A Guy's Trip Guide to the Big Easy
- Riley Manning
- Jul 10
- 5 min read
Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links. If you click one of our affiliate links, we may receive a cute lil' commission at no extra cost to you. Read more here.
Over the years, I’ve done Mardi Gras and Saints games, music festivals and bachelor parties and long weekends. It’s been a place that has grown with me. There is so much of NOLA to enjoy beyond the French Quarter.
And though the Big Easy certainly has a brand, you can have whatever kind of time you want to have. That said, if you want a high-key Hangover-style itinerary for debauchery, this isn’t the guide for you.
But if you’re just looking to escape and kick it for a bit, here’s how I’d do it.
Where to stay
New Orleans is composed of a tapestry of cool neighborhoods, each with their own set of restaurants, shops, bars, and things to do. You’ll most likely want to stay somewhere between Audubon and the Bywater, and between Mid-City and the river.
Alyssa knows the scoop regarding hotels, so drop her a line to see what’s right for your trip.
Night of arrival
At the bottom of the map, New Orleans isn’t the easiest city to get to. Whether you and your crew drive in or fly in, you’ll be eager to ditch your bags, freshen up, and go somewhere to shake off the road.
You’ll probably be eager to get to the French Quarter.
Start at the “kinda-divey, kinda-not” Will & The Way for a little grub and a drink. I recommend the crispy Korean chicken wings, but everything we’ve tried has been tasty.
Take in a show at Preservation Hall, where the house jazz band shows off the authentic soul of New Orleans. They play a tight hour at 5:00 and 7:30 each night. Make sure to book in advance!
From there, you can head to Peychaud’s for the best Sazarac I’ve ever had. If you like, keep going up the street to Bar Tonique, a true New Orleans cocktail dive.
Each of these options is well within walking distance of each other, and they’re right off Bourbon Street. Feel free to meander — but beware of overdoing it! The weekend is just getting started.
Day 1
If your crew is up for a morning adventure, book a swamp tour as early as you can during the day, and take the half hour drive to ride through the swamps and hold a baby gator.
If not, catch breakfast at Bearcat’s CBD location, then walk over to the WWIl Museum — it is incredible. Don’t feel bad if you don’t make it all the way through, the D-Day building on its own is worth the effort.
If you’ve worked up an appetite again, take a half-mile walk over to Johnny Sanchez for some delicious, upscale Mexican.
From here, you’ve got a few options depending on how your crew is feeling.
Venture into the Quarter to explore. Cafe du Monde is worth the hype, and the dueling piano bar at Pat O’Brien’s is a fun way to pass an afternoon. The Quarter is riddled with cool shops like New Orleans Playing Card Company, Humidity Skate Shop, and Leroy’s Place.
Check out Mardi Gras World, the huge complex where they build the holiday’s biggest and most elaborate parade floats. Or you could also hit up the Ogden, if y’all are into art, or tour the legendary Sazarac House.
By now, y’all are going to need a breather, and probably a shower. It’s late afternoon, so head back to your place to freshen up.
Once you’re ready, head over to Superior Seafood on St. Charles for some happy hour oysters and a frozen French 75 (get the aperol floater!). Superior sits near tons of cool places. The Chloe and the Columns are great hotel bars with that uniquely New Orleans flare. Delachaise offers a fun outdoor patio and great snacks.
You could also head down to Magazine street to the iconic 24/7 Ms. Mae’s, divey Balcony Bar, or the cozy Bouligny Tavern.
Day 2
Day 1 was pretty Quarter-heavy, but it makes sense to get all that stuff in on one day so you don’t spend your whole trip Ubering all over the city. For Day 2, let’s go for a more local experience.
The chicken biscuit at Molly's Rise and Shine will stick with you long after your trip.
Get over to Molly’s Rise and Shine on Magazine for some breakfast and take your time eating it. Then you can:
Head to the Chloe for a morning at the pool. In my experience, the Chloe pool has the perfect sized crowd. It’s easy to meet people, and they serve reasonably priced food and beer during the day. Passes are $40.
Hit the Audubon Zoo before it gets so hot the animals don’t come out. Audubon Park also has a golf course, if you and the fellas play golf.
If it’s football season, catch the Saints game at Tchoup Yard or the Bulldog. Even if you aren’t a Saints fan, or even a football fan, the atmosphere is unbeatable and you’re sure to make some new friends.
For a full day, take in some horse races at the Fairgrounds. Horse racing may be foreign to you, as it was to us, but it’s a ton of fun! Check out the schedule here.
For lunch, head over to Magazine Street (you could walk from the Chloe, or if you’re at the Bulldog, you’re there already). Have lunch at Dat Dog for a hotdog unlike anything you’ve ever seen, or try Mahoney’s or Parasol’s for classic poboys.
Why not a food tour of Magazine Street? Allow a local to guide you to the best bites and share their favorite spots with you and your crew? Check it out here.
From there, bop around Magazine Street and it’s fun shops, restaurants, and bars. Peaches Record Store is on this street, as are local stores like Dirty Coast, DNOLA, Slowdown, and tons more.
When you’re ready, take a breather back at the place. Change if you need to.
Go over to Freret Street and have a pre-dinner cocktail at Cure (rated one of the best cocktail bars in America), then walk West a few blocks and have sushi at Origami. This is our hidden sushi secret, and you must get the truffle edamame. So fire!
Not the sushi type? High Hat Cafe offers creole classics and Chi-Chi’s serves up spectacular fried chicken with a Korean twist.
That’s a wrap on Day 2. Kick it back to the hotel and unwind.
Departure day
All good trips must come to an end. Before you go, grab a bite at La Boulangerie, a French bakery and New Orleans institution.
There’s so much in this city that I love, far too many places and activities to cram into a single blog. I hope you think of these recommendations as a flexible starting point for planning your trip to the Big Easy! They’re pretty easy to mix and match around a concert or game, if you’re coming in town for that. If you’re staying longer, this list could definitely hold you for a few more days.
If you’ve got a New Orleans trip in your future, why not let a local help you plan it? Alyssa will get to know you and your travel style so she can curate an experience so perfect, you’ll never want to leave.