During our visit we enjoyed amazing food, saw a handful of popular attractions, and took in the unique culture of NOLA. I'll cover our top tips and lessons learned for visiting this intriguing and lively city, starting with the FOOD! (It's the first thing I plan when we go on a trip anyways, so why not start with the most important part? ;) )
 |
| Biscuits and gravy with andouille sausage from the Cake Cafe & Bakery |
When in NOLA, everyone says that you have to visit Cafe Du Monde for their famous beignets and coffee, but I have to say that the beignets at this popular tourist spot won't be the best beignets you have in your life. Although delicious, they aren't mind blowing, but don't let that stop you from visiting this historic cafe. Harrison and I agreed that enjoying the piping hot donuts loaded with powdered sugar at our little table in the bustling and almost hectic cafe was worth it for the memories. Who doesn't love fried dough and people watching? I have to caution you on one item on the menu though, and it's the hot chocolate. I was expecting a gourmet drink, but instead was served a watery cup of Nestle hot chocolate. If that's your thing, go for it, but otherwise, stick to their coffee or order some water. You'll need it to get through that mountain of powdered sugar!
For lunch and dinner, we visited the famous NOLA pub, Pat O'Brien's, as well as two lesser known local spots, the Parkway Bakery and Tavern, and The Joint. Definitely visit Pat O'Brien's when you're on Bourbon Street and order their Hurricane. It's really delicious, served in a huge glass, and will give you a nice buzz as you tour the shops and streets in the French Quarter.
The food at Pat O'Brien's is surprisingly delicious as well! I ordered their shrimp étouffée and it had the perfect amount of cajun flavor and spice. For yummy po-boys, visit the Parkway Bakery and Tavern. We enjoyed our dinner here, although it wasn't our favorite meal during our visit. If you're a BBQ fan, definitely stop by The Joint. It's a whole-in-the-wall joint in a residential neighborhood on Mazant Street in New Orleans that is slow smoking delicious ribs, chicken, brisket, pulled pork, and sausage. Our favorite dish was definitely the pulled pork, which surprised us, because we usually gravitate towards brisket and ribs. But let's face it. Nothing beats Texas brisket ;). Anyways, GET THE PULLED PORK, and let us know how their mac is! They were out when we visited, and we want to know if we missed out on this.
What's a trip without enjoying some treats? We definitely indulged in some of NOLA's best sweet shops and creameries and I'm so excited to share them so you can try the sinful sweets too! Our favorite stop for a sweet treat was definitely, hands-down, the Creole Creamery. We loved their homemade ice cream so much, that we went all three nights we were there! Maybe a little excessive, but hey, we were on vacation and their ice cream is AMAZING!
They have so many outrageous and unique flavors to count, and every scoop is delicious! My favorite flavor was the molasses and oatmeal cookie. Check out their website to see their endless list of flavors.
Another sweet shop to visit while in New Orleans is Sucre! This artisanal confectioner makes adorable and tasty macarons, chocolates, and gelato. While there, we sampled fudgy truffles and ordered frozen hot chocolate and a cappuccino. Everything was delicious and the shop is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a little treat!
Moving from food to French Quarter tips, I have to share my tips on parking. It. is. the. worst. Parking in the French Quarter is limited and you basically have two choices: park in a public lot or on the street. Parking is expensive in the public parking lots, but it's worth it to park in a paid lot over a spot on the street. There are so many restrictions on parking in the streets of the French Quarter, and in this case, possibly saving a few bucks isn't worth getting your car towed while on vacation. Want to save some money on parking in the public lots? Many lots offer early bird hours at lower rates!
I've already covered food in the French Quarter, but what about the sights? There's so much to see including the vibrant art displays, unique shops, and landmark buildings, such as St. Louis' Cathedral. We loved exploring it all, and also enjoyed mass at St. Louis' during the Christmas season. It's really a beautiful cathedral, and I recommend going inside to see the beautiful ceiling.
The last place I'm going to recommend to add to your itinerary is The National World War II Museum. Harrison and I loved it, and it's a great way to spend a rainy day in New Orleans. You could easily spend all day here, and we almost did! The museum is sizable and has many engaging exhibits that will have you engrossed in the war's history. Trust me, there isn't anything boring about this museum and it's a must see!
We had a great trip to New Orleans and definitely made many memories in this historic and vibrant city. Hopefully our experiences and lessons learned can help you plan your own trip!
