New Orleans

Slurp oysters at Casamento’s

One of the early icons of the New Orleans restaurant scene, Casamento’s has been serving fresh oysters in the city since 1919. Slurp down some chargrilled oysters, a New Orleans staple, before munching on fried soft-shell crab and shrimp gumbo. While the food is classic Southern-style cooking, it’s the design that is the main draw card of this New Orleans institution. Casamento’s look has barely evolved with the times. Covered in floor-to-ceiling mosaic tiles and still boasting an old-school register, you’ll feel like you’ve walked back in time and onto the set of a 1950s sitcom. And the register isn’t just for looks: this is a cash-only joint, so come prepared.

Get funky on Frenchmen Street

While it’s hard to move past Bourbon Street, we promise you a trip to lively Frenchmen Street will be worth it. A popular spot for locals, Frenchmen Street is full of live music, bars, restaurants, night clubs and art galleries. Famous for its jazz bars – which is just so New Orleans – grab a drink and soak up the vibes of The Spotted Cat and Three Muses. While it’s not as fancy as Bourbon Street, you’ll find cheaper eats and a more authentic experience. Once you finish up at the bars, swing by the Palace Market where you can pick up some art and jewellery until 1am everyday.

Be a flâneur in the French Quarter

The smell of fresh beignets and the sounds of a sax fill the air as soon as you get to this part of the city. With its unique atmosphere and zest for life, visiting the French Quarter of New Orleans is a one-of-a-kind experience. The neighbourhood, also known as Vieux Carre, is the heart and soul of this New Orleans. As the site of the original French colony who first settled in this part of the world in 1718, the city hasn’t forgotten its roots. Stroll down cobblestoned streets and practice your seventh-grade French as you read street signs in their original language. Grab a coffee at Café du Monde and head out on Bourbon Street as you drink in all this area has to offer.

Visit the National WWII Museum

Recognised by Congress at the official museum on the topic, the National WWII Museum records the contribution the US Military Forces made to ending the Second World War. Even if you’re not a massive history buff, this interactive museum brings history to life in a way you’ve probably never seen before. Full of the heroic stories of ordinary soldiers, oral records of personal reflections about the trials of war and a massive collection of memorabilia, you’ll be engaged and enthralled in every moment. If you visit one museum on your trip to New Orleans, make it this one.

Reconnect with the nature in City Park

If you’re in need of a bit of R&R after all the travelling, head down to City Park. One of the best places to spend an afternoon in the sun, it’s also the peaceful centre of lots of the city’s cultural institutions. Stroll through 12 acres of stunning gardens at the New Orleans Botanical Garden, or pop into the New Orleans Museum of Art to see what’s on display. Visit the Train Garden, which unlike its name suggests, features miniatures of the city’s most famous building made out of botanicals, or sit under the Anseman and McDonogh Oak trees, both believed to be between 600 and 900 years old.

Jazz & Heritage Festival

Music & Culture

Jazz runs deep in this city, so it’s no surprise New Orleans puts on a show each year for its Jazz & Heritage Festival. With amazing Southern food, drink and arts and crafts vendors lining the showgrounds, Jazz fills the air for days during this two-week festival. Usually occurring between April and May, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Essence Festival

Music

One of the biggest music festivals in New Orleans, Essence Festival is a three-day festival focusing on African-American culture and empowerment. While its line-up features the likes of Ciara and Kendrick Lamar, it also features a series of talks and seminars by prominent African-Americans, including Tyra Banks and Misty Copeland. You can catch the Essence festival in early July.

Louisiana Seafood Festival

Food

Every Labour Day weekend, New Orleans gets geared up to celebrate all the seafood that features in its delicious cuisine. Held in Woldenberg Park every October, this food festival sees vendors from all across Louisiana gather to serve up their best dishes. Chow down on the likes of oysters, crawfish and shrimp cooked every which way.

French Quarter Festival

Music & Culture

An annual celebration of the vibrant French Quarter, the New Orleans French Quarter Festival is full of music, food and fun. With musical stages set all over the neighbourhood, food and drink vendors lining the streets, eat, drink and dance the night away every April.

Fried Chicken Festival

Food

Fried chicken, the South’s favourite comfort food, is front and centre at the Fried Chicken Festival in September. Held in Woldenberg Park on the banks of the Mississippi River, this outdoor festival features a fried chicken eating competition, as well as the prestigious ‘Best Fried Chicken’ Contest. Get yourself down to Woldenberg Park in September for this epic occasion.

New Orleans Jazz Museum

Discover the world of jazz in the city where it all began. Through dynamic interactive exhibits, research facilities and engaging musical performances, the dynamic New Orleans Jazz Museum celebrates the city’s jazzy history. The New Orleans Jazz Museum is housed in the historic Old U.S. Mint.

New Orleans Museum of Art

With over 40,000 artworks in its collection, the New Orleans Museum of Art is a great way to get to know the creative side of the city. See exhibits on French and American art, photography and glass works, as well as African and Japanese pieces. Try not to get lost in the museum’s five-acre Sculpture Garden.

The National WWII Museum

For lovers of history, get yourself down to the National WWII Museum. Located in Downtown New Orleans, this museum tells the story of the American involvement in WWII. Stories of heroism come to life through multimedia displays and collections of wartime aircraft and artefacts.

The Historic New Orleans Collection

The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research centre and publishing house that aims to preserve and promote the history and culture of the city. Browse one of the four permanent exhibits, read some of their award-winning books, or jump on one of their architecture and courtyard tours of Vieux Carre, one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods.

Ogden Museum of Southern Art

Located in the vibrant Warehouse Arts District of downtown New Orleans, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art tells the story of the South through art. This museum holds the largest and most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world and promotes knowledge, understanding, interpretation and appreciation of the visual arts and culture of the American South.

Chargrilled Oysters

Po' Boys

Beignets

Muffuletta

Red Beans and Rice