Weekend Getaway in New Orleans
There are many reasons to go to New Orleans such as being surrounded by great food, vibrant scenery, and friendly people. But in this particular visit, I had gone for my bachelor party for the weekend and stayed at the Crowne Plaza in the French Quarter which, I highly recommend as it was a great place to start all of our weekend festivities.
New Orleans is a city in Louisiana known for their around the clock nightlife, music scene, and melting pot of different cultures. That being said, of course, this was at the top of my list to visit and I made use of my time by trying different cuisines, venturing off doing different activities, and learning about the history of the city.
When visiting this amazing city there is one food that you must get that is Beignets. These delicious pastries originated from Ancient Rome and have made its way to New Orleans in the 18th century by French colonists and are now a popular breakfast item served with powdered sugar on top. My personal favorite spot was Cafe Beignet because, in my opinion, it had the best beignets and great New Orleans styled coffee. They had the right amount of fluff, texture, and sugar, yet not too heavy. The line does get long but for a reason, so I would recommend getting there early. A little fun fact I learned along the way was that this shop was featured on Alton Brown’s “Best thing I ever ate”, a popular TV show on the Food Network back in 2011.
If you are looking for something that can fill you up a bit more then the restaurant Cochon is the place for you. Located in the Central Business District, Chef Donald Links makes the best pork in town and uses his culinary roots to serve traditional Cajun dishes that are to die for. One of their most popular dishes is the wood-fired oysters and if you love anything with garlic butter then you will absolutely devour this plate in seconds. During my visit, we pre-ordered a roasted pig ahead of time and it was cooked to perfection with just the right amount of seasoning. It was well worth the price and ideal for a group of 10 or more.
Sandwiches are great because they can be simple but with the right ingredients, take your taste buds to a whole different level. Turkey and the Wolf was one of those places, to say the least. During my visit, I ordered the Pork and Peppers Sandwich where the pork shoulder had been slow-cooked with habanero peppers and oranges, crispy pig ear, lettuce, onions, and citrus mayo all served on an open face roti bread with a side of habanero vinegar just for $13.50. One of the best parts of this sandwich shop that you don’t come across much is one that has a unique cocktail menu. This epic selection gives you variety and flavor that is different, but a good different. This quirky little place not only has awesome food but the decor can just put a smile on anyone’s face. Their plate settings were a mixture of Star Wars, My Little Pony, and Looney Tunes which, brings out the nostalgia in any adult that comes to visit.
Located just upriver from the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans has access to one of the freshest and most flavorful seafood in the nation. Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar & Fish House is a solid place for a good filling plate at a reasonable price, especially if you are in the mood for some fried food. This oyster bar, in particular, specializes in oysters that are grilled, fried, and raw. My personal favorite was the Fried alligator served with the tangy dipping sauce and the Crawfish crabcakes displayed on a bed of shredded iceberg and topped with remoulade sauce. And if that wasn’t enough to convince you to go, wait till you try the Charbroiled Oysters with Garlic Butter & Parmesan.
When you think of food staples you must try in this city there is no doubt Gumbo is one of them. Gumbo is a popular stew often with meat and vegetables served with a side of rice that is hearty and satisfying. Coops Place is the place to go for a true taste of New Orleans at a down-home price. They have an authentic cajun dive bar with servers that make you feel right at home. If you are looking for a place that has authentic gumbo, this is it. It has just the right amount of seasoning and has a flavor profile you cannot get anywhere else. Coops Place does get packed fast because of its bar setting so I would try going as early as possible though.
Going into this trip I knew I wanted to eat at restaurants that were unforgettable and thinking back there are 3 in particular that stood out to me the most. The first one being Bourbon House which, was conveniently located in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the French Quarter where some of my buddies and I were staying. This place is perfect for a quick lunch and has the best happy hour in town, I mean $1 oysters Monday - Friday who can pass that up! The food is amazing and they have a nice selection of whiskey. Emeril’s Delmonico is another restaurant I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the city. They serve a modern style of Louisiana’s Creole cuisine with the utmost hospitality and service. My personal favorite was the Prime Bone Steak that had been aged fro 21 days. They had two options one being the 18 oz in Kansas City Strip Steak and the other being the Ribeye. Both are amazing and I highly recommend either to any meat lovers out there. Another two items I absolutely adored were the Crispy Pork Cheek and the Jumbo grand isle bbq shrimp. They both had that Louisiana cooking you can taste and had the right amount of sides that complimented the main dish. The last restaurant that stood out was no other than Cochon which, I had mentioned above. It definitely lives up to its esteemed reputation around town and I cannot wait to make another visit.
Not only is the food amazing in this wild city but so are the drinks. You can’t visit this city without going on a night out to get a round of drinks with your friends. The Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel is currently #20 of 242 Best Night Life Spots in New Orleans on Trip Advisor. They are named after what is to be considered the world’s first mixed drink and have carried much history just like their name. If you are feeling a bit indecisive on what to order I would go for the Ramos Gin Fizz it for sure. Just like how I said Turkey and the Wolf had amazing sandwiches, their cocktail list is also one for the books. The menu is always changing which adds a unique flare each time. Now if you are looking for something a little more intimate I would recommend The Elysian Bar. It had 50 Nominees for America’s Best New Restaurants in 2019 and is fantastic in all aspects. As you take your first step inside it is clear to see it is one of the coolest settings you will find anywhere. Great for before or after a meal and has an Aperitivo Hour aka Happy Hour daily from 3 to 6. Food is a must when visiting this vibrant city but nothing beats going around and making some unforgettable memories doing some activities while you’re at it. I would highly suggest doing a Swamp Tour at Jean Lafitte. Just located 25 minutes from New Orleans, they offer swamp and airboat tours of Louisiana’s backcountry where you can get up and personal with the gators. I highly suggest getting a small airboat as that is what we did with our captain Randy.
Our experience on Bourbon Street was definitely an unforgettable one. It is one of the oldest cities in America and home to constant celebration. This street embodies the life of a party so remember to pace yourself when partying down on Bourbon Street.
Travel Tip: Be careful of scam artists, they love to pickpocket so I would suggest carrying your purse/backpack in front of you and keeping your wallets in your front pocket. Don’t bring unnecessary valuables and always keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.
New Orleans as a whole was amazing in all aspects from the food to the drinks to the nightlife. If you decide to try some of my recommended places out, leave a comment below and let me know how you enjoyed it!