THE BEST WAY TO SPEND 48 HOURS IN NEW ORLEANS
Your 48-hour itinerary to New Orleans - focusing on the French Quarter
New Orleans is one of my favorite places to go to let loose and have a good time. The food, the music, the people are all what make New Orleans its own little weird and historic gem of a city. The first time I ever visited New Orleans was on a fraternity formal trip, when I wasn’t even of drinking age, and it was still a blast. However, this was the first time I’d been back since I was underage, so I was all sorts of ready to “experience” New Orleans to the fullest, and we certainly did. Below you’ll find reviews of our experiences and recommendations for a couple of places that are must-visits for us and should be for you too. When we lived in Houston, we loved to drive to New Orleans for a long weekend and do as much as we possibly could, so I’ve written this out in a 48-hour itinerary-style article.
Where to go and what to do in New Orleans for a long weekend
DAY ONE
Enjoy some delicious beignets at Cafe Du Monde
Cafe Du Monde is probably on everyone’s list of places to go in New Orleans for beignets and for good reason. This was one of the places I HAD to go when I originally visited NOLA, so now every time I visit, I be sure to swing by and grab some delicious beignets and iced coffee. BIG TIP: the line is typically long as hell, so if you want a table with a server, get there early or just at an oddball time. They’re open 24 hours, but if you’re okay with not having a table and finding your own place to sit, head over to their to-go line around the corner on the back side. The line is always significantly shorter, and they have some windows where you can watch them make the beignets. I recommend grabbing a bag of beignets and an iced coffee. There are some other places I’ve seen recommended on Reddit (Cafe Beignet and Loretta's) for beignets that are most likely just as good, if not better. To me, I feel like you can’t go wrong with a beignet in New Orleans no matter where you go.
Walk over to the famous French Market
The historic French Market has been around since 1791 and has remained an enduring symbol of pride and progress for the people of New Orleans and its visitors. In over 200 years of existence, the Market has been built, destroyed, and rebuilt many times over, but what remains unchanged is the Market’s central spirit of commerce, community, and culture that is irresistible to visitors from near and far. That’s why it MUST be a staple on your New Orleans itinerary. At this iconic market, you can find souvenirs, confections (like pecan pralines), poboys, arts and crafts, and so much more! We love walking over to the market after downing an iced coffee and a couple of beignets because of its close proximity.
Stop for lunch and an epic Bloody Mary at The Stanley
I was a big Yelper at the time and searched for the best Bloody Mary in NOLA and stumbled upon this gem of a restaurant. The Stanley is right off historic Jackson Square, where we walked around while we were waiting for our table. There’s a side bar where you can grab a Bloody Mary or mimosa, then head out and explore. It’s kind of the perfect spot to walk around with a drink in hand, enjoy some art, and kill two birds with one stone by waiting for your table at the same time. Once we sat down at our table, I immediately ordered a Bloody Mary, and man oh man, it didn’t disappoint. It was so flavorful and yummy, not too spicy, and all sorts of delicious. For food, we ordered the red beans and rice and the Stanley gumbo, two Cajun staples. They were exactly what I wanted regarding flavor, spice, and just the New Orleans feel. I mean, it’s pretty hard to find Cajun staples like this that aren’t amazing in New Orleans, but these were extra good.
Explore Jackson Square more and walk off your lunch
As I mentioned before, Jackson Square is a historic park and definitely a must while bopping around the French Quarter. Inside the park are beautiful statues to view, and surrounding the area are many vendors with gorgeous art pieces. Even if you’re not waiting for a table at The Stanley, you can grab a drink at their side bar. We grabbed some mimosas and strolled around the area, listening to people play music and even paint live. It really is such a vibe in this area. Additionally, the famous St. Louis Cathedral is close by, too. I believe they also have tours you can take. While we were walking by, we saw a wedding party, which was pretty cool! Imagine getting married in this gorgeous cathedral!?
