New Orleans is like my home away from home. This is where I gained some of the most valuable experience in the music business, during my two years at House of Blues working for Live Nation, and with one of my mentors, Sonny Schneidau. This is also the place where I met my amazing wife, Alicia. She’s a native to South Louisiana, more specifically, Houma, LA. After living there for three years, and marrying a local, this place has literally become another home and a culture I’ve embraced as part of the foundation of our family forever. We celebrate Mardi Gras, eat King Cake, love New Orleans music, cajun and creole food, and we visit at least once a year. So being an adopted native, people ask me all the time where to go.
A couple of years ago, I created a google doc that I would share with people. This is an ongoing work in progress. I found myself constantly sharing it with some of the people from the tours I get to work with, especially when they’re about to make a stop in New Orleans. During a show in 2020 with Dancing with the Stars, I shared it with one of the people on their crew, and thought, why don’t I start sharing this list on the blog. Like I mentioned, this is an ongoing work in progress, and now that it’s living here, I’ll add some more stories and facts about each place. But for now, here are some of my favorite places and things about
In New Orleans, the music and the food always come first. So here we go…
Music:
House of Blues New Orleans - https://www.houseofblues.com/neworleans. The smallest HOB in the country. Very intimate, great sight-lines, and lots of amazing shows here.
Tipitian’s - https://www.tipitinas.com/ - legendary venue in Uptown New Orleans. This place is a must if you love live music. They always have some of the biggest local artists there, and lots of great touring shows. A lot of history in this place! Quick fun story - My old boss and mentor from House of Blues, helped open Tips with his sister and friends by putting in $20 of his own money in the early 70’s. When they sold it, he continued working and booking shows there until 1993, before going to House of Blues. You’ll see a lot of old show posters there from the 70’s and 80’s of EPIC line-ups of talent there. All the posters got destroyed after Hurricane Katrina. The posters you’ll see there today, are the same old legendary posters, but they’re all from Sonny’s personal collection of posters he’s kept for decades.
These are on Magazine Street
Blue Nile - http://bluenilelive.com/ - Lots of local brass, jazz, funk, and soul
dba - http://www.dbaneworleans.com/ - Some of the local heavy hitters do weekly nights there. You can never go wrong with catching some of the best local sounds at dab.
Spotted Kat - https://www.spottedcatmusicclub.com/ - right across from dba. Mostly Dixieland Jazz, Traditional Jazz, Piano music, bluegrass, etc. Really fun place to grab a drink and hear some fun different styles of music
Cafe Negril - https://www.cafenegrilonfrenchmen.com/ - Mostly Reggae cover bands here. But fun vibe, and really great tacos! Those are a local secret. They have a kitchen in the back, and the tacos are a delicious late night snack or meal.
Food:
Coops Place - http://www.coopsplace.net/ --> Great traditional New Orleans cuisine.
Jacques Imo's - http://jacques-imos.com/ --> One of my favorite restaurants. Cajun style. This is on Oak Street. If you go there, also go to the Maple Leaf right next door. Historic Music Venue. http://www.mapleleafbar.com/calendar
Port of Call - http://portofcallnola.com/ --> Great burger and steaks. Really good mixed drinks. Get a monsoon.
Central Grocery --> They don't have a website, but best muffuletta in town! This is a historic spot, and it's on Decatur near a lot of the attractions
Irene's - http://www.yelp.com/biz/irenes-cuisine-new-orleans --> More on the fine dining side, but not crazy out of price. This is also in the quarter
Red Dog Diner - http://www.reddogdiner.com/
Cochon Butcher -- http://www.cochonbutcher.com/
Saint James Cheese Company - https://www.stjamescheese.com/
Juan’s Flying Burrito - https://www.juansflyingburrito.com/ - Most places have a good spot for Mexican food, and so does New Orleans. This local chain has delicious food with a creole twist to it, and legendary margaritas They’re so good, you’ll want to take one to go. Oh yes, if I hadn’t mentioned it yet, you can take your drinks to go in New Orleans. Just can’t take glass, but most places have a stack of plastic cups at the exit or you can ask a bartender for one.
Bars:
Lafitte's Blacksmith Bar - http://www.lafittesblacksmithshop.com/Homepage.html --> Oldest bar in North America that is still open. This is on Bourbon Street.
Mississippi River Bottom - http://www.neworleansonline.com/directory/location.php?locationID=310 --> In case there is a sports game you want to see. That's the spot in the quarter.
Bacchanal - http://www.bacchanalwine.com/ --> Really great outdoor wine bar. Good music, and good food. But all around fun spot to hang out.
Bayou Beer Garden - http://bayoubeergarden.com/ --> Another great outdoor patio bar in Mid City. This is fun to go to if you do anything in Mid City.
Secondline Brewery - http://www.secondlinebrewing.com/ --> Brand new brewery in NOLA. Only open on Friday and Saturday's. If you did a Mid City tour, I'd say go to City park, swing by secondline for a couple of beers, go to Parkway Bakery for some Po Boy's and then off to Bayou Beer Garden to chill out.
Balcony Bar - http://balconynola.com/ --> In uptwon
Breweries:
Urban South Brewery (Garden District) - http://urbansouthbrewery.com/
NOLA Brewing (Garden District) - http://www.nolabrewing.com/
Second Line Brewing (Mid City) - https://www.secondlinebrewing.com/
Coffee:
Fair Grinds (Mid City) - http://fairgrinds.com/
Cafe Envie (French Quarter - 2 Locations, one right by House of Blues) - http://www.cafeenvie.com/
Mojo Coffeehouse (Uptown/Tulane area) - https://mojocoffeehouse.com/
Sacred Grinds (Mid City) - https://www.yelp.com/biz/sacred-grinds-new-orleans
Fun:
City Park - http://neworleanscitypark.com/ --> They have ALL kinds of cool stuff. This park is bigger than Central Park. Beautiful for walking, renting paddle boats, kayaks, mini golf, and a ton more.
Mardi Gras World - http://www.mardigrasworld.com/ --> This is actually a really cool tour.
NOLA Brewery Tour - http://nolabrewing.com/ --> This is a fun tour, and they have a really cool Taproom.
Just walk down Magazine street and check out all the stores and shops. This is a fun daytime thing. There is a couple of sections. So maybe drive down the street starting at a store called Free People, and i'd drive down till you see Whole Foods, but have your wife keep a good eye on a cool area you want to go back to. Reason I say this, you'll have some areas with a bunch of stuff and than a few gaps of just a few houses. But not major gaps. And don't forget, you can always grab drinks at any bar and take them to go.
FRENCHMAN STREET:
If you haven't don this at night yet, definitely hang out there. Spotted Cat, dba, Maison, Blue Nile, Cafe Negril, are all some cool spots you can bounce around. They're all within 2 to 3 blocks from each other.
