A Long Weekend in New Orleans: Bourbon Street & Company

Last year in February, just about a month prior to the coronavirus shutting things down, I traveled to New Orleans for an extended weekend roaming the city in search of adventure. We all know Bourbon Street is synonymous with New Orleans, but what if I told you that this was just one of many distinct streets or districts within the city offering a variety of attractions, entertainment, live music, good eats, and great drinks! Below are some of my favorite spots throughout the city with particular focus on Bourbon Street, Frenchmen Street, and Magazine Street.

BOURBON STREET:

Bourbon Street is undoubtedly one of the most well known streets throughout the U.S. and the most recognizable street in all of New Orleans. It can be overwhelming exploring the sites and sounds up and down the multiple blocks that is Bourbon street but below is a list of some of my favorite spots and what makes them unique/special…

Red Fish Grill – A unique, casual New Orleans style seafood restaurant right in the heart of Bourbon Street. It had some of the best service of anywhere we went in town. The mood is very casual yet the service makes you feel like you’re in a more upscale establishment. The vibe is great but the wait can be long. I suggest you getting there early and putting your name on the list then grab a drink at their bar (plenty of space and great drink selections) or grab some fresh air out front and take in the sites and sounds of Bourbon Street to help pass the time. The food was savory and flavorful. I had the Red Fish dinner which consisted of blackened Red Fish with Olcra and couldn’t go without at least sampling the crawfish. Would highly recommend this stop as a must try for lunch or dinner.

Old Absinthe House – Landmark saloon serving unique absinthe cocktails in a historic building. Quirky atmosphere where the walls are covered from floor to ceiling with business cards from thousands of visitors who have left their calling card over the years. Wasn’t the friendliest of service, but was a unique spot where we stopped for one drink to explore the uniqueness of the place and hold us over until the next bar.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop – All the way down at the end of Bourbon Street, this dimly lit bar is one of the oldest bars around. I would highly recommend the outdoor patio on a nice sunny day. Beers were well priced but the downside is that space is limited and the crowds grow rather large at times so don’t be in a rush to grab a drink, be patient though as it is worth the wait.

Prohibition – This was one location that we spent a bit more time at as there was plenty of room to spread out and easy access to one of their many bars even when the crowds started to grow larger later in the evening. Definitely a great balcony spot with good views up and down the street allowing for great opportunities to people watch. Would be a prime location during Mardi Gras celebrations if you are one of the lucky ones to get a spot on the street during festivities that week (Here's to hoping for next year!)

Spirits – If you are looking for a place with a little more excitement Spirits is definitely a must stop locale. Here you can learn about the haunting history behind their world famous barber shop chair and after learning about the history strap in and take a ride in the chair while enjoying a barber shop chair shot. Be prepared to be humiliated by the server who I feel gets her enjoyment out of watching her victims spin around endlessly in the chair before being slapped around a bit and downing a shot. Great to watch, but I for one sat this one out. If the barber chair shot is not your thing just head a little further back in the bar where you can grab a seat and enjoy some live music at their dueling piano stage.

The World Famous Cats Meow – No trip to Bourbon Street is complete without a visit to this iconic spot. Here you will find a huge stage in the front which includes live music, a karaoke bar, and good drink specials all day long. Great atmosphere and the bartenders were fantastic, not only great service but also very friendly and had some great tips/pointers for things to do while in town. Also has a nice balcony overlooking Bourbon Street.

Pat O’Brien’s – This massive venue has a little bit of everything for everyone. Stop by their speakeasy style bar where you can listen to live music and witness some authentic blues tunes. Here you can enjoy some of the classic music which makes New Orleans such a special place. We had dinner here one night and ordered multiple different dishes so that we could sample and try a variety of seafood and New Orleans style cooking. Of note was their shepard’s pie, fried oysters, and gator bites. And you can’t leave Pat O’Brien’s without a stop at the bar and spending some time on their gorgeous patio. It was here where we encountered their famous Hurricanes which were by far one of the most enjoyable and refreshing drinks we sampled throughout the entire trip to NOLA. As far as the patio goes if possible you definitely want to try and enjoy the patio at dusk and/or at night when you can witness their fountain which is a magical combo water feature with flames which lights up the center of the patio creating a unique architectural and artistic design and one of a kind experience.

