Since I grew up right outside New York City and then lived in Manhattan for 8 years in my 20s, instead of writing a full guide/itinerary to NYC I am posting separate food/drink/activity guides since there is so much to do in NYC! There will be tons of articles coming out for all of your traveling to New York needs! One of my favorite activities is getting brunch in Flatiron NYC area. The Flatiron District in NYC is a very central, trendy and bustling area of NYC and is my favorite neighborhood so it’s my favorite area to write about (and brunch in)!
Disclosure: This brunch Flatiron NYC guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.
PACKING FOR NEW YORK CITY: New York has all four seasons so make sure you pack for when your trip is! The winters get quite cold and the summer months are humid and sticky. Spring is my favorite. For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!
TRAVEL INSURANCE: When visiting New York City, I highly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know what may happen to your flights, a death/personal emergency in your family, or an accident happening while traveling (think: getting mugged, falling while hiking and spraining your ankle, literally any accident than can happen ANYWHERE!). World Nomads makes it super easy and I never leave for a trip without getting their insurance. Most importantly it’s extremely affordable: get your World Nomads travel insurance before your trip here!
The Smith is always a solid brunch spot no matter who you are with, what kind of food you want, or the atmosphere you are craving. I always recommend The Smith to tourists when they’re visiting. With various locations around the city, their newest NoMad location is a few feet away from Flatiron and a perfect brunch near Flatiron option.
Friend of A Farmer
A classic brunch spot on Irving Place, probably my favorite street in NYC. Friend of a Farmer is always fantastic and has any type of food someone could want for brunch and is one of my favorite spots to hit for brunch in Flatiron.
Almond
Almond is one of the most accessible brunch spots near the Flatiron building, a location where a lot of good brunch restaurants are lacking. The food is always good and they have some great sidewalk tables in the warmer months. They also have a location in the Hamptons.
Follia is one of those places you walk by a million times but never think anything of it. I went to their boozy brunch three weekends in a row once because it is that good. The Follia bottomless brunch deal is solid, especially for the trendy Flatiron area, and the food is always good. One of my top recommendations for bottomless brunch NYC. PS: Get the Bloody Mary. $30 for unlimited drinks and entree.
Upland
Upland is a super trendy NYC restaurant that serves a good brunch. Obama went here. It’s not cheap but it’s worth it for brunch and dinner. I frequent here (especially with my parents). You must get the mushroom dish. This is probably the fanciest brunch in Flatiron but again, highly recommended.
PS 450
PS 450 is known for their rowdy boozy brunches during the weekend – so don’t come here for a chill brunch. It is a party each day of the weekend and you can’t go wrong. Definitely one of the most fun bottomless brunch in NYC. $50 for unlimited drinks and an entree.
ABCv
ABCv is the newest of the ABC family (ABC Kitchen & ABC Cocina) and is their pure vegetarian restaurant. Their brunch menu is no different and packs lots of veggies into creative dishes that are amazing. They also have lots of outdoor sidewalk seating making it a great spot for Flatiron brunch.
Barbounia
Barbounia is an extremely good Mediterranean spot, which Flatiron lacks for the most part. This is both a trendy parents crowd brunch spot or can be a lot of fun if with friends. You can add on unlimited champagne cocktails just for $20 to any of your entrees. For good food and flowing champagne cocktails, come to Barbounia for bottomless brunch.
La Pecora Bianca
La Pecora Bianca is an easy brunch spot to meet up with a lot of people and you don’t necessarily need a reservation. It’s a few blocks from the Flatiron building on Broadway. The decor is cute and bright and the food is good.
Tavern 29
Tavern 29 is one of my all-time favorite boozy brunches in the summer. The restaurant boasts 3 floors with the top floor being the best of all – a rooftop with plenty of long tables giving you all the drinks and food you need. While the roof doesn’t have good views (since it’s only 3 floors up), the vibes make up for it. Their bottomless brunch deal is good for the city and this is a solid spot to come for boozy brunch in Flatiron during the warm weather. The deal is add $25/per person to the entree you get for unlimited drinks.
