The Perfect Weekend in NOLA

Two weekends ago I took a short trip to New Orleans, LA. New Orleans is one of my favorite places to visit, mainly for the delicious food, and I have gone every year for the last 4 years. It’s a unique and cultured city with a lot of flavor.

I’ve gone on a few different types of trips there, i.e. a Bachelorette party, romantic day trip, family trip, unintentionally stranded (yes, there’s a story there). Collectively, these experiences have helped me figure out a “near perfect” formula to having a great weekend in Nola.

 Two and a half days and two nights is plenty of time to hit up most of the must sees and have time to chill, if you do it right.  

Where to stay

I’ve stayed in Metarie, on Canal Street, and in the quarter. My next trip I would like to give Bourbon Street a try, but we will see. Overall in Metarie, the prices of the hotels are great however, the cost can be offset with the price of parking in the downtown area. This location is somewhat far from the action. In any other city, the distance would be great, but due to the streets and parking situation in the city center, I would say it is not the most idea option. I only recommend this as an absolute last resort.

Between staying in the French Quarter and on Canal Street, I actually preferred Canal. The Sheraton on Canal Street is a great option. Canal street has much to offer, and the Street Car will only be steps away, which can be used to access the Garden District or get to sections of the quarter easier. The hotel is walking distance from Bourbon Street, near the Harrah’s casino, and Riverwalk. As a bonus, if you are basic like me, you’ll also appreciate that there is a Starbucks in the hotel ❤.

Day 1.

Grab some Breakfast while waiting to check in to your hotel. Valcherie’s is a great option, located in Hotel St. Marie. My absolute favorite is their Crawfish Frittata. It’s a great amount of food, so you will get enough fuel to get your day started.

Walk over to Jackson Square after breakfast. There, you can see the St. Louis Cathedral. If you are into Vodoo, there are tarot card readers everywhere. This area is pretty lively and you may find a street jazz band, art work, and other entertainment in the area.

After this, it should be time to check in to your hotel. After you take a break in the room, head back over towards Jackson Square, this time continuing past the square over to the River walk for a stroll. If you feel like doing a little shopping, the RiverWalk mall is nothing spectacular, but there a few good shops and a really cool Masquerade shop inside. Head back up to Canal street, where you can pop in the canal Street mall if you are interested in a more expansive shopping experience.

Then, head back to the hotel to wash up and take a breather/nap to prepare for a night on Bourbon.

For Dinner, head to Desire Oyster Bar which is on Bourbon Street, located in the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Desire has the absolute best Gumbo I’ve ever tasted, and that says a lot considering how delicious the food is in Nola.

Don’t get too full because now it’s time for the drinks! Find a Tropical Isle to get the famous Hand grenade, and go finish out your night on Bourbon.

Day 2.

First things first, stop by Café Du Monde for beignets. I’m not a coffee drinker, but people rave about the chicory.

Next, take the street car to Lafayette Cemetery. This cemetery is pretty cool because a lot of TV shows and movies shoot scenes there. You don’t need a tour guide or have to pay a fee to go through this cemetery. Once you are finished in the cemetery, walk through the Garden District. There, you will see million dollar homes, including those belonging to celebrities, and locations where film/TV show scenes were shot.

Hop back on the street car to head back downtown for lunch.

Deanie’s Seafood is a great choice. As an appetizer for the table, order the charbroiled oysters. These are absolutely delicious. Some people are grossed out by the traditional way of slurping raw oysters, but these are so different and they are cooked. I urge you to try them! The food here is great, and there is something for everyone.

Head back to the hotel to wash up and take a breather/nap to prepare for another night on Bourbon.

For Dinner, head to Coop’s Place. I didn’t get a chance to eat here on any of my trips, but apparently the food is amazing, and the location is ideal for continuing a night out in the French Quarter.  

Get your night started by heading to Finnegan’s Easy to get a Hurricane. Hurricanes are the signature drink of Nola. I have had good and bad ones, and my favorite is the Hurricane from Finnegan’s Easy. If you are in the mood to try Hurricanes in different places, Finnegan’s is right across from Pat O’ Brian’ home of the original Hurricane. Pat O’ Brian’s is a piano bar!

Finish out your night on Bourbon.

Day 3.

Grab a light breakfast to hold you over, like yogurt or a banana.

Head over to the outdoor French Market for some shopping. This is a great place to get some handmade souvenirs before you leave.

Then, head to a spot for Sunday brunch. Sunday Brunch is a must do in Nola and just about every restaurant offers this meal period. It is best to reserve a table ahead of time, to prevent your party from having a lot of wasted time.

Lastly, before you leave, grab some sweets for the road or plane at Sucre, my favorite little patisserie. Their signature items are the cute little macarons! They also have the best white chocolate bread pudding that I’ve ever had! OMG! The Conti Street location also has a restaurant on the second level that offers food. It is a potential option for Brunch if you wanted to make one stop.

Then say farewell to Nola.

For my last trip down, I created a Princess and the Frog inspired checklist for the bride to help guide our trip. All of them items on the list were inspired by the movie. Here it is.

Pro Tip: There are so many beautiful walls and buildings around the city. Be sure to snap some awesome photos! There's a backdrop for every mood and occasion!

Thanks for reading!