FRENCHMEN STREET:

If looking for that NOLA vibe but want to avoid the hustle and bustle of Bourbon Street step over to Frenchmen Street where you will find a multitude of additional bars, restaurants, and of course great music venues. Below are two of our favorite spots over on this part of town: Spotted Cat – Not very spacious and the big downside for us when we were there was that the bar was cash only. Not sure if this has changed recently or still the same as was then but be sure to have some good old fashion cash in hand just in case. The music was fantastic and the atmosphere great!

Blue Nile – a more spacious venue for sure, this place set the mood to ensure you get that classic blues/jazz feel. There was a large 7 man band playing the night we stopped in. The crowd loved them and their energy was contagious. Drinks were reasonably priced and gave a decent punch for the price. If you had to choose between the two I would highly recommend making the Blue Nile your priority, you won’t regret that you made the stop.

MAGAZINE STREET:

A little further off the beaten path is Magazine Street where you will find over a mile long stretch of tiny little artisan and retail stores, bars and restaurants, ice cream joints, and many other local small businesses. It's definitely worth a look if you have the time and allows you to support some of the great New Orleans small businesses. Below are a couple of the bars/restaurants we stopped at along our walk that afternoon.

Juan’s Flying Burrito – We stopped by this Mexican restaurant for lunch where we were quite surprised by their Margaritas and relatively cheap fare. The place doesn’t overly stand out with it’s typical Mexican décor but the food was great and the margaritas were fairly potent and reasonably priced. Nice, quick stop for a bite to eat and a drink… or two.

Red Dog Café – a low key, wonderful stop along this magnificent strip of bars, restaurants, shops, and boutiques. The feel is very authentic and charming. The service was great, particularly Erin who was extremely enthusiastic and very welcoming to our group. They have a great selection of specialty drinks that I would highly recommend!

Magazine Street is not obviously as well known as Bourbon Street; however, there are dozens upon dozens of local restaurants, bars, shops, galleries that will entertain you for an entire day. I would highly recommend setting aside a day or at the least an afternoon and hop along this mile or so long trek.

ADDITIONAL STOPS:

Manning’s – This was a very cozy and comfy sports bar near Harrah’s Casino about a block from the famous New Orlean’s Riverwalk. They have some hands on bar games (pop a shot basketball, darts, etc..) and a wide variety of beer sure to satisfy any particular taste buds.

Café Du Monde – This iconic New Orleans café has been known for café au laits, chicory coffee, and beignets since 1862. This is by far one of the top spots in all of New Orleans. They have a couple locations throughout town but the original and best location is downtown! We stopped here 3 times within our 5 day trip it was so delicious!!!

Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar – This well known, local spot has quite the character. Upon entering you immediately are immersed into a surfers dreamland. The food is “ok”, kind of your typical bar food; however, their unique drink selections are something of a one of a kind endeavor such as their famous “shark attack” which comes full with a toy shark submerged in the drink as well as their “scorpion shot” which literally is exactly what it sounds like, a shot of tequila with a real small scorpion inside (we decided to go with bourbon instead of tequila as our server was flexible with the shot choice.)

New Orleans Streetcar – This was a quick, cheap, and carefree way to get around town. We used it frequently to get back and forth between our Airbnb. Easy access to downtown and the rest of the city. Was nice to sit back and enjoy the local streets, sights, and sounds of what makes New Orleans neighborhoods all so unique. Since we were in town the week after Mardi Gras the remnants of thousands of beads were still evident all over town which made this experience that much more enjoyable.

Natchez 9 – If you’re looking for something outside of the main streets and lights of NOLA then the Natchez 9 would be my recommendation. This steam boat cruise on the Mississippi was an enjoyable 2 hour delight. We started out with a nice brunch buffet and I couldn’t pass up a Bloody Mary. Following brunch we went above ship to enjoy the wonder that is the Great Mississippi. Would highly recommend on a nice, sunny day. Great way to see the city outside the city.

Carousel Bar – at Hotel Monteleone. Exactly what it sounds like. An old carousel that was converted into a bar. The bar slowly turns at what seems to be a snails pace, but is a one of a kind experience. I will say that it usually is crowded and difficult to find a seat so not sure if it’s really worth the wait. But if you have the time and are nearby I would suggest stopping in and at least checking it out for yourselves.

Voodoo Museum – This tiny shop is worth the admission fee. It doesn’t take long to venture through the few small rooms that make up this museum; however, you won’t find another museum quite like this one. It gives a good history of what voodoo really is and how it came about. There is more than enough artifacts and exhibits to peak your interest and make this stop worth your while.

I hope your next trip to NOLA is one that you will never forget. Hopefully some of the suggestions above will help you make it even that much more memorable.