Boqueria
Boqueria has multiple locations around the city, including Flatiron, and is a great tapas spot. Their boozy brunch includes all the usual foods on their menu as well as a churros sundae (which is beyond amazing). It is $39 per person for unlimited drinks and the food. You can also order a la carte if not everyone in your party is drinking.
Clocktower
Clocktower is a fancy brunch restaurant with your typical brunch food. It is located right off of Madison Square Park…in the tall clocktower building aka RIGHT in Flatiron so its perfect for brunch near the Flatiron District! Go here for a nicer occasion.
The Crooked Knife
A well-known boozy brunch spot, The Crooked Knife also has a great deal in the area. With locations in both Chelsea and Murray Hill, they are both very close to Flatiron. The one in Murray Hill also has some great outdoor patio seating. $43 for unlimited drinks and entree.
Street Taco
Street Taco is a newcomer to the area, and a great one for a neighborhood which was in need of a solid Mexican spot. I have come here for multiple meals (dinner and brunch) and everything I get has always been amazing. Street Taco has one of the cheapest and best NYC bottomless brunch deals and I highly recommend it for a bottomless brunch in the Kips Bay area. Also get the brussel sprouts taco – seriously. $25 for unlimited drinks added to your meal.
Sarabeth’s
Sarabeth’s is always a solid brunch plan in any of their locations (they have many around NYC!), Flatiron being no exception. Definitely make a reservation in advance but come here for a good family brunch when you want your classic NYC brunch.
Click on any of the restaurant’s names above to learn more or make a reservation!
There are so many places to stay in New York City it gets overwhelming. If you are looking at this guide for the best brunch near Flatiron, chances are you want to stay at a hotel in Flatiron. Flatiron is right in the middle of Manhattan and has every subway, attraction and restaurant you could possibly need right there. Flatiron would definitely be my recommendation to stay in New York! You can
AIRBNB NYC: Obviously there are sooo many apartments in New York and plenty of residents rent out their apartments to Airbnb! There are so many cute apartments in Flatiron you can’t go wrong going this route either. Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!
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Did I miss one of your favorite NYC Flatiron brunch spots? Let me know in the comments so I can go there next! Looking for another US city guide? Check out my New Orleans Travel Blog or Charleston Itinerary! Head here if you are looking for my USA country guide.
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Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.
I spent a weekend in Charleston with a friend and loved this little Southern city and had the best time eating our way through it. While it was only a little over 36 hours in Charleston, we felt like we hit all the hot spots and even spent time at a gorgeous plantation that is a Charleston must-visit. You could also hit a lot of spots at a slower pace with three days in Charleston. Read on for the best places to eat at and the top tourist spots to hit during 36 hours in Charleston, South Carolina.
Disclosure: This 36 hours in Charleston guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.
36 Hours in Charleston Travel Tips
HOW TO GET TO CHARLESTON SC: We flew JetBlue to Charleston from NYC and it was super easy. All major airlines fly to Charleston within the US Iso it should be fairly straightforward (and cheap!) to get direct flights to Charleston. The flight is around 2 hours from NYC. You can take a quick Uber from the airport to the downtown area for only around $20 USD!
Travel Insurance:Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Charleston’s King Street is downtown Charleston’s main shopping street. It is a must-visit on your Charleston weekend itinerary and I definitely recommend walking up and down one or two times. There are so many cute, trendy boutiques for shopping as well as your usual big shopping chains. The street is always busy and very touristy. Lots of the main restaurants (below) are also on King Street, but we liked it more for the boutique stores 🙂
City Market Charleston
City Market is Charleston’s main, most popular market and is over 200 years old. You can find anything from food, drinks, and little southern gifts here. It is always bustling and fun to walk through at anytime during the day. There are over 100 authentic vendors here, and I suggest getting dried Okra chips (which you can only get in Charleston). City Market is a must-do on any Charleston itinerary.
Carriage Ride
Another one of the best things to do in Charleston is horse carriage rides are very popular in the downtown area. Palmetto Carriage Rides is one of the main companies, but any of them are fine. They take you around downtown and it is a fun experience and a great tourist activity for spending a short time in Charleston.
