Twelfth Night (Jan 6), and the January parades are an ideal introduction. They're just as good as the later ones, but the crowds aren't really here yet, so it's easy to get a good spot and avoid feeling crushed. You'll mostly be hanging out with locals and a few in-the-know travelers. Here's the 2023 schedule: https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/parades/. Note: The French Quarter parades actually go through the Quarter. The Uptown parades go down Canal Street, which is the border of the Quarter, as well as through the Garden District. Ignore the ones that are in other cities/parts of town.

I hope you have a wonderful trip! I was 13 on my first visit, and I got out of the car, looked around, and said, "I'm going to live here one day." Ten years later, it became a reality

 

[Turn the Page]

The World War II museum is amazing and a cemetery tour of St Louis No 1 is fascinating.

 

[LSUmiss]

Any areas we should avoid? Also do they still have where you can see mardi gras floats in
a museum or something? Also please recommend some kind of scary tour for young adults/
teens. My daughters have been dying to go. We want to go either in January or March. Which
is better? Thank you!!

Avoid off beaten paths alone. Just like any city. Mardi Gras world is where you can see the floats.

March has much nicer weather & is crawfish season if you’re up for trying boiled crawfish!

I don’t know if I would say the earlier Mardi Gras parades are just as good as pp says, but it’s a taste. But, if you’re talking 2022, if you can go around 2/12 that’s the first weekend of real parades but not as crazy as the main weekend.

 

[JLTraveling]

I forgot to mention: Don't miss the Night Market on Frenchmen Street. It's this really cool open-air artisan market that opens around dusk. Truly something for every taste and every budget, and the artists are incredibly friendly.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm going the same week, so I can't speak to any of these suggestions from experience yet but on my list is:

Cafe du Monde
Preservation Hall
JamNOLA
Music Box Village
Frenchman Street night market
Christmas walking tour with Free Tours by Foot
Metairie Cemetery
and of course, just walking around to shop, take in the atmosphere, and enjoy the street musicians

We're also going to spend a morning at Tulane because they have an Anne Rice exhibition going on that I want to see, which was actually the inspiration for the trip since it closes in Feb and this is the only time my girls have free long enough to make the trip with me.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you are interested in the history and customs of Carnival in New Orleans, while Kern Studios' Mardi Gras World is full of floats and sculpture, you won't get the inside skinny on the greater celebration there, as MGW is primarily about parades. Parades are the public part of the celebration that visitors can see, but there is a lot more to Carnival than that, so I recommend touring MGW *and* another exhibit to get the total picture.

The better exhibit for Carnival as a season and social phenomenon, though not physically huge like MGW, are the Mardi Gras Galleries at the Presbytere (next to St. Louis Cathedral; part of the Louisiana State Museum). This collection focuses on the social traditions of the season, and displays items from the balls, such as call-out favors, Krewe Jewels, Queen's mantles, and invitations. (There is also a very moving gallery about hurricanes at the Presbytere, which features a large number of objects relating to Hurricane Katrina.)

There are no Mardi Gras parades in March in 2023, as Ash Wednesday falls on February 22nd next year. Carnival ends at the stroke of midnight on the morning of Ash Wednesday; after that the only way to see anything connected to Carnival parades is in the museum exhibits. (The only major parade you can see in March is the St. Patrick's parade in the Irish Channel. They incongruously rent Carnival floats and add a lot of green tchotches on top of the original decorations. They also throw vegetables -- so you can make stew.) Starting February 17th the price of hotel rooms near the Carnival parade routes in the City begin to rise, and many hotels impose 3 night minimums during the weekends of the major Carnival parades.

I have to agree with LSUMiss; the January parades are tiny compared to the ones that roll starting the second weekend before Mardi Gras itself, and they are only on Ephiphany; then there is a lull until early February. There are no major parades in the French Quarter, as the streets of the Vieux Carre are too narrow and uneven to handle large floats and large marching bands. (The only Krewe that I know of that really tries for floats in the Quarter is Krewe du Vieux, which is primarily a satirical parade; they can get fairly raunchy with their themes on occasion.) Most parades you can see in the Quarter are so-called Walking Parades, which consist of groups of costumed revelers on foot.

I'd recommend the Rock n' Bowl for something uniquely different, especially on a Zydeco night, when patrons of all ages will be out on the dance floor, and you can get a fun introduction into regional folk music.

Crawfish in late January may be available in some places, but it's *very* early in the season, so the price will be high then, and availability is dependent on the weather; if the winter has been mild it's more likely you'll be able to get them.

