Our NOLA Guide
Groceries
One of the only grocery stores in the Quarter! This place can be a little busy, but if you're on the way home after a day of exploring, it's a great spot to stop and pick up anything you need!
1002 locals recommend
Rouses Market
400 N Carrollton AveOne of the only grocery stores in the Quarter! This place can be a little busy, but if you're on the way home after a day of exploring, it's a great spot to stop and pick up anything you need!
This is a great little grocery store. They have an extensive hot and salad bar, as well as lots of grab and go options (you'll never need to cook!) and of course all the regular items.
316 locals recommend
Robért Fresh Market
135 Robert E Lee BlvdThis is a great little grocery store. They have an extensive hot and salad bar, as well as lots of grab and go options (you'll never need to cook!) and of course all the regular items.
If you're looking for natural or more specialty products, the co-op is perfect.
195 locals recommend
New Orleans Food Co-Op
2372 St Claude AveIf you're looking for natural or more specialty products, the co-op is perfect.
Basics
Walgreens
1100 Elysian Fields AveNothing fancy, but useful!
If you need to do laundry while you're here, this laundromat is also an antique and art gallery, so you'll have plenty to look at while you wait. They use a card system for payment. You’ll find the card in the console drawer. You’re welcome to use any value you find on it, but please leave the card for others to use! Bring $1 bills. A single load is $7 total.
The Lost Sock @ Rampart
840 N Rampart StIf you need to do laundry while you're here, this laundromat is also an antique and art gallery, so you'll have plenty to look at while you wait. They use a card system for payment. You’ll find the card in the console drawer. You’re welcome to use any value you find on it, but please leave the card for others to use! Bring $1 bills. A single load is $7 total.
This Ace has a large selection of household goods if you find yourself in need! Make sure you check upstairs, or just ask any of the friendly staff.
15 locals recommend
Harry's Ace Hardware
3535 Magazine StThis Ace has a large selection of household goods if you find yourself in need! Make sure you check upstairs, or just ask any of the friendly staff.
Great for all your printing and shipping needs and a friendly local business to boot.
24 locals recommend
French Quarter Postal Emporium
1000 Bourbon StGreat for all your printing and shipping needs and a friendly local business to boot.
Highly recommend this spot to do laundry during your stay. Dinah is the sweetest and they offer free laundry detergent and dryer sheets. A regular load is $4 and the dryer is 25 cents per 3 minutes (dryers are very efficient so less than $2 to dry)
10 locals recommend
Suds Dem Duds
1101 Bourbon StHighly recommend this spot to do laundry during your stay. Dinah is the sweetest and they offer free laundry detergent and dryer sheets. A regular load is $4 and the dryer is 25 cents per 3 minutes (dryers are very efficient so less than $2 to dry)
Food scene
A bar and restaurant set in a Marigny cathedral, with courtyard tables. Very chill vibe and super cute.
76 locals recommend
The Elysian Bar
2317 Burgundy StA bar and restaurant set in a Marigny cathedral, with courtyard tables. Very chill vibe and super cute.
This place is legendary for burgers and stiff drinks, and just a short walk away!
386 locals recommend
Port of Call
838 Esplanade AveThis place is legendary for burgers and stiff drinks, and just a short walk away!
Such good Thai food! It is Northern Thai, so you might find some new dishes. A great spot for lunch or dinner. If you want to do takeout, you can order ahead on their website and it should be almost ready when you arrive.
31 locals recommend
Budsi’s Authentic Thai
1760 North Rampart StreetSuch good Thai food! It is Northern Thai, so you might find some new dishes. A great spot for lunch or dinner. If you want to do takeout, you can order ahead on their website and it should be almost ready when you arrive.
A restored market that now hosts diverse food stalls. Great if you can't decide what you want. Great people watching as well!
466 locals recommend
St. Roch Market
2381 St Claude AveA restored market that now hosts diverse food stalls. Great if you can't decide what you want. Great people watching as well!
Very popular local vegetarian/vegan spot, with an emphasis on Indian inspired flavors.
21 locals recommend
Small Mart
2700 Chartres StVery popular local vegetarian/vegan spot, with an emphasis on Indian inspired flavors.
A sort of effortlessly hip yet relaxed bar and restaurant housed in a former corner grocery store. Their menu is inventive with something for everyone, even if its on the smaller side. Happy hour specials as well.
155 locals recommend
The Franklin
2600 Dauphine StreetA sort of effortlessly hip yet relaxed bar and restaurant housed in a former corner grocery store. Their menu is inventive with something for everyone, even if its on the smaller side. Happy hour specials as well.
A Creole-Soul food lunch establishment just 2 blocks away. Great fried chicken and daily specials, the owner is a gem!
201 locals recommend
Li'l Dizzy's Cafe
1500 Esplanade AveA Creole-Soul food lunch establishment just 2 blocks away. Great fried chicken and daily specials, the owner is a gem!
A vegan spot around the corner with smoothies and fresh juices. Check opening hours, since they can vary.
Sprouts Organic Cafe
1200 Henriette Delille StreetA vegan spot around the corner with smoothies and fresh juices. Check opening hours, since they can vary.