Check into your hotel
We love staying at The Lafayette Hotel and have stayed here twice now. The Lafayette Hotel is a 1916 historic landmark along the St. Charles Streetcar line next to Lafayette Square, just a short walk to the French Quarter and the stunning antebellum mansions of the Garden District. Every time we walked to the French Quarter, we passed beautiful, historic buildings I couldn’t help but photograph. The walk to the French Quarter is only about 10-minutes and honestly feels even shorter. One of the main reasons we didn’t stay right off Bourbon or Royal Street is that these trips were kind of last-minute, so most hotels in the French Quarter were insanely expensive or unavailable. However, I’m curious about the noise situation when you stay right in the French Quarter, with the nightlife being what it is. At the Lafayette Hotel, you didn’t hear much at all at night. The next time we visit, we’re looking at staying at the Royal Sonesta New Orleans, which is off Bourbon Street, or The Monteleone Hotel (the hotel with the famous Carousel Bar), which is off Royal Street.
It looks like the rooms have been updated since we stayed at The Lafayette Hotel, making them even better. The first time we stayed, we were in the single queen room, which is SMALL. We joked that we were in the Harry Potter cupboard under the stairs, but honestly we didn’t mind too much because we were out so often. The second time we stayed, we were rewarded for the last time, it seemed, because we got upgraded to a suite with a gorgeous balcony. Both rooms had comfortable beds and nice amenities. I am looking forward to staying at a different hotel next time that has a pool, breakfast, etc., but only because I want to mix it up a bit. If we end up doing a last-minute trip again, you can bet we’ll be at The Lafayette Hotel.
Walk to Desire Oyster Bar for dinner and drinks
If you’re looking for a great place to dine right off Bourbon Street, the Desire is a wonderful option. Desire is actually inside the Royal Sonesta Hotel we’re looking to stay at in the future. The decor is very stylish and fun, and the food is incredible. Desire is probably our favorite place we’ve been for dinner because of the atmosphere and the delicious Cajun cuisine. We, of course, started the evening with drinks and appetizers. Andrew had the Tito’s strawberry lemonade, which is Tito’s Handmade Vodka, fresh lemon juice, strawberry, and sugar, and I had the Pimm’s cup, which is Pimm’s No. 1, fresh citrus, cucumber, ginger ale & ginger beer. Andrew’s drink was sweeter, and honestly, I think I preferred that one, but mine was good too, just a different flavor. I’ve always been a huge oyster girlie and typically eat them raw, but we decided to get them char-grilled, which was a great decision because they were *chef’s kiss* good. They’re basically oysters covered in butter and cheese, so how could one not like them is the real question.
For our second appetizer (because when you’re in New Orleans, you eat and eat and eat), we ordered the Jumbo Shrimp Remoulade. At the time, I had never heard of this dish before, but it was recommended to us, and we were not disappointed. Ramoulade sauce is now one of my favorites. Think of a spicy tartar sauce with pickles and curry. Oh my lord, it’s delicious. Now, if I see anything with Ramoulade sauce, I’m ordering it. This specific appetizer featured jumbo shrimp on top of fried green tomatoes, with plenty of sauce. Fried green tomatoes are another item you’ll see more often on menus in New Orleans, and they are perfection, and I’m not even a tomato fan.
For our main course, we ordered the fried chicken & waffles and the Creole trio, which included Creole gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and smoked sausage. I’m already a huge fan of fried chicken and waffles, but these were some of the best I’ve ever had. Fried anything, but especially fried chicken, in New Orleans is a must because of the seasonings in the breading. If you’re hankering for some Cajun flavor, I’d say go with the Creole trio because you get a little bit of all the Cajun staples. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the jambalaya, but that’s just because I don’t think I like jambalaya. The Creole gumbo, red beans and rice, and smoked sausage were amazing!
We ended our dinner with the white chocolate bread pudding and the Bourbon Pecan Pie. The bread pudding was sticky and full of flavor, which I must have in a bread pudding. I feel like a lot of bread puddings don’t have enough spices, but this one was great, and the sauce was nom nom nom. Like, the sauce was so freaking good, I wanted to lick it off the plate!! I think the same sauce was on the pecan pie, too, and it mixed with the ice cream, which made every bite extra tasty. Pecans are very southern, so take advantage of all the pecan dishes while you’re in the south. I grew up with them being from Texas, but it’s wild to me now, living in Washington State, that they’re not as prevalent here as they are in the south.