Charleston Battery is the tip of the peninsula of the city and is a nice walk around the water with pretty views over-looking the city harbor. Around here you can also see a row of historical cannons they used to use back during the war. If you keep walking along the water you will hit Waterfront Park which is just a gorgeous area to walk around in the city. I suggest walking through the residential little streets to get here from King Street; the quaint, gorgeous, colorful townhouses are amazing to see.
Rainbow Row
Pretty self-explanatory, this is the street that is made up of a stretch of colorful townhouses that you see in all the tourist magazines and websites about Charleston. It is so pretty and colorful and so nice to walk around here. This is a must-visit when spending a weekend in Charleston. There will always be tourists in front of the houses taking pictures.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
When you think of Charleston you think of Southern plantations. Magnolia Plantation is the most popular and famous in Charleston and it was amazing. It was about a 20 minute Uber ride outside of downtown Charleston and it was so worth it! They even have a little farm in the front (good for kids) where they have gorgeous peacocks roaming around. We spent more than an hour getting lost in the gardens on the plantation, they were so beautiful. I definitely suggest spending half a day of your weekend in Charleston exploring Magnolia Plantation.
Here are some more things to do if you have more time than a weekend in Charleston!
Charleston has a food scene that isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Definitely check out some of these best restaurants in Charleston during your weekend in Charleston (we tried to fit in as MUCH as possible.. felt gross after, but totally worth it)!
Brunch In Charleston
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit: a must-visit (see picture at right). This HAS to be on your Charleston itinerary. This tiny tiny shop always has a line out the door (it’s on King Street) and for good reason; their biscuits are AMAZING and do not disappoint.
Husk: Most famous restaurant in Charleston and their brunch is no different. Won one of the top brunch spots in America in 2017.
Leon’s: Very famous lunch spot in Charleston known specifically for the oysters and bloody marys. Leon’s is located on King Street but all the way at the top (farthest from downtown area), about a 25 minute walk. The place is very divey. I can’t eat oysters but my friend said the oysters were some of the best she’s ever had! The drinks were also delicious. Leon’s is a must-visit for tourists and locals alike during a weekend in Charleston.
Xaio Bao: Not sure who visits Charleston for Asian food, but Xaio Bao is very well-known and has the best Asian food in the area.
Fig: So Fig and Husk are the two ‘must-go’ restaurants on any Charleston list. We tried to hit both in one night but failed. We made it to Fig and it was worth it. I thought the meals were beyond amazing and memorable and so were the drinks. I absolutely recommend Fig especially because it is only in Charleston. Must make reservations far, far in advance.
Husk: The other must-do and extremely famous. Try to hit both if you can for the experience. There is also a Husk in Nashville. Must make reservations far, far in advance.
Magnolia’s: We ended up going here for lunch just because we had no more dinners left and we wanted to hit it – the food was very good and fresh and the restaurant was big. Definitely recommended.
Poogan’s: Real BBQ restaurant. We were in Charleston during Superbowl weekend so we decided to come here to watch the game AND have real southern BBQ. The food was extremely good and recommended for BBQ lovers.
Pavilion Bar: Another good rooftop bar with panoramic views of the city.
Market Pavilion Hotel’s Grill 225 Bar: Known for one thing: their Nitrotini drinks (see picture below). These are drinks made of Nitrogen and they come out literally smoking. The drinks are strong too. Go for the experience if anything, then go to the rooftop upstairs.
There are so many places to stay in Charleston. We stayed at The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel which was gorgeous. We had a great stay here; it was in a perfect location and walking distance to everything right in the middle of downtown Charleston. It is also directly across the street from Husk restaurant. It’s been around since 1853 so it definitely has that Southern charm feeling as well. I would absolutely stay here again and it’s definitely one of the best hotels in Charleston. Click here to read reviews for Mills House on TripAdvisor.
AIRBNB Charleston: There are also so many cute apartments in downtown Charleston with extra nice hosts. They are generally cheaper than hotels so if you like the Airbnb route instead of hotels I definitely recommend it in Charleston. Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!
