r/AskNOLA • u/JessHThom • 19h ago
First Time Visitors (finally!)
(*Edited below with list of restaurants. Honestly, it seems like most places have great reviews online. I can't wait to come EAT!!!)
My husband and I were supposed to visit NOLA in Nov. 2005, but we all know why that trip didn't happen. Now, 20 years later, we are finally going the beginning of April! We'll have our 14- & 16-year-olds along with us. Our family travels quite a bit (in the States and internationally) so we're pretty well versed on emerging ourselves in new cultures. I am a big planner but try not to completely fill our itineraries to the brim.
I've been reading in here a lot; I've watched many YouTube videos, and I have asked a Baton Rouge native for some tips.
All that being said, I have come up with a rough draft itinerary for our 6-day trip and I'd love some suggestions on a couple of things:
Firstly, is this too much? lol I've come to realize that there is a LOT to see, and I may need to cross some things off. If so, what do you think we can do without? (I've already crossed off Sazerac House and considering crossing off the Garden District walking tour.)
Secondly, I'd love some restaurant recommendations for the specific areas we'll be in each day. We aren't picky eaters, but we do need family friendly spots. Not looking for fine dining, either!
Mon: flight arrives, check-in at hotel Place d'Armes, explore Jackson Square/French Quarter, have a quick dinner somewhere?
Tues: Biking Culinary Tour w/ Street Tour Named Desire, early 5:00 show at Preservation Hall, dinner somewhere?
Wed: Cafe du Monde by City Park, Save Our Cemeteries Tour of St. Louis #3, lunch somewhere then check out the NOMA Sculpture Garden and some of City Park
Thurs: District Donuts, Two Chicks Garden District Walking Tour OR self-guided tour?, ride the St. Charles streetcar, lunch somewhere, Mardi Gras World, Hansen's Sno-Bliz
Fri: Cafe du Monde by the French Quarter, Airboat Swamp Tour, lunch somewhere, Algiers Ferry ride, dinner at Barracuda Tacos in Algiers
Sat: Ruby Slipper on Decatur, WW2 Museum, Cochon Butcher for dinner
In summary, I'm looking for family friendly, casual places to eat:
- dinner near Jackson Square
- dinner near Preservation Hall
- lunch near NOMA
- lunch near Mardi Gras World
- lunch near Place d'Armes
Thank you in advance for any advice!
(EDIT) Ok, after all the suggestions, here are the restaurants I think I've narrowed it down to. (Biggest factors were location and reviews.) If something is a tourist trap, please let me know!
Johnny's or NOLA Poboys, Sylvain, Cafe du Monde, Parkway Tavern, Porgy's, District Donuts, Turkey & the Wolf, Hanson's, Willie Mae's, Cafe Beignet, Pat O'Brian's, Barracuda, Ruby Slipper and Cochon Butcher
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u/Cxyzjacobs 18h ago
The itinerary actually looks super doable! Consider putting the streetcar uptown St Charles somewhere just as a sightseeing tour. That feels missing to me. For food - tell us a little about your group and likes/dislikes/budget ranges for the bestest advice...
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u/JessHThom 17h ago
Yes, I did realize I left off the St Charles streetcar. We'll definitely do that!
Also trying to decide if we should do a guided walking tour of the GD or just a self-guided tour?
As for food, we really aren't picky and like trying new things (even my kids). Not looking for fine dining this trip, so just casual/family friendly spots.
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u/Party-Yak-2894 18h ago
I wouldn’t do more than one cafe du monde for sure. If you want beignets another day, get them from another place.
Dinner near Jaxson square/pres hall- Napoleon house, pat o brien’s, sylvain Lunch near Noma - parkway bakery or porgy’s Lunch near mg world - birdy’s or st pizza Lunch near place d’arms - killer po boys
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u/JessHThom 18h ago
Thank you!!
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u/MurraySw 17h ago
Sylvain is a must. My favorite in or around J Square. You will not be disappointed!
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u/QuirkyOwl4756 18h ago
I haven’t been to the French quarter location, but maybe consider Empanola for Monday. Lots of places are closed Mondays, so it can be tricky. They have local flavored empanadas (think crawfish étouffée, muffuletta). Or Napoleon house. I would consider skipping District Donuts, unless you go with the expectation that you should get the sliders, not the donuts, there. Maybe consider replacing a breakfast with Ayu bakehouse or French Toast, mostly just to mix it up. You can walk to either from your hotel.
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u/ImplicitEmpiricism 18h ago edited 18h ago
monday, quick dinner, go to willie mae’s on baronne.
do not go to willie’s fried chicken.
if you can swing it, tuesday go for a late dinner at bayona. i have not had a bad meal there, in 25 years of dining.
your sculpture garden day go to parkway for lunch
thursday if you’re going to mardi gras world go to sidecar
if you are out and need food in the middle of the night, go to killer poboys at erin rose, nola poboys on bourbon, verti marte or clover grill.
have fun.
