Working along the river West to East.... Carollton, Uptown, Garden District/Irish Channel, Warehouse District, Central Business District, French Quarter, Marigny, Bywater. If the river is on your left, you're facing West (Uptown), and if the river is on your right, your facing East (French Quarter/Marigny). There are more neighborhoods, but I would suggest you stick to these. Try to stay closer to the river.

If in Uptown/Garden District, stay between St. Charles Ave. and the river. Typically there is a lot to do near Magazine St, so I would recommend just staying on or near Magazine St.. If in the French Quarter, stay between Rampart St and the river. Also, If you venture toward the Marigny/Bywater, stay between St. Claude and the river.

Fine Dining - MAKE RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE!!!

Commander's Palace (Garden District) - A classic New Orleans fine-dining experience. The service is always exceptional and the food is incredible.

Restaurant August (Warehouse District) - One of Patrick and Lauren's favorite French restaurants. This place is hip, but classic at the same time. Great for a nice romantic evening.

Hip/Nice Dining - MAKE RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE!!!

Paladar 511 (Marigny) - A fusion Italian restaurant that hits the rotation at least once a month. The Farmegg Pizza and Aarancini slap to say the least. Also, eat the caperberry in your martini... you'll thank us later.

N7 (St. Claude/Bywater) - This French restaurant is like eating in a hidden garden. Note, it is outside. So, make sure the weather is expected to be clear/nice for your visit.

Jack Rose (Garden District) - This is a fun/funky dining experience. The food is great and you have to take a picture with the Little Wayne poster in the lobby. Also, after dinner, you should go to Hot Tin (bar) on the roof of the hotel this restaurant is located within. The view is incredible!

Jacques-Imo's (Uptown/Carrolton) - Traditional New Orleans food with a funky New Orleans vibe. In an old shotgun house ,so when you are seated you walk right through the kitchen. Most people end up having to try the alligator cheesecake but everything here is good and you cannot go wrong.

Peche (Warehouse District) - This restaurant has a modern feel and has very good seafood. Patrick and Lauren's favorite things on the menu are anything from the raw bar, the whole fish and of course the hush puppies.

Casual Dining - No need for reservation

Budsi's Thai (Marigny) - If you're looking for some incredible Thai food.

Mother's Restaurant (Warehouse District) - If you're looking for a classic yummy po-boy

Lebanon's Cafe (Uptown/Carrolton) - If you're looking for some good Kabobs/Lebanese food

Mais Arepas (Warehouse) - If you're looking for casual dinner with a cute atmosphere (make reservation)

Bratz Y'all (Bywater) - One of our favorite restaurants for a casual lunch or dinner. Get a big Beer, Pretzel and Schnitzel sandwich. Or a Brat if that's your thing.

Sofia's (Warehouse District) - Great pizza, pasta, and cocktails. They also serve a great brunch with both bottomless Mimosas and Aperol Spritz. We can usually get a table or bar seats without a reservation, but it can be hit or miss for seating without a reservation.

Boulangerie (Uptown) - French bakery and restaurant. Great for both pastries and sandwiches. They have both breakfast and lunch options!

Barracuda (Uptown) - Patrick and Lauren's favorite tacos and margaritas in the city.

Galaxie Tacos (Bywater) - Patrick and Lauren's other favorite tacos and margaritas, just on the other side of the city.

Brunch -

Apolline Restaurant (Uptown) - No reservation needed! The menu is fantastic and they are the best at bottomless mimosas. This restaurant is also located on Magazine Street which has tons of shopping and is great for a stroll.

Willa Jean (Warehouse District) - This place is great for either a sit-down meal or for grabbing pastries. They also have mimosas and other brunch cocktails.

NOLA Caye - Restaurant has a Caribbean vibe and of course bottomless mimosas.

Patrick's grandparents were both tour guides in the French Quarter for many years. We would have to suggest you use Gray Line (his grandparents' previous tour agency), but there are several tour companies to go through. If you plan to do a tour ahead of time, I suggest you book in advance. Also, if you plan to take a cemetery tour (which are super interesting and highly recommended), those tours are usually early in the morning as the cemetery gets hot in the afternoon. So, book ahead of time! There are also swamp tours, ghost tours, food tours, cocktail tours, and a thousand others.

If you would like to read about the New Orleans cemeteries instead of visiting them, check out Patrick's grandmother's book "Death Embraced" by Mary LaCoste. You can find it at most of the New Orleans book stores.

Magazine Street is a great place to shop. They have clothing, artisan shops, boutiques, restaurants and bars. We love to do brunch, get a to-go-mimosa, and stroll. The street goes from the Central Business District (CBD), through the Warehouse District, Irish Channel/Garden District, and Uptown. This street is safe to walk down through its entirety and has more shopping/activities than can be done in a day.

Carrollton

Ale on Oak - Courtyard with a wine bar one one side and beer on tap on the other

Cooter Browns - Sports bar with good bar food

Uptown

Tipitina's - Famous music venue

St. Joe's Bar - Dive bar with great blueberry mojitos

The Vintage - Cute bar with wine, cocktails and bites

Superior Seafood - Go for happy hour from 4-6:30 and get $1 oysters

Porter Orleans - Brewery

Garden District

Hot Tin - One of the best views of the city

Urban South - Brewery

Wetlands Sake - Sake brewery

Central Business District

Cooper Vine - Cute wine bar with good food

Rusty Nail - Dive bar with large outside area

French Quarter - Bourbon Street

Pat Obrien's - Must stop for New Orleans fist timers

Laffite's Blacksmith - Oldest bar in New Orleans

French Quarter - Off Bourbon Street

Bar Tonic - Dive bar with great craft cocktails

Effervescence - Cute champagne bar

Marigny

R Bar - Dive bar

The Friendly Bar - Dive bar

Kajun's - Karaoke

Bywater

Anna's - Lauren and Patrick's most visited bar. Cocktails with happy hour from 4-6.

Bacchanal - Wine shop with large outside area and jazz music

Parleaux Beer Lab - Brewery