With its storied history, culinary prowess, and liquor-soaked reputation, New Orleans is a wonderfully weird slice of Americana that has to be experienced to be understood. While the city certainly retains a spot on many a traveler’s bucket list, it might easily be pushed aside for more far-flung locales — and that’s a mistake. Thanks to its compact size and central location along the Gulf Coast, New Orleans is an easy destination to reach from just about anywhere in the continental U.S., making it an ideal weekend getaway.
I recently had the opportunity to soak up the best that the Big Easy has to offer on a whirlwind trip and realized that it’s entirely possible to hit the highlights in a single weekend. Whether you’re here for the beverages, the beignets, or the beautiful architecture, get ready to laissez les bons temps rouler with my guide to spending an action-packed weekend in New Orleans.
Where to Stay During A Weekend in New Orleans
Thanks to its compact size, New Orleans is an easy city to traverse on foot. To save yourself a little shoe leather, you’ll still want to check into a hotel near the sites you most want to see, especially with such limited time for exploring. Perched along Canal Street, the New Orleans Marriott is a prime stay with Mississippi River views, a popular bar, and a nice array of dining outlets for those who don’t want to wander far for a bite. As an added bonus, the sky-high hotel is one of the tallest buildings in New Orleans, making it easy to find your way back after a night of revelry.
Across the street from the Marriott, you’ll find the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, a top spot for families along Canal Street with a recently refreshed food menu that has locals and regular visitors raving. If you’re looking to really live the high life in the Crescent City, the newly opened Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans sits about a block or two closer to the river and offers both a rooftop pool and a tranquil spa for a little extra serenity.
Your Itinerary For A Weekend In New Orleans
Friday Afternoon
Once you’ve checked into your cozy digs, it’s time to hit the ground running. Head towards the river to a newly opened attraction, Vue Orleans. Adjacent to the Four Seasons, this towering attraction offers an interactive education on New Orleans history, complete with brief lessons from holographic historical figures, larger-than-life displays, and colorful murals by local artists. Take some time to meander through the well-curated collections.
Once you’ve soaked up some NOLA knowledge, head to the elevators for a surprisingly immersive ride (no spoilers) up to the 33rd floor for a scenic 360-degree view of the Mississippi River and Crescent City skyline. Head up to the 34th floor to brave the outdoor viewing platform if you dare (beware the wind) and enjoy a frozen cocktail at the sky-high bar before making your way back down to the museum gift shop for a quick souvenir.
Friday Evening
Start your first evening in NOLA off on the right foot with a visit to the iconic Carousel Bar. Tucked inside the historic Hotel Monteleone, the lounge is aptly named for its show-stopping centerpiece: A slowly rotating bar beneath an antique carousel topper. Snagging a seat at the bar can be a challenge, but it’s worth the wait. Enjoy the attentions of friendly bartenders, who leap over the doorless bar with the effortlessness of a big-top trapeze artist and shake up world-class cocktails with a New Orleans twist. I enjoyed a local spin on my favorite drink with the Peychaud’s Spritz — NOLA-born Peychaud’s bitters replaced Aperol in this Crescent City cocktail. Give yourself about an hour to soak up the ambiance and enjoy your beverage before heading out to dinner.
Tonight, you’re going all in on old-school New Orleans vibes with seafood-forward fare at Bourbon House. Perched on a lively corner of Bourbon Street, this retro oyster house from NOLA restaurant royalty Dickie Brennan boasts oversized picture windows that allow you to soak up the revelry from the comfort of a white tablecloth-clad table. Start your meal with a bottle from the restaurant’s impressive wine collection before digging into platters of fresh oysters on the half-shell, bowls of gumbo, and plates of blackened gulf-caught fish. Be sure to save room for dessert — a cup of frozen bourbon rum punch is a very New Orleans way to finish a meal, as is the praline cheesecake.
After dinner, enjoy a nighttime stroll back to your hotel via Bourbon Street to immerse yourself in Crescent City nightlife.
Saturday Morning
Rise and shine to watch the sun rise over the Mississippi River from your hotel room before a day full of exploration. Start your day with an iced chicory coffee at French Truck Coffee, a locally owned spot just around the corner from Canal Street. Enjoy some light window shopping as you make your way back to your hotel for a guided city tour.
One of the major perks of staying at the New Orleans Marriott is access to its concierge and partnership with local tour company Joieful. Each stay at the NOLA property includes a gift card for use on a Joieful city tour, easily customizable and bookable through the hotel for the ultimate in stress-free trip planning.