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Did I miss something for a 36 hours in Charleston itinerary that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! Looking for another beautiful US South city? Check out my New Orleans Travel Blog! Head here if you are looking for my USA country guide.
Some emails suck. Mine don’t. Sign up to be the first to see my new travel itineraries and secret insider travel tips and hacks only my email subscribers get! I promise I will never spam you!
Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.
FULL DISCLOSURE:I am obsessed with New Orleans. I went to college here, so I lived here for 4 years in a little student bubble attempting to explore the city, while also maintaining a student life. I learned the best things to do in a New Orleans itinerary throughout the past 9 years. This New Orleans blog proves it. I have visited New Orleans countless time since graduating, each time exploring new areas. I feel strongly about anyone who pronounces it wrong; saying “New Or-LEANs” instead of “New Or-lins”…so when you’re visiting, please use the latter. I went to NOLA for the first time in 2008, only 3 years after Katrina devastated the city. I never would have known how much a city can come together and rebuild.
I watched New Orleans struggle while also exponentially rebuild. I watched the New Orleans Saints win their first Super Bowl championship EVER in 2010. I watched New Orleans HOST their first Super Bowl ever in 2013; dubbed ‘Super Gras‘ as Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl were in the same week. I watched the city expand, diversify and formulate, while I simultaneously did the same in college. I still watch it do this each time I visit; there is a new building, a new high-end restaurant winning global awards, and more tourists than ever before. NOLA is America’s most eclectic city in the country. When visiting, you don’t feel you’re in America; whether it be from the French sounding street names, from people walking with open cups of alcohol at all hours of the day on the streets or from the nicest people in the entire world living here.
So maybe I don’t have the true tourist experience in New Orleans, but that’s why this New Orleans travel blog is special as an insider local New Orleans experience. I learned NOLA as a tourist, a student, a resident and more. My New Orleans itinerary guide below reflects these NOLA statuses all meshed in to one; it’s an insider New Orleans experience.
Disclosure: This New Orleans travel blog guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.
NEW ORLEANS TRAVEL BLOG TIPS
How to get to New Orleans: New Orleans just re-did their airport and it reopened in Fall 2019 and is absolutely stunning. The old airport was small and decrepit. Now it’s insanely nice (code: MSY). Every major domestic airline flies to NOLA and they also have a bunch of international flights so it should be pretty easy to visit from anywhere! New Orleans Louisiana is in the South of the USA so it’s extremely close to anywhere in Latin America. Flying to New Orleans is super easy and quick!
TRAVEL INSURANCE: When visiting New Orleans, I highly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know what may happen to your flights, a death/personal emergency in your family, or an accident happening while traveling (think: getting mugged, falling while hiking and spraining your ankle, literally any accident than can happen ANYWHERE!). World Nomads makes it super easy and I never leave for a trip without getting their insurance. Most importantly it’s extremely affordable: get your World Nomads travel insurance before your trip here!
My number one and most obvious tip for this New Orleans travel guide. Walk around the amazing and famous French Quarter. The French Quarter is an amazing, eclectic area (but very touristy) and you should get lost throughout the Quarter filled with live music in the streets, bars that are always open, and boutique stores lining the different streets.
Make sure to ogle at the famous St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square, which you can’t miss – take in the views from Decatur Street.
Shop around the amazing artists that line the perimeter of Jackson Square, some of my favorite art pieces come from here… and the artists are more than happy to tell you their favorite NOLA story.
Stop at the New Orleans French Market to do some shopping for all of the souvenirs you could think of.
Lastly, don’t forget to stop for beignets at the famous, always crowded, Cafe Du Monde (more on that in food section – it must be in every New Orleans itinerary)!
Get Lost In The Marigny/Bywater
All the colorful cute houses and buildings you see in everyone’s New Orleans instagrams? They’re in the Marigny & Bywater areas. These areas are more downtown than the French Quarter and you can get their by walking through the Quarter past Frenchman Street, or take a quick Uber/Taxi. You can get lost in these streets staring at the colorful, bright houses that change on every block.
Tired after exploring the streets? Head to the edge of the Bywater to Crescent Park to relax and for amazing views of the French Quarter and Mississippi River.
