A man's Travel guide: New Orleans
New Orleans a city famous for its iconic nightlife, its music culture, incredible food and, of course, Mardi Gras. It is one of my go-to cities for a short break away from my busy city life, to leave the stress of the world behind and immerse myself in Jazz and never ending delicious food.
Here Are My Top Three Tips For Your Next Trip to New Orleans
Night Life for an Iconic Man
New Orleans is a city that comes alive of an evening, as the sun sets and the humidity from the day eases, the lights turn on, the music begins, and the alcohol starts flowing. I cannot think of another city with such a welcoming party scene, with music over-flowing into the streets and people throwing beads from balconies you instantly feel included in the crowd, even as a solo traveler.
Bourbon Street is the place to be if you want to experience the real adventure that is a night out in New Orleans. A street lined with bars and strip clubs, the party spills out onto the street. Grab a drink and spend the night checking out all the bars, live music, and bead-throwing that Bourbon Street has to offer. With the whole street turning into one giant party of a night, you quickly find yourself chatting and dancing with strangers.
No trip to New Orleans is complete without trying the famous Hand Grenade, a cocktail made following a secret recipe and that is only served in five bars within the French Quarter. Served in a bright green, grenade-shaped glass, with refills available for only a few dollars it is no surprise that it is the go-to drink on a night out in Bourbon Street. However, be warned this is not a drink to be messed with, as it lives up to its reputation as being the most powerful drink in New Orleans.
You will not need more than a few to get you in the true party spirit, New Orleans style. Another must-try cocktail is The Hurricane, a rum-based drink with a strong passion fruit flavor and normally something I save for a little later in the night as a short break from the mighty hand grenades.
If you’re looking for something a little bit different and laid back, then the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone is worth checking out, famous for having a revolving bar just like a carousel, but with alcohol rather than horses. Or Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, taking you back in time to the 1700s when they first opened their doors. Thankfully, the menu has updated with time, now serving frozen cocktails, alongside classic beers Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop offers you a taste of what life used to be like in New Orleans.
Night Life for an Iconic Man
New Orleans is a city that comes alive of an evening, as the sun sets and the humidity from the day eases, the lights turn on, the music begins, and the alcohol starts flowing. I cannot think of another city with such a welcoming party scene, with music over-flowing into the streets and people throwing beads from balconies you instantly feel included in the crowd, even as a solo traveler.
Bourbon Street is the place to be if you want to experience the real adventure that is a night out in New Orleans. A street lined with bars and strip clubs, the party spills out onto the street. Grab a drink and spend the night checking out all the bars, live music, and bead-throwing that Bourbon Street has to offer. With the whole street turning into one giant party of a night, you quickly find yourself chatting and dancing with strangers.
No trip to New Orleans is complete without trying the famous Hand Grenade, a cocktail made following a secret recipe and that is only served in five bars within the French Quarter. Served in a bright green, grenade-shaped glass, with refills available for only a few dollars it is no surprise that it is the go-to drink on a night out in Bourbon Street. However, be warned this is not a drink to be messed with, as it lives up to its reputation as being the most powerful drink in New Orleans.
You will not need more than a few to get you in the true party spirit, New Orleans style. Another must-try cocktail is The Hurricane, a rum-based drink with a strong passion fruit flavor and normally something I save for a little later in the night as a short break from the mighty hand grenades.
If you’re looking for something a little bit different and laid back, then the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone is worth checking out, famous for having a revolving bar just like a carousel, but with alcohol rather than horses. Or Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, taking you back in time to the 1700s when they first opened their doors. Thankfully, the menu has updated with time, now serving frozen cocktails, alongside classic beers Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop offers you a taste of what life used to be like in New Orleans.
Food
The wild nightlife is not the only reason to head to New Orleans; its world-class Creole food is a reason on its own to keep me coming back to New Orleans.
Brennan’s Restaurant is my number one stop for breakfast after a long night partying my way up and down Bourbon Street, serving some of the best New Orleans style coffee in the city and breakfast dishes with a Creole twist, including my all-time favorite crawfish scramble. If the unique food wasn’t enough the restaurant’s décor transports you back in time to the French Revolution with a dining experience like no other.
Of course, no trip to New Orleans is complete without trying a Po’boy, a traditional Louisiana style sandwich normally filled with roast beef or some kind of fried fish. Top of my list for Po’boys is Johnny’s Po-Boy Restaurant, established in 1950 in the heart of the French Quarter and famous for everything being made fresh on site each day. They have an extensive menu of Po’boy fillings, but if you're looking for a true New Orleans experience, I would recommend either the alligator sausage or the more traditional fried shrimp.
Deanie’s Seafood should be on every seafood lovers New Orleans bucket list, serving up the best seafood in town. Whether you are looking for their amazing oyster bake or just a regular crawfish broil, Deanie’s is absolutely one place you should make sure you try.
A word of warning though: expect a long queue!
After a night of partying and ordering more hand grenades than you can remember there is nothing better than a bag full of freshly cooked Beignets, a French deep-fried pastry covered in sugar as you wander back to your hotel. Café Du Monde has a constant queue of people and for a good reason, as they make the best beignets in town and they’re served fresh 24/7.
Music
It’s important not to forget that New Orleans is the home of Jazz and that no trip to New Orleans is complete without experiencing the very best of the best that the city has to offer.
You can go into pretty much any Jazz bar on Bourbon Street or King’s Street and find better music than anywhere else in the world, but the most famous three are Frenchmen Street Bar, The Spotted Cat Music Club, and the New Orleans Jazz Market.
With no reservations and barely any dress code, make sure you get in there early and grab a table so you can enjoy the best music the USA has to offer.
New Orleans is a city that is best experienced multiple times, as there is just so much to see and do! If you have already visited the Big Easy and seen it for yourself, tell us in the comments about your adventures in New Orleans or, if you’re currently planning a trip, what are you most excited about?
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Sam is a writer from the UK with a strange fixation on making as many things from scratch as possible. Whether it's brewing beer or making hot sauce, Sam is determined to try and make everything, as well as writing or making videos about it as he goes.