One night in New Orleans - what do we do?

[Niffernay]

We are taking a Norwegian cruise from Dec 6-13. We fly into New Orleans on the 5th, which is a Saturday; we arrive about 3 in the afternoon. I have never been to New Orleans and am looking for people's suggestions on what I shouldn't miss. My travelling companions and I enjoy nightlife (ok, drinking :D) and are pretty much up for anything. We were thinking we'd go out to dinner and find something fun to do afterwards. Your suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks all! :p

[Langoustine]

Go to Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. Everything you're looking for is right there.

[wanttoBcruising]

Agree w/ Langoustine -- everything will be right there in the FQ. Plenty of good food, nightlife, entertainment. It'll be a Saturday night so expect crowds, lines, waits. Enjoy.

[PenguinLife]

My only other suggestion is if you want somewhere to try real Cajun food for lunch before boarding, go to Mulate's 201 Julia street, this is only about 2 blocks over from the cruise terminal in the warehouse district so easy walking distance after you drop off your luggage. Most New Orleans food is either Creole or some mash up mixture of Creole and Cajun (They are NOT the same thing). Mulate's is probably the closest thing you get to real Cajun food in the city as their original location was in Breaux Bridge in the heart of cajun country, unfortunately the original location was wiped out by a storm about 8-9 years ago. They also have live music and dancing in the evenings on the weekends, again country cajun style, not that drunk frat party stuff you find on Bourbon street.

 

Ike

 

p.s. on that difference between Creole and Cajun, the food often shares similar names and often similar ingredients however the flavor profile is very different, for one thing creole food uses tomatoes, cajun does not (or at least rarely uses them), there are also staples of Cajun food like Boudin that is almost impossible to find in New Orleans, but that is another topic.

Edited November 4, 2015 by PenguinLife

[Langoustine]

I agree that Bourbon Street has a certain frat party/tourist ambience, but for people who are doing NO for the first time, well, you ARE a tourist, so dive in. The first time I was there, nearly 40 years ago, there was a naked woman bathing people in a huge plexiglass champagne glass inside one of the Bourbon Street clubs and I found it the height of sophistication. I wised up several years later. I didn't know Mulate's had survived and relocated; that's what I get for not coming to NO since shortly after Katrina. The food in the original location was great. Ah, boudin; the real stuff is so good that my biggest problem was always eating half of it on the way back to my car from the boucherie...

Edited November 4, 2015 by Langoustine

[dwflaf]

Hotels are cheaper on the other side of the river. My favorite is going to the Holiday Inn (it is a circular building), take a taxi to the ferry. Cost about $5.

 

Afterwards, you can get a taxi at Harrah's casino. Much easier to get one than on Bourbon Street area. Cost you $20 to cross the MS River.

[Madame B]

Before going to the French Quarter to indulge in adult beverages, I recommend taking a street car ride up and down St. Charles Avenue. The homes here are spectacular.

My recommendations for really cool bars are the Sezerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel for their signature drink and the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone. Both are in walking distance from each other!

My recommendation for dinner is Cochon. They have some great pork dishes. For breakfast, The Palace Cafe' can't be beat!

Regarding Mulate's, they actually didn't relocate to NOLA from Breaux Bridge. Both locations were open for years. Ownership of the Breaux Bridge location changed after a divorce, then death years later of the original owner, then storm damage.

Enjoy!

[Miller_KC]

I like "Red Gravy" for breakfast. South/West of Canal St on Camp St. It's not too far from the cruise ship terminal and the Italian Sausage Omelette is great. Red Gravy is named for a spicy Marinara style sauce popular in New Orleans.

 

There are several nice hotels on or near Canal street that are near the port and in a great spot for walking to the French Quarter or catching a trolley car (but call them Street Cars or everyone will know you are a tourist).

[jgmpuma]

There is very little in the way of good local music on Bourbon. Mostly very loud cover bands, and if that is what you like, you will be on the right street.

 

For local music, you need to try the clubs on Frenchmen Street in the Marigny, a short walk from the French Quarter. Most have no cover charge.

 

Before you arrive in New Orleans, look here to see who is playing where:

 

http://www.wwoz.org

[marshhawk]

You may end up cruising from NOLA again, but if you only go once-do you want the answer to the question=what did you see?

 

" I don't remember?"

 

Stroll through the French market, ride a street car, check out the WWII museum, hang out in the French quarter, listen to the street bands. And then head over to the "party". Oh, and eat! :)

 

One of the things that my DH and I loved while wandering the streets in NOLA. were the small parks, and the fantastic statues, they are everywhere and where you least expect to find them. Enjoy!

[Niffernay]

Thanks everyone. The responses are much appreciated. We now have a loop thrown in as my alma mater (Michigan State) is playing in the Big Ten Title game on Saturday at 8:15. We are going to try to find a "sports" bar that may have the game on. Go Green!!