10 Essential Things to Do in New Orleans – My Hometown Adventures

As an author, I’m fortunate to have lived in and around New Orleans, Louisiana, my entire life. It’s a sultry, mysterious city that makes an intriguing setting for novels, especially the romantic thriller novels that I write. In two of my novels, Deceived and Concierge, New Orleans is the primary setting. Even in Shadows, Jigsaw, and Imagine, stories that are predominantly set elsewhere, the strong lure of New Orleans compelled me to write a few scenes that provide a glimpse of the area.

Because of this, when I meet readers who aren’t locals, either at conferences or through my website and social media, they often ask for recommendations of things to do in New Orleans. I enjoy sharing my ideas, so I’ve started a list of things I love to do in my hometown. Here’s that list, in no particular order…

What To Do In New Orleans & Where I Get Inspiration For My Romantic Thriller Novels

1. Hit the streets!

NOLA’s streets have distinct personalities that are best absorbed while moving slowly so that you can study the architecture and look for hidden gems. Three of my favorite streets for a take-your-time visit are Saint Charles Avenue, Magazine Street, and Frenchmen Street.

Looking for grandeur?

From downtown, take a daytime trip down Saint Charles Avenue via a streetcar and absorb the beauty of the mansions and university buildings. Before heading back downtown, step off the streetcar at Audubon Park and take a walk through the park’s majestic oaks.

Looking to shop in a chic urban setting?

Magazine Street, from the Garden District to Uptown, has miles of shopping options, whether you’re looking for antiques, flea market finds, art, clothes, or mementos of your trip. Pick a few blocks, walk in and out of the shops and galleries, and savor the flavor of this unique street.

Looking for live music?

One great music option is Frenchmen Street’s two-block stretch in the Faubourg Marigny, which is known for fantastic live music. Check out the calendar at Spotted Cat Music Club or d.b.a. New Orleans and plan your time to visit the clubs. Or, grab a sandwich at Dat Dog, sit on the second-floor balcony while you eat, and watch the sidewalk musicians and brass bands on the street. BTW – Dat Dog even has a “Dat Chick,” a fried chicken dog!

2. Visit the National World War II Museum

This world-renowned institution tells the story of the war that changed the world through immersive exhibits, multimedia displays, fantastic documentaries, and compelling personal histories. If World War II history is your thing, you could spend a few days here and not see the same exhibit twice. It’s a really large museum, with multiple wings of exhibits, restaurants, and gift shops. For the sake of efficiency, spend time on the museum’s website and plan your visit before going.

A writing note: In Deceived, the first of my romantic thriller novels, I created a mystery that originated in the World War II era. While researching and visiting the museum, I was thrilled to talk to veterans who volunteer there. If you visit the museum, be on the lookout for the people who have served our country. They have great stories to share.

3. Stop by Crescent Park

Crescent Park is the perfect place to enjoy a walk while viewing the Mississippi River. It is a beautiful sliver of land with fantastic city views that stretches from the French Quarter to the Bywater.

A writing note: For Concierge, I needed a special setting where the heroine, Andi Hutchenson, an artist, would like to paint. I found it in Crescent Park. The Piety Street footbridge (pictured here) appears in Concierge. There are other reasons why Crescent Park and the Mississippi River make an appearance in the story… but I’m not giving those reasons away here.

4. Visit The Roosevelt

Soak in the elegant ambiance of The Roosevelt, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, an iconic hotel with a history as rich as the city in which it resides. It’s a great place to drink in the atmosphere and draw inspiration for my romantic thriller novels. The lobby is stunning at any time, but it is downright awesome in the summer months when the downtown heat is blistering. At Christmas, the lobby is transformed into a wonderland with spectacular decorations. (The photo of lights is a small view of the decorations). Even if all you do is enter the hotel on O’Keefe Avenue and meander through the lobby to exit on Baronne Street, you’ll be glad you visited. Plus, this hotel is more than a magnificent lobby. For generations, locals have gone to The Roosevelt to dine, drink, and be entertained. Hungry for a taste of Italy? Try Domenica Restaurant. Looking for a great cup of coffee? Try Teddy’s Café, the coffee shop just off the lobby. Want a cocktail in one of New Orleans’ oldest bars? Visit The Sazerac Bar, which claims to be the home of the world’s first mixed drink.

