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We would love to visit New Orleans. Never been and basically don't know anything about the city. We have ZERO desire to go for Mardi Gras, or any other time when the city is slammed with people, and have zero desire to sweat to death there. We can stay here in Florida and do that perfectly well. So, suggestions for when to go and things to see and do. And dining recommendations! With regard to the latter, classic NO type dining. Thanks for any help.

There is something happening in New Orleans all the time, so your best bet is to avoid the biggest holiday/festival times. Those would include the end of Carnival, French Quarter Festival, Jazz Fest, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, etc. The nicest times -- outside of those -- are March through early May, and late September through early November.

In terms of traditional NOLA dining, brunch at Commander's Palace is a must (much better than Brennan's, IMHO, and the Court of Two Sisters is not on my list of recommendations). The classic trio of Arnaud's, Antoine's and Galatoire's will check the box as well. Cochon is a must for Cajun, and John Besh's flagship, August, is special occasion splurge (though they offer a bargain lunch some days). But the NOLA dining scene is ever-evolving, and puts new spins on old-style dining; it's worth getting out of the French Quarter. The NO forum on Chowhound.com is a tremendous resource. My personal favorite restaurant is Coquette, in the Garden District.

OK, thanks! I was hoping you would chip in. I guess I don't mind SOMETHING going on, but the pictures of the crowds at Mardi Gras just turn me off! Thinking now maybe April or beginning of October. Can't go this October though, as already have something planned on the beach here in Florida. Anything specific going in April or October?

Thanks for the dining info. Will have to do some serious research on that.

Last weekend of April and first weekend of May are Jazz Fest. I can't think of anything major in October other than Halloween (which is nothing like, say, Fantasy Fest in Key West), but there's bound to be a football game that draws people to town -- though, again, nothing on the scale of Mardi Gras or the Super Bowl. (I'm going next weekend myself, so I hope there's nothing major going on!)

OK, thanks for the info! Would appreciate hearing about your trip upon your return..

Haven't been in years but way back when the advise about getting out of the Quarter is right. There are some classic places in the quarter but you get the tourist treatment in most. Bourbon street is gross after 9:00 and during the day most bars are hit or miss. The area around Harrahs casino has grown up and is more of a grown up place to be. I forget the name of the alley there but the Manning's own a sports bar and there is a brewery.

Glad you made this post - we have never been to New Orleans and are going for the first time over the Martin Luther King holiday weekend in January. We will be watching this post for restaurant/bar recommendations.

OK, hopefully there will be lots of info posted here! And hope you guys can also post a note upon your return. Where are you staying?

Bourbon Orleans - we are attending Pardi Gras, which is a Parrot Head function & this is the host hotel.

Ok, sounds like a fun time! Enjoy!

Carol, I asked a friend that was in the restaurant biz in NO what he liked. He recommended the Chophouse on Magazine St. It is old school and based on the picture you posted of the steak you had at Dreams it might be right up your alley. Menu and happenings on there website. http://chophousenola.com

OK, thanks for the recommendation!!!

It's part of a restaurant group, usually that gets some consistency and quality.

I was in New Orleans last month for a convention. We were very happy with our accommodations at the New Orleans Marriott at 555 Canal Street. It was very conveniently located. I would definitely look into some of the tours offered - the favorites of many were the Swamp Boat Tours and the Cemetery tours. We went on the Steamboat Natchez for a dinner/jazz cruise. Get a 3 day pass for the street cars and double-decker buses. You can ride all over the city and see the sights and hop off and on. The WW II museum was wonderful - allow plenty of time. As with any big city, use caution and stay alert for scammers and pickpockets. I did not go to Bourbon Street but those who did enjoyed it and traveled there in groups. Like another poster stated, it does get rowdy in the evenings. New Orleans is a walking town, wear comfortable shoes. Visit the French Market, Jackson Square, and you must have coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde. Riverwalk and Harrah's casino are within walking distance if you are fit enough to walk several long blocks. I would not rent a car, it is very stressful driving around the congested areas. You can't go wrong with so many good restaurants around. I enjoyed the Palace Cafe, Daisy Duke's, Ruby Slipper, Oyster House, etc. Pick up a guide book and check out the many good restaurants there. Make reservations in advance if you want to go to any of Emeril's places.

thanks for the info!

hi,
although not in anyway an expert on 'Nawlins', we have been going there pretty frequently for 30 years.
For tourists the two areas most traveled are the French Quarter and The Garden District. I would urge one to stay in the French quarter (FQ) on their first visit. It's about a mile or so square area along the river. There are many hotel choices of varying quality and prices. Keep in mind "boutique" or "historic" usually means "small rooms and small bathrooms", sometimes quite thin walls. As is the case in most locations events and conventions have a tremendous effect on hotel rates. Unfortunately in NO there is often something going on.

We often stay at what is now the Courtyard Iberville, a Marriot hotel that shares a huge building with a sister property, The ritz Carleton. It's a medium priced hotel for the area. We like it because it is an all "suite" hotel and has a nice living area and bedroom. We especially liked it last weekend because they have two large flat screens. My spouse has never quite developed a taste for college football other than following the team where we went to school. I don't think that will change so when in room two TVs were nice.

