New Orleans City Guide
We’ve compiled some of our favorite places to eat, drink, and pass time on this handy Google map.
Here’s a few highlights that are particularly meaningful to us:
Finn McCools: Where it all began…kind of. This is where we had our first date!
Margot’s: Probably our favorite restaurant and where we went for a celebratory dinner after our backyard wedding ceremony.
Ayu Bakehouse: A frequent morning stop for coffee and delicious baked goods on Frenchman Street. There’s a playground right next to it in Washington Square Park - a great double-whammy outing if you’ve got kids in tow.
Leo’s Bread: Bagels, sandwiches, croissants, oh my! Leo’s is located mere blocks from our house. If you go, come over!
New Orleans City Park: We spend a lot of time here! We both love to run, and our runs almost always involve running through the park. City Park attractions include the Louisiana Children’s Museum, Cafe du Monde, a great playground right next to Cafe Du Monde, the Sculpture Garden which is always free, Storyland which is a little amusement park, Big Lake where you can rent bikes and paddle boats, and the New Orleans Museum of Art which is a nice place to seek refuge on a hot day!
Other Suggested Activities
Drink & Learn Cocktail Tour
An interactive walking tour that uses famous drinks and ingredients to tell the rich history of New Orleans.
Various Walking Tours
Lots of options including a French Quarter tour, a Voodoo tour, a haunted ghost tour, and a Garden District tour.
A Street Tour Named Desire Bike Tour
16 years running, the very original New Orleans bike tour.
New Orleans Architecture Tour
Learn about the architectural styles of New Orleans homes and hear stories of the Free People of Color, Haition refugees, and European immigrants who lived here.
Swamp Tour
Take in the muggy beauty of the swamp and see some alligators.
National WWII Museum
For the history buffs.
Take in a show at Preservation Hall
Preservation Hall is one of the oldest music venues in the city, and seeing a show there is a treat. There’s multiple shoes every night running about an hour long, with both seated and standing ticket options. Reserve your ticket in advance, especially if you want to sit as they sell out.
Hop on a Blue Bike and pedal around the city
Blue Bikes (rentable via an app) are a fun and convenient way to see the city. From downtown, taking the Lafitte Greenway or Esplanade Ave. to Bayou St. John and City Park provide for a pleasant ride.
Take the ferry across the Mississippi River to Algiers Point
Algiers Point is a quaint little neighborhood, with a picturesque view of downtown New Orleans from across the river. Grab a coffee and snack at Congregation Coffee, tacos and a marg at Barracuda, or a proper pint of Guinness at Crown & Anchor.