For a first trip to New Orleans, stay in the CBD or the Garden District, not on Bourbon Street. Book lunch at Commander's Palace and Galatoire's, dinner at Herbsaint, and spend a night on Frenchmen Street for live music. Go in spring or fall. Summer is hot and sticky, and hotel rates jump around Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. Four nights is about right.
Our Top Picks
Best hotel: Maison Métier, a 67-room guest house in the Warehouse District.
Best for families: The Roosevelt, for the rooftop pool and the Sazerac Bar.
Best lunch: Commander's Palace on a weekday, when martinis are 25 cents.
Best night out: Frenchmen Street, not Bourbon.
Best free afternoon: The St. Charles streetcar and a walk through the Garden District.
Why Go
New Orleans is the best food city in the South, and it isn't close. Creole cooking, Friday lunches that run into dinner, live music most nights of the week. The architecture alone is worth the trip. Walk a few blocks of St. Charles Avenue and you'll see what we mean. The trick is to slow down. Book a couple of long meals, leave the afternoons loose, and skip most of Bourbon Street.
Where to Stay
Most first-timers book the French Quarter. It's walkable, but it's loud at night, especially anywhere near Bourbon. We'd stay in the CBD or Warehouse District instead. You can still walk to the Quarter, and the best hotels in the city are here. The Garden District is quieter and prettier, but you'll ride the streetcar or Uber to most dinners. Our full guide to the best hotels in New Orleans covers every pick in detail.
Maison Métier
Maison Métier is our favorite hotel in New Orleans. It's a 67-room guest house in the old City Hall Annex on Carondelet Street, with interiors by Pamela Shamshiri. Every common space is for guests only, including a private living room with wine and cheese in the afternoon. It has a private entrance to Bar Marilou, a Parisian cocktail bar that's one of the best in the city. It also holds a Michelin Key.
Check rates at Maison Métier
The Roosevelt New Orleans
The Roosevelt has been on Roosevelt Way since 1893. It's big (504 rooms), with a grand lobby and the Sazerac Bar, a city institution. The rooftop pool is for hotel guests only, which matters in July. It's the easy pick for families and first trips.
Check rates at The Roosevelt New Orleans
Memoir Warehouse District
Memoir opened in 2024 with 43 apartment-style rooms near the WWII Museum. Rooms have kitchens and washer-dryers, and there's a pool with a rooftop bar. It's a good choice for a longer stay or a group.
Check rates at Memoir Warehouse District
Where to Eat
Commander's Palace. The blue-and-white Victorian on Washington Avenue has been serving Creole food since 1880. Go for weekday lunch, when you can order up to three 25-cent martinis with your meal. Order the turtle soup and the bread pudding soufflé. There's a jazz brunch on weekends. No shorts or T-shirts, and jackets are preferred at dinner.
Galatoire's. Open on Bourbon Street since 1905, and the place for Friday lunch. Locals dress up and settle in for the afternoon. Galatoire's now takes reservations, but the downstairs room on Fridays is still the scene, so book early. Get the shrimp rémoulade and the soufflé potatoes. It's in the Michelin Guide.
Herbsaint. Donald Link's restaurant on St. Charles Avenue has been open since 2000. It's French bistro cooking with a Louisiana accent, and it's also in the Michelin Guide. A good pick for a grown-up dinner that isn't a production.
Lilette. John Harris runs this French bistro in an old corner drugstore on Magazine Street. It serves lunch and dinner most days. Start with a drink next door at Bouligny Tavern, his wine bar.
Coquette. Michael Stoltzfus and Kristen Essig change the menu almost daily at this Garden District spot on Magazine Street. If it's your first time, order the five-course blind tasting menu.
Red Dog Diner. For a casual breakfast on Magazine Street. The shrimp toast and crab fritters are the dishes regulars push on newcomers. Check the hours before you go, since it's closed some weekdays.
What to Do
Ride the St. Charles streetcar. It's the cheapest tour in the city. Get off in the Garden District and walk past the mansions under the live oaks.
Frenchmen Street at night. This is where the live music is. A few clubs sit within a couple of blocks of each other, most with a band every night. Walk the street and go in wherever sounds good.
The National WWII Museum. It's huge, and it's excellent. Give it most of a day. It's in the Warehouse District, near Memoir and Maison Métier.
Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. Go early, before the crowds and street performers show up. Grab beignets at Café du Monde across the street while you're there.
Drinks on the porch at Columns. The porch at this 1883 St. Charles Avenue hotel is our favorite spot for a cocktail. The streetcar rattles past under the oaks.
Best Time to Visit and Book
Spring (March through May) and fall (October and November) are the sweet spots. The weather is warm, and the patios are open. Jazz Fest runs late April into early May and is a great time to go if you book far ahead.
Summer is brutal, and the heat and humidity don't let up. Mardi Gras is a blast if you plan for crowds. Hotel rates spike around Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest and big conventions, so book three to four months out for those dates. Shoulder weeks in fall are when you'll find the best rates at the top hotels.
How to Choose Where to Stay
On a first trip, stay in the CBD so you can walk to the French Quarter and the Warehouse District. If you're with kids, The Roosevelt is the easy answer. On a couples trip or a return visit, book Maison Métier or head to the Garden District for something quieter. Want more options? Our New Orleans destination guide pulls everything together.
Getting Around
The French Quarter, the Marigny and the Garden District are all walkable. Getting between them means the streetcar or an Uber. You don't need a car, and parking at hotels is expensive.
FAQ
Where should I stay in New Orleans? The CBD or Warehouse District for most trips. You can walk to the French Quarter but sleep somewhere quieter.
What is the best time to visit New Orleans? Spring and fall. March through May and October through November have the best weather.
How many days do you need in New Orleans? Four nights is ideal for a first trip. That's enough for a couple of long lunches, a night of music and a day at the WWII Museum.
Is New Orleans good for families? Yes. Kids love the streetcar, beignets, the WWII Museum and a hotel with a pool.
Do you need a car in New Orleans? No. Walk, use the streetcar, and Uber for longer hops.
When are Commander's Palace 25-cent martinis? At weekday lunch, with a limit of three per person when you order a meal.
Is Bourbon Street worth it? Walk it once. Then spend your nights on Frenchmen Street.