What to do When Traveling to New Orleans for the First Time
New Orleans is a vibrant city that beckons travelers from all corners of the globe. In fact, last year, Louisiana attracted 42.6 million domestic and international visitors. With its rich history, lively music, mouthwatering cuisine, and unique blend of cultures, New Orleans is an experience like no other. If you’re planning your first trip down here, you’re in for a treat! We’ve compiled a list of must-do activities when traveling to New Orleans for hte first time to make it an unforgettable experience. Let’s embark on your Crescent City adventure (and we hope you packed your stretchy pants!)
What To Do When Traveling to New Orleans for the First Time: Restaurants
New Orleans’ foot iconography is famous. It's so renowned that even the Simpsons have talked about it! While there are endless excellent restaurants to choose especially when searching for what to do when traveling to New Orleans for the first time. While any meal you’ll get in the city is bound to be fantastic, below are some of the iconic spots first-time visitors love to experience.
Dooky Chase’s
This New Orleans staple serves classic dishes in a vibrant, art-filled space. Dooky Chase began as a sandwich shop in 1939. Under the vision of the late Leah Chase, the shop grew into a sit-down restaurant focused on Creole cooking. Leah Chase became known as the Queen of Creole. She went on to introduce one of the first African-American fine dining restaurants in the U.S. Today, Dooky Chase remains family-owned and has served Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Quincy Jones, Jessee Jackson, Duke Ellington, Thurgood Marshall, James Baldwin, Ray Charles, Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and more.
Port of Call
A gem of the French Quarter since the 1960s, serving world-famous burgers and more. Port of Call began in 1963 as a steakhouse and has since won Zagat Survey’s Best Burger, Citysearch Best Burger in New Orleans, and Gambit Weekly's Best Burger. A unique feature of Port of Call is that rather than french fries with your burger, they serve giant baked potatoes. This all happened when, one day, they didn’t have fries and substituted it with the baked potato, and they’ve never looked back.
Domilise’s Po-Boys
Domilise’s is a local neighborhood shop in Uptown near the river and has become one of the most well-known po-boy shops in the city. Domilise’s was founded in 1918 by Peter and Sophi Domilise as a local bar, but a few years later, Sophie began making plates for dockers and riverfront workers. Soon, the bar became a sandwich shop, and now it’s run by third and fourth-generation owners. Despite the changing times, the menu at Domilse’s stays the same. Visit Domilise’s for a journey into the past and a taste of what many consider the standard for New Orleans po-boys.
What To Do When Traveling to New Orleans for the First Time: Bars
New Orleans has one of the highest bars per capita in the country, making it very difficult to determine your favorite! It can get overwhelming between cocktail bars, neighborhood dives, hotel bars, Irish pubs, and more. Similar to the restaurants, there are good choices! Below are a few iconic bars everyone should visit when considering what to do when traveling to New Orleans for the first time.
The Carousel Bar and Lounge
Often referred to as the most celebrated bar in New Orleans since 1949, the Carousel Bar is a must-stop! The bar is inside the historic Hotel Monteleone; this is the city’s first and only rotating bar. Its carousel theme and unique design rotate guests around the cocktail bar every 15 minutes. While it can be challenging to get a seat on the carousel, it’s definitely worth it!
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop
Built between 1722 and 1732 by Nicolas Touze, this bar is the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States. The building escaped two great fires at the turn of the 19th century and is also said to be one of the more haunted venues in the French Quarter. The structure was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970 and is an example of the briquette-entre-poteaux construction. Their signature drink is “Purple Drank,” or the Voodoo Daiquiri, a frozen grape-flavored daiquiri with bourbon and Everclear.
Bar Marilou
Tucked along the side of the Maison de la Luz hotel, Bar Marilou is a former law library featuring scarlet bookshelves, orange ceilings, and tiger-striped carpets. It is also the only bar in the country designed by Paris-based Quixotic Projects. The bar menu focuses on craft cocktails, natural wines, and French-inflected fare.
What To Do When Traveling to New Orleans for the First Time: Experiences
Now that your belly is full and you have a drink in hand, it’s time to discuss some of the top experiences to do when traveling to New Orleans for the first time.
The French Market
A market spanning six blocks in the French Quarter full of food, shopping, and (sometimes) live music. The market started in 1791 as a Native American trading post and evolved into a commercial hub for New Orleans, as French and Spanish colonists opened the market up to ships and traders from around the world. The current structure was created in the late 19th century, and the market continues to grow and attract locals and visitors alike.
World War II Museum
A top-rated tourist destination in New Orleans, the World War II museum features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and a collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories. The expansive museum is an item on this list that you want to have a large portion of time to complete to get the whole experience. The museum also hosts various events, so be sure to check their website to see if anything is of interest to you!
JAMNOLA
Do you want an immersive experience showcasing the iconic art, food, music, and theatrics that highlight local artists? If so, JAMNOLA is a must on your list of what to do when traveling to New Orleans for the first time. JAMNOLA represents joy, art, and music and takes guests through the city's cultural gems. There are 17 exhibits featuring 30+ local artists and creative partners.
What To Do When Traveling to New Orleans for the First Time: Stay
Now that you have a list of the best restaurants, bars, and experiences for your trip to New Orleans, it’s time to determine where you are going to stay! Creole Gardens is the ultimate destination for your trip since it is centrally located to numerous items on this list. Creole Gardens is also pet-friendly if you want to bring your furry friend along when visiting New Orleans. Book your stay today!
Contact us if you have any questions, or check out our blog for more suggestions on what to do when traveling to New Orleans for the first time.