Join us as we make our way through New Orleans discovering all the jazz to taste, restaurants to try, shops to check out, museums to visit and more. If you missed yesterday’s newsletter, start there and then come back to get it.
Day two:
Beignets are a must in New Orleans; think of them as the donut of the town. You can’t go wrong with Cafe du Monde, Cafe Beignet or our new favorite, Hot Benny’s. If you go to Cafe du Monde, consider going to the city park location for a more local atmosphere. Grab a box of the mix to take home; it’s a great Christmas morning treat. After filling up on beignets, head to a museum.
New Orleans is full of many different types of museums, something for everyone. I suggest you spend the morning visiting the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art, or the National World War II Museum.
After a morning full of culture, do some shopping in Magazine, Uptown and Bywater. A few stores I like to visit are:
Book lunch at San Lorenzo for a tasty, chic meal. I ordered the Caesar salad and a side of truffle fries. So delicious!
Wrap up lunch by wandering Congo Square in Armstrong Park. This park played an important role in the black community and as a hotspot for jazz music. Going back to times of slavery, Congo Square was a constant safe place for the black community. On Sundays you can see the Congo Square Drum Circle perform from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
We went to Hotel Peter and Paul, another beautifully designed hotel in a former church, for happy hour. It was the rest and relaxation we needed after a morning of exploring and learning. The lounge is child-friendly, but the bar is 21+.
After drinks, head to Dooky Chase’s to learn about the institution’s importance in the Civil Rights Movement and visit Treme’s Petit Jazz Museum.
End your evening with reservations for one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten: Saffron. We ordered different dishes and divided everything. It was amazing! The style is Indian, but it’s not what we’re used to from Indian restaurants in America. It is so progressive and gilded as if it were a work of art. Make sure you order the ginger crème brulee. Wow! Awesome!
***
See you here for another post, wrapping up days three and four. Thank you to Explore Louisiana for inviting us to town! – Erin
