What to See and Do
The key to really understanding New Orleans is getting out of the French Quarter and experiencing other neighborhoods such as Uptown, the Garden District, Mid-City, the Lower Garden District, Bywater, the Warehouse District and more.
Charles’s Mom, Maria Calkins, is a native of the Uptown-Carrollton neighborhood and is pleased to share some of her NOLA favorite things. Below is a hand-picked list of things to do and see. We hope to help make your visit unforgettable and you will want to come back again.
For all things happening in NOLA, pick up a free copy of the weekly Gambit magazine as soon as you arrive in town. Inside you will find everything you need to know about current event opportunities and “not to miss” recommendations during your stay.
Favorite Spots for Cocktails
“You wanna do some livin’ before you die.
Do it in NewOrleans.”
-Dr. John
A few top picks include The Columns Hotel (happy hour front porch vibes), The Napoleon House (order the famous Pimm’s Cup), French 75 Bar (inside Arnaud’s vintage French Quarter restaurant), The Elysian Bar (inside the Hotel Peter and Paul-Marigny), the Hot Tin (chic rooftop with city views atop the Ponchartrain Hotel) and the Bayou Bar (also in The Ponchartrain).
The Bayou Bar is a very cool jazz club where you can also eat dinner. You never know who ends up playing in this intimate room. The Jazz set usually begins by 8 pm but get there earlier as tables fill early — or make an on-line reservation (Tuesday-Thursday). You can order off the Jack Rose menu, the Ponchartrain’s lively restaurant next door. For more detail on performances go to www.bayoubarneworleans.com.
Another fun bar scene is the famous Carousel Bar inside the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter; maybe you will be lucky enough to score a bar stool on the rotating carousel. It can be a nice stop after a few hours of shopping on Royal Street. (214 Royal Street)
The Sazerac Bar, located in the Roosevelt Hotel, is lovingly restored and pays homage to the grandaddy of New Orleans cocktails: The Sazerac. Located one block from the French Quarter, it’s a really sophisticated lounge and a nice place to kick back after a long day of walking around the City. (130 Roosevelt Way)
The Tell Me Bar, a cool and moody natural wine bar, located in the Lower Garden District. It’s recommended that you connect with Google Maps to find “The Tell Me” — take heart and keep going around the corner. (1235 St. Thomas Street)
Cure is a vintage firehouse turned stylish, dimly lit cocktail lounge with creative drinks and an array of light bites; between Uptown and the Garden District. (4905 Freret Street)
Jewel of the South is a charming French Quarter cocktail bar and restaurant with a garden courtyard. Recognized nationally in 2024 as the James Beard Foundation Award for “Outstanding Bar.” Need we say more? — a worthwhile excursion. (1026 Louis Street)
Live Music
As soon as you arrive in NOLA, turn your radio dial to WWOZ90.FM for classic New Orleans-style music to get you in the mood; www.wwoz.org
There are endless live music choices so be sure to checkout current live music listings at calendar.offbeat.com/calendars/all-events
Here are some faves: Toulouse Theatre, Preservation Hall, Snug Harbor and Frenchmen Street (for an array of jazz offerings) — all in the French Quarter. Favorites outside the Quarter — The Blue Nile, the Spotted Cat, Tipitinas and the Maple Leaf Bar. To hear Zydeco and experience great people-watching, visit the part music-part bowling alley venue. Check their listings for Zydeco-style music dates (rocknbowl.com); every Thursday night. For a nice, old-style Creole eatery close by (next door), try Ye Olde College Inn. (Carrollton neighborhood; 3000 S Carrollton Avenue)
If you have an itching for even more music, stay over a few days after the wedding for the start of Jazz and Heritage Festival 2025. Jazz Fest begins on Thursday, April 24th. For more details closer to the date go to nojazzfest.com.
“New Orleans is like a big musical gumbo.”
– Trombone Shorty
Attractions Around Town
While wedding festivities will likely occupy a good bit of your stay in NOLA, hopefully you can carve out time to explore some of the unique offerings throughout the City. Here are some ideas to get you on your way….
Spend a morning walking through City Park and Audubon Park (designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and John Charles Olmsted, respectively); neworleanscitypark.org and audubonnatureinstitute.org
Two wonderful walks in City Park are the Sculpture and Botanical Gardens. Don’t miss out on the beignets at the Park’s Cafe du Monde location (our favorite in the City). For another interesting hike explore Couturie Forest(1.1 mile trail/considered easy) in City Park — it’s common for birders to see 40 species or more in a single outing.
City Park and Audubon Park both have public golf courses that are easy to access. Bike rentals are also available. The paved walking loop (1.8 miles) surrounding Audubon Park is a great way to start your day. Surrounded by beautiful live oaks, abundant bird-watching and grand homes, it’s a perfect start to the morning. Visit the Audubon Zoo, including the award-winning Louisiana Swamp Exhibit
Not to be missed is the National World War II Museum, located in the warehouse district. This special museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world — why it was fought, how it was won and what it means today. In a full-day you can see all the Museum’s pavilions and experiences but you can also break Museum sections up and visit what interests you the most. A few close-by places for lunch are Herbsaint (French farm to table), Peche (seafood and great Bloody Mary’s) and Cochon (best place to order Gumbo). www.nationalww2museum.org
“You don’t need a guide book to see New Orleans.
Just a good pair of walking shoes.”
