WanderLust: New Orleans Where to Stay Eat Play and Drink
FOR OUR WEDDING WE REGISTERED OUR HONEYMOON ON HONEYFUND, AND I AM SO GLAD WE DID. WE WERE ABLE TO Relax AND ENJOY A FABULOUS TRIP WITHOUT ANY OF THE FINANCIAL STRESS. WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE WANTED TO GO A DOZEN AMAZING IDEAS CAME ABOUT, SAN FRANCISCO, THE BRITISH ISLANDS, AND EVEN THE Mediterranean, BUT FOR US WE NEEDED A PLACE WHERE OUR DOLLAR WOULD GO FAR. A CITY WHERE WE COULD HAVE FUN AND LET LOOSE. AS PARENTS WE USUALLY DO NOT GET THAT LUXURY, SO WHEN THE IDEA OF NEW ORLEANS CAME UP, WE BOTH KNEW IT WAS THE WINNER. SO MANY PEOPLE WE KNEW HAVE BEEN THERE MULTIPLE TIMES AND RAVED ABOUT THE FOOD, culture, AND FUN OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.
Rest Your Head!
French Quarter Inn:
WE BOOKED A STAY AT THE FABULOUS FRENCH QUARTER INN RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE FRENCH QUATER. WHEN YOU FIRST PULL UP TO THE INN, IT'S JUST ANOTHER DOOR IN A SEA OF SHOPS AND RESTURANTS, BUT ONCE YOU WALK IN YOU ARE transported INTO a quaint OASIS. THE STAFF members are FABULOUS AND GREETED US WITH THE SOUTHERN CHARM YOU WOULD EXPECT. THEY ALSO SENT US A complimentary BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE TO CELEBRATE OUR MARRIAGE. THE INN IS multiple buildings WITH A GORGEOUS COURTYARD IN THE MIDDLE and A GREAT LOUNGE POOL IN THE CENTER. THE POOL WAS A GIFT EVERYDAY, IT WAS COOL AND REFRESHING AFTER A LONG SUMMER'S DAY of EXPLORING. THE ROOMS WERE COZY AND INVITING, BEDS WERE COMFORTABLE AND THE SOUND OF THE OF STEAMBOATS ON THE MISSISSIPPI BECAME A SWEET LALLUBY. TO ADD A CHERRY ON THE SUNDAE A GOOd FRIEND FROM CHICAGO, ARRIVED THAT WEEKEND FOR A BRACHERETTE PARTY AND WAS ALSO STAYING AT THE FRENCH MARKET INN, A MUCH WELCOMED SURPRISE!
LET'S EAT
MY HUSBAND AND I ARE BIG foodies IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY ENJOYING DOING together, no matter if IT'S COOKING At HOME OR EXPLORing THE RESTURANTS OF OUR CITY, FOOD MAKES US HAPPY! NEW ORLEANS IS a paradise FOR EATERS, EACH DAY WE Tried NEW SPOTs. ONE TIP FOR FOODIES LOOKING TO TRY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, GET ONE OR TWO THINGS, appetizers, or a plate to share YOU DON'T WANT TO OVER EAT In that HEAT, or YOU WILL SPEND YOUR WHOLE VACATION NAPPING. HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE SPOTS, THAT I STILL THINK ABOUT ON A DAILY BASES.
Antoines Annex: THE ANNEX IS A GREAT LITTLE BAKERY THAT SERVES A VARIETY OF PASTIES AND MIMOSAS. THEY HAVE A QUAINT PATIO TO ENJOY A MORNING PASTry and take in the sunshine.
The Gumbo Shop: AS ONE OF THE BEST MEALS OF OUR TRIP THIS SPOT WAS RECOMMENDED TO US BY THE OWNER OF A breathtaking MASK SHOP WHERE ALL THE MASK WHERE MADE OF LEATHER AND HANDPAINTED. THE GUMBO SHOP HAS A GREAT COURTYARD TO DINE IN. THE SERVES WAS FANTASTIC AND GUIDED US THROUGH THE DISHES TO TRY. LIVING UP To IT'S namesaked THE GUMBO AND ETOUFFEE Were AMAZING! I COULDN'T GET An ENOUGH, I THINK I LICKED THE BOWL.
Killer Poboys: THE NAME SAYS IT ALL WITH TWO LOCATIONS THIS IS A MUST FOR ANY NEW ORLEANS TRIP. THE PORKBELLY POBOY WAS EVERYTHING! ANOTHER SPOT WHERE THE STAFF WAS EXTREMELY FRIENDLY AND THE MENU was A COMPLETE HOMERUN THAT WON'T BREAK YOUR BANK.
Mona Lisa: AFTER FIVE DAYS OF EATING FRIED FOOD WE NEEDED A BREAK AND THE MONA LISA SERVES AMAZING ITALIAN cuisine. LOCATED FURTHER DOWN IN THE FRENCH QUARTER THIS LITTLE RESTURANT GAVE ME THE BEST ITALIAN MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD.