FYI, as a general rule, January and February are the coldest months in South Louisiana. It doesn't always happen (normal temps are in the 50s in Jan), but it isn't unheard of for temps to get down into the high 30s at night in January, which may not sound cold if you're used to serious cold weather, but it's a damp climate, so 38 degrees will be punishingly cold to be walking around if it's a windy evening. I highly recommend bringing warm gloves at that time of year, just in case.

PS: Don't enter the old city cemetaries on your own; it's not safe. In winter, especially, it sometimes happens that homeless people set up camp in some of the tombs. If you want to tour St Louis #1, go with a guided group.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Just a couple of other things to be aware of. Both these things happened to us last December. 1)People will come up to you and put the plastic Mardi Gras bead on you. I thought it was so nice and fun, but then the guy asked for money for the beads. I didn’t have any cash on me, so I gave the beads back. We saw it happen over and over again. Don’t accept the beads if you don’t want to pay a dollar. This is different than when they are throwing beads from parade floats. 2) Two men came up to my son and asked him about his shoes. I knew where this was going - “Bet ya I know where you got those shoes”. I’d read about this hustle here on the Dis before our trip. DS was just starting to answer them when I grabbed him for a family picture. I thought I’d put a stop to it, but after the picture, the guys came right back up to him and asked again. I jumped in and answered in a jokey way, “Haha! I know this one! On his feet! He got those shoes on his feet!” The guys laughed and told him his mom saved him and finally walked away. Both these happened while we were walking around Jackson Square.

 

[JLTraveling]

Just a couple of other things to be aware of. Both these things happened to us last December. 1)People will come up to you and put the plastic Mardi Gras bead on you. I thought it was so nice and fun, but then the guy asked for money for the beads. I didn’t have any cash on me, so I gave the beads back. We saw it happen over and over again. Don’t accept the beads if you don’t want to pay a dollar. This is different than when they are throwing beads from parade floats. 2) Two men came up to my son and asked him about his shoes. I knew where this was going - “Bet ya I know where you got those shoes”. I’d read about this hustle here on the Dis before our trip. DS was just starting to answer them when I grabbed him for a family picture. I thought I’d put a stop to it, but after the picture, the guys came right back up to him and asked again. I jumped in and answered in a jokey way, “Haha! I know this one! On his feet! He got those shoes on his feet!” The guys laughed and told him his mom saved him and finally walked away. Both these happened while we were walking around Jackson Square.

Good call to point those out. Also, the tap dance kids. They're little kids, about 4-8 years old, who glue bottle caps to the bottom of their shoes and tap dance on a street corner. It's polite to tip any street performer you stop and watch (a dollar or two is fine), but make SURE if you watch the tap kids you tip (just a dollar or two for the whole group). Their older brothers are hiding around the corner, and they'll get in your face pretty aggressively if you stop and watch but don't tip.

For anyone who might interested in a tarot reading: Get it on Jackson Square. No need to pay the 40 or 50 bucks you'll be charged in a shop, and I honestly think the readers on the Square are better anyway. They work for donations, not legally allowed to charge a fee. But they work hard, and it's how they make their living. So plan to tip at least 10 bucks for each person in your group who gets a reading. Drives me nuts when whole families get readings and then either don't pay at all or give maybe a buck a person.

 

[tiggspring]

Hi! I live in New Orleans, across the street from the French Quarter. I see you've already gotten a million suggestions, and all of them are fantastic!

Basically, what it comes down to is this: You have exactly zero time, compared to the sheer number of things to do. But in a way, that works to your advantage. Because one of the biggest things that makes this city special is that all you have to do is walk out the front door with an open mind, and fun and excitement will find you. And it's never what you expect.

Example: One night I was wandering around by myself, and I went down to the Moonwalk, which is the walking path that runs along the river. It had just closed for the evening, so I couldn't go up the steps. But standing in front of the steps was a lone saxophone player, an elderly Black gentleman who was extremely talented. It was lightly raining, more of a mist. There was a full moon over the river, with clouds rushing by in front of it. And the gentleman's music was hypnotic. I swear in that moment, the entire modern world fell away, and I was transported back to the 1800s. We shared probably 15 minutes of time, him playing and me swaying to the music. Then I tipped him and we went our separate ways.

