New Orleans
Three Perfect Days Eating & Sipping Through New Orleans
Beignets, bold cocktails, and historic streets in one delicious weekend
A long weekend built around classic New Orleans flavors, cocktails, and cozy neighborhood wandering. You’ll graze on local favorites, learn to cook Creole dishes, taste wines, explore historic streets, and end each day with easy-to-reach nightlife.
Highlights
Spend a day weaving between beignets, po’boys, courtyards, and cocktails in New Orleans’ most iconic neighborhood.
Stroll oak-lined streets past grand mansions, then linger over wine and small plates nearby.
Join a small-group cooking class to master gumbo, étouffée, and other local staples.
Cap evenings with live music, casual bars, and a guided haunted pub crawl.
Browse stalls at the French Market, then unwind along the Mississippi Riverfront.
Where to Stay
The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
Atmospheric mid-range boutique hotel in a historic building, with comfortable rooms and easy walking access to the French Quarter and many restaurants.
$140-220/night
Hotel Provincial
Charming 3-star property with courtyards and a pool on a quieter edge of the French Quarter.
$160-240/nightGood to Know
Cluster Your Days by Neighborhood
Plan French Quarter, Garden District, and Marigny activities on separate days or half-days so you can walk almost everywhere and avoid wasting time in transit.
Dress for Heat and Sudden Showers
Even outside peak summer, humidity can be intense and rain can appear quickly, so wear breathable fabrics and pack a light layer that can handle a drizzle.
Tipping & Cover Charges
Standard tipping is 15–20% at restaurants and bars, and many live-music venues add a small cover charge or suggest tipping the band in cash.
Use Streetcars Strategically
The St. Charles streetcar is scenic but not fast; use it for short hops between the French Quarter, CBD, and Garden District rather than tight connections.
Reserve Big-Ticket Experiences Early
Cooking classes, popular bistros, and certain tours can sell out, especially around major festivals and weekends, so book your must-dos before arrival.
Your Weekend Itinerary
Cafe Du Monde
Classic open-air cafe for beignets and café au lait; go for a plate of powdered-sugar beignets and sit facing Jackson Square if possible.
1h · $8-15 per person
Jackson Square & St. Louis Cathedral
Walk the historic square, admire the artists’ stalls, and step inside St. Louis Cathedral to appreciate its architecture and interior.
1h · Free (donation suggested for cathedral)
French Market
Browse this open-air market’s food vendors, local products, and casual stalls stretching along the riverfront.
1h 30m · Free to enter; pay for food or shopping
Verti Marte
Tiny takeout spot known for big, overstuffed po’boys—order a shrimp, roast beef, or all-that-jazz style and eat on a nearby bench or back at your hotel.
45m · $12-20 per person
Self-Guided French Quarter Historic Walk
Spend a couple of hours exploring Royal Street’s galleries, the ornate balconies on Chartres, and quiet side streets away from Bourbon Street.
2h · Free
Cochon Butcher
Casual offshoot of Cochon with excellent sandwiches, charcuterie, and small plates; try the muffuletta or pork belly sandwich and share a few sides.
1h 15m · $20-35 per person
Pub Crawl: New Orleans Happy Hour Ghost Walking Tour
Join a guided haunted bar crawl that visits at least three historic bars while sharing ghost stories and local lore; drinks are additional.[3]
2h · $30-40 plus drinks
The Vintage
Charming spot for coffee, beignets with creative toppings, and light breakfast plates; sit in the cozy interior before your bike tour.
1h · $12-20 per person
New Orleans City Bike Tour
Half-day small-group bike tour that departs near Washington Avenue and covers the Garden District, French Quarter, and other key areas with a local guide.[7]
3h 30m · $60 per person
Garden District Stroll & Lafayette Cemetery Exterior
After the tour, wander a few blocks among grand mansions and historic homes; view Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 from the perimeter if interior access is restricted.
1h · Free
Lula Restaurant Distillery
Bright, modern spot with an on-site distillery; order a Southern-influenced entrée and consider a house spirit cocktail if you’re not too tired from biking.
1h 15m · $18-30 per personWine Tasting at Second Vine Wine
Early-evening stop at a relaxed neighborhood wine shop and bar where you can taste a couple of interesting bottles and chat with staff.
1h · $15-30 per person depending on pours
Adolfo’s
Intimate, cash-only Italian-Creole spot above a bar on Frenchmen Street; arrive a bit early, order a fish topped with their famous Ocean Sauce, and share a bottle of wine.
1h 30m · $25-40 per person
Frenchmen Street Live Music
Pop into a few music clubs along Frenchmen Street after dinner, sampling jazz, funk, and brass bands in small venues.
2h 30m · Often free entry or small cover, plus drinks19 activities across 3 days
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