A Weekend of Iconic Sights and Hidden Gems in New Orleans

A melting pot of cultures and neighborhoods, New Orleans is multilayered and fascinating. From the grand homes of the Lower Garden District to jazz along Frenchmen Street, there’s much to enjoy and appreciate. Though it will never shed its party town reputation (Mardi Gras!), the Big Easy has grown up quite a bit in recent years, with lots of art museums, inventive fine dining and luxe digs to rest your head.

Must-Sees and Hidden Gems in New Orleans: Our Top Picks

Note, these recommendations are geared toward college-age kids and adults. If you’re visiting New Orleans with younger ones, click here for a more family-friendly take on the city!

Architectural Walking Tour

Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, joining a Garden District or French Quarter walking tour while in town is as much a must as it is a treat. Woman-owned Two Chicks Walking Tours has some of the best guides, who not only share an overview of the city’s history and architecture (from Creole cottages to Italianate and Queen Anne styles), but also weave in colorful anecdotes along the way. Groups are limited to 12 total and tours are typically two hours long.

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

This recently expanded sculpture garden in City Park, adjacent to the New Orleans Museum of Art, features some 90 contemporary and modern pieces, all set against a gorgeous backdrop of pines, magnolias and Spanish moss-covered live oaks that border two manmade lagoons. Look for thought-provoking works by Louise Bourgeois, Auguste Rodin, Frank Stella, Robert Indiana and others.

Ogden Museum of Southern Art

Considered the most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world, the Ogden, located in the Warehouse Arts district, houses paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture and crafts from 15 Southern states. Among the artists represented: Benny Andrews, Clementine Hunter, Will Henry Stevens, Kendall Shaw and Baldwin Lee.

New Orleans Jazz Museum

Honoring and celebrating the history of jazz music, this robust museum has an impressive collection of artifacts and memorabilia; think instruments, sheet music, records, tape reels, photographs, posters and more. Don’t miss the permanent exhibit It All Started in Jane Alley: Louis Armstrong in New Orleans, dedicated to Armstrong’s early life in the Jane Alley neighborhood of the city.

Magazine Street

Running from Uptown to the Lower Garden District, this lively six-mile-long street — named for an ammunition magazine located in the area during the 18th century — is one of New Orleans’ major arteries. Browse independent boutiques (The Collective Shop is great for locally made goods) and art galleries; sample donuts and po’boy sandwiches; and stop in at the stylish Hotel Saint Vincent for a refreshing midday cocktail (you’re in New Orleans, after all).

Where to Hear Jazz

It’s no surprise that New Orleans endures as the one of the top places to enjoy live music, particularly jazz, nightly.

Preservation Hall

In its early days, Preservation Hall was one of the rare venues where racially integrated musicians played together, and it has since become a legend in New Orleans’ jazz scene. Comprising a handful of wooden benches facing a small stage, the intimate space has been home to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band since 1961. These days, thanks to its lasting popularity, advance tickets are necessary to experience the soulful and melodious sounds echoing throughout.

Frenchmen Street

Jazz, blues and reggae spill out from music clubs along this iconic three-block stretch in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood. Try favorites such as The Spotted Cat or d.b.a., and if you don’t love what you hear, simply try next door.

Restaurants, Cocktails and Beignets

Saba

From Israeli-American chef Alon Shaya, Saba remains one of the top tables in New Orleans seven years on. Dig into scrumptious Middle Eastern fare such as whipped labneh, mushroom hummus and shakshuka, all accompanied by hot, pillowy pita bread.

Bywater American Bistro

This Bywater neighborhood spot from chef Nina Compton serves up the flavors and ingredients of the South with a contemporary twist — for example, burrata cheese with marinated beets and collard green pesto.

Jewel of the South

Close to the French Quarter in a brick building with blue shutters, this cocktail bar has won some major awards. With imaginative drinks such as the ginger-spiked Matcha Colada and the rhubarb- and chili-infused Harlequin, it’s easy to see why.

Salon Salon

Swathed in oranges and reds, this darling library-like bar is a local favorite (if you know, you know). Try the El Guapito, made with agave, peach, chili and yellow pepper, or a glass of French wine.

Café du Monde

Do the touristy thing and linger over beignets and chicory coffee at this French Market icon. That said, every local has their go-to beignet spot, so feel free to ask around.

Where to Stay: Four Seasons New Orleans

While there’s no shortage of boutique properties across the Crescent City, the Four Seasons New Orleans stands alone in terms of luxury and service. In a gleaming tower facing the Mississippi River, the 276-room hotel sits at the edge of French Quarter, close enough to the action without being in the raucous thick of it. The rooftop pool and spa are their own tranquil sanctuary.

Rooms, starting at 438 square feet, are incredibly spacious, boasting city and river views. The modern interior design by Bill Rooney features white shiplap walls, soft-washed oak accents and Carrara marble, along with botanical-inspired plaster relief work above beds.

Along with its popular brunch restaurant Miss River, a tribute to Louisiana by Alon Shaya, the property also stands out for the striking lobby-level Chandelier Bar, named for the dozens of crystal and glass pieces hanging just above it. Made with a blend of three gins, the bar’s signature Chandelier Martini is a must-try.

Relevant Links:

Browse all accommodations and activities in New Orleans on Ciao Bambino

Best things to do in New Orleans with kids

Best spring break ideas for families in the Southeast

Pick your passion: Family vacation ideas for every interest

Photos by Tanvi Chheda except where noted.

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.