Visit
- Peche, which is a magical seafood spot –– very casual, super delicious, very highly recommended (Warehouse District)
- Some of my favorite local go-tos for a nice local but not formal dinner are: Casamento’s, Gris-Gris, Coquette, Cochon (the cousin to Butcher), Brigsten’s, Paladar 511
- If you’re looking a memorable sandwich, check out Cochon Butcher –– owned by James Beard award winner that also owns Herbsaint, Gianna, and a few others (like Peche, above)
- And if you want just some casual bites: Pizza Delicious, Barracuda Tacos, Blue Oak BBQ, Union Ramen Bar, Paulie Gee’s Pizza, or if you’re in the quarter I’d suggest Felipe’s or Dat Dog
- We have two food halls if you have no idea what to eat –– St. Roch Market and Pythian Food Hall
- Stein’s Deli has some great sandwiches, and there’s a slider/donut spot next door as well
- Shaya and Saba are doing some very legit Israeli food (Uptown)
- Company Burger is raved about… it’s pretty simplistic (no lettuce/tomato, uses just regular American cheese), but it’s delicious
- Turkey and the Wolf is this weird lunch spot that really blew up last year, feels like you’re having lunch in someone’s grandmother’s house –– but the food is pretty great
- Compère Lapin is a couple of years old now, but just took home a new James Beard award (Warehouse District)
- Port of Call is known for huge burgers and strong drinks, long lines
- Even though we’re known for the traditional fine dining experiences of Galatoire’s, Antoine’s, Arn
aud’s, Brennan’s, etc. I usually tell people to stay away unless they feel a big urge otherwise, mostly because I think we crush it much harder at one notch lower
- Everyone talks about Parkway (for good reason) –– but there are a ton of other great options…
- Domilise’s or Guy’s (both Uptown)
- Johnny’s or Napoleon House (Quarter)
- Or if you want to go crazy non-traditional there’s a spot called Killer Poboys in the back of Erin Rose (a bar) just off Bourbon Street
- Cafe du Monde is the famous place for beignets
- You’ll find some pretty great ones at Cafe Beignet
- There’s a spot called The Vintage that offers some pretty crazy takes on them like like matcha and coffee
Brunch:
- Vessel has some great cocktails and good food
- Katie’s is a pretty popular neighborhood spot with great brunch options
- Snag some shrimp & grits and hit the bloody mary bar at Atchafalaya
- A little more of a casual option, but still delicious, is Ruby Slipper Cafe – so good
- Elizabeth’s has the same old-lady aesthetic as Turkey & the Wolf, but does great weekend brunch
- Take a look at chicken & waffles or a crawfish omlette at Broussard’s
- Also casual, and some healthy options can be found at Satsuma Cafe
- The Country Club has a killer outdoor vibe
- Sunday brunch at Commander’s Palace, is an amazing experience (jacket required) that is well worth it
- Camellia Grill is an old school diner that’s been around for a while
- A few more casual spots to check out: Molly’s Rise and Shine, Bearcat, Alma Cafe, and Willa Jean
And some drinks and fun:
- Superior Seafood does happy hour every day (including weekends) from like 4-6:30p (ish), with $9 bottles of wine, $3 drafts, and $1 raw oysters
- Around the corner, you can’t miss drinks at the Columns Hotel with a giant front porch that overlooks St. Charles Avenue
- Also a few doors away is The Chloe, which is a rather new restaurant and hotel with some fantastic drinks
- ** Bacchanal is a great outdoor space in the Bywater that involves buying wine as you walk in, to bring to your table and drink on an amazing patio with live music **
- We have some breweries that are pretty good (but state law makes them close at 10a) –– Second Line Brewing, Courtyard Brewing, NOLA Brewing (BBQ onsite), Urban South Brewing, Port Orleans Brewing… all have combo indoor/outdoor spaces
- For something completely different, there’s a spot in the quarter called Tiki Tolteca that’s above a local burrito spot that has a chill island vibe and all the drinks are handmade (similar spot called Latitude 29 is around the corner)
- Other cocktail-driven spots include Cure (won a James Beard for best bar program), The Will and the Way, Sazerac Bar (in the Roosevelt, very historical), Cane & Table (also has a good brunch), Arnaud’s French 75, and Loa
- The spots a lot of tourists hit can be hit or miss, but a few that aren’t bad are Pat O’Brien’s, Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop (America’s oldest bar!), and Absinthe House –– and a few that get a little crazy (but are still OK) are Tropical Isle, Cat’s Meow, and Razzoo