It's on a street near the top of the quarter running parallel with Canal street that is the boundary of the FQ. It is a block away from the famed bourbon street where many a lass has earned her cheap beads and many lads and lassies have consumed waay to many spirits. One of the purveyors advertises "Big A$$ Beers", so it's probably not a gourmet drinker's cup o tea. For most I think once is enough. Though there are some great spots with good music along Bourbon. A block over and parallel to Bourbon is Royal street. One of my favorite places for a walk. It runs the length of the quarter and is filled with antique stores and art galleries and has a number of street performers..it's the big leagues for street performers and some are quite good. This year there was a hound dog that pretended to be passed out with her feet sticking in the air and a hurricane glass in her paws as her owner gave a spiel and people dropped money in her hat. Acrobats, musicians, trick cyclists are common.

On a visit some things I would do. Take a guided Cemetery tour. Walk the quarter . take St. Charles Street car out to Washington Avenue, walk down and do a guided or self guided tour of Garden district. Old beautiful homes with history. Get reservations for lunch at Commanders Palace. A three course lunch of delicious food...highly recommend the turtle soup and bread pudding soufflé. It's about 25 $, a tremendous deal compared to dinner prices at a 4 star restaurant. Also they have 25 cent martinis limit of 3 (that's enough they say on menu) at lunch.

I'd go to Central grocery on Decatur one day and get a Muffaletta to share. It's an amazing sandwich of charcuterie, cheese and an olive salad on a round of French bread. Other places sell them,.Central grocery invented them..there is a difference. Get a couple Of beers and walk up on the levee a block away and find a park bench or set on the steps down to river. Watch the goins on on the river and enjoy.

Go to Cafe DuMond and get some beignets. Tasty little donuts. There deal is "chicory coffee". Has to be an acquired taste..I can't stand it. But they will fix it aulait. Still not my thing..but great place for people watching.

Across the street is the starting place for carriage rides ..I'd do that once. Kind of fun and depending on driver, very informative.

There are river boat cruises that include plantations. There are motor coach tours to plantations and a great restaurant a friend of ours enjoys..name escapes me but if interested I'll look it up. ..

coming from fla I can't imagine you would want a swamp tour..available on both pontoon and air boats. Unless marginally cold weather you will see gators.

favorite eating spots not mentioned.

Favorite Emerils restaurant..Delmonicos .. $$$$. But great..Steakhouse/seafood/creole

Favorite restaurant currently in NO?..GW FINS... Best seafood in city... "Scalibut" and "Salty Malty" dessert.. All Ya need to know.

Another High end ..Restaurant August ..John Besh's signature restaurant. great cuisine..$$$$.. lunch a more economical but tasty option.

Mr. B's Bistro. ..a NO standard that is also a great lunch stop..cheap martinis and 3 course lunch options. Famous for their BBQ Shrimp..in NO that means a Brown garlic butter sauce ..INCREDIBLE .

Another favorite in NO are "chargrilled oysters". These are oysters that are incredibly tasty. The oysters arge grilled and then laced with butter and Parma cheese ..served salted and piping hot. my favorite is Acme Oyster House.. A block down Iberville from where we usually stay.. Others like Felix or the restaurant in the Hilton..Dragos . Got to try em!

The old creole restaurants are Arnauds, Antoines , Gallatories..old school .all have their proponents...Arnauds and Gallitories have lunch..the latter is a strange see and be seen local phenomenon.

Do go to WWII museum..at least take in the Tom Hanks narrated video presentation..but the whole exhibit is more than worth your time. John Besh's has American Cafe there as well.

Probably TMI but is one of our favorite places to visit along with many others we have been lucky to experience.

Nice post. I am sending this to my sister in law. They are going soon. Thanks <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Oh I could go on and on. So much to see and do there. The restaurant suggestions so far are great. I recommend a b&b in the garden district along the trolley line for easy access uptown and to the French quarter.
Another restaurant I like is the gumbo shop on St. Peter's alley I think ne'er Jackson square.
Try neworleansonline.com. Great website with outlines for Nola ina day a weekend , for romantics etc. I also did a fabulous walking tour of Garden district , raconteurs.

Carol,

We have been three times...Jan 2011, Jan 2013 and June 2014. We stayed at the Embassy suites in the warehouse district....the Marriot on Canal Street...and the Omni Royal Orleans.

We are returning to the omni Royal Orleans in January 2017.

In 2011...it was cold. I wore a heavy winter coat, hat and gloves. In 2013...it was cool...we wore lightweight jackets.

I will list some of our favorite places to eat...

Emeril's in the warehouse district
Mulates in the warehouse district....a fun cajun restaurant with a band.
Tommy's in the warehouse district
Cafe du Monde...coffee and beignets.
galatoires..a very nice place
Arnauds jazz bistro...puff pastry stuffed with crab meat and crab cakes
NOLA…an Emeril’s restaurant in the french quarter..I had duck
Kpauls Louisiana kitchen...very nice
G.W. Fins...very nice
dragos...charbroiled oysters and shrimp creole
r’evolution....filet mignon
court of two sisters
bourbon house
ralph and Kakoos
dickie Brenan’s filet mignon
crazy lobster

Some of the fun things we have done is of course a carriage ride...visiting the cemeteries...taking the trolley to the garden district....touring the presbytere....the aquarium

Hope this gives you some ideas

At the moment, plans kind of on hold for a while, but will definitely revisit this when we are ready to go!

Enjoyed reading the suggestions, there are honestly just too many great places to try them all but we will try a few. We arrive Friday for a long weekend over New Years, we rented a place off of VRBO not too far from Frenchman Street (near Ruby Slipper), this is an area we have enjoyed before.

Looking forward to whooping it up this weekend.
Cheers!
T

You just missed Mardi Gras so come on down ! This is one of the best times to come