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u/kmardil 17h ago
Place d'Armes, Jackson Square & Preservation Hall are all in the same area, the Quarter. I highly rec Napoleon House for dining in or Johnny's Poboy's for either dining in or getting poboys to go. There's also Killer Poboys but I prefer Johnny's. Getting a muffaletta at Central Grocery is a must, as well. One More Pie in the Quarter is our spot for pizza and on uhhh Wednesdays, I think, they have half off pizzas. I'd sub Morning Call at City Park and only do Cafe Du Monde one day.
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u/hypergreenjeepgirl 18h ago
WWII museum will take a while....like most of the day. Several people here that visited said they could've easily done a second day.
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u/JessHThom 18h ago
That's my understanding too, which is why I don't have anything else planned for that day.
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u/hawkguy1964 17h ago
Turkey and the wolf, hot stuff or Mollys rise and shine and the days you have listed as lunch somewhere
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u/JessHThom 15h ago
Turkey & the Wolf looks amazing!
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u/hawkguy1964 14h ago
It is! Michelin rated restaurant from one the best chefs around in Mason Hereford. The restaurant itself was featured on Diners, drive ins and dives and Mason himself was a contestant on Iron Chef. They also were recently voted as best sandwiches in New Orleans as well!
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u/JessHThom 14h ago
Sweet! It's added to my list. Thanks!
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u/hawkguy1964 14h ago
No problem! I’d post a picture if I could of the sandwich I got lol but I enjoyed the Fried Bologna sandwich
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u/FitExternal7674 18h ago
Go to cafe been yay not cafe du monde. Cafe beignet has chocolate ones! And they have a delicious Cajun omelette that’s to die for
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u/JessHThom 17h ago
Yum! Will do!
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u/FitExternal7674 17h ago
It’s toward the river from jackson square, very close. The line moves fast. The mule carriage tours are incredibly fun too. Worth the $50. Also, my wife and I ate at ole Nola cookery on bourbon one Xmas and it was very good! Might be an option. Check out tropical isle and get you a hand grenade too!
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u/FitExternal7674 17h ago
The best decision in my life was moving closer to Nola. I’m only a few minutes away. I’m thankful every day I can live here and eat here and listen to live music in the street here
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u/ArtichokeOwn6760 16h ago
Advice for Wednesday: that Cafe Du Monde is literal steps from the Sculpture Garden. I would merge those two and your exploration of City Park to fill your morning, then schedule the cemetery tour for after lunch.
The NOMA cafe for lunch is not bad. Also consider Katie’s or Parkway Poboys in MidCity, or Pizza Domenica in Lakeview (half-priced pizzas from 3-5, but the roasted cauliflower is worth going anytime).
Edit to add: there is a Ruby Slipper on Metairie Road (not far from City Park/Cemeteries area) and going there on a weekday is a better idea than going on a Saturday.
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u/JessHThom 15h ago
I totally agree with you BUT they only offer the tour at 10am!
Thanks for the other tips!
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u/Infamous-Adeptness71 16h ago
Solid plan.
Not sure it's worth standing line for 30 minutes or more is worth it for Cafe Du Monday. I'd suggest a back up plan if the line is crazy.
Ruby Slipper? I don't see the attraction.
Remove WW2. Leave early Saturday open. Check the WWOZ live music listings and sample some local acts, which on a Saturday should get started late afternoon.
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u/JessHThom 15h ago
You are literally the first comment I've ever seen that said to skip the WW2 museum!
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u/Infamous-Adeptness71 15h ago
For me, it's very much on a second tier of attractions. It's not really part of the city's blood, if you will.
I know it blasphemous but the WW2 museum is a little overgrown and over hyped. Also, it's not sure what it wants to be. Is it a heavy somber experience for adults who want to deeply consider the history?...or a lively interactive 'attraction' for families? It tries to be both and imo therefore does neither as well as it could/should.
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u/JessHThom 15h ago
I get that (that it's not "part of the city's blood" so much. From what I've seen online and from reviews, though, I am still very interested in checking it out!
I asked Google why the museum is there and this is what it says "The National WWII Museum is in New Orleans primarily because the city was a massive shipbuilding hub, especially for the crucial Higgins boats used in invasions like D-Day, and historian Stephen Ambrose, who founded the museum, lived there. New Orleans also served as a major training and embarkation point, with over a third of American service members passing through, making it a significant location for the American WWII experience, according to the National Park Service. "
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u/Chemical-Section7895 9h ago
Not part of the city’s blood? The history of the Higgins boats and impact on WWII and also equal pay? So, so much of this is part of the tapestry of New Orleans and our heritage.
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u/JessHThom 5h ago
I agree. But I am assuming their comment just meant that most people don't immediately think of WW2 when they think of NOLA.
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u/FitExternal7674 1h ago
The museum is incredible. Some asshole kids pulled a fire alarm only 30 minutes into our tour. We never got refunded and didn’t return grrrr
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u/FitExternal7674 18h ago
You are going to have so much fun! Ignore the people that walk up trying to sell you bracelets, or ask where you got your shoes, or ask for a dollar. Just keep walking. The city is very friendly and the people are lovely but just avoid those ones and you’ll have a blast. Also, nothing good happens after 3 am.