We just got back from an incredible trip tp new Orleans. 4 full days, (not including a day of travel), which we felt like was the perfect amount of time and we will definitely be back.
Everything from the amazing food, warm locals and stunning homes made Joe and I fall in love with this incredible city!
Now, without further adieu, here is a quick synopsis of where we stayed, what we did and of course...where we ate!
The Pontchartrain Hotel is where we stayed. It's in the Garden District which was our favorite area, full of gorgeous homes and situated right along the cable car that goes all over town.
The lobby is stunning and has a huge painting of Lil' Wayne surrounded by hot pink velvet couches (pictured above).
Airboat Adventures Swamp Tour: Of course we had to go on a swamp tour! We saw alligators of all sizes and even a racoon and alligator trying to get the marshmallow that the tour guide threw to them. That was a really fun experience..high recommend! We opted for the smaller airboat that fit 6 people (The large one fits 16 I think) and it was worth the splurge because we were able to get into the narrower, less visited areas and see more wildlife.
The Pharmacy Museum was one of our favorite stops. In the French Quarter, it's a fascinating visually exciting museum of what a 19th century pharmacy would look like. Full of old medical tools and tinctures, it is a must stop!
Where To Eat in New Orleans:
Atchafalaya: This was our first brunch on our trip and possibly the best fried chicken we have ever had! Crawfish with poachedeggs and a bloody Mary bar. Need I say more?
Shaya: Of course we had to go to the famous Mediterranean restaurant by James Beard award winner, chef Alon Shaya. Everything was fantastic but the most memorable bites were the fried chicken on top of hummus and their lamb shank! Oh my, the lamb shank!
Cochon Butcher: They have a restaurant as well (which I'll talk about next) and their sandwich spot is perfect for lunch. The head cheese, muffaleta and homemade pickles were life changing!
Cochon: We loved their butcher shop so much we came here for dinner! Again, they specialize in meats and almost everything came out of their 700+ degree wood fired oven. My favorite bite were their charbroiled oysters. I'm still dreaming of them!
Parasols for PoBoy's: I don't even think they have a website but it was recommend by all the locals. Once you walk past the divey bar, walk up two steps and order the firecracker shrimp po'boy! They only take cash and have rolls of paper towels on the table. Trust me and don't go to the touristy spots, go here!
Restaurant Revolution: This was our last meal in NOLA and arguably, one of the best! The service was fantastic and once you step inside, you forget about all the hustle going on in the French Quarter just a few steps away. More charbroiled oysters and andouille stuffed quail were our favorites.
Other honorable mentions were Cafe Du Monde for beignets, though I wouldn't go out of my way to find them. But it was certainly a good beignets!
Have you been to new Orleans? What were your favorite restaurants?
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