Those are the types of memories you want to make on your first trip to New Orleans. And you will only find them by following your heart and living in the moment. Not by sticking to an itinerary. That said, there are a few things you won't want to miss. The biggest one is Jackson Square. It's the center of the French Quarter, originally the hanging grounds and now a park/pedestrian area/free speech zone. St. Louis Cathedral is there (the oldest cathedral in continual use in the US), and WELL worth taking a look. It's flanked by the Cabildo and the Presbytere, both extremely important historical buildings that are part of the Louisiana State Museum complex (closed on Mondays). A little ways around the Square is the 1850 House, if you're interested in historic home museums. But you'll want to spend most of your time in the Square just absorbing the cultural life of the city. During the day you'll find mimes and visual artists of every description. At night, you'll find tarot readers and ghost/vampire tours. And you'll also find just the most interesting and eclectic collection of natives and tourists having fabulous spontaneous conversations....and quite likely a brass band or two.

Across Decatur Street from the Square is Cafe du Monde. It's the original home of beignets in the city, open continually (24 hours/day) since 1862 (except for Christmas Day and occasional hurricanes). Do NOT miss it. And the aforementioned Moonwalk is next to Cafe du Monde. It's a great place to take a stroll along the river.

If you're into it, you might consider a ghost or vampire tour from Haunted History (they're the most historical and best researched). They also have a 5-in-1 that gives you a little bit of everything. And if you REALLY want to go to a museum or whatever (and we do have some great ones!) head over to neworleans.com and take your pick. But I'd make Jackson Square and its environs your main planned location, and spend the rest of your time just wandering the Quarter and seeing what comes your way. You can't go more than a block without tripping over an excellent restaurant or a cool neighborhood bar or a fun shop. Go to Bourbon Street once, take pictures, and then get off it. Huge tourist trap, and not at all reflective of this city. If you want live music, ask someone to point you to Frenchmen Street--that's where the locals go.

Bring cash, including a collection of one dollar bills. Some places still don't take cards, and you'll want to tip the various street performers. Keep an open mind, and just have fun. It's hard to get a bad meal or have a bad time in this town.

Any more specific questions, I'm happy to help!

My husband and I are hoping to go to NOLA next year during the end of Madi gras/valentines week finishing about 4 days later. Any suggestions? I am assuming I need to book now. This would be a 30th anniversary/ bucket list trip. We just realized next year Valentines is right after the fat tuesday parties end and thought we would experience the all out party vibe followed by a slightly quieter end of the week. If that is ever a thing in Feb. Thanks!

 

[JLTraveling]

My husband and I are hoping to go to NOLA next year during the end of Madi gras/valentines week finishing about 4 days later. Any suggestions? I am assuming I need to book now. This would be a 30th anniversary/ bucket list trip. We just realized next year Valentines is right after the fat tuesday parties end and thought we would experience the all out party vibe followed by a slightly quieter end of the week. If that is ever a thing in Feb. Thanks!

I would definitely go ahead and book, and then keep an eye on prices through the year. Sometimes they rise and sometimes they fall, and there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to it. Since you're booking so far out, you'll also have a chance at the cool boutique hotels in the French Quarter. Specifically, I'd check into https://www.frenchquarterhotels.com/ https://www.frenchquarterguesthouses.com/ or https://www.valentinohotels.com/. I've stayed at properties from all three groups, and they're charmingly historic.

Expect HUGE crowds for Mardi Gras, followed by surprisingly few crowds for Valentine's. Most people head home on Ash Wednesday. It's possible that some will extend like you are, but Valentine's isn't really a huge tourist holiday here.

For Mardi Gras, you'll want to concentrate on the parades. Not sure what day you're arriving, but starting the Wednesday before Fat Tuesday, all the huge parades roll. And when I say huge, I mean it. Two plus hours per parade, and two or three parades in a row. Bring a huge indestructible bag for each person to put all the stuff you catch! If something falls on the ground, step on it to claim it. Do NOT bend down to pick it up until the float moves on, or you're likely to get your hand stepped on. If you want a Zulu coconut (the most prized throw each year, they're literally hollowed out, hand-painted coconuts), you'll need to make your way to the front row of the crowd. They're not allowed to actually throw them after a few unfortunate head injuries, now they just hand them off from the floats.