- There are a million dive bars around town, so I’ll start with some in the Quarter: The Chart Room, Molly’s at the Market, Aunt Tiki’s, Johnny White’s, Erin Rose, and Alibi
- Some unique bars to check out include Carousel Bar (the bar turns like a carousel), Columns Hotel (on the St. Charles streetcar line), Snake & Jake’s (if you want to go to the weirdest bar ever)
- If you want to get out of the Quarter and hang out in some outdoor bars around the city, I’d recommend Bayou Beer Garden and Bayou Wine Garden, and Wrong Iron
- We finally have some rooftop bars at the top of the Ace Hotel, another place called Monkey Board (Troubadour Hotel roof), Catahoula Hotel Bar, and Hot Tin (Pontchartrain Hotel roof)
- Go to Frenchmen Street at night, tons of live music (d.b.a., Spotted Cat, Apple Barrel, Blue Nile)
- Other live music spots are Chickie Wah Wah, Tipitina’s, Preservation Hall, Hi-Ho Lounge, and Rock ‘n’ Bowl (bowling and music!)
- Late night eats –– for after the drinks are done: Verti Marte, Dat Dog, Clover Grill, Daisy Duke’s, and Camellia Grill
- jackson square – iconic landmark, earns it name for one of three bronze statues of Andrew Jackson located in the center of the square (quarter)
- the audubon zoo – one of the finest zoos in the nation, home to over 2,000 animals over 58 acres (uptown)
- cabildo – the former home of the spanish municipal government in new orleans, site of the louisiana purchase (quarter)
- aquarium of the americas – one of the leading aquariums in the country, with 10,000 animals representing 530 species (quarter)
- city park – a 1,300 acre public park filled with oak trees, botanical gardens, and various recreational activities including boat rentals and a small children’s amusement park (mid-city)
- national wwii museum – focuses on the contribution made by the united states to victory by the allies in world war ii, and the battle of normandy in particular (cbd)
- walking tours – there are a variety of tours offered in the city, topics include cocktails, ghosts, architecture, and historic places; some are on segways (quarter)
- pharmacy museum – the site of the first licensed apothecary shop, is the largest and most diverse pharmaceutical collection in a single location in the United States, containing old patent medicines, books, and pharmaceutical equipment dating back as far as the early 1800s; featured in the film abraham lincoln: vampire hunter and the site of our wedding reception (quarter)
- st. louis cathedral – the oldest cathedral in north america, on the edge of jackson square; one of the most iconic images of new orleans (quarter)
- st. charles streetcar line – runs a loop starting at canal street, through uptown down st. charles and carrolton avenues, then back to canal street; passes by the huge mansions that edge the oak-lined avenues, tulane and loyola avenues, audubon park, lee circle, and numerous historic locations along the way (quarter)
- fair grounds – the site of jazz fest and home to horse racing in the new orleans area (mid-city)
- cemeteries – because the city is built on a swamp, the deceased have to be buried above ground here in elaborate stone crypts and mausoleums; now major tourist attractions, the most famous cemetery, st. louis Cemetery #1, is walking distance from the french quarter and the downtown area. located on historic basin street, it is the burial place of marie laveau, the legendary “voodoo queen.” (throughout the city)
- mardi gras world – a unique attraction offering tours of parade floats and the float and prop building process (warehouse district)
- magazine street – a mix of residential and commercial buildings, generally older houses from the later nineteenth century and similarly aged commercial stretches consisting of antique shops, clothing boutiques, restaurants, and bars (uptown)
Walk through the French Quarter/Jackson Square/St. Louis Cathedral
- Obviously, this is the most visible area of New Orleans and the most historic. There isn’t a lot to “do” per se, but there’s a lot to see (think of it as an area filled with tons of local artists, musicians, and unique shops), so simply walking around this place is entertaining:
- Jackson Square (street performers, benches good for a picnic lunch, and delicious beignets at nearby Cafe du Monde)
- At the edge of the square is St. Louis Cathedral, one of the most iconic spots in all of New Orleans, a practicing Catholic church
