I may live in Houston, TX now, but I grew up in New Orleans. It is one of my favorite cities, and I love playing tourist there! So I am bringing you the best 3 day New Orleans itinerary from someone who lived there for 20 years (itinerary at the bottom)!
THE BEST 3 DAY NEW ORLEANS ITINERARY
WHERE TO STAY
I highly recommend staying in the French Quarter! New Orleans is a big walking city, so if you stay in the French Quarter, you’ll be in walking distance of everything! I always stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel New Orleans. It’s in a great location right on Canal St.
FOOD
New Orleans has the best food IMO so COME HUNGRY! There are so many incredible options, so I’m rounding up my top favorites below:
Brennan’s *my favorite brunch spot
Tableau
Mr. B’s
Parkway Tavern (for poboys)
Dragos
Acme Oyster House
Jack Rose
Commander’s Palace
Cafe du Monde – beignets
Morning Call – beignets
DRINKS
Carousel Bar
Hot Tin
Frenchmen St
THINGS TO DO/SEE
St. Louis Cathedral
Jackson Square
French Market
Cemetery Ghost Tour
WWII Museum
ITINERARY
Friday
Brunch/Lunch
We are walking to Mr. B’s for brunch/lunch at 11:30! I highly recommend trying the fried oysters, crab cakes, and the gumbo
*I recommend making reservations
After lunch, we are walking across the street to the Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone for some drinks! Yes, this bar is really a carousel! Such a fun spot for drinks and to hang out.
Dinner
We are getting some amazing seafood at Drago’s! I recommend trying the chargrilled oysters!
*I recommend making reservations
We are ending the night with a cemetery ghost tour from New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tour. They have several tour options, but I did the haunted cemetery bus tour at 9:30 pm. The tour guide was SO INFORMATIVE!!! I seriously learned so much about the history of New Orleans! You also get to make a pit stop at Morning Call for beignets during the tour (*cash only)!
Saturday
Brunch/Lunch
We are walking to Tableau for brunch/lunch at 11! I highly recommend trying the gumbo
*I recommend making reservations
After lunch, we are going sightseeing! At the tour last night you learned all about these sites:
First, we are crossing the street to visit St. Louis Cathedral! Next, we are going to walk around Jackson Square and check out the various artists displaying their work. Next, we are walking over to the French Market to pick up any gifts for yourself or others. I cannot recommend purchasing from the French Market enough – everything here is made by local artists!
Now we are heading back to the hotel to freshen up before hopping in an Uber and going Uptown! We are going to Hot Tin rooftop bar to take in the New Orleans skyline while enjoying a cocktail. After a few drinks, we are going down to Jack Rose restaurant (on the first floor) for dinner. I highly recommend getting a bunch of appetizers to share instead of entrees (the apps are superior IMO). *I recommend making reservations
Next, we are hopping back in an Uber and heading to Frenchmen St in the French Quarter to listen to some jazz music. I recommend just walking up and down the street and hopping in the bar that sounds the most enticing! This street is a local favorite for iconic New Orleans sounds.
To end the night, we are walking back to our hotel by way of Bourbon St. I don’t love spending a ton of time on Bourbon, but I think everyone should experience it once! Frenchmen St. is at the end of Bourbon, so we will get to walk the whole street! Feel free to stop in any bars along the way!
Sunday
Breakfast/Brunch
We are ending the trip with my favorite brunch restaurant in the world: Brennan’s. The eggs Benedict is DELICIOUS! They are famous for their bananas foster (it’s incredible)
*I recommend making reservations