Elizabeth's
601 Gallier StVery popular locals breakfast/lunch/brunch spot for Southern food
Bywater Bakery
3624 Dauphine StBreakfast spot with lovely baked goods, popular with the locals
Seasonal and local cuisine in a beautiful building, a little on the pricier side- a nice date spot
105 locals recommend
Bywater American Bistro
2900 Chartres StSeasonal and local cuisine in a beautiful building, a little on the pricier side- a nice date spot
Modern Italian in a sleek setting. Fancy yet relaxed at the same time, great menu!
203 locals recommend
Paladar 511
511 Marigny StModern Italian in a sleek setting. Fancy yet relaxed at the same time, great menu!
One Stone Restaurant
Your neighborhood sushi spot, well-priced
Sucré
3025 Magazine StAdorable dessert shop with beautiful cakes and chocolates.
Classic French with a modern flair, great for occasions or a fancier dinner
137 locals recommend
Lilette
3637 Magazine StClassic French with a modern flair, great for occasions or a fancier dinner
Coquette
2800 Magazine StRomantic setting and great food-- for occasions or a special night out
Cochon RESTAURANT
930 Tchoupitoulas StMainstay with an inventive menu, good for groups
Creole Creamery
4924 Prytania StReally good local ice cream
Just a couple of blocks away, so great for a quick bite. Prices are very reasonable for the area and the staff is really chill. Burgers and Eastern European comfort food!
16 locals recommend
The Green Room Kukhnya
1300 Saint Bernard AvenueJust a couple of blocks away, so great for a quick bite. Prices are very reasonable for the area and the staff is really chill. Burgers and Eastern European comfort food!
Bars
Popular with the locals, this casual bar has an extensive cocktail list.
173 locals recommend
Bar Tonique
820 N Rampart StPopular with the locals, this casual bar has an extensive cocktail list.
A champagne bar with courtyard seating and appetizers, need we say more?
36 locals recommend
Effervescence
1036 North Rampart StreetA champagne bar with courtyard seating and appetizers, need we say more?
At the end of the Bywater, a wine bar with outdoor courtyard and there's often live music playing
839 locals recommend
Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits
600 Poland AveAt the end of the Bywater, a wine bar with outdoor courtyard and there's often live music playing
Allegedly the oldest bar in the United States. Cool building, good crowd.
294 locals recommend
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar
941 Bourbon StAllegedly the oldest bar in the United States. Cool building, good crowd.
Amazing neighborhood bar that's a local favorite. Friendly and unpretentious crowd.
113 locals recommend
R Bar
1431 Royal StAmazing neighborhood bar that's a local favorite. Friendly and unpretentious crowd.
Neighborhoods
Bourbon Street is an experience, and you should definitely walk down it with a hand grenade (it's a drink, you'll see what I mean) at least once. That might be enough for you, or it might be your scene. The most common New Orleans advice I see is to wear closed-toe shoes if you're on Bourbon, since you never know what you're going to step in.
347 locals recommend
Bourbon Street
Bourbon StreetBourbon Street is an experience, and you should definitely walk down it with a hand grenade (it's a drink, you'll see what I mean) at least once. That might be enough for you, or it might be your scene. The most common New Orleans advice I see is to wear closed-toe shoes if you're on Bourbon, since you never know what you're going to step in.
City advice
What to pack
Bring extremely comfortable shoes
If you're anything like me, I love exploring on foot and frequently walk 8-10 miles a day here. New Orleans can test even the most comfortable shoes, so I am not kidding when I say bring the most comfortable shoes you own. The roads and sidewalks are notoriously uneven, so heels are not great unless you're hopping straight into a car or going a short distance.
What to pack
Pack lightweight breathable clothes in spring and summer
New Orleans weather can get humid and hot. Lightweight fabrics like linen or flowy dresses are essential to keep you looking and feeling fresh throughout the day.
What to pack
Dressy clothes are rarely necessary
This is a pretty casual city. You can walk into nicer establishments in your t-shirt, shorts and sneakers, and you won't get a second glance. The only exception is if you're going to one of the more traditional fine-dining establishments, where they may have a dress code.
Customs and culture
People will say hi to you on the street-- say hi back! :)
Many locals are incredibly friendly, especially in our neighborhood. If you're passing on the sidewalk, they'll say hi and ask how you're doing. It is one of the charms of New Orleans! A quick smile and hello is a great reply.
Ways to save
BYOB
As you probably know, you're allowed to drink adult beverages on the street here. If you're on your way somewhere and want to save a few bucks on your first round, bring one from home and enjoy it on the way! No one will judge. We've got koozies for cans and some plastic "go cups" for you. If this really speaks to you, you might want to bring your own reusable drinking vessel from home just for this purpose. :) You can also get a go cup from the bar if you need to leave and bring your drink with you.
Ways to save
Uber Eats (saves time, not money!)
If you find that you don't feel like going out to eat, Uber Eats is a great option! They have lots of choices and delivery is usually prompt.
Don't miss
Don't sweat over choosing bars/restaurants; check the day
Even though we listed a bunch of options, go where you like! One of the fun things about the city is discovering a random spot and checking it out, especially the countless bars in the area. You can always search for the best of a certain type of cuisine, but there are so many distinct styles of food here it's impossible to come up with a short list without excluding some great options.
However, New Orleans is famous for having restaurants with very specific opening hours/days-- many establishments are closed on Monday. We recommend checking before you head out to avoid disappointment!