Otherwise, what are your interests? Anything specific you're looking for? I'm happy to recommend activities/restaurants/etc, but I need to know your preferences

Most of all, just relax and go with the flow. It's New Orleans time, so things will happen when they happen, and you can find adventure just by walking out your front door

 

[tiggspring]

I would definitely go ahead and book, and then keep an eye on prices through the year. Sometimes they rise and sometimes they fall, and there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to it. Since you're booking so far out, you'll also have a chance at the cool boutique hotels in the French Quarter. Specifically, I'd check into https://www.frenchquarterhotels.com/ https://www.frenchquarterguesthouses.com/ or https://www.valentinohotels.com/. I've stayed at properties from all three groups, and they're charmingly historic.

Expect HUGE crowds for Mardi Gras, followed by surprisingly few crowds for Valentine's. Most people head home on Ash Wednesday. It's possible that some will extend like you are, but Valentine's isn't really a huge tourist holiday here.

For Mardi Gras, you'll want to concentrate on the parades. Not sure what day you're arriving, but starting the Wednesday before Fat Tuesday, all the huge parades roll. And when I say huge, I mean it. Two plus hours per parade, and two or three parades in a row. Bring a huge indestructible bag for each person to put all the stuff you catch! If something falls on the ground, step on it to claim it. Do NOT bend down to pick it up until the float moves on, or you're likely to get your hand stepped on. If you want a Zulu coconut (the most prized throw each year, they're literally hollowed out, hand-painted coconuts), you'll need to make your way to the front row of the crowd. They're not allowed to actually throw them after a few unfortunate head injuries, now they just hand them off from the floats.

Otherwise, what are your interests? Anything specific you're looking for? I'm happy to recommend activities/restaurants/etc, but I need to know your preferences

Most of all, just relax and go with the flow. It's New Orleans time, so things will happen when they happen, and you can find adventure just by walking out your front door

Oh thank you so much! I was hoping, that like New Years in NYC the crowds would go down after Fat Tuesday. Thanks for the Hotel recommendation. We had no idea this trip would ever be possible until recently and you have given me a great place to start.

 

[tiggspring]

Oh thank you so much! I was hoping, that like New Years in NYC the crowds would go down after Fat Tuesday. Thanks for the Hotel recommendation. We had no idea this trip would ever be possible until recently and you have given me a great place to start.

My Husband is an Ann Rice fan, I love history and have lived in several historic houses ( a 1700’s colonial in RI and now a historic colonial cabin in PA) so history will be a must, we love good food and my husband LOVES jazz but basicly we want to soak up New Orleans whatever that brings. Open to anything Will probable spend a day on some porch, park or patio etc just absorbing the city. After 24 yrs we are empty nesters haven’t vacationed in years. This is the start of a new adventure.

 

[tiggspring]

I would definitely go ahead and book, and then keep an eye on prices through the year. Sometimes they rise and sometimes they fall, and there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to it. Since you're booking so far out, you'll also have a chance at the cool boutique hotels in the French Quarter. Specifically, I'd check into https://www.frenchquarterhotels.com/ https://www.frenchquarterguesthouses.com/ or https://www.valentinohotels.com/. I've stayed at properties from all three groups, and they're charmingly historic.

Expect HUGE crowds for Mardi Gras, followed by surprisingly few crowds for Valentine's. Most people head home on Ash Wednesday. It's possible that some will extend like you are, but Valentine's isn't really a huge tourist holiday here.

For Mardi Gras, you'll want to concentrate on the parades. Not sure what day you're arriving, but starting the Wednesday before Fat Tuesday, all the huge parades roll. And when I say huge, I mean it. Two plus hours per parade, and two or three parades in a row. Bring a huge indestructible bag for each person to put all the stuff you catch! If something falls on the ground, step on it to claim it. Do NOT bend down to pick it up until the float moves on, or you're likely to get your hand stepped on. If you want a Zulu coconut (the most prized throw each year, they're literally hollowed out, hand-painted coconuts), you'll need to make your way to the front row of the crowd. They're not allowed to actually throw them after a few unfortunate head injuries, now they just hand them off from the floats.

Otherwise, what are your interests? Anything specific you're looking for? I'm happy to recommend activities/restaurants/etc, but I need to know your preferences

Most of all, just relax and go with the flow. It's New Orleans time, so things will happen when they happen, and you can find adventure just by walking out your front door

My Husband is an Ann Rice fan, I love history and have lived in several historic houses ( a 1700’s colonial in RI and now a historic colonial cabin in PA) so history will be a must, we love good food and my husband LOVES jazz but basicly we want to soak up New Orleans whatever that brings. Open to anything Will probable spend a day on some porch, park or patio etc just absorbing the city. After 24 yrs we are empty nesters haven’t vacationed in years. This is the start of a new adventure.