Hungry and in the area? Head to my favorite insider New Orleans cafe: Satsuma.
There are a few New Orleans streetcar lines but I suggest taking the St. Charles line to get to Uptown through the Garden District. It’s a long, slow, often hot, ride but it goes along the famous St. Charles Street where you can stare at the amazing, southern mansions along the way. I suggest taking it all the way to Carrollton Street at the end during your New
When you reach Carrollton, go to the famous institution of Camellia Grill for brunch (see more in food section).
After brunch, walk down to Audubon Park/Tulane University. They are across the street from each other a few blocks from Carrollton. If you’re interested, Tulane’s campus really is gorgeous (maybe I’m biased 🙂 ) with amazing Southern buildings and the famous Bead Tree on campus!
Then, head into the gorgeous Audubon Park and walk around the park which is a few miles long and loops around the golf course. If you walk to the other side, cross the street (Magazine) and head to the Audubon Zoo or keep walking straight to “The Fly” which is the levee area where a lot of students and locals hang out, tan, and play sports along the Mississippi River. The sunsets are amazing here too.
New Orleans Swamp Tour
One of the best Louisiana activities to do while visiting NOLA is to head out to the swamps in the bayou and do a New Orleans Swamp Tour! Here you can take a tour on an airboat through the Bayou swamps, watch massive alligators around you and even feed them marshmallows. Any of the main hotels in the French Quarter will have brochures on the different swamp tour that you can book while you’re there, or, you can book in advance and secure your Swamp Tour spot here.
Another popular NOLA tourist activity is to take a Riverboat Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez down the Mississippi River in the French Quarter. It’s a nice boat ride with many departure times throughout the day that goes around the Mississippi, giving you another perspective of the city. You can book Riverboat Cruise tickets here.
Magazine Street is a great street that stretches from downtown to uptown with tons of cute boutiques, restaurants and bars lining the way. The houses and buildings are so cute and always decorated and it’s a great street to stroll around when you are looking to just walk around, explore, shop and eat.
WWII Museum
The World War II Museum in New Orleans is a must-see. It is the perfect rainy day or too-hot weather activity. The museum is put together extremely well and gives an in depth tour through WWII. People come from all over the world to see this museum as it is one of the top in the country.
Saints Game
New Orleans, and Louisiana as a whole, LOVE their New Orleans Saints. They are crazy about football and their team and going to a game at the famous Superdome is no different. If they are playing at home while you are there I highly suggest getting tickets and experiencing it! If they are playing away, you will see every single bar packed with screaming fans.
The New Orleans food scene is outrageous and is growing extensively. The nicest restaurants are affordable (at least comparable to New York City) and unbelievably amazing… I plan my visits to NOLA around my favorite restaurant recommendations. Unfortunately I can’t list everything or it would take days so I kept it to my top restaurants in each category to talk about. The foods here ARE the best things to do in New Orleans.
New Orleans Brunch Restaurants
Ruby Slipper: 5 locations, all extremely good. Ruby Slipper is a great NOLA brunch spot. It is always packed so make a reservation beforehand.
Insider Tip: Use the app “NoWait” to put yourself in line virtually for brunch when you wake up! They’ll text you when your table is ready.
PS: One time I sat next to Alec Baldwin here, so you know it’s good 🙂
Willa Jean: Trendy brunch spot by a famous NOLA chef that has taken over the city. This is a new must-hit spot for brunch when you’re visiting New Orleans. Definitely make a reservation beforehand – it is always packed.
Insider Tip: Get the cookies!
Camellia Grill: An institution in Uptown New Orleans. Camellia has been around for over 100 years and has so much history. It lived through Katrina and the servers are there to tell the stories. The food is outrageously greasy and yet so good. Be prepared to wait for a seat but I promise it is worth it.
Insider Tip: Get the Pecan Pie (and make sure you pronounce it peh-CAN (not pee-can) and ask them to fry the bottom of it. You will not be disappointed.
Atchafalaya: This is a nicer brunch spot with a full-out Bloody Mary Bar. It’s in the Garden District and it is a really good Southern brunch, with obviously amazing bloody marys. Go here for a nicer brunch and make a reservation beforehand.
