Lovers of good food will never want to leave New Orleans. Here some not-to-be-missed spots if you are visiting the Crescent City:
If you don’t go anywhere else in New Orleans, you must stop by the world-famous Cafe du Monde at the original Decatur Street location for chicory coffee and beignets, French doughnuts topped in powdered sugar. They’re the only thing on the menu and it’s cash only, so be prepared. Go early to avoid having to shove your way into a table. If you aren’t an early riser, the cafe is open 24 hours to get your sugar fix.
The locals head over to Marigny’s New Orleans Cake Cafe & Bakery for sweets, breakfast and lunch. The outdoor tables are great for people watching on a sunny afternoon with a crab sandwich and cupcake on the side.
For a unique tour experience, take the free shuttle from the French Market to the Ninth Ward’s Old New Orleans Rum Company. A local artist founded the distillery ten years ago and it survived Hurricane Katrina. For $10, you get a welcome drink and samples of each style of rum. Tours run Monday through Saturday.
Frenchmen Street is an up and coming area that hosts an arts market on the weekend and is lined with restaurants, bars and jazz clubs. For authentic New Orleans fare, try Praline Connection restaurant. Try the crawfish etouffee and collard greens before stepping into The Spotted Cat for a performance.
Po boy joints are a dime a dozen in this city, but good breakfasts aren’t as easy. Thankfully Johnny’s Po Boys has both to offer. Grab a Big Biscuit for less than $4! If you’re there for the main attraction, the po boys, be prepared for their large size. You can get nearly anything inside your sandwich, from the traditional shrimp and oysters to alligators and crawfish.
Magazine Street is a girlfriend’s paradise, lined with boutiques and restaurants. Check out Fleurty Girl, a store devoted to New Orleans clothing and gifts, before grabbing something sweet at Sucre. They have cupcakes, cakes, macarons, chocolate and gelato to enjoy.
You might be surprised to hear about the city’s large Vietnamese population, which makes it a great place to get a heaping bowl of pho. Magasin Cafe offers the famous soup, bahn mi sandwiches, spring rolls and vermicelli.
Visit Hotel Monteleone’s famous Carousel Bar for an old-school cocktail like a Sazerac, Pimms Cup, gin fizz or milk punch. Nosh on the New Orleans-themed pretzels to hold you over for dinner while you sit at one of the revolving seats at the bar. Space is at a premium so be ready to pounce.
Cochon is consistently rated as one of the best restaurants in New Orleans by both locals and tourists for its modern Cajun fare. Split a couple of more adventurous plates between friends, namely the fried boudin, stuffed pig’s feet, and rabbit and dumplings. And treat yourself to dessert on your last night in town!