Spend the evening at The Jazz Playhouse
Just around the corner from Desire is The Jazz Playhouse, an authentic New Orleans Jazz Club. We had an amazing opportunity to attend a show at The Jazz Playhouse, and it was a total bucket-list experience for me. This jazz lounge is located in the Royal Sonesta hotel and is quite literally right next to Desire Oyster Bar. So it’s the perfect place to go after dinner. The Jazz Playhouse is imbued with a rich cultural heritage that can be traced back to 1721, making it a very special and historic place to see a performance. Andrew and I were beyond giddy, being big music people, and Andrew even played in his high school jazz band growing up, so you could definitely say we were excited. From the moment you walk into The Jazz Playhouse, you’re hit with the vintage glamour of the unique venue. Think old-school Gatsby vibes. We had incredible seats and ordered a cocktail right when we sat down. We had their signature cocktail, Perfect Thyming, which at the time was Sonesta’s 50th Anniversary Cocktail that included pamplemousse, thyme liqueur, and prosecco. Overall, we had a fabulous time listening to jazz and enjoying our cocktails. It’s definitely a more chill thing to do on Bourbon Street and was totally my scene. You can prepurchase your tickets online here, and I definitely recommend it if you want a good view of the stage.
After our eventful day and evening we walked back to our hotel and passed out HARD.
DAY TWO
Enjoy brunch at its birthplace, Tujague’s
We had the wonderful opportunity to eat at Tujague’s on my birthday and enjoy their amazing brunch! Tujague’s is over 170 years old with an incredible history, making it so much more than a restaurant. That’s one thing I really enjoy about New Orleans. There are unique stories and history around every corner, so we always try to learn as much as possible about the places we visit. Tujague’s, specifically, is the second-oldest restaurant in New Orleans, the birthplace of brunch, and home to the oldest stand-up bar in America, all located in the French Quarter. Yeah, can you believe it? All that in one place. Honestly, it felt like brunch and a museum visit in one. You can read more on the history of Tujague’s here.
For our starter, we had to get the charbroiled oysters, and they didn’t disappoint! They were juicy and covered in cheese *insert drool emoji*. You can’t have brunch at the birthplace of brunch without mimosas, so we raised a glass to a great day in NOLA. After we housed the oysters, we moved on to our main dishes. Andrew ordered Tujague's Famous Brisket, which is said to be as old as Tujague’s itself! Oh my gosh, and it was amazing, especially with the special sauce. The brisket literally fell apart and melted in your mouth, with the mashed potatoes underneath adding even more flavor… wow. We were in heaven. For me, I had the New Orleans-style BBQ Shrimp and Grits, with a delicious barbecue butter on top that was to die for, seriously. Overall, I highly recommend brunch here to everyone!
Then, as if it couldn’t get any better, we ended brunch with the famous grasshopper. Did you know this iconic green drink was born in New Orleans? I actually had a grasshopper on my 21st birthday, so it was really special to have one again on my 26th. The drink tastes pretty much like melted mint chocolate chip ice cream, so if that’s your vibe, you’re sure to love this delicious treat of a cocktail. We decided to enjoy our drinks at the oldest stand-up bar, which had a totally different vibe from the dining room and was just cool to be in a place so old and iconic. Honestly, I highly recommend just popping in for a grasshopper when you’re out exploring the French Quarter if you can’t swing brunch or dinner at Tujague’s.
If you’re into spooky stuff, then you’ll love to hear that Tujague's is said to be haunted! Owners, staff, and patrons have a multitude of stories about unexplained ghostly phenomena, such as slamming doors, broken china, shadowy figures, and even an actual apparition caught on camera by tourists, so while you’re sipping on your grasshopper, keep an eye open for the spirits of the afterlife, too!
Experience The Historic New Orleans Collection
A great way to walk off all the delicious brunch food is to check out The Historic New Orleans Collection. One thing about me is that if there’s a museum, I’m going to experience it. While walking along Royal Street, we saw this museum and decided to just pop in. I’m so happy we did because Andrew and I learned a ton about the history of New Orleans and the French Quarter. They have various exhibitions, programs, historic buildings to explore, a cafe, a great gift shop, and much more. As if it couldn’t get any better, admission is free for visitors, but tickets are required.
