After spending a week in New Orleans, I think it’s safe to say that I have made my way through the infamous and amazing food scene that makes up The Big Easy!

 

NOLA is known for its, Cajun, seafood and beignets… But no matter what you’re craving, this city is bound to have a spot that will exceed your expectations! We spent the entire week trying different foods around town, and honestly did not have one meal that disappointed us.

 

During your next visit, make sure to come here off of your diet and with an empty stomach! Here are some places we experienced that I would highly recommend to anyone visiting New Orleans.

OCEANA GRILL

We came here after a friend had seen it on Kitchen Nightmares and wanted to check it out (Spoiler: they are definitely not a nightmare anymore!!) They’ve been operating for years after being on the show, and it’s clear that they have really changed their game!

When I say I had one of my favorite meals here from my NOLA trip… I mean it! Get the jambalaya pasta…. you will not regret it. Their oysters are pretty noteworthy, too!

 

You can find Oceana Grill in the French Quarter, right off of Bourbon Street!

CAFE DE MONDE

So… This one is pretty obvious!! I’m sure you’ve seen this place while surfing on Pinterest, or even from other blogs. That’s because this is THE place to get beignets while in the Big Easy! You may walk past and notice a long line to order, but I promise it will go by quick and it is worth it. If you’ve never had a beignet, it is a rectangular pastry, like a fried doughnut, and is covered with powdered sugar!

MR ED’S OYSTER BAR

We stumbled across Mr. Ed’s on accident while we were exploring around and were pretty much looking for the first place that looked appealing. Lucky for us, we ended up choosing a great spot at the last minute! This is a great spot for all things seafood – especially chargrilled oysters and po boys!

LITTLE KOREA BBQ

The last thing you probably thought about eating in New Orleans was Korean food – But I’m telling you, do NOT skip out on the place… It is so good! While we originally were going to come here for Korean corndogs to find out they were a seasonal thing, we ended up staying for some seriously good food. Just thinking about the kimchi fried rice again is making my mouth water!

THE ORIGINAL FRENCH MARKET RESTAURANT

Two words… Bread. Pudding. It’s AMAZING! This is a classic staple of NOLA that you can get at many different places here, but the bread pudding here is truly fantastic. It’s also conveniently right by the French Market (hence, the name) so it’s a perfect place to stop into after you’ve done some shopping!

LUCY’S RETIRED SURFERS BAR

Lucy’s is another great option if you’re looking to try something outside of the Cajun food scene. We actually didn’t even know about this place, but was given a recommendation by a local for us to try it out. They’ve got a variety of stuff too – American, seafood, Caribbean, and also a great selection of specialty drinks!

THE NEW ORLEANS VAMPIRE CAFE

Are you in the mood for something quirky and different? Well, there really is a vampire-themed café in the French Quarter! They’ve got boozy teas, ‘blood’ bags (pomegranate lemonade with some liquor,) and some NOLA classics, like gumbo! With its gothic decor, it’s a great place to feel the haunted side of this spooky city.

THE CAROUSEL BAR & LOUNGE

Get your camera ready, because what bar could be more Instagrammable than one that is a literal carousel?? And while the bar stays in place for the most part, it is capable of moving!! Get here early, because the seats will fill up fast – But even if you can’t get a spot at the bar, there are plenty of comfy lounge chairs right next to it and enjoy the view.

HOT TIN

You may not hear as much about this place while researching where to go for your trip, but if you want the BEST view of the NOLA skyline, come to this swanky rooftop bar! Once again, we did not even know about this place until a local mentioned it to us (and it feels like more locals come here vs tourists.) It gives off 1920’s prohibition era vibes, and their drinks are fantastic.

FELIX’S RESTAURANT & OYSTER BAR

Next on your New Orleans foodie bucket list should be gator bites, and a great place to get them is Felix’s! And of course, as you might have guessed from the name, they have some pretty spot on oysters. And if you don’t want to wait for the ultra popular Acme Oyster House next door, Felix’s is just as great!