 

[tiggspring]

I would definitely go ahead and book, and then keep an eye on prices through the year. Sometimes they rise and sometimes they fall, and there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to it. Since you're booking so far out, you'll also have a chance at the cool boutique hotels in the French Quarter. Specifically, I'd check into https://www.frenchquarterhotels.com/ https://www.frenchquarterguesthouses.com/ or https://www.valentinohotels.com/. I've stayed at properties from all three groups, and they're charmingly historic.

Expect HUGE crowds for Mardi Gras, followed by surprisingly few crowds for Valentine's. Most people head home on Ash Wednesday. It's possible that some will extend like you are, but Valentine's isn't really a huge tourist holiday here.

For Mardi Gras, you'll want to concentrate on the parades. Not sure what day you're arriving, but starting the Wednesday before Fat Tuesday, all the huge parades roll. And when I say huge, I mean it. Two plus hours per parade, and two or three parades in a row. Bring a huge indestructible bag for each person to put all the stuff you catch! If something falls on the ground, step on it to claim it. Do NOT bend down to pick it up until the float moves on, or you're likely to get your hand stepped on. If you want a Zulu coconut (the most prized throw each year, they're literally hollowed out, hand-painted coconuts), you'll need to make your way to the front row of the crowd. They're not allowed to actually throw them after a few unfortunate head injuries, now they just hand them off from the floats.

Otherwise, what are your interests? Anything specific you're looking for? I'm happy to recommend activities/restaurants/etc, but I need to know your preferences

Most of all, just relax and go with the flow. It's New Orleans time, so things will happen when they happen, and you can find adventure just by walking out your front door

This was the first place we were looking at. Do you know this place?https://reserve.hotelprovincial.com...2023&checkout=02%2F16%2F2023&adults=2&rooms=1

 

[leebee]

This was the first place we were looking at. Do you know this place?https://reserve.hotelprovincial.com/rooms/?checkin=02%2F15%2F2023&checkout=02%2F16%2F2023&adults=2&rooms=1

The Provincial is lovely. It's part of the family of hotels available through the frenchquarterhotels.com link that JLTraveling listed. We have stayed at their French Market Inn (location is terrific) and it was quite nice.

This is going to seem "different" but last time we were in NOLA we went to the Baroness on Baronne (339 Baronne). It's NOT fancy, but the drinks were some of the best we had on this trip and my sister/BIL say the food is terrific (we had reservations at Dominic that evening- wish we'd skipped it and stayed at Baroness). The hurricane here was SO MUCH BETTER than the bright red thing you get at Pat O's. Prices are also more manageable than at some other places in NOLA. If you stop in, head toward the back of the bar and see if you sit on the couches/chairs with low coffee tables. It was definitely a different kind of place, but I want to go back next time we are in NOLA.

Tea at Windsor Court Hotel was wonderful. Price is $55, I think, and includes tax and tip. You get a cocktail, tea sandwiches, pastries, and of course, your own pot of tea. Sounds like a lot of $$ for the food, but we were all full by the time we left. After, we went upstairs to the hotel lounge- The Polo Club. It was also lovely. One of our newer pastimes in NOLA is to check out the lounges in the hotels. The drinks are $$$ but it feels so "upscale" and fancy!

We enjoyed brunch at Court of Two Sisters. My sister recommends Creole House on Canal St. We've always been happy with the food at Maspero Cafe, The Gumbo Shop, Gordon Biersch. If you want to do something fun, look into taking a demo class at the New Orleans School of Cooking. Demo class is "affordable" in NOLA terms and includes lunch. Parleaux Beer Lab and Brieux Carre Brewing were fun breweries with interesting selections, but I'm pretty sure you'd need a car to get to them.

 

[slo]

I have no suggestions - I’ve never been.
I just wanted to say - I hope you have a great time.
New Orleans is on my bucket list of places I want to visit.

 

[JLTraveling]

My Husband is an Ann Rice fan, I love history and have lived in several historic houses ( a 1700’s colonial in RI and now a historic colonial cabin in PA) so history will be a must, we love good food and my husband LOVES jazz but basicly we want to soak up New Orleans whatever that brings. Open to anything Will probable spend a day on some porch, park or patio etc just absorbing the city. After 24 yrs we are empty nesters haven’t vacationed in years. This is the start of a new adventure.