Commander’s Palace: Commander’s is Uptown and is an extremely famous restaurant in New Orleans. The food is really great and eclectic. You must make a reservation as well as dress nicely! Best part for brunch? Their 50 cent martinis.
Satsuma: One of my favorite insider New Orleans spots, Satsuma has 2 locations in the Bywater and uptown. It is an amazing healthy brunch spot with a Southern flair.
Mahony’s Po-Boys: A great, always packed, po-boy spot uptown on Magazine Street.
Domilises Po-Boys: Another great well-known spot uptown known for their massive po-boys.
Hansen’s Sno-bliz: Snowballs are an amazing ices dessert and Hansen’s is notorious for the best. It is uptown on Tchoupitoulas.
Dat Dog: People love love Dat Dog for its amazing hot dog creations. There are a few locations around the city but its most frequented spot is late night on Frenchman street.
Cafe Du Monde: The famous Cafe Du Monde. A must, must, must go. Enjoy the sugar powdered dough with frozen coffee. Unfortunately you will wait on an extremely long line to get a table, since it’s the most popular spot in NOLA. It’s right off of Jackson Square so at least you get a good view while waiting in line!
Insider Tip: Go late night; it closes at 2AM!
Po BoyHansen’s Sno BlizCafe Du Monde
New Orleans Dinner Restaurants
Shaya: A relatively new restaurant (less than 3 years) pioneered by the famous Israeli Chef Alon Shaya. It won one of the best new restaurants in the country last year. Must. Go. All the plates are unreal.
Domenica: Another one of my favorites, I cannot not go to Domenica when I go on a New Orleans trip. Must get the cauliflower and the kale chips. Their pizza is also amazing. They also have a very good Happy hour deal with half off pizzas and drinks from 4-6pm! Domenica is also perfect for any kind of dietary restriction.
GW Fins: Another top-rated, amazing restaurant in the city right off Bourbon Street.
Peche: Another one of John Besh’s new restaurants that lives up to his hype. Peche is also relatively new and I finally went there for the first time last month – incredible.
Port of Call: This is a great restaurant when you want something casual and good for big groups. Port of Call is an amazing burger spot on Esplanade (which separates the French Quarter and the Marigny so it’s a perfect location.
Luke: Best burger in the city. They’re also known for their $1 oyster happy hours. Go for the burger, though.
Special New Orleans FOOD you should have: Abita Beer, King Cake (Mardi Gras season), Voodoo flavored Zapps Chips, Crawfish, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Po-boys, Snowballs, Daiquiris & Hand Grenades.
Click on any of the restaurant names to learn more and book reservations!
Bourbon Street: Ah, the famous Bourbon Street. Can’t go to NOLA and not party here. Any night of the week it will be a crowded, crazy night, but especially on the weekends. Make sure to definitely hit the Piano Bar in Pat O’Briens and get the famous hurricane to start out or end the night; it’s an institution and full of tourists and locals alike. Other fun, notable spots on Bourbon are Fat Catz and Gold Mine (a block off Bourbon known for their flaming Dr. Pepper shots), but really, all spots on Bourbon are fun. Make sure to take the time to try a hand grenade & hurricane drink and just walk around Bourbon with them in hand and watch the chaos unfold outside.
Frenchman Street: My FAVORITE area to bar hop in all of New Orleans. Frenchman Street is in the Marigny right past Bourbon and is a long stretch of bars with live music, in and outside. Some of my favorite bars are Maison, Cafe Negril, Spotted Cat, and d.b.a, but you really can’t go wrong in any of them. It is the most NOLA vibes ever and is fun any night of the week. There are always random people performing on the street and they’re always amazing too. Frenchman is a must-go, especially to get the real, NOLA, non-tourist feel of the city vibes.
Carousel Bar: A trendy off Bourbon Street that’s perfect for pre-dinner drinks. The actual bar is literally a carousel that rotates in circles!
Sazerac Bar: A nice bar inside the Roosevelt known for their drink, the Sazerec! Just get it.
