It’s 172 days until Mardi Gras. Not that we’re counting.
Sure we’ve got this year’s Thanksgiving to consider, Christmas lights to hang eventually, a New Year to cheer and then some sort of diet resolution to endure… but really, down here we’re counting down the days to Mardi Gras (now that we’re no longer counting the dog-days of August + the days until the Saints play football). I think we’re working off a different calendar. A slower calendar with powdered sugar and glitter on it.
All of this to say… you’re coming for a visit, right!?
There are all sorts of lists to be found about New Orleans. Where to eat, where to go, what to see. Those lists have the classic New Orleans-y things: Cafe du Monde, Brennan’s, Dooky Chase, Cochon, Pesche... all the good stuff. Definitely places you should go and enjoy and take tons of pictures and Instagram all of them. I mean… please drink a martini in the Brennan’s courtyard and please eat all the pork at Cochon. You’ll be doing it right.
For those of us that live here, we enjoy these places, but on the day to day to day to day… we’re on a different tip. Here are some of my favorite everyday spots in New Orleans, special and maybe a little under the radar for visitors but totally worth the seek.
Shank Charcuterie: Head down St. Claude Ave and you’ll hit some great New Orleans gems. One of my favorites is this locally sourced, full service butcher shop that also serves lunch. Their meet selection is solid. If you’re staying in town, have a kitchen and want to make yourself a special meal, head to this butcher shop for your meat, and head across the street to St. Roch Market for the rest of your local ingredients! For lunch at Shank, the Ropa Vieja and Meatball Sandwich are unstoppable.
Sneaky Pickle: Further down St. Claude Ave you’ll find this special, charming, supremely delicious vegan restaurant. It’s not exclusively vegan (I had the seared Cobia with couscous), but they have hearty bowls of healthful food.
Bao and Noodle: is the neighborhood Chinese food jammer that’s really really good! The menu is intentional and authentic, the prices are reasonable, and it’s a great place to pick up takeout. I love the Fried Steamed Bao, the Burmese Tea Salad and the Cumin Braised Lamb with hand-pulled noodles. AMEN!
Red’s Chinese is the other GREAT neighborhood Chinese food restaurant tucked beneath an obtuse red sign on St. Claude. The Chinese food is masculine, unexpected, and dirty-good. Dirty, in this iteration, is a high compliment. Be here and order one of everything. It’s that crazy delicious.
Bakery Bar: Two of the best words together at last! Go for a slice of Doberge Cake (if you don’t know, then you better find out!) and a cocktail! Strawberry or Key Lime Doberge: you can not lose. Bakery Bar also has small bites at night if you’re in the mood for something other than cake (which would be weird but I get it).
Mosca’s: About 30 minutes outside of New Orleans in the town of lives maaaybe the very best Italian food in the South. My friend Rachel took me here before I had officially moved to New Orleans and the Shrimp Mosca was easily the best thing I’d eaten all year. GO!
N7: It’s like New Orleans’ secret restaurant that’s not so secret anymore. It’s tucked away, literally behind an inconspicuous wooden fence in the Bywater neighborhood. Inside that fence is a little world of charm and wonder, and canned fish (the fancy sort) and a lovely wine list. This would be the coziest date spot or a fantastic dine-alone at the bar option for good, good living.
Solo Espresso Bar is yours if you’re coffee particular like me and like fresh ground, pour-over cups. It’s a small place with very right coffee. They serve Panther Coffee right now. They also have very delicious gluten-free peanut butter cookies if you’re lucky.
Cafe Henri: A no-fuss neighborhood restaurant with a simple, straight-forward, still-feels-like-a-treat cocktail and food menu. It’s family friendly, solo work friendly, and just a perfect pit stop in the day. Their happy hour is bangin’. Definitely get the burger.
For more New Orleans vibes:
New Orleans Red Beans and Rice
Come on down! We love when you visit.
xo Joy
Lee
Sat down to do some NOLA food research for an upcoming trip, remembered you live there, and thirty seconds later found this . . . Thanks for sharing these great recs, can’t wait to dig in! :)
Conni
I miss my hometown so much!!! Cheering on my Saints as I type. Can I come crash on your couch??
Paula
Please keep updating us as to where to go and I love your instagram stories that show your followers New Orleans as well. Makes me look forward to visiting one day.
Lori
I can’t wait to visit! Love your suggestions.
Natalie
I miss nola so much. The food, the people, the culture, the music. Can’t wait to go back one day for a visit! And a count down to mardi gras is totally normal. Life is better with powdered sugar and glitter.
Michelle Van Boogie
Hi Love! I’m here now, and your list couldn’t have come at a better time. Rolled in from Los Angeles with my 20-ft UHaul 1 week ago. This magical city is a bit overwhelming… but it sure is a nice problem to have. Would love to meet for a coffee some day. Have a sugar and glitter coated day! Michelle
Leslie
We’ve Got Soul in the Riverbend out of Carrollton Station bar is a MUST
Callahan
Be there tomorrow! (but for real, packing now) We’re staying in the Lower Garden District and I’m so excited!
Sara
I am a fourth year medical student in Utah, and I have been not-so-subtly hinting/begging my parents for a NoLA trip as a graduation present. This list is exactly what I want and need before going (positive thinking). Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Jenna
This list is totally everything I’ve been hoping to find and more! I’m going down in October. It’s a trip I’ve been talking about, dreaming about, wishing for… for about two years! I can’t wait!
Thank you so much for all of these great stops.
Suzonne
Great list! And so happy you made it to Shank. Have you had their pulled pork sliders yet? A must eat. And yes, counting down to Mardi Gras! I just pulled out the glitter yesterday. :)
Barbara
Thanks Joy! I’m heading down to NOLA tomorrow (although sadly, only for a quick trip!), mainly to eat pizza, but I’ll probably need to check out these bakeries too. :)
lindsay e.
I lived in NOLA and worked on Elysian Fields at Rampart. (are the neon po boy shop and the daiquiri shop still there?) When I was there, not much was going on in that area yet – we were still waterlogged from Katrina! I stayed several years, and then drifted away to go back to school. It makes me so happy to see that the St. Roch market is open again and that the Bywater/Upper 9 is flourishing. Every time I visit, it’s like going to a completely new city because there are so many awesome things happening!
Simply Splendid Food
So nice to see local hang outs in New Orleans!
francetaste
These look great. I haven’t been for so long. It’s on the bucket list. Maybe the next U.S. trip.
It’s funny, but I was just caught up in Mardi Gras/Carnaval talk today! Regarding a little town in the south of France called Limoux that does Carnavale for three months. Supposedly the longest (but not the biggest–it’s just a cute little place) in the world.
The Wooden Spoon
What a great list! I was in New Orleans YEARS ago and can’t wait to get back.