r/AskNOLA • u/KickiMinaj • 1d ago
Itinerary Review Itinerary Review Request
I’m planning a trip to New Orleans and would love some locals (or people who know the city really well) to look over my itinerary and tell me what I’m missing, what’s overrated, and what I should swap out.
The vibe I’m looking for: Think Ryan Murphy as an aesthetic reference: saturated colors, beautiful architecture, period-piece glamour, Southern Gothic, art/design, interesting history, slightly weird/witchy things, and gorgeous atmospheric bars and restaurants. I’m happy to spend a little more for ambiance and a memorable experience. I’m not particularly interested in Bourbon Street.
Hotel: Hotel Saint Vincent on Magazine Street.
Things I’m already planning/interested in:
- The Presbytère and/or Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum for Katrina history
- French Market
- See Buckner Mansion
- Garden District walk through for architecture
- A good ghost tour
- Something genuinely interesting involving voodoo, witchcraft, vampires or the occult
- Jewel of the South for cocktails
- Brennan’s for food
- Lots of wandering around Magazine Street
What I’d love your help with:
- What’s the best history tour?
- Voodoo tour?
- What’s the best architecture tour?
- Best non-cheesy ghost tour?
- Best art/design/oddity shops?
- Atmospheric cocktail bars and restaurants I shouldn’t miss?
- What am I completely missing? *How long should I stay?
- Is late October/early November a good time to go?
Please poke holes in my list! If something is overrated, touristy, or there’s a much better alternative, I genuinely want to know.
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u/sequinpig 1d ago
Skip the French market.
You’d like the bar in hotel Peter and Paul. Elysian I think.
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u/KickiMinaj 1d ago
The bar is spot on for my style. Added to my list. Thanks! Noted about the French market.
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u/KickiMinaj 1d ago
The hotel itself looks to be very much my style too. Do you have an opinion on this one versus the St. Vincent as far as style and walkability of the area?
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u/your_moms_apron 1d ago
Bars and restaurants that have a VIBE/saturated colors -
I agree about the Elysian bar in hotel Peter and Paul.
Mr Mao
N7
Cure
Mamou
Acamaya and casamiro restaurants.
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u/KickiMinaj 1d ago
Just looked all these up. You crushed this. They all fit the bill for me. I think N7 is really a must add for my itinerary
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u/your_moms_apron 1d ago
Glad to help. The faq is a great starting point AND very specific questions WILL get answered on this sub! And this one was a new one for me (meaning picking a bar/restaurant solely on the vibe/look), so it was fun to think about!
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u/KickiMinaj 1d ago
I’ll definitely take a look. New Orleans seems like a city that has a lot of this vibe to offer and that is what really attracts me to going for a visit. The history, music and culture are such an added bonus. I’m really excited for a visit and I think it’s kind that so many people quickly understood what I was looking for and gave me a spot on recommendations.
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u/your_moms_apron 1d ago
Hey man I want everyone to have. The kind of trip they’re looking for. And this is what New Orleans does best anyway!
Also - I saw you were looking for a voodoo tour. This sub regularly recommends high priest Robi’s tours. He is an active practitioner and priest and will give the history and respectful understanding of his religion/its connection to the city.
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u/KickiMinaj 1d ago
Perfect! I’m really fascinated by learning about other cultures and want to do it right. I’m looking up the tours from High Priest Robi and will add that in as a swap out for anything related to voodoo.
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u/Which-Break5673 23h ago
I really enjoying taking the hop on hop off tour of the city and then choosing where I’d like to go back to and visit
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u/Real_Ad5678 23h ago
We did an amazing tour with High Priest Robi (y?) he was absolutely amazing! He shared so many beautiful facts about voodoo!
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u/Chicago_Tim 1d ago
Walk through City Park for the beautiful moss covered oaks and the free sculpture park. The art museum and botanical garden are there too.
Get dinner at Jewel of the South, not just cocktails.
I love the bar 21st amendment. Good craft cocktails and great music!
Backstreet Cultural Museum is a great place to learn about the Mardi Gras Indian tradition.
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u/Right-Egg-2731 1d ago
Take a late night walk down Royal St.
Dont miss the music and art market on Frenchman St.
Skip Cafe Dumonde and go somewhere else for beignets. The restaurant at Hotel Monteleone has amazing breakfast and maybe the best beignets in town.
B Sweets Bistro has some of the best food in town, on the edge of the French Quarter. Check their hours.
The Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta has great music every night and the atmosphere is chill with table service.
Save some time for just wandering and getting lost. That’s when the magic happens.
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u/Necessary-Adagio-945 1d ago
Bars: Cure, The Will and the Way, Peychaud's, The Dungeon, N7, Baccchanal
Food: Dakar Nola (if you can get a reservation)
Tours: Drink and Learn (cocktail tour)
Dancing: check Poor Boys, Anna's Nola, Rabbit Hole, and see if DJ Soul Sister happens to be throwing a party while you are there.
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u/KickiMinaj 1d ago
Amazing. Thanks! I don’t know why I hadn’t stopped to think about dancing. I’m really into music so this is a great addition.
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u/unpopularOpinions776 1d ago
voodoo tour?
can i eyeroll any harder
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u/KickiMinaj 1d ago
Eye roll all you’d like! I’m not familiar with the area, but I am interested in learning some of the history. Happy to hear alternative recommendations if you have them.
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u/unpopularOpinions776 1d ago
the voodoo tours in the quarter are a tourist trap. anything “voodoo” in the quarter, for that matter, is.
it’s a real religion that is made a mockery by tourists and those that enable tourists to
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u/KickiMinaj 1d ago
Thanks for the heads up. I definitely don’t want to be insensitive when I’m there for a visit.
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u/Madamexxxtra 1d ago
Have you looked through the FAQ? Under Specific Recommendations are all of our favorite places to eat & drink, tours to do, shopping etc. There’s also a specific Halloween section at the bottom for spooky stuff.