Surely you’re coming to visit New Orleans this Winter!
We’re here with the Gumbo warm and the bread fresh. We’ve got the oil hot for frying, and we’ve turned our sunsets to a glowy, pink and purple. The champagne is cold, the Oaks are sparkling with moss, and we’ve always got a King Cake on the kitchen counter.
I make it sound dreamy, don’t I? Well, to visit this place is dreamy. There’s music in the streets and glitter in the air, this time of year especially.
I’m going into my fourth year living in this sparkle city. Yes, I’m still very new. A local would easily raise an eyebrow in suspicion. That’s fine. That’s fair. As I’ve passed a few season here, I’ve gathered my own routines that I look forward to. They mostly involve cake and parades and long river walks.
Here are some of my favorite things to do in New Orleans, Winter 2017.
Have supper and take a class! New Orleans has a beautiful community of people who love this place, make things with their hands, and share that joy with the rest of us. Here are some ways to eat very locally and create with us:
• Have a Thursday dinner out on the Bayou with Mosquito Supper Club.
• Grab a piece of handmade New Orleans art from HomeMaloneNOLA and take a New Orleans painting class!
• Take a brush lettering class with Lionheart Press or visit the shop on Oak St and stock up on cards!
• Take a bread baking class from the best in Louisiana and learn about fresh milled grains from Bellegarde Bakery
Walk the park from the Bywater to the French Quarter!
One of my favorite short jaunts is through Crescent City Park, the 1.4 mile path that runs along the edge of the Bywater neighborhood along the Mississippi River. Here’s a solid plan: grab a slice of pizza at Pizza Delicious, walk along the path taking in the river breeze, and make your way to the French Quarter where you can reward your strong efforts with a beignet at Cafe du Monde.
Please please please have the oysters!
I love the oysters from Elysian Seafood in the St. Roch Market. The raw oysters: delicious. The char-broiled oysters: YES. The marinated grab claws: get them! Plus you can take your oyster platter over to The Mayhaw Bar and have a spritzy cocktail!
Also across the way from St. Roch Market you’ll find the New Orleans Food Co-Op and Shank Charcuterie where you should order the Ropa Vieja and Meatballs, without question.
Get yourself a King Cake!
It’s carnival season here in New Orleans, which means we’re in the glory of King Cake season! Officially, King Cakes are bought on January 6th, twelve nights after the birth of Jesus to honor the gifts the Three Kings brought to the liiiiittle baby Jesus. If that’s not a reason to eat cake, well then I don’t know what is.
The above King Cake is from Chef Lisa White of Willa Jean a few years back. This year Willa Jean is rocking a Caramelized Milk Chocolate and Espresso King Cake (that makes my eyes widen just typing it).
Haydel’s has a classic King Cake and you can easily visit their pop-up on Magazine Street. O’Delice makes a bonkers King Cake. Heck, even Cochon Butcher has a King Cake for you. They’re everywhere and you best get your hands on several.
And if you really can’t get enough, there’s King Cake Festival on January 29th!
Get a cup of the best coffee in town!
My two favorite coffee spots are on either side of town.
Solo Espresso in the 9th ward makes solid pour-overs and the best espresso served in the sweetest little cups with sparkling water. Presentation counts, doesn’t it? They also carry my favorite baked goods in the city from Port City Pantry (who also does occasional Saturday morning pop-ups at the coffee shot, check Instagram and get there early!)
Cherry Street Espresso is Uptown and makes my favorite pourover coffee and really delicious breakfast sandwiches, a delicious quinoa breakfast bowl and their staff is friendly and comfortable. It just feels like where you want to be in the late morning.
You didn’t come here to get your hair done. You came to see some things and eat more things, right?
If you’re strolling down Magazine Street in the Garden District, eat the best New York bagel in New Orleans followed by the best New Orleans donut.
If you continue up on Magazine past the eats, take a stroll through the neighborhoods between Magazine and Prytania. It’s lovely.
Explore City Park!
Have afternoon beignets in City Park at Morning Call (it’s open 24 glorious hours) and walk the sculpture gardens or visit the museum!
Have a Sazerac at the Sazerac Bar.
It’s so classic that even locals look forward to the occasional treat there.
Take an adventure outside of town.
Visit some of the plantations just outside of town. With about an hours drive you can visit Oak Alley Plantation, or (and better yet) visit the Whitney Plantation Museum.
Read more about the Whitney here in the New York Times.
When I first moved to New Orleans I moved to Royal Street in the heart of the French Quarter. Woweee I didn’t know the life I had signed up for. Royal Street, because I’m sentimental, is my favorite street in the Quarter. It’s dotted with art galleries, you’ll stroll past the back of St Louis Cathedral, there’s sweet shopping at places like Goorin Bros Hat Shop. Be sure to stop into Brennan’s, the beautiful pink building across from the courthouse, see about having a class of champagne in their courtyard; feel the Spirit.
