March, 2024
Dining in NOLA
Shopping
Frenchmen Street
The Garden District
Dining in New Orleans
It does take some research to find authentic southern food for vegetarians, but it’s gotten much easier over the last decade. For this trip, we chose some of the well-known tourist spots with plant-based options, as well as a few outside the French Quarter.
Court of Two Sisters– French Quarter
The Court of Two Sisters is a well-known tourist sport in the French Quarter with an extensive buffet. Musicians were located both in the courtyard and indoors during the Jazz Brunch. We found plenty of well-labeled vegetarian items in the buffet. With no time limit, the restaurant allowed us to relax and enjoy the music and the meal unrushed.
Killer PoBoys– French Quarter
Killer Poboys is a no-frills experience on the western edge of the French Quarter on Dauphine street. We ate lunch inside, but it’s also a great option for a take-out picnic in the nearby Jackson Park.
Carmo – Warehouse District
Carmo, located in the Warhouse District, was hands-down our favorite meal in NOLA on this trip (and maybe of all of our trips). The menu included dishes from tropical regions around the world, and nearly every dish had a vegan version.
The French quarter
St. Louis Cathedral & Jackson Square
During our 2024 visit, St. Louis Cathedral was open to visitors as long as Mass or other programs weren’t in session. We had planned to spend some time in the Cabildo Museum, but it was closed on Monday. Musicians performed and artists sold their work along the park’s fence line.
French Quarter & Frenchmen Street
Shopping in the French Quarter
While some shops are clearly tourist traps, many are as authentic as they are eclectic. Galleries with artists that utilize all types of media can be found scattered throughout the French Quarter. Alcoholic beverages are permitted on the streets and in most shops (as long as your drinking vessel isn’t made of glass), so if someone might be prone to fine art purchases out of their budget on a whim, they may need to limit their drinks before a FQ gallery stroll.
On Sunday we walked through the very crowded open-air French Market. There were long lines for the food kiosks serving everything from alligator bites to fruit smoothies.
Exploration and Live Music in the French Quarter
Live music is everywhere in New Orleans. While the late night scene might not be kid-friendly, there is no shortage of musicians playing around St. Louis Cathedral and throughout the French Quarter. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band can also be a good choice for families. The show is shorter than an hour and in a small venue. Tickets sell out online well in advance. No food or drinks are sold and there are no bathrooms, so some preparation and planning are required.
Frenchmen Street
Frenchmen Street is just outside the French Quarter and known for its live music scene. The street was relatively quiet during the day, and we stopped at Frenchman Art & Books. We walked back toward the French Quarter, admiring the NOLA architecture around then Esplanade Avenue area.
The Waldorf astoria
New Orleans
We frequent the Hilton brand, and find the best value for our points in many large cities to often be a stay at the Waldorf Astoria. In New Orleans, the Roosevelt is conveniently located close to Canal Street and just outside the French Quarter. We didn’t eat at the two full-service restaurants during our stay, but we did have drinks in the the Sazerac Bar. The weather was a little too cool for us to spend long in the rooftop pool, but the amenity would have been essential during a balmy summer visit.
Description
The garden District
& Magazine street
On our first visit to the Garden District we took a walking tour. This time, we just took some time to stroll through the streets near the Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 before dining and shopping on Magazine street. We took the Streetcar, which became standing room only as we picked up more passengers along St. Charles street. On late Sunday afternoon many of the shops and restaurants were closed, but we found an eclectic shopping experience at Slow down, with both vintage and new clothing, accessories and jewelry. We settled for a very non-NOLA dinner at The Rum House (The experience overall was okay but I admit the nachos were killer.) We found after dinner drinks and a more NOLA-centric beignet dessert across Magazine Street at The Vintage.
The Rink Shopping area had indoor seating and, although most of the shops were closed on Sunday, was a good spot to take a break on a walk through the Garden District.
