I Wish I Was in New Orleans: Where to Eat and Drink When You Get There
Restaurants
Bywater American Bistro - Bywater. Newer place from the chef at Compère Lapin. I haven’t been, but she’s pretty great.
Carrollton Market - uptown. I haven’t been, but hear good things.
Compère Lapin - CBD. Drinks and food are excellent.
Coop’s - French Quarter. Next to Molly’s at the Market. Cheap drinks, fried chicken, good people.
Coquette - Magazine Street. I haven’t been, but hear good things.
Herbsaint - CBD. Iconic yet modern New Orleans.
La Petite Grocery - Magazine Street. James Beard awarded.
Lilette - Magazine Street. Frenchish. Always good.
Manolito - French Quarter. Cuban food and allegedly great cocktails. Haven’t been but it’s high on my list.
Saba Magazine Street. Israeli. Delicious break from all the Creole and fried food.
Upperline - Garden District. So classically New Orleans. Food is good. Atmosphere is eclectic and over-hung with local art. The staff are characters.
Sandwiches/snacks
A note on po-boys: the only ones worth eating are either shrimp, oyster, or mixed (shrimp and oyster). Get it dressed. Pour on the Crystal hot sauce when you get it.
Parkway Tavern - my favorite po boys, and Obama’s too :). I get shrimp, dressed, with remoulade sauce. And eat it in the attached bar. Take an Uber. Expect a line.
Domilise’s - my second favorite po-boys. In a dive bar.
Piece of Meat Butcher - worth the Uber ride to get there for lunch or a snack.
Cochon Butcher - CBD. Epic sandwiches and charcuterie. Go between lunch and dinner for a shorter line.
Bars
Arnaud’s French 75 - French Quarter. Beautiful old New Orleans cocktail bar. Don’t miss the slightly creepy museum upstairs (ask at the bar) which includes decades of Mardi Gras ball outfits and is a walk through early 20th century New Orleans.
Cane & Table - French Quarter. Excellent cocktails, largely rum based, but not Tiki.
Columns Hotel Bar - Garden District/St. Charles. If you ever wanted to sit on the porch of a beautiful old mansion, sipping a mint julep, watching the streetcards go by while the beautiful old trees sway in the breeze, this is your spot.
Cure - uptown. Excellent cocktails. Same owners as Cane & Table.
Mimi’s - Marigny. Fun neighborhood bar. Sometimes has dancing.
Molly’s at the Market - French Quarter. Don’t question this. Just go there. Get a Frozen Irish Coffee. Sit and watch the world go by.
The Saint - Lower Magazine Street. Great neighborhood bar. Photo booth. Owned by Sean Yseult from White Zombie who lives a few blocks away.
Snake and Jake’s Christmas Lounge - uptown. It’s 2:45am, I arrive back at the place I am staying.
Friend: Want to go to Snake’s?
Me: Is it late enough?
This is the diviest of dives. Unfortunately now attracts a lot of college students. Drinks are cheap. Even cheaper if you tell the very tall bartender/manager (Andrew) that Liz Jones sent you. He won’t be there until long after midnight. It should go without saying, but don’t sit on the couches.