Bourbon House: THIS oyster HOUSE AND RESTURANT SITS ON THE CORNER, NEXT TO THE ACME oyster HOUSE. OWNED BY restauranter DICKIE BRENNAN THIS PLACE WAS AN ACE. WE SAT AT THE oyster BAR AND ENJOYED The RICH ambiance. MY HUSBAND HAD A HALF ORDER OF oysterS IN THE RAW AND I CHOSE THE CHARBROILED OYSTERS, SERVED ON THE HALF-SHELL WITH A CREOLE BORDELAISE BUTTER, it was pure heaven.
RUE ST. LOUIS/DIS & DEM FRENCH QUARTER: LET ME START BY SAYING WE ATE AND DRANK HERE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES ON OUR SIX DAY VACATION. THE BURGERS ARE ABSOLUTELY THE BEST! WE FOUND THIS PLACE THROUGH YELP, AND the reviews don't do it justice. THE BAR IS LOCATED IN An OLD HOUSE WITH SO Much character AND CHARM. THE DRINKS ARE FANTASTIC, they play live JAZZ ON THE WEEKENDS, AND THE BURGERS ARE A MUST TRY. IF THERE IS ONE THING YOU should EAT IN NEW ORLEANS IT'S a DIS & DEM BURGER. A True LIFE CHANGER!!
Mother's Restaurant: GO HERE! EAT HERE! THAT IS ALL =)
Jimmy J's Cafe: IS WORTH THE WAIT! THIS SMALL CAFE ONLY SITS ABOUT 20-30 PEOPLE SO THERE WILL MOST LIKELY BE A WAIT. It was the LAST BREAKFAST OF our VACATION and it was absolutely FANTASTIC. I GOT THE EGGS BENEDICT AND IT'S WAS amazing.
LEt'S Go!
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN NEW ORLEANS IT CAN BE OVER WELLING AND A KILLER TO YOUR POCKETBOOK. The GREATEST PIECE OF ADVICE I can give IS TO PICK TWO OR THREE THINGS YOU REALLY WANT TO DO AND FOCUS ON THAT. WE SHOPPED AND ATE AT THE FRENCH MARKET, LISTENED TO Live JAZZ oN FRENCHMAN'S STREET, AND WALKED THE FRENCH QUARTER AT NIGHT ON A HAUNTED HISTORY TOUR WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. WE WENT ON THE 5 IN 1 GHOST & MYSTERY TOUR OF THE FRENCH QUARTER AND HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME. THE STORIES AND HISTORY OF NEW ORLEANS ARE FANTASTIC, AND WORTH CHECKING OUT.
Walking back to our hotel from Frenchman Street a bautiful display of Fireworks went off over the Mississippi River!
Throw a cold one back!
Tropical Isle: HOME OF THE HAND GRENADE! TROPICAL ISLE BARS ARE LOCATED ALL OVER THE FRENCH QUARTER. THE FAMOUS HAND GRENADE WAS OUR FIRST DRINK OF THE HONEYMOON. The atmosphere is FUN AND LIVELY, either SIT AND RELAX OR TAKE YOUR DRINK TO GO. WHICH FOR US TOOK A LITTLE GETTING USE TOO. NOTHING SAYS WELCOME TO MARRiage LIKE A HAND GRENADE.
Erin Rose Bar: Stop in Day or night for their famous frozen Irish coffee and a killer poboy.
Cellar Door: THE CELLAR DOOR IS A MUST! GREAT HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS, BEAUTIFUL ATMOSPHERE, AND ROSEMARY POPCORN TO DIE FOR. IT'S TRULY ADDICTING. Order ONE TO GO AND EAT IT IN YOUR ROOM FOR A LATE NIGHT SNACK.
Pat O'Briens: NOTHING SAYS FUN AND VACATION LIKE A hurricane FROM PAT O'BRIEN'S. ENJOY DRINKS, FOOD, AND FOUR DIFFERENT BARS. This place has A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
Lafittes Black Smith Shop Bar: THIS IS SUCH A COOL SPOT and ONE OF THE OLDEST BARS IN AMERICA, IT'S ALSO HAUNTED! THE DRINKS ARE A KILLER, HAHA! HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS AND ENJOY YOUR COCKTAILS OVER CANDLELIGHT. SPOOKY
The Old Absinthe House Bar: THE SAYING IS TRUE, “EVERYONE YOU HAVE KNOWN OR EVER WILL KNOW, EVENTUALLY ENDS UP AT THE OLD ABSINTHE HOUSE” GRAB THEir FAMOUS FRAPPE, OR BLOODY MARY While TAKing IN THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE OLD ABSINTHE HOUSE.
Honeymoon or not New Orleans has something for everyone, young and old. We cannot wait to go back.