Grab some pecan pralines from Royal Praline Co
Did you know that pecan pralines were invented in New Orleans? It is believed that pralines were brought over from France by the Ursuline nuns, who came to New Orleans in 1727. Pralines were one of the more popular recipes adapted from the old French tradition. With almonds in short supply, cooks began substituting the nuts of native Louisiana pecan trees, and the forefathers of our modern pecan pralines were born. We’ve actually had the French pralines in Lyon, France, made with almonds and are a hot pink color as opposed to the brown color of the pecan pralines. They taste very different from the southern pecan praline but are still delicious. I love being able to say I’ve had the French version and what the pralines turned into once they made their way to Louisiana.
One of our favorite places to get pecan pralines is Royal Praline Co because it actually has pralines from various local businesses. Then, if you fall in love with them, which you will, you can order pecan pralines from their website and have them shipped straight to your door. In addition to this spot, you can pretty much find pecan pralines at any candy store in the French Quarter, which my sweet tooth loved, having grown up with these delicious treats.
Stop for lunch on the balcony at Royal House
While visiting New Orleans, I always say I want to eat on balconies for the vibe and the people-watching, especially on Bourbon Street. We started Googling places that:
Were located on Bourbon Street ✅
Had Po-boys ✅
Had balcony seating ✅
And Royal House turned out to be a great option, so we headed in and actually got a balcony table right away. As you may have realized, just about every building in the French Quarter has a vast and rich history. Royal House is no different, and the building has been a French Quarter icon for over 100 years. It was originally built as a family home, but the first floor was soon converted into a thriving restaurant, Tortorici’s. At a time when few Italian restaurants in New Orleans served anything more interesting than spaghetti, Tortorici’s stood out with its dishes of scampi, veal, and fish. It became one of the longest-running restaurants in the city, alongside its fellow French Quarter icons such as Galatoire’s, Arnaud’s, Antoine’s, and Broussard’s, until its ultimate closure after Hurricane Katrina. In 2008, the Ammari brothers bought the restaurant, restored it, and reopened it as Royal House. Over a decade later, they’re still serving up delicious Cajun and Creole cuisine to locals and tourists alike. Again, balconies in New Orleans are very sought after because they are basically NOLA’s version of patio seating with prime people-watching. You truly never know what you’ll see in New Orleans, especially on Bourbon Street!!
We started with, you guessed it, charbroiled oysters, which were salty, cheesy, and just delicious. They honestly might have been my favorites out of all the places we had them. When in New Orleans, you MUST get a po-boy, which is a sandwich with fried somethin’ or other. Typically it’s fried shrimp, oysters, chicken, or, in this case, fried alligator! He was a little skeptical at first, as are most people trying something new, but he really enjoyed it, saying it kinda tasted like chicken and was seasoned really nicely, and I agree. Plus, now we can say we’ve eaten fried alligator in New Orleans! For my meal, I wasn’t too hungry, so I just ordered the French Onion soup, which is a staple for me. If French Onion soup is on the menu, you can bet your ass I’m ordering that sucker. The cheese was perfect on top, where you could drag a spoon across it and hear the sound, but when you pushed down, it fell immediately into the soup and onions. The flavor was great, and I’m pretty picky about my French Onion soup because I eat it so often and know what I want the broth to taste like. This broth was seasoned very well, not too salty, with the flavor of the onions shining through along with the bread pieces. I honestly wished it had come in a bigger bowl because I scarfed it down — but that’s okay, since it meant we had room for the extra pecan pralines in my purse.
Walk into all the shops around the French Quarter
Listen to me. Walk into all the shops in and around the French Quarter. From Voodoo shops to shops with literally over one hundred different types of hot sauce to New Orleans souvenir shops to cute clothing shops and candy stores, there’s truly something for everyone! While walking around, you’ll see lots of daiquiri bars. Our favorite thing to do is grab a fun-flavored daiquiri (they have every flavor ever) and walk along the streets, popping into random shops.