– Jonah Hill, American Actor
Shop the Town
If shopping is your cup of tea, don’t miss the unique, one-of-a-kind boutiques along Magazine Street. Magazine Street, easily an all-day affair, is six miles of shopping, food and fun. Nestled mainly in Uptown but also stretching through the Lower Garden District and into the downtown, there’s a mix of vintage stores, restaurants, bakeries, novelty shops, bars and fine dining. Take note of the addresses below, select the stores that interest you the most and shop block-by-block — until you drop! Most shops are locally owned — here are a few favorites….
- Alligator Eyes; independent boutique specializing in eyewear and other accessories, near Audubon Park (5700 Magazine Street)
- Hazelnut; favorite location to buy something for yourself or a special gift; sophisticated home goods and gifts in an intimate, stylish boutique
(5525 Magazine Street) - Scriptura; dedicated to paper needs both formal and informal (5423 Magazine Street)
- West London BTQ; ladies’ boutique for those with bold fashion (3952 Magazine Street)
- Billy Reid; ladies and men’s clothing in a store that feels like a hunting lodge crossed with a Creole cottage (3927 Magazine Street)
- Dunn & Sonnier; dedicated to European antiques and fresh cut flowers (3433 Magazine Street)
- The Occasional Wife: curated furniture, home goods, art and vintage (2850 Magazine Street)
- Peony; ladies and children’s clothing, home goods, locally designed Bene Bags (2240 Magazine Street)
- Sunday Shop; a restorative shopping experience – linens, candles, robes, throws and more (2025 Magazine Street)
- Century Girl; vintage and vintage reproduction (2023 Magazine Street)
- Krewe; Signature sunglasses with a NOLA beginning (1818 Magazine Street)
- Consign Consign; an antique and consignment home store, you never know what you might find! (1160 Magazine Street)
- Merchant House; a not-to-be missed emporium of curated booths — something for everyone (1150 Magazine Street); be sure to stroll the small grouping of unique shops directly behind Merchant House
Grab lunch near Magazine Street — some good options include LaPetite Grocery (4238 Magazine Street) or if you’re in the mood for some oysters and cooked-to-order seafood try Casamento’s (4330 Magazine Street). For home-style Creole eats and po boys — plus beers in frosted mugs stop in Joey K’s Restaurant and Bar(3001 Magazine Street). Another option is a delicious lunch at Lilette for French fare with a sunny patio (3637 Magazine Street). For incredibly healthy and delicious options, look for The Daily Beet (multiple locations around NOLA). This casual health food restaurant offers vibrant bowls and smoothies in a bright, relaxed setting. (3300 Magazine Street)
For more info check out the Magazine Street Merchant Association’s business directory (www.magazinestreet.com). The nearest streetcar station to Magazine Street is Saint Charles at Erato; the shopping district is a seven-minute walk away. Note that most boutiques are not open on Sunday.
If you find yourself in the French Quarter and in the mood to shop, Royal Street is a one-of-a -kind destination. For 13 blocks Royal Street runs parallel to Bourbon Street and is home to one of the finest stretches of art galleries, antique stores, wrought iron balconies, restaurants and architecture in the United States. For a block-by-block guide to Royal Street go to (www.frenchquarter.com).
If gallery hopping is your game, use the link below to explore an exhaustive list of art galleries around the City. https://burnaway.org/maps/new-orleans/
Other Activities and Local Spots of Interest
Faulkner House Books (624 Pirates Alley) An independent bookstore in a 1837 townhouse where William Faulkner lived and wrote while in New Orleans; now serves as a bookstore selling classic and local interest books. Located just off Jackson Square in the French Quarter. faulknerhousebooks.com
The Sazerac House (101 Magazine Street) This free museum has great interactive exhibits that tell the story of how coffee house and pharmacies in the French Quarter became the first bars and meeting places. Free tastings! sazerachouse.com
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 (425 Basin Street) If you enjoy cemetery haunts, you will want to visit the oldest extant cemetery in the City, showcasing the raised graves that distinguish NOLA’s local cemeteries of marble and stone. Guided walking tours lasting 45 minutes can be purchased on-line. (www.cemeterytourneworleans.com)
Le Salon — Afternoon Tea (300 Gravier Street) Posh place inside the Windsor Hotel offering formal afternoon tea with sweets and sandwiches. Reservations recommended. thewindsorcourt.com
New Orleans Museum of Art (in City Park) is worth a visit; look online for current exhibits (www.noma.org). The Museum’s gift shop is filled with unique NOLA books, gifts and memorabilia.
Crescent City Classic 10K – Calling all runners! Pack your running shoes and participate in the Crescent City Classic on the morning of the wedding, Saturday, April 19th. You will start in Downtown NOLA, run through the French Quarter and cross the finish line in City Park under the cool shade of ancient live oaks. Post-race party hosted by Michelob Ultra, complete with live music from local bands and world-famous NOLA cuisine. Registration is open now. ccc10k.com
NOLA VIP Swamp Tours – Experience an intimate and personalized NOLA Swamp Tour on a smaller, group passenger flat-bottomed boat. Embark on an unforgettable experience with a two-hour boat ride and see just how beautiful the swamp truly is. The perfect adventure for groups that love nature or those who have been to NOLA before and want a unique experience. A recent Calkins’ family favorite as well. cajunencounters.com
New Orleans School of Cooking (524 St. Louis Street) To take home the true flavor of NOLA, join the New Orleans School of Cooking for a demonstration class or a hands-on experience. Established in 1980, this well-established culinary institute has introduced visitors from around the world to the wonderful food and rich culture of New Orleans and Louisiana as a whole. Their entertaining cooking classes are located in a renovated molasses warehouse built in the early 1800s in the heart of the French Quarter. Visit their website for a listing of daily calendar events. neworleansschoolofcooking.com