Walk Audubon Park at sunset.
Then go to Kenton’s for oysters and Manhattans. If you’re lucky the sky will grace you with pinks and purples and the Oaks will darken and the Spanish Moss will sparkle. The path around the park is 1.8 miles, a lovely stroll and worthy of Manhattan reward.
Stay for a parade!
It’s Mardi Gras and as we enter February, there will be all sorts of parades to enjoy! I like to ride my bike up to the parade routes for easier access in and out. Here’s the parade schedule, but really the best way to keep track of the parades, schedule, and weather is with the parade tracker app. Yea… we have that.
And the best way to catch beads? Keep your shirt on (seriously). Point your finger at a float rider, MAKE EYE CONTACT, smile amd wave!
Enjoy your time in this magical place! We’re glad you’re here. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Amy
Hi Joy – I’ve book a long awaited trip to NOLA for November of 2020 – how much of this list is still applicable, and would you suggest any new finds that aren’t on this list?
Note: please be there in November, I’d love to take a course at the Bakeshop!
Cecilia
In fact, I visited NOLA in January, too bad I’m only seeing this post now ?
Scheherezade
I love this list! I’m from NOLA and this makes me homesick… in a good way :-)
Barbara Diamond
Oh my gosh, the Happy Hour at Luke’s at the Hilton in the CBD is fabulous! The raw oysters are lovely, the fried are amazing. The French 75 … mmm… And their Happy Hour is seven days a week!
Mimi
Joy,
I found your blog today and have enjoyed the visit. I am from New Orleans originally and love the flavors. Thankfully, I live on Gulf Coast and it is only a hot and skip away. I love the creative spin on your work. It shows heart and soul. If your tour leads you to Fairhope, I will be happy to make suggestions for your visit.
Brian Johnson
We bought an annual pass to the zoo, so we are always looking for other things to occupy our time in the Crescent City. Thank you for the list, definitely will be coming back soon.
Diane A
Hi Joy – my 18 yr old daughter and I are considering coming to New Orleans in March for a girls’ Spring Break. I am looking at Airbnb – what would be a fun neighborhood with things to walk to? Anything we shouldn’t miss? Thanks!
Marine
Damn, I wish you had posted this before my weekend trip in December! Oh well, I definitely need to plan another trip for this year! ;)
Blathering
As a native NOLA girl, it’s always great to see why others fall in love with my city. I must admit that I LOVE carnival time and attempt to sample every possible king cake I can get my hands on.
My only quibble with your list is that Meyer the Hatter is the best hat store in NOLA and local too. I still have my gramps’ Stetson from them. And one day I will splurge and buy myself a top hat, just because.
Jeannette
I have decided that I am weekend trippin it to Nawlins for my birthday (mid April). I am thankful for these posts. If not for them, I would be at the mercy of people telling me to parade around Bourbon Street and to get beignets. Well I already know that, duh. I need off the beaten path ideas, I need adventure, I need to fill a few days with the best food, company, and fun that I can find (without being at the mercy of Yelp).
So, thank you.
In a super not creepy way, I hope to randomly see you out and about. I have a feeling we would be fast friends. :)
Kayti Clayton
I love New Orleans and can’t wait to go back, I also highly recommend one of the iconic jazz brunches. A little pricey but I think the experience is worth it. And Gumbo! I tried it for the first time at Coop’s Place, SO GOOD. I also found Merchant coffee to have an excellent vibe and some seriously good brew.
Blanca Oliver
Hi Katie! I’m going to be in New Orleans next month and that jazz brunch idea sounds great. Would you like to recommend any particular one? Thanks in advance for your help!
Natalie Venezia
Joy when will you start offering your classes?We cant wait to take one!
Michelle Wright
Good morning, Joy! As Canadians looking for warmer weather in the fall, my husband and I have visited New Orleans on two occasions. We have to disagree with your suggestion to try the beignets at Cafe du Monde. We thought they just tasted like doughnuts, a little on the chewy side. But the beignets from the ” New Orleans Famous Beignets and Coffee “- fabulous!
Melissa b
We just landed after a long day of delays due to weather… This was perfect timing to show up on my feed! Can’t wait to give a few of these a try,
Emily
Might I also recommend the San Francisco Plantation (more colorful than the others!) and the vegan king cake from Breads on Oak!
joythebaker
Word, Emily! Thank you!
Evie
Best king cake in New Orleans is found at Dong Phuong bakery in the East. They’ve got a French croissant-y take on the typical king cake brioche that’s BOMB.
joythebaker
Ok I know where I’m going this weekend!
Melissa Hauck
Great list! Some of my favorites.. and those wind chimes in City Park too!! I think my favorite spot to throw down my picnic blanket. Moving back home in a month or two, after an almost 9 year jaunt out here in California. This post makes me look forward to it even more. Perhaps we will one day cross paths.
joythebaker
Welcome back!!