5. Spend time in the French Quarter 

The French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans. It has whatever you’re in the mood for, whether it’s shopping for antiques and souvenirs, dining in grand restaurants and po-boy houses, listening to music in bars and on street corners, walking along historic streets and the Mississippi River, and drinking cocktails. There’s so much to do in the French Quarter that I’ve compiled a separate list of “Ten Things This Local Loves To Do” in the French Quarter, from visiting the Saint Louis Cathedral to walking along Royal Street.

A writing note: My time as a resident of the French Quarter inspired Concierge, the fourth of my romantic thriller novels. The story in Concierge unfolds when human traffickers prey upon young people who have made French Quarter streets their home. A historic map of the French Quarter is on the cover of Concierge; the cathedral depicted on the cover is the Saint Louis Cathedral, which is in Jackson Square, in the heart of the Quarter.

6. Find Something Sweet, New Orleans-style

There are many options here, but for now, I’m focusing on three:

• Angelo Brocato’s. This Carrollton Avenue dessert and coffee shop has been a family-owned institution since 1905. We go there for home-made gelato and Italian deserts. If you go, buy a few bags of Italian Seed Cookies (a Barcelona family favorite), for later. My absolute fave: almond crescents (from the pastry case), with coffee. I love to sit at a table and watch customers come and go.
• Sucre. If you take my recommendation to visit Magazine Street (above), stop at Sucre’s original location and enjoy Chef Tariq Hanna’s beautiful and delicious chocolates, macarons, gelato, and other sweets (he even makes homemade marshmallows!). My fave: macarons, any flavor. I like to say that I only eat one… (There is also a Sucre in the French Quarter, on Conti Street, with a second floor café and balcony). 
• Hansen’s Sno Bliz. This family owned sno-ball stand is famous for the fluffiest shaved ice in the world and homemade syrups that are sublime. On hot summer days, there is usually a long line. It’s worth it. My fave: a sno-ball with almost any of the syrups, with cream.

7. Walk Through the Garden District

The Garden District is a jewel of a neighborhood that is home to stately mansions set in lush yards, and more. On Washington Avenue, you’ll find Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, one of the oldest cemeteries in the city, directly across from Commander’s Palace, a fabulous place for a fine dining lunch. There are also more casual dining options nearby, on Magazine Street. For a wonderful indie bookstore that is stocked with great titles and includes an assortment of books by locals (including my books), stop by The Garden District Book Shop, in The Rink shopping center, at the corner of Washington Avenue and Prytania Street. The book shop is a great place to meet up with a walking tour of the Garden District by Historic Tours New Orleans, which offers walking tours in other areas of the city as well. Another resource for a walking tour of the area is Garden District Walking Tours.

A writing note: in Deceived, the story’s heroine, Taylor Bartholomew, is a descendant of families that are firmly entrenched at the pinnacle of the New Orleans social hierarchy. Taylor lives in the Garden District, and multiple scenes take place there. The Garden District, though, is only one area of the city that appears in the story. Click here for more about my New Orleans’ inspiration for Deceived.

8. Do Some “Festing” at Jazz Fest

For two long weekends every year (the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May), the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrates music, food, and the culture of New Orleans and Louisiana. The lineup of musicians is published months ahead of time, and the variety, from gospel to jazz to pop icons, is always incredible. The festival is such a great time, an entire trip to New Orleans can be planned around a few days at the festival.

9. Make the drive to Studio Inferno

If you want to take a short drive and love glass artistry, go to Studio Inferno. The studio/gallery is right past the Orleans Parish line, at 6601 Saint Claude Avenue in Arabi. The artist/owner, Mitchell Gaudet, has a colorful personality. There are objects d’art in a variety of price ranges. It’s a great place for souvenirs!