Hop aboard an air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter and enjoy a leisurely cruise through New Orleans’ top sights. Halfway through the tour, you’ll make a stop at NOLA icon Cafe du Monde’s City Park location — a much less crowded alternative to the more popular French Market venue. Treat yourself to some Big Easy beignets (be sure to shake the bag first to coat each doughy bite in powdered sugar) and stroll around the gorgeous park grounds to stretch your legs.
Saturday Afternoon
Following your New Orleans city tour, make your way to another must-visit Crescent City attraction for a glimpse at a larger-than-life tradition. Mardi Gras World is a 300,000-square-foot warehouse and workshop showcasing the artistry that goes into preparing for one of the world’s most famous parades. Learn how these fantastic floats transform from sketch to statue and watch as talented artisans actively work on next year’s showstopping centerpieces.
Once you’ve had a taste of Mardi Gras, it’s time for something more substantial. Hop in an Uber and head to Meril for a late lunch. Named for NOLA-born celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse’s daughter, this contemporary American concept serves up Southern fare with an international twist. Highlights from the quirky menu include pineapple upside-down cornbread, fresh Gulf yellowfin tuna bundles, and, of course, Lagasse-approved house-made meatballs. I’d highly recommend sticking with small plates here so that you have room for cocktails and sweets. Try The Lushie for a boozy taste of seasonal fruits, and prepare your sweet tooth for shareable-sized desserts like a gargantuan banana cream pie or Cinnamon toast bread pudding with Fireball whiskey sauce.
Walk off your lunch with a leisurely stroll through the Warehouse District back towards Canal Street. Stop into some of the eclectic shops for quirky souvenirs and swing by another local coffee shop for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Saturday Evening
Now it’s time for another New Orleans tradition: Cocktails. While you may not have time for a full cocktail tour of New Orleans, you can treat yourself to a few iconic sips on an abridged cocktail crawl around town. This three-stop itinerary should take about an hour and a half to two hours to complete, depending on how long you linger over each sip.
First up, pop into Sazarac House (conveniently located down the street from New Orleans Marriott) for a taste of the Big Easy’s most historic sip. This rye whiskey-based drink isn’t for the faint of heart, cut with just a splash of Peychaud’s bitters, absinthe, and sugar, but is a must-try when in NOLA. Learn about the cocktail’s legendary history at the three-story museum and enjoy a free sazarac with admission.
Next, head just a block up Canal Street to the Sheraton New Orleans and pony up to the Pelican Bar for a hurricane. While the storied sip was invented at Pat O’Brien’s, the tiki cocktail at Pelican Bar is a much better alternative, crafted to order with freshly squeezed fruit juices instead of batch-made with a powdered mix (yes, really).
Finally, enjoy a stroll up to Bourbon 'O' Bar inside the Bourbon Orleans Hotel for an all-but-forgotten piece of Crescent City history. Specializing in classic cocktails, this Orleans Street bar is one of the few places in town that serves up an authentic Ramos Gin Fizz. While the ingredients are similar to a traditional gin fizz (gin, lemon juice, egg whites, and club soda, among other additions), the Ramos Gin Fizz was originally shaken by hand for 12 minutes — today, it’s shaken by machine for six — to create an uber thick layer of thick, marshmallowy foam.
Saturday Night
Thoroughly liquored up and in need of sustenance, hop in an Uber or taxi and head Uptown to the quirky (and 2024 James Beard semi-finalist) Mister Mao. Helmed by former Bay Area chef Sophina Uong, the eclectic eatery is a self-proclaimed “tropical roadhouse” serving up Asian fusion small plates with big flavor — think pickled blueberry pani puri and crispy fried chicken topped with pink pineapple.
Wicker barstools and strategically placed greenery evoke the feel of a casual streetside cafe, while a vibrant mural showcasing a pair of tigers adds an artsy touch and flickering candlelit completes the moody vibe.
Sunday Morning
Enjoy the last few hours of your weekend in New Orleans with a mouthwatering brunch in the French Quarter. For Korean-inspired bites with a Southern twist, head to Sun Chong on Decatur Street (bulgogi and grits, anyone?). If you’re craving something a bit more traditional, try Palm & Pine for dishes like crawfish chile relleno and a duck boudin omelet. For something really over the top, book a table at Miss River, the new Alon Shaya-helmed hot spot at Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans.
Post-brunch, stroll over to Jackson Square for a little people-watching and some photo ops in front of the iconic St. Louis Cathedral. If you have time, pop into one of the small, unique French Quarter museums like the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum, the New Orleans Jazz Museum, or the ultra-niche Pharmacy Museum for a slice of alternative Crescent City history. If you're feeling up to it, cap off your New Orleans weekend with one last drink at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, the oldest bar in the Big Easy.
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