Guidebook for New Orleans
Food Scene
This place is delicious and very reasonably priced. Street foods from around the world. I have become unreasonably obsessed with their pork tacos and I don't care who knows it.
83 locals recommend
Booty's Street Food
800 Louisa StreetThis place is delicious and very reasonably priced. Street foods from around the world. I have become unreasonably obsessed with their pork tacos and I don't care who knows it.
Maurepas Foods
3200 Burgundy StreetFabulous cocktails and wonderful food.
A breakfast and lunch spot. Try the bananas foster french toast. Delicious. They also serve/sell French Truck coffee, a fantastic local roaster.
202 locals recommend
The Ruby Slipper Café
2001 Burgundy StreetA breakfast and lunch spot. Try the bananas foster french toast. Delicious. They also serve/sell French Truck coffee, a fantastic local roaster.
Sublime biscuits. Great coffee. A little hipstery, but you gotta give them their due--they like good food.
376 locals recommend
Satsuma Cafe
3218 Dauphine StSublime biscuits. Great coffee. A little hipstery, but you gotta give them their due--they like good food.
Sound Cafe
2700 Chartres StSweet spot that incorporates Beth's Books and on weekends they sell Upper 9 Doughnuts.
Pizza Delicious
617 Piety StYummy New-York style pizza.
Best pizza in the city. Killer happy hour 3-6 every day. One of the best deals in the city.
112 locals recommend
Domenica
123 Baronne StBest pizza in the city. Killer happy hour 3-6 every day. One of the best deals in the city.
Best breakfast in the city. Their pain perdue is out-of-this-world. My niece had dreams about it.
392 locals recommend
Surrey's Café & Juice Bar
1418 Magazine StreetBest breakfast in the city. Their pain perdue is out-of-this-world. My niece had dreams about it.
Fantastic donuts and sliders and good, strong espresso. Long lines on weekends, but well worth it.
266 locals recommend
District Donuts Sliders Brew
2209 Magazine StFantastic donuts and sliders and good, strong espresso. Long lines on weekends, but well worth it.
You gotta. It's a must. Absolutely go to the Decatur location for atmosphere , but if you just want yours without a line down the block, the Metarie one tastes the same & has drive-thru (sacrilege)!
703 locals recommend
Cafe Du Monde French Market
800 Decatur StYou gotta. It's a must. Absolutely go to the Decatur location for atmosphere , but if you just want yours without a line down the block, the Metarie one tastes the same & has drive-thru (sacrilege)!
Cochon and its sister spot Butcher around the corner are two of my favorites (if you're a pork lover). Butcher has sandwiches and a butcher counter and absolutely sublime bacon.
448 locals recommend
Cochon RESTAURANT
930 Tchoupitoulas StCochon and its sister spot Butcher around the corner are two of my favorites (if you're a pork lover). Butcher has sandwiches and a butcher counter and absolutely sublime bacon.
One of my favorites--their way with frying is an art--and the friendliest staff in town, and in Nola that's saying something.
134 locals recommend
The High Hat Cafe
4500 Freret StreetOne of my favorites--their way with frying is an art--and the friendliest staff in town, and in Nola that's saying something.
The Camellia Grill
626 S Carrollton AveThe original. Best counter dining in the city.
Mandina's Restaurant
3800 Canal StClassic old-school Italian/Creole. Perfect every time.
Magasin Vietnamese Cafe
4226 Magazine StMy favorite in a city with lots of great Vietnamese food.
A local spot with great po'boys but also fresh seafood if you want to cook or ship some home. If you take I-10 to exit 244 and head toward the lake, you're not going to think it's there but it is!
11 locals recommend
Castnet Seafood
10826 Hayne BlvdA local spot with great po'boys but also fresh seafood if you want to cook or ship some home. If you take I-10 to exit 244 and head toward the lake, you're not going to think it's there but it is!
Very beautiful music venue and restaurant rumored to be the exact location where jazz was born, though I suspect if you asked 12 people in Nola you'd get 12 different answers on that.
9 locals recommend
The Little Gem Saloon (OPEN ON GAME DAYS)
445 S Rampart StVery beautiful music venue and restaurant rumored to be the exact location where jazz was born, though I suspect if you asked 12 people in Nola you'd get 12 different answers on that.
Everything Else
Gorgeous converted--but not too converted--church that now hosts concerts and other performances. The space is dreamy.
34 locals recommend
Marigny Opera House
725 St Ferdinand StGorgeous converted--but not too converted--church that now hosts concerts and other performances. The space is dreamy.
Faubourg Wines
2805 St Claude AveGreat local shop with independent brands.
I actually think they're the best spot in town for a mani pedi--reasonably priced, fast, and very good work. I've tried fancier but it's never worth it.
Amy's Nail Salon
518 Jefferson AveI actually think they're the best spot in town for a mani pedi--reasonably priced, fast, and very good work. I've tried fancier but it's never worth it.