Le Bon Temps: A well-known bar in New Orleans that is uptown on Magazine. A very good NOLA band, The Soul Rebels, play here weekly and it is an extremely fun, NOLA vibes spot.
Tchoup Yard: This is a relatively new bar that just opened on Tchoupitoulas Street which is a totally different concept for NOLA. It is a massive outdoor spot in an old parking lot with lots of bars, tables and games.
Bacchanal: Another amazing, true NOLA spot. Bacchanal is far, far downtown in the Bywater and rarely has tourists. You have to take a cab here from the Quarter but it is so worth it. Bacchanal is a wine bar with a massive outdoor area and live music many nights of the week. It’s amazing and a must-hit if you like wine, locals and live music 🙂
Tipitina’s: A fun concert hall known for its live music. Different bands play here all the time and it’s always a fun spot. Always check the schedule to see if you want to see anyone while you are visiting. I’ve seen some great New Orleans & famous musicians play here and I love the venue.
BEST NEW ORLEANS HOTELS
Naturally, my New Orleans travel blog has a lot of hotel/hostel/apartment recommendations! For New Orleans hotels, generally, tourists usually stay on or near Canal Street in the French Quarter and I highly suggest this. Everything downtown is walkable and it’s a great, lively area. There are plenty of chain and boutique hotels around that are perfect for staying at for any budget. I recommend the Marriott New Orleans, Roosevelt New Orleans, Windsor Court New Orleans or the new and trendy, one of the best new hotels in New Orleans, Ace Hotel (with an amazing roof). If you want to stay away from downtown, I highly suggest the cutest, Southern boutique hotel on the fancy St. Charles Street, The Columns Hotel.
AIRBNB New Orleans: There are also so many cute apartments in downtown New Orleans with extra nice hosts. They are generally cheaper than hotels so if you like the Airbnb route or are with a big group I definitely recommend it in New Orleans. Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!
PLANNING A TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS: Best Time To Visit New Orleans
My favorite local New Orleans travel tip is to visit New Orleans more than once; Visit on a random weekend to really get to see the city and to also visit for a certain event (like Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, etc.). This is the best way and best times to go to New Orleans
Anytime Except The Summer
The weather in New Orleans is almost always amazing…if you take out their 100 degree humid summers and their random downpours throughout the year with some hurricanes. Besides that, you’ll often get an amazing 75 degrees, especially when it’s freezing in the Northeast. NOLA continues to be an ever-changing, lively, eclectic city and there is so much to do and see that doesn’t revolve around a festival. Just avoid the summertime weather, it’s unbearable, unless you like cockroaches, humidity and 100 degree weather :).
New Orleans Mardi Gras
I don’t think Mardi Gras needs any introduction. Mardi Gras is truly one of the most cultural yet insane events I have ever experienced. New Orleans totally shuts down for 4 days and it becomes wild. The whole city is celebrating together in ways you never thought was possible. The parade decorations, costumes, beads are put together a year in advance and everything is perfected. You have to experience it for yourself to understand. Just make sure you know what you are in for – drinking all day every day, total debauchery, and the most fun, interesting characters you have ever seen. Everyone should visit for Mardi Gras at some point in their life. PS – No, you don’t have to do anything stupid to get beads thrown at you – they throw them at everyone🙂
New Orleans Festival Season
After you visit for a different weekend and learn the real New Orleans, make another trip down here for a festival. The best time of year to visit New Orleans? April. New Orleans in April means the best weather, and more importantly, festival season. It will be worth it. New Orleans is notorious for its different festivals and they are some of the best things to do in New Orleans. The most popular are French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest. French Quarter Festival New Orleans is a huge festival with lots of food and music stands all throughout the French Quarter & Jackson Square. Jazz Fest New Orleans spans two weekends in April and May and brings down thousands of visitors along with top-notch music performances. Jazz Fest consists of over 10 stages of music across all genres with lots of food vendors. It’s an amazing experience! Some other amazing festivals include Crawfest, Oak Street Po Boy Festival, Freret Street Festival and more.
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Did I miss one of the best things to do in my New Orleans travel guide that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! Be sure to check out my full country USA travel guide here too!
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Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.
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