My Perfect NOLA Itinerary

Hey Yall!

I promised you a look at my perfect itinerary for NOLA since I visited for the 1st time in June. Now, the following is MY perfect itinerary, I’m a laid-back personality with a likkle (“little” for my non West Indians lol) turn up. To me, NOLA is the perfect place to be a foodie, and I feel like you can fit a ton of things into a weekend getaway. If you read my blog about NOLA, you will know that every meal I had was a hit, so you might see a couple of repeats included below. 

Day 1:

Arrival in New Orleans: Woo Hoo! Get your bags and catch a ride to your hotel/Airbnb. There are a couple of Airbnb options in NOLA that are budget friendly but keep in mind that the closer you are to the French Quarter the more money you should expect to spend on boarding. I would call myself picky, my friends would call me bougie (lol), so if the AIRBNB doesn’t look too appealing, I’m not staying there. 

Sight Seeing: Settle in and freshen up before heading out to see some sights. I recommend signing up for a tour to be taken around. There are a ton of tours available in NOLA, including city sight bus tours and bike tours. Each of them have different stops so depending on what you are interested in seeing pick your perfect option. If you want to get out there, I recommend a city sight bus tour where you can hop on and off. You will def end up in Jackson Square where you can see the historic St. Louis Cathedral.

Lunch: While in the area, make sure you stop by Café Du Monde to try their famous beignets. This just happens to be perfect for a light snack. Warning: Be prepared for the lines as it is the middle of the day, but this is a must do while visiting. Trust me, the beignets are heavenly.

Mardi Gras World: Opting for a bit more culture? Visit Mardi Gras World to view and learn more about how the floats and props are created for the parade. You can dress up, eat a slice of king cake and take in some history about Mardi Gras. 

Dinner: Head to the Acme Oyster House for a taste of their oysters. I’ve heard nothing but great things about this restaurant and although I haven’t been to this spot, I’ve had the chargrilled oysters in NOLA and there are no words. 

Day 2: 

Brunch: Head to Morrow’s for Brunch. Now I HAD to include Morrow’s in this lineup because the food was just that good. Get you a drink, some food and enjoy the ambiance. Get there early since the restaurant isn’t huge and you don’t want to be waiting all day. (BTW, their chargrilled oysters are something to talk about as well.)

Swamp Tour: Must do, especially if this is your first time visiting. Disclaimer that this tour runs for a couple of hours, but it is really adventurous and informational. 

Lunch: Head to Café Beignet and try their beignets and iced coffee. I’ve done a bit of research and heard that the beignets here come second to Café Du Monde, but the iced coffee here is much better. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to stop in when I visited, so that’s why it is on this itinerary as a must try.

Explore Bourbon: While you are there, make sure to explore Bourbon Street, you won’t be sorry! Although crowded, this is another must do! Make sure you stop at Tropical Isle for a Hand Grenade and Pat O’Brien’s for a Hurricane. I won’t lie to you, I did not like the Hurricane at all, it tasted like cough medicine, but you can’t go to NOLA and not have one. The Hand Granadas were actually really good, but also really sweet. You can choose between regular and frozen. I recommend frozen because you can avoid some of the sweetness of the drink and it will melt anyway. I have heard that even though you don’t taste the liquor in this drink, DO NOT overdue it because it will sneak up on you. I had one and was lit the rest of the evening.

Might as well spend the rest of your evening bar hopping. Bourbon street at night is a bit wild but you will have a ton of fun. Before the night is over, head to Felix’s for some alligator bites, I am an advocate for both grilled and fried. You might feel a bit weird after spending the day watching live gators in the swamp, but you won’t regret getting a taste. 

Day 3:

Let’s just call this the bougie day! Lol.

Brunch: Take a ride on the Street car and head to brunch at Brennan’s. I did not get to stop here but I’ve heard great things about this spot. Brennan’s has been around since 1946 and is known for their lavish breakfast and Bananas Foster. Stop in to this famously pink colored building to indulge.

Drinking Tour: Sign up for a booze tour, you will be guided to different bars to learn their history and taste some of their famous drinks. You can learn and turn up at the same time. I didn’t get to participate in this activity during my last trip, but this is something that I think will be lowkey and still fun.

Dinner Cruise: Book a dinner cruise on the Steamboat Natchez, you get to eat, take pictures on the boat, listen to some wonderful music and take in the beautiful view.

Nightcap: If you are up for it, hit up some bars on Frenchmen Street, where things are still going well into the night but a bit calmer than Bourbon Street. Here you can have a night cap before heading back to home base to prepare to for departure tomorrow.