- On either side of the cathedral are the Cabildo (where the Louisiana Purchase was signed) and the Presbytere (there’s a Mardi Gras exhibit on display at the Presbytere –– displays of Mardi Gras costumes, rare artifacts and other memorabilia, audiovisual presentations)
- You could walk down Royal Street, which has a lot of art galleries and street musicians
- There’s the French Market –– an open-air shopping area that’s been open since 1791
- On the edge of the French Market is the U.S. Mint, which now has some historic items and I believe a light jazz museum of sorts
- Also in that area is Woldenberg Riverfront Park, which would essentially be a walk along the riverfront and can end with a ride on the Algiers ferry (a 10-minute trip from the Central Business District across the Mississippi River and provides great views of the New Orleans skyline
- If you do go across the river, you’d obviously have to come back but before you could stop at Mini Art Studio (https://www.instagram.com/miniartcenter/). The Mini Art Center, which sits just a few blocks from the ferry dock, has an open studio where both parents and children can create visual art work.
Aquarium of the Americas
I’m going to guess that you can figure out what an aquarium is (https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/aquarium). I’d give it 4 stars –– not the biggest in the world but it’s definitely entertaining and they have some great exhibits I think he may like. This is on the edge of the French Quarter, near the ferry landing.
Audubon Insectarium
North America’s largest museum devoted to insects and their relatives (https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/insectarium).
Children’s Museum
A 30,000-square-foot interactive museum with over 100 hands-on exhibits (https://www.instagram.com/louisianakids/). I used to friggin LOVE this place when I was a kid, but that was a long time ago.
Steamboat Natchez
A two-hour cruise along the Mississippi River uses a real steam-powered sternwheeler (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez_(boat)) and provides great views of the city (every day at 11:30am).
City Park (note: we live 3 blocks from City Park) 
1,300 acres of activities (bigger than Central Park in NYC). A few things they have:
- A small amusement park (Storyland) and miniature golf course (neither are particularly exceptional).
- New Orleans Museum of Art –– an art museum
- Celebration in the Oaks ($9/person) –– This would be something to do at night, the park decorates an area of the park with a massive Christmas light display
Audubon Zoo
I think you can figure this one out (https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/zoo). I’d imagine since you just went to the zoo, this wouldn’t be the top choice –– but it’s a pretty great zoo.
Take a ride on the New Orleans Streetcar (St Charles Ave. – $1.25/person CASH only) 
It’s the oldest continually operating street car in the United States (http://www.neworleansonline.com/tools/transportation/gettingaround/streetcars.html), and the ride along oak-lined St. Charles Ave. is pretty spectacular. If Mike stays in the hotel I arranged, this runs directly outside of the hotel.
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Celebrating the art, history and culture of the American South, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art/University of New Orleans opened in 2003 in the historic Warehouse Arts District. The Museum is home to the largest and most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world. (http://ogdenmuseum.org/)
Mardi Gras World
Kids love the tour of this massive warehouse where they’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the costumes, floats, and parade paraphernalia of Mardi Gras. Pro tip: don’t miss the dress up costume trunks. (https://www.mardigrasworld.com/)
Cemetaries
So, my gut instinct is that this could potentially be a bit morbid for Griffin –– but the above-ground tombs we use here in New Orleans are just so unique that some people like to visit. I would go as a kid on occasion, but I would also see them regularly driving through town. (http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/attractions/cemeteries.html)
Two things that I also recommend are an airboat swamp tour and a trip to the WWII Museum. Both of these are amazing things to do and would probably be the two must-do activities alongside walking through the French Quarter.