Top New Orleans Local Favorites
When I was little, I'd hide out in my mother's closet pouring through pages of Vogue Magazine. The photographers, editors and designers created a dream world I wanted to be a part of. My grandparents also had travel maps stretched across the walls, filled with colorful pins and stories. By the age of seven, I was fully fascinated by the world.
As a grown-up, I'm influenced by textiles and wardrobes of people all around the world. Costumes and couture- whatever is unique to the places I visit.
In all my travels, my favorite place to come home to is New Orleans.
There are so many perfect ways to spend a day in New Orleans. I love the oaks at Audubon and a good afternoon champagne picnic. I love strolling Royal Street - window shopping the galleries and boutiques along the way. I find the French Quarter architecture - the European, African and Caribbean blend - to be some of the most beautiful in the world.
I'm often asked where I recommend visitors go, especially if they've only got a weekend or so. These favorites always top my list:
The Old-School French Quarter Spots
The weekend truly begins in New Orleans at Galatoire's. The lunch crowd meets in the French Quarter on Fridays to order classic Sazeracs and seafood gumbo. This place is an institution with a bit of a French bistro vibe. Your visit to New Orleans is incomplete without a meal here, so it's an excellent place to start.
The brunch at Brennan's is hard to compete with. Stepping inside, you'll see why this is a landmark, with its crushed velvet seats, checkerboard floors, and ornate emerald green walls. Get the bananas foster (they literally invented it!).
The New-School Spots
Travel over to the Bywater to find a secret French hideaway that feels like you're dining in somebody's backyard (in the best way). N7 super under the radar — no crawfish with a chef's hat in sight. It has a fantastic French menu, a vast wine list, old movie posters on the walls, and a super eclectic, cool crowd.
Lengua Madre is new on the scene and provides such a unique experience. You probably don't think of coming to New Orleans to experience Mexican fine dining, but it's here. The entrance is awash with bright neon pink lights and fades to a dimly lit minimal dining room. Every night there's a different 5-course meal based on seasonal ingredients.
Jacque Imo's is a great restaurant to taste authentic New Orleans cuisine and is one of the best local restaurants. Make your dinner reservation before you arrive, as they tend to maintain a full house. Be sure to get the alligator cheesecake and see whatever killer band is playing at Maple Leaf Bar late night.
A few other favorites: Pêche for raw oysters, Cochon for boudin, Saba for wood-fired pita, Luvi for dumplings, Domenica for a whole head of cauliflower (trust me), Atchafalaya for DIY bloody marys, Compère Lapin for Caribbean curry, and Mosquito Supper Club for super special occasions.
The Place for a Quick Lunch
In the heart of Mid-City, you'll find a local favorite: Parkway Bakery and Tavern. I love the fried oyster, but the roast beef is also to die for. The lines can be long, but I promise they move fast. Tip: You can order online to skip the line, then walk over to the bayou for a picnic by the water.
If you're looking for some lighter fare, head to Satsuma Café for healthy sandwiches and organic salads. Or, order some Vietnamese pho and banh mis at Lilly's Café on Magazine Street.
Willie Mae's Scotch House has the best fried chicken in the country. Period.
The Coffee (& Beignet) Shop
Café Du Monde truly lives up to the hype. So get a cup of chicory café au lait and an order of beignets (heavenly powdered sugar-dusted fried dough). It's basically a New Orleans rite of passage to head over to the original French Market location for an early morning hangover cure or a late-night snack -- it's open 24/7.
And if you're looking for something cozy and off-the-beaten-track, head over to Fourth Wall Coffee. Or pick up your coffee and a souvenir at Baldwin and Co., a black-owned independent bookstore. It's the perfect place to catch up with friends or try out the digital nomad life.
The Best Place for Self-Care
Need a good workout after eating your way through town? Workshop is an inclusive and fun fitness studio focused on mindful movement in the Bywater neighborhood.
After sweating, treat yourself to a full body massage by Nikki at Palm Meadow, or a Gua Sha session with Kathleen of Wellspring Wellness. In addition, you can find Kathleen's Smoke Perfume at Vibrant Market, amongst other clean beauty brands and wellness services to treat yourself to.
For some extra-special self-care, make an appointment with one of the hair artists at Paris Parker. They have a couple of locations around town and use only naturally derived, cruelty-free products. It's where I got my hair cut, colored, and styled for years, so I basically consider them family.
The Spot to Grab a Souvenir
You can spend a whole day eating and shopping as you wander from the Garden District to Uptown on Magazine Street. Of course, it's hard to choose just one stop... Pilot & Powell, Pied Nu, or The Elizabeth Chronicles are great places to start!
My favorite is possibly Century Girl Vintage, a shop with rare, designer clothing & accessories. I've found pieces dating back to the eighteenth century! The careful curation makes it feel more like a museum, except you can touch these art pieces and you'll never see the same thing twice.
Right off Magazine Street in the Irish Channel, Blue Dream is packed with denim, fringe and '70s dresses galore. Sam and Akasha have impeccable taste, and I cannot get enough! (Bonus points if you stop into Saint Claude Social Club next door too!)
The Bars Worth Your Time
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is my favorite place to take newbies for a cocktail in the French Quarter. So get a purple drink (on the menu, it’s a “Voodoo Daiquiri”), and be warned, you don’t need more than one!
In the dive-iest of all dive bars, get a bottle of champagne for $20 or stick to the champagne of beers. Either way, take photos in The Saint’s photo booth to remember the evening!
Aaand I can’t talk about New Orleans bars without mentioning the classic French 75 at Arnaud’s. It’s a fact that the best drinks are mixed here, and if you’re curious about what to order, stick with the namesake (Courvoisier cognac, cane sugar, lemon juice, and Moët & Chandon).
For Sunday brunch and booze, I can’t think of a better place than Cane and Table! Think all you can drink brunch — including their legendary rum punch.
The Live Music Standbys
Locals head to Frenchmen Street on the weekends! Check out who's up to bat at The Spotted Cat, dba, and Three Muses, and you won't be disappointed.
Check out Saturn Bar on a Monday night for a live performance of King James and the Special Men. So get ready to dance all those drinks right out!
If you want to experience pure magic, head to Bacchanal Wine. It's best experienced on a steamy summer night; it's part wine shop, part live music venue, and part restaurant. Build your own cheese plate and enjoy the jazz act in the courtyard.
At any given hour, music fills the streets. This isn't just a Bourbon Street phenomenon - the best music in the city is typically tucked away in a side street venue. So do a bit of exploring and peek down those alleyways. You're likely to find string instruments coupled with brass and a mélange of sounds and languages.
I love the mindset of artistic survival. I feel a kinship with people forever searching for the next destination for inspiration! I hope you've enjoyed learning about my home sweet home.