Lael
I’m going to be there February 18-23 — my third trip, this time with my family. Hope to run into you :)
Lauren
Joy, my mother was born and raised in New Orleans so we are there a few times a year to visit family and I just love reading your posts about my home away from home. I’m not a native so I might not be qualified to say this, but I think you get it. Lots of people think of New Orleans as a party place (and it can be!) but it is so so much more. Dreamy and magical are the best ways to describe it :) I have fond memories of spending Mardi Gras there and hopes of doing it again soon!
P.S. I think I’m going to use your King Cake recipe this year and I’m so excited about it!
Jen the librarian
Couldn’t agree more about the donuts at District — but have you had a slider there? Easily the one of best burgers I’ve had in my life.
Blanca Oliver
Hi Joy!
I’ve been following you from Lausanne, Switzerland for quite a while and have your two first books which have brought much happiness to my family and coworkers whenever I bake something from them.
Thanks for all these amazing tips!
I’ll be in NOLA with my husband for a week around mardi gras as the first half of our honeymoon and would really like to meet you to invite you to a coffee and beignet/king cake/whatever or ideally to attend one of your workshops!
I sent you an email about this late last Sunday, it would be great if you could have a look and reply.
Thanks a million,
Blanca
Cheryl Gordon
Thanks for the tips. Will be in New Orleans in April for a wedding & have a couple extra days to explore. I was thinking about a plantation tour.
Erin
Joy, I can’t seem to access your recipes page anymore. It starts to load but never does. I am sad because I love so many of your recipes but can’t always remember what they are called.
Rebeca
Your New Orleans posts always make me want to plan a trip there, and then I check my bank account and come back to reality, ha!
The size of those donuts, though. Woah.
Chrissy
I lived in NOLA on Prytania at Marengo, and I wish I had done a proper of job of exploring when I was there. I really need to go back and be a tourist since so much has changed since I left! Namely, my new appreciation for food which is really hard to have as a poor student (but not too hard thanks to Cafe du Monde).
Lindsay
JOY! Ohhhh your Instagram has been begging me to visit New Orleans since you moved there. We’re planning our trip for the first weekend in March and are staying in the Bywater– needless to say your list with be so very useful! Thank you!
Brandi
Joy – thank you, this is amazing! My friends and I are heading there next week to escape the craziness of inauguration in DC. Do you by chance have any gluten free recommendations??
Lori
I absolutely loved this post! I’ve wanted to visit New Orleans for as long as I can remember (or at least as long as you’ve lived there!) and reading this just makes me want to push the trip up to say, tomorrow? I’ll definitely be coming back to this list. Thank you!
Janet Digger
A fine article, but I did want to share one thought regarding plantation visits: Whitney does an excellent, and much needed, retelling of the history of slavery in the United State, and I applaud their efforts. But, to make it sound as though any 1 of the 10 or so historic plantations has “the” story to share, is short-sited. All of the historic plantation properties have a different story to share, and not everyone is interested in learning *only* the history of slavery.
Oak Alley Plantation, for example, starts the tour with a focus on French Creole Louisiana life, but there are opportunities to learn about slavery, blacksmithing, the US Civil War, and sugarcane production, all in one visit. St. Joseph, San Francisco, and Laura Plantations also have unique, and quite interesting, stories to share as well.
Thanks!
joythebaker
I don’t disagree with you, Janet. Thank you.
Megan Elliott (@LushtoBlush)
I love this New Orleans round up! NOLA is an amazing place and I will have to check out some of these recs next time I’m there!
Xo,
Megan at Lush to Blush
amylou
I live here, and even I LOVE this list. I’ll definitely forward it in addition to my own restaurant list when friends ask for vacation-planning help!
joythebaker
Oh I’m so glad you’re into it!
Neha
Ah New Orleans has been on the top of my travel list for so long now. I really need to make all of this happen. Thanks for the post, Joy! :)
Gina
Joy…I’m a looooong time reader and in my head we’re friends in real life. Your french onion pasta, deviled eggs, and all of the cakes are part of my regular kitchen rotation. There’s nothing I’d like to talk to you less about than tech-y stuff, but I use a reader (feedly) to keep up to date with your blog and your posts haven’t been showing up for about a month. Could be user error on my part but wanted to give you a heads up in case there are other fan-girls/guys out there with the same problem.
joythebaker
I’m so glad you’re here Gina, and you’re absolutely right! I’m trying to fix this feedly issue now. It turns out I have two feeds and one of them has gone wonky. This one seems to be working just fine though: http://feedly.com/i/subscription/feed/https://joythebaker.com/feed/ Thank you for taking the time to let me know! I appreciate you!
Megan
I’m heading to New Orleans next week, so these tips are just in time. Thank you so much!!!!
Abby @ Heart of a Baker
I’m coming to New Orleans in April and this is making me SO excited! Taking each and every one of these into account! xo