Julia & Chris

Ranging from low-key to fine dining, this guide to essential New Orleans restaurants is a great way to get acquainted with what the city has to offer. A few of our favorites: La Petite Grocery, Turkey and the Wolf, Herbsaint, Willie Mae's Scotch House, Bacchanal, Arnaud's, GW Fins, Maïs Arepas, Stein's Market and Deli.

Located across the street from Jackson Square in the French Quarter, this historic coffee stand was established in 1862. Café Du Monde is open 24/7, so you can enjoy its famous beignets and cafe au lait at any time.

You don’t need to spend a dime to have a blast in New Orleans. Check out this list of ways to enjoy the beauty, culture, and history of the city for free.

Jackson Square is one of New Orleans’ most recognizable places. A National Historic Landmark in the center of the French Quarter, the 2.5-acre space welcomes over 2 million visitors and locals each year. It is home to the St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest continuously active cathedral in the country, originally built in 1727.

In 1791, the French Market originated as a Native American trading post along the Mississippi River. Over time, it evolved into a cultural and commercial hub for New Orleans, as French and Spanish colonists opened the market to ships, traders, and immigrants from across the world. In the late 19th century, the Market was given its modern-day structure, designed by Joseph Abeilard, one of America's first African American architects.

Founded in 1854, this 1,300-acre park is home to the New Orleans Botanical Garden, Couturie Forest and Arboretum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, and the largest grove of mature live oaks in the world, some of which are nearly 800 years old.

Located in the Marigny neighborhood just outside of the French Quarter, Frenchmen Street offers an array of live music venues that attract visitors from across the world. You'll also find great late-night restaurants like Dat Dog, Adolfo's, Marigny Brasserie, and Three Muses.

This twelve-acre sculpture garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art features over 90 sculptures situated on a beautifully landscaped site among footpaths and pedestrian bridges, lagoons, 200-year-old live oaks, pines, camellias, and magnolias.

Consistently ranked one of the top museums in the country, the National WWII Museum features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and an expansive collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories that will captivate you for hours.

With more than 26,000 acres of wild Louisiana wetlands, the Barataria Preserve's hardwood forest, swamp, bayous, and marsh offer trails, picnic areas, fishing, and wildlife viewing. As you walk the trails, look for snakes, turtles, and alligators swimming through waterways or sunning themselves on logs and bayou banks. Admission to the preserve is free.

615 Pere Antoine Alley | French Quarter


St. Louis Cathedral is located in Jackson Square in the French Quarter. It is the oldest continuously active cathedral in the country, originally built in 1727.

130 Baronne St | Central Business District

Immaculate Conception Church is located in the Central Business District and is part of the local Jesuit community.

724 Camp St | Central Business District

Old St. Patrick’s Church was built in 1840 and is a National Historic Landmark. It is located in the Central Business District near Lafayette Square.

1116 Chartres St | French Quarter

Saint Mary's was built in 1845. The ground on which the chapel was constructed was originally the site of the Ursuline Convent and chapel dating to the arrival of the Ursulines in New Orleans.