Four Days in New Orleans

My grandmother is a southern belle who used to tell me all the time about the wonders of New Orleans. She said it was a city that everyone must go to at some point in their life. Now, my knowledge of New Orleans was pretty much nothing but drunken brawls on Bourbon Street and half naked women parading through town on Mardi Gras. So when I had the opportunity to take a quick trip to the famed city, I jumped at the chance to experience it through a true southerner’s eyes.

Get the Lay of the Land

On your first day, I recommend taking some time to explore the historic parts of the city. The best way I found to do this was to rent a bike from one of the many bike share stands around town. Just download the app, hop on bike and dock it at one of the many bike stations when you’re done. A warning: beware of the cobblestones! Like many charming towns, these quaint, bumpy rounds can make for a rough bike ride. Hold on tight! I started near my hotel at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in the business district, then went around Lafayette Square, through some of the neighborhoods to the west, and then back toward the French Quarter.

Fuel Up

Just like the wonderful food scene, there’s no shortage of good coffee in this city. To get your energy up, recommend the Pulp & Grind, or Stumptown Coffee Roasters located in a beautiful boutique hotel on Carondelet Street. If you’ve got some work to do, or just want to relax and do a little reading, there’s a beautiful lobby area and library connected to Stumptown’s cafe. If you’d like something sweet to go along with your java, you can’t go wrong with the classic Cafe du Monde for beignets. Or perhaps go for something a little different and head to Drip Affogato Bar, where a hefty shot of rich espresso comes with a scoop of their homemade ice cream.

Shop Like a Local

If you want to explore some of the local boutiques and eccentric shops, you must head to Magazine Street, where you’ll find everything from chocolatiers to hat shops. Some of my favorites were Hemline for trendy women’s wear, Aux Belles Choses for French inspired home goods, and Mignon Faget for locally-made jewelry.

Wine Break

My favorite time of day! There are so many adorable wine bars and cafes to explore in New Orleans, and I only scraped the surface of what is available for a great glass of vino. For the wine officiando, I recommend W.I.N.O, a unique space with dozens of wines “on tap” for tasting at your leisure. Grab a glass, pour a taste and pay by the ounce at the end of your visit. One of my absolute favorite stops of the whole trip though was Bacchanal, a backyard bistro and wine shop in Bywater. In the bistro’s front market, you can pick up a bottle of wine and create your own cheese plate to take out back for a leisurely picnic!

A Taste of the South

I’m not exaggerating when I say that everything I ate in New Orleans was out of this world. Head to Cavan, located in a beautiful mansion from 1883, for refined takes on classics like corn fritters, gumbo, fried oysters and more. Plus the al fresco dining is absolutely stunning! My favorite meal had to be at Cochon, a restaurant well-known for their pork-filled dishes and creole classics. There I had the most wonderful crawfish ravioli, overflowing with sweet crawfish and a buttery sauce. Our final meal was at Meauxbar, a sleek French bistro with delicious cocktails and some of the best steak frites outside of Paris.

After Hours

As you probably know, New Orleans really does know how to throw a party. If you’re looking for some nightlife or an after-dinner drink, the French Quarter is where it’s at. This particular trip was free of any wild, crazy nights, but we did enjoy some incredible music at Balcony Music Club, some fun, unique drinks at The Carousel Bar, and a lazy, boozy afternoon at Cafe Beignet.