10. EAT!

Like most people from New Orleans, I take food seriously. However, my recommendations come with a disclaimer: I have a shellfish allergy, which means that I don’t eat most of the local dishes that people rave about. All is not lost, though, because I can eat fish, and our cuisine offers more than just shellfish. Here are a few places that I think are fantastic:

• Emeril’s New Orleans: In the warehouse district, nestled into the corner of Tchoupitoulas Street and Julia Street, you’ll find Emeril Lagasse’s flagship restaurant. The contemporary Louisiana dishes are incredible, and the restaurant is always lively. If you’re into fine dining with a food-bar twist, make a reservation at the food bar, where you can chat with other diners while watching the chefs cook. My fave: Cornbread, please. And andouille-crusted gulf drum. And the chocolate soufflé. And…anything else!
• Fried Chicken. Okay, so this isn’t a place. Humor me, though, because for some locals, me included, pursuing the best fried chicken is a never-ending pastime. If you’re a fried chicken aficionado, try: Crabby Jacks; Emeril’s New Orleans; Galatoire’s; Canseco’s Market; Dixie Chicken & Ribs; and, my personal favorite, especially for work nights when my car magically takes me to the drive thru . . . Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen. If this list isn’t long enough for you, check out this NOLA.com article of reader picks.
• Mr. John’s Steakhouse and Desi Vega’s Steakhouse. Looking for a sizzling hot steak in classic steakhouse ambiance? Try Mr. John’s Steakhouse, on Saint Charles Avenue, where you can catch a glimpse of streetcars as they travel along the Avenue. Or, if you want to stay in the downtown area, go to Desi Vega’s Steakhouse, the chic cousin to Mr. John’s that provides views of Saint Charles Avenue or the beautiful oaks in Lafayette Square.

My fave at Mr. John’s Steakhouse or Desi Vega’s Steakhouse: any steak is great; at Desi Vega’s Steakhouse, try the tuna napoleon appetizer.  At both restaurants, be on the lookout for the special meatball that comes as a pre-dinner treat. Desi says it’s his mom’s recipe. If you’re greeted by Desi, tell him Stella Barcelona sent you.

• Commander’s Palace is an ultra-fine dining experience in the Garden District. We love to go there for celebratory dinners or for Sunday brunch. My fave: either the praline parfait or the bread pudding soufflé. (Yes, these are deserts. The food is great… but save room for desert!).
• Middendorf’s. Take a detour from the city and drive about 45 minutes to the laid-back world of Middendorf’s, where Horst and Karen Pfeifer and their friendly staff serve the most delicate tasting catfish you will ever have in your life. Go in the early evening,  sit on the deck, and soak in the beauty of Lake Maurepas. The waiter will ask you if you want your catfish “thick” or “thin.” It’s a tough question to answer. (I usually get thick.) But don’t let the emphasis on catfish fool you – this is more than a catfish joint. In the days before Hurricane Katrina, the Pfeifers owned Bella Luna restaurant, a classic fine dining restaurant that was in the French Quarter. A few of the dishes at Middendorf’s are reminiscent of Horst and Karen’s Bella Luna days, and the turtle soup rivals any in the city. One of my favorite Middendorf’s entrees is broiled flounder, I love Horst’s Oktoberfest celebration, and the homemade ice cream is fabulous.

• Mother’s Restaurant: This is a great casual dining experience. It is downtown, on Poydras Street, and it has fantastic sandwiches and other local dishes. It’s even open for breakfast. My fave: either the roast beef po boy or a turkey po boy, with a side of red beans and rice. Or, if you’re going for breakfast, get a biscuit and blackened ham.

• Willa Jean. The menu of this downtown restaurant has a great blend of farm-fresh healthy items, with a few decadent options. Everything I’ve tried at WJ is wonderful. Warning – a lot of other people think so as well. On weekends, at brunch time, the line is long. My fave: from the pastry and cookie case, get a few chocolate chip cookies, which might be the world’s best. Seriously. If you’ve had better, let me know!

I absolutely love to play tourist in my hometown, and there are plenty of things that I plan to do in the not too distant future. As I find new favorites, or think of things that I’ve inadvertently left out of this list, I’ll add them here. Remember – the French Quarter is a separate category; don’t forget to check out my list of things to do in the French Quarter, which I plan to update soon.

In the meantime, let me know in the comment section of this blog if you have a favorite thing to do in New Orleans that I’ve omitted. And one last thing – if you’re craving a bit of New Orleans, but can’t make a trip to the city anytime soon, try reading Deceived and Concierge, romantic thriller novels where the city is as much of a character as the people who drive the stories.

Take care, and stay in touch-