Sip a hurricane at the famous Pat O’Brien’s
When you’re visiting New Orleans, you absolutely must make a trip to Pat O’Brien’s for the iconic Hurricane cocktail. Of course, this cocktail has an interesting history. In the 1940’s many US distilleries were used to manufacture necessities for wartime, and domestic liquor was scarce. However, rum coming up the Mississippi River from the Caribbean islands was plentiful. To buy a case of Bourbon, there was a strong incentive to purchase large quantities of rum. With General Manager George Oechsner Jr. at the helm, the bar staff experimented with recipes, and eventually everyone agreed that passion fruit flavor with rum was a hit! They then decided a glass shaped like a hurricane lamp was the perfect vessel, and alas, the Hurricane drink was born and became a New Orleans staple. It started out as a speakeasy during Prohibition and then evolved into a dueling piano bar. You can read all about the drink's history here.
The original speakeasy is at 624 Bourbon Street, and the one we frequent most because of its gorgeous patio. The hurricane is something that you must experience while in NOLA, but be careful because this baby is strong and delicious, making it very dangerous. We usually sit at a table, which gets you a server, but you can also just walk up to the bar and grab a hurricane in a plastic cup. If you don’t want your glass when you leave, you can take it to the bar, and they will refund you $3 per glass. If you do want it, you can take it to the host stand and they’ll wash it out for you and box it up so then you’ll have a fun New Orleans souviner.
Go on a spooky Ghost and history Tour
When in New Orleans… am I right? New Orleans is said to be one of the most haunted cities in America. Andrew and I were super stoked to experience a walking ghost tour around the French Quarter, but we wanted to make sure we researched all the tours available to ensure we were choosing the best one. When it comes to ghost tours, Andrew and I also want to get a history lesson on the city or area itself, so we decided to go with Haunted History Tours and did the French Quarter Ghosts and Legends tour in the evening. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, this tour is a 10/10. The tour guides aren’t trying to scare you or perform for you; they’re there to tell stories, and they do it extremely well. I will say, if you’re sensitive at all… be warned. I’ve never felt anything spooky on a ghost tour until this tour, but overall, it was worth it, and I’d definitely do it again.
Another thing to mention is that at the beginning of the tour, they give you a coupon for buy-one-get-one hurricanes, so if you want to grab one before the tour, you can! If not, I highly suggest grabbing a bottle of water before the tour if you’re there during the hotter months. Even when the sun is down it’s cooler but still HOT. Overall, I highly recommend adding a ghost tour to your New Orleans trip.
Have dinner at Two Sisters on Bourbon PoBoy Shop & Bar
After a long day of brunchin’ and walking around New Orleans, shopping, and then going on a ghost tour, we wanted something quick and right on Bourbon Street. Two Sisters is the perfect spot to pop in and grab something to-go to take back to the hotel or to dine in and enjoy quickly. My go-to po-boy has always been the half and half sandwich, which is half fried oysters and half fried shrimp, but you can have a half and half po-boy with catfish too! In addition to po-boys, they have fish and chips, combination seafood plates, fried green tomatoes, pork belly bites, and even boudin balls.
DAY THREE
End your trip in New Orleans with brunch at Tableau
A wonderful way to end your trip in New Orleans is with brunch on a balcony with a great view. Tableau is the perfect spot for this because their brunch is great, the balcony is pretty dang spacious (which is rare for balconies in New Orleans), and the views of Jackson Square are 10/10, along with the restaurant being attached to the historic Le Petit Theatre. We started with mimosas, and for our main dishes, I ordered the fruit crêpe with the most delicious sauce on top. I’m not sure what it was, but it tasted like sweetened condensed milk and was yum! For Andrew’s main dish, he ordered the red beans and rice with andouille sausage and an incredible jalapeño cornbread. We wanted an entire pan of that cornbread to take with us. It was that good!
The dishes we ordered were more basic, but they were so good you could taste that they had perfected them beautifully. Overall, the service was great, and the views from the balcony were lovely, even on a rainy morning. I can imagine on a sunny day it’s 11/10 vibes.
New Orleans is definitely one of a kind. It’s a lot to take in at first, but once you get past all the craziness and the occasional smell, it’s a pretty cool place full of art, culture, and awesome people. When it comes to food, those mentioned are some of my favorites, but I have in no way experienced all of New Orleans’ wonderful restaurants, let alone just the ones in the French Quarter. Andrew and I are always hankering to come back and try new places in NOLA. As we do this, I’ll be sure to update this article with the new places we try and love.
Have you been to NOLA? What’s your favorite spots? Are you planning a trip soon?
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