An amazing salon for curly (black) hair. My first visit a woman stopped me in the parking lot, asked me who did my hair, and she's now a regular customer. It's that good.
Ringletts Salon
An amazing salon for curly (black) hair. My first visit a woman stopped me in the parking lot, asked me who did my hair, and she's now a regular customer. It's that good.
Yes, it's a long drive from the city, and lots of city restaurants use their bread, but drive out there first thing in the morning and buy the french bread fresh from the oven. There are no words.
23 locals recommend
Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery
14207 Chef Menteur HwyYes, it's a long drive from the city, and lots of city restaurants use their bread, but drive out there first thing in the morning and buy the french bread fresh from the oven. There are no words.
Are you an entrepreneur looking to make Nola your home? This outfit is amazing for resources, support, etc. They host a free annual conference, New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.
The Idea Village
900 Camp StreetAre you an entrepreneur looking to make Nola your home? This outfit is amazing for resources, support, etc. They host a free annual conference, New Orleans Entrepreneur Week.
Completely unexpected "corner store" in the Marigny with the most unbelievably comprehensive, international selection of foods I've ever seen. You want to make a Thai feast at 3am? This is your spot!
211 locals recommend
Mardi Gras Zone Supermarket
2706 Royal StCompletely unexpected "corner store" in the Marigny with the most unbelievably comprehensive, international selection of foods I've ever seen. You want to make a Thai feast at 3am? This is your spot!
Arts & Culture
Sweet Lorraine's Jazz Club
1931 St Claude AveRenowned live music venue 2 blocks away.
Great venue for contemporary art with an interesting film schedule. I saw what has become one of my favorite films, Portrait of Jason, here.
128 locals recommend
Contemporary Arts Center
900 Camp StGreat venue for contemporary art with an interesting film schedule. I saw what has become one of my favorite films, Portrait of Jason, here.
Nowhere else can you get so up close and personal with Mardi Gras Indian costumes, and what a labor of love this museum is.
143 locals recommend
Backstreet Cultural Museum
1531 Henriette Delille StNowhere else can you get so up close and personal with Mardi Gras Indian costumes, and what a labor of love this museum is.
This is an extraordinarily beautiful venue in the Treme. It was my love of one of the adjacent buildings that sold me on my house--that sight line of fireplaces.
47 locals recommend
New Orleans African American Museum
1418 Governor Nicholls StreetThis is an extraordinarily beautiful venue in the Treme. It was my love of one of the adjacent buildings that sold me on my house--that sight line of fireplaces.
I haven't yet been here and I won't go alone because I'm a little freaked out by lifelike wax figures, but it's definitely on my to-do list. They've got a Madame Lalaurie tableaux--reason enough.
6 locals recommend
Musee Conti Wax Museum
917 Conti StreetI haven't yet been here and I won't go alone because I'm a little freaked out by lifelike wax figures, but it's definitely on my to-do list. They've got a Madame Lalaurie tableaux--reason enough.
Sightseeing
Even if you don't have an event to attend there, see if you can take a tour. It is the most beautiful space I've ever seen. Every square inch of the property and interiors is exquisite.
Race and Religious
510 Race StEven if you don't have an event to attend there, see if you can take a tour. It is the most beautiful space I've ever seen. Every square inch of the property and interiors is exquisite.
Mardi Gras World
1380 Port of New Orleans PlLike visiting Oz. Totally fun.
Shopping
Nadine Blake
Fabulous little housewares shop. I want to live in it!
Okay, yes, I'm a celebrity geek and it completely thrills me to find Bryan Batt manning the register at his Magazine Street shop, but they sell some beautiful wares as well.
21 locals recommend
Hazelnut
5525 Magazine StOkay, yes, I'm a celebrity geek and it completely thrills me to find Bryan Batt manning the register at his Magazine Street shop, but they sell some beautiful wares as well.
Charming stationers. I don't know that I've ever gone in without buying at least a paper clip.
6 locals recommend
Scriptura
5423 Magazine StCharming stationers. I don't know that I've ever gone in without buying at least a paper clip.
Another great stationers, and very lovely staff. Can you tell I was that kid who looked forward to new school supplies each year? There's nothing like old-school correspondence on beautiful paper.
Papier Plume
842 Royal StAnother great stationers, and very lovely staff. Can you tell I was that kid who looked forward to new school supplies each year? There's nothing like old-school correspondence on beautiful paper.
Drinks & Nightlife
Fancy cocktails in a great atmosphere. Sit at the bar and watch the alchemists do their thing. It's wonderful.
244 locals recommend
Cure
4905 Freret StFancy cocktails in a great atmosphere. Sit at the bar and watch the alchemists do their thing. It's wonderful.
A classy venue for jazz and drinks on Bourbon Street. You won't feel like you're on Bourbon Street, but definitely in Nola.
44 locals recommend
The Jazz Playhouse
300 Bourbon StA classy venue for jazz and drinks on Bourbon Street. You won't feel like you're on Bourbon Street, but definitely in Nola.