Oooh, how fun! You picked a great place to kick off your new adventures

OK, as history buffs, you will definitely want to make your way out to the Garden District. Canal Street is the huge road at the edge of the French Quarter, and it's where you'll go to see the parades. It's also where you can hop on the green streetcar for the short trip to the Garden District. Anne Rice's house was at 1239 First Street. It's absolutely breathtaking! And then within a couple of blocks you can visit the Garden District Bookstore inside The Rink, which is where she used to do all of her book release parties (arriving by horsedrawn hearse). Just down from there is Lafayette Cemetery, with Commander's Palace restaurant directly across. If you'll be here on Saturday or Sunday, try to get reservations for Jazz Brunch. SO good, and the restaurant is both historic (opened in 1893) and a training ground for innumerable celebrity chefs (Emeril Lagasse, Paul Prudhomme, and others).

The main thing not to miss in the French Quarter is Jackson Square--previously the public hanging ground, now a sort of centralized free speech zone. During the day you'll find artists and mimes, at night tarot readers. St. Louis Cathedral (oldest continually operating Catholic basilica in the US) is there, flanked by a few excellent historic museums). Across the street is Cafe du Monde, serving up beignets (French donuts coated in powdered sugar) 24/7 since 1862, except Christmas Day and occasional hurricanes). We're pretty sure if they ever fully cleaned the floors, they'd find Jimmy Hoffa lol.

And be sure to take a tour. My favorite is Haunted History (https://hauntedhistorytours.com/). In my opinion, they're the best researched and most legit. They present the spooky stories, but also the actual facts behind each case.

This was the first place we were looking at. Do you know this place?https://reserve.hotelprovincial.com/rooms/?checkin=02%2F15%2F2023&checkout=02%2F16%2F2023&adults=2&rooms=1

The Provincial is a great choice. Like @leebee, I haven't stayed there, but I have stayed at their other property, the French Market Inn, and it was wonderful. And I absolutely love the Provincial's Ice Bar. Such a nice break from the crowds! Leebee had some other great suggestions as well.

I'm excited for you! Just wandering the streets, you'll run into so many things to see and places to eat, and it's really hard to get a bad meal in this city. Be sure to stop by Bourbon Street and take photos, but don't linger too long. It's tourist central, and not where anybody who lives here actually goes unless they work there. Except for Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar. It's at the far end of Bourbon in the more residential area, at the corner of St. Philip. It was built in the 1720s, and then from 1772 until 1791, the pirates Jean and Pierre Lafitte used it as a front for their smuggling operations. It's now a bar open nearly 24 hours a day, and they've only added as much electricity as absolutely essential. The whole place is lit by candlelight, and there's a piano bar in the back. Really fun spot to spend some time!

 

[tiggspring]

The Provincial is lovely. It's part of the family of hotels available through the frenchquarterhotels.com link that JLTraveling listed. We have stayed at their French Market Inn (location is terrific) and it was quite nice.

This is going to seem "different" but last time we were in NOLA we went to the Baroness on Baronne (339 Baronne). It's NOT fancy, but the drinks were some of the best we had on this trip and my sister/BIL say the food is terrific (we had reservations at Dominic that evening- wish we'd skipped it and stayed at Baroness). The hurricane here was SO MUCH BETTER than the bright red thing you get at Pat O's. Prices are also more manageable than at some other places in NOLA. If you stop in, head toward the back of the bar and see if you sit on the couches/chairs with low coffee tables. It was definitely a different kind of place, but I want to go back next time we are in NOLA.

Tea at Windsor Court Hotel was wonderful. Price is $55, I think, and includes tax and tip. You get a cocktail, tea sandwiches, pastries, and of course, your own pot of tea. Sounds like a lot of $$ for the food, but we were all full by the time we left. After, we went upstairs to the hotel lounge- The Polo Club. It was also lovely. One of our newer pastimes in NOLA is to check out the lounges in the hotels. The drinks are $$$ but it feels so "upscale" and fancy!

We enjoyed brunch at Court of Two Sisters. My sister recommends Creole House on Canal St. We've always been happy with the food at Maspero Cafe, The Gumbo Shop, Gordon Biersch. If you want to do something fun, look into taking a demo class at the New Orleans School of Cooking. Demo class is "affordable" in NOLA terms and includes lunch. Parleaux Beer Lab and Brieux Carre Brewing were fun breweries with interesting selections, but I'm pretty sure you'd need a car to get to them.

Oh wow thanks! We like a nice dinner here or there but are generally low key so this selection is perfect.