Oct 12, 2022
4 min read
A Meta Marketing Lead's Guide to New Orleans
Jeff Aguero is a California native who spent a year living in New Orleans, Louisiana while undertaking the full renovation of a historic 1880s home in the Bywater Arts District. That beautifully redesigned Greek Revival mansion,
The Mazant, now serves as an event venue and bed & breakfast.
During his time in NOLA, Jeff dove headfirst into the nightlife, food, and culture of The Big Easy. Read on for Jeff’s personal recs for the best places to stay, eat & drink, workout, and party in New Orleans.
Where to Stay
What are your top hotels in New Orleans?
Maison de la Luz
is a high-end hotel in the Central Business District from the creators of the Ace Hotel. It’s got an appealing boutique style and has excellent service.
Hotel Peter & Paul
is located in Marigny, close to a number of live music spots, but out of the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter.
Eat & Drink
What are your go-to spots to eat & drink in New Orleans?
Given New Orleans has no shortage of phenomenal eateries, this could quickly become a daunting list. Here are a few of my favorites:
Herbsaint
is a high-end establishment serving seasonal French-Southern cuisine that includes elements of rustic Italian cooking.
Shaya
is a James Beard Award winner serving up traditional Israeli dishes with a mix of Southern flavors. The menu draws inspiration from North Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Turkey and Greece.
Cochon
is a meat-focused restaurant bringing in locally sourced pork, fresh produce, and seafood to create traditional Cajun Southern food with all the authentic flavors of Cajun country.
Pythian Market
is an urban food collective celebrating New Orleans’ undeniable spirit and championing a number of local chefs.
Capulet
is a newer space in Bywater with cocktails, music, and feel-good food.
Coffee
What’s your favorite coffee shop in New Orleans?
French Truck Coffee
is my favorite place for delicious, small-batch coffee. They’ve expanded a lot in recent years, now with six locations throughout the city.
Shop
If you’re going to do some shopping in New Orleans, where’s the place?
I love
Krewe Eyewear for stylish, handcrafted sunglasses. They have two locations: their flagship store on Royal Street and another location in the Garden District.
Culture
To get to know the culture of the place, what areas or attractions should we check out?
At its heart, New Orleans is a true live music/festival city. Here are some of the most-famous ones:
Mardi Gras
is, of course, the big one!
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
runs for two weekends (usually the end of April and early May).
Krewe du Vieux
is a smaller set of parades with a more local feeling and a lot of interesting floats – it typically goes on a couple of weeks before Mardi Gras.
French Quarter Fest
is a free, annual music festival held in early April, which means excellent weather. This is a great place to find the city’s finest food and musicians.
Voodoo Fest
is a multi-day music and arts festival held in City Park.
Beyond the music and dance, New Orleans is also a place that is rich with history. Here are some other sites worth checking out:
The National WWII Museum
has a ton of cool exhibits and a great theater. Fun fact: New Orleans was home to Andrew Jackson Higgins, the founder of the company that built many of the boats used on D-Day.
The Sazerac House
is a museum dedicated solely to the famous drink. Cheers!
The Historic New Orleans Collection
is a museum, research center, and publisher in the French Quarter offering a variety of exhibits centered around the history and culture of the area.
Workout
What is your workout of choice while in New Orleans?
I enjoy running along the Mississippi River in
Crescent Park. The
New Orleans Athletic Club is also a great place to work up a sweat and is very centrally located.
Party
Where are we going to be partying in New Orleans?
In New Orleans, you never have to look far to find a great party. Here are a few of my favorites:
Tipitinas
is a classic NOLA venue with dancing and a lively music scene that’s been around since the ‘70s.
The Spotted Cat
is a classic jazz joint on Frenchmen Street.
Oz New Orleans
is late-night gay club in the French Quarter with great DJs, drag shows, and go-go dancers.
R&R
If we’re going for the full spa experience, where’s the place?
I prefer to get out of the city for this.
Abita Springs on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain is a pretty funky/cool place to escape.
Eco
Where’s the best place to enjoy nature here?
Barataria Preserve
is about 30 minutes from the French Quarter and is part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Of the ~10 times I’ve been there, I’ve seen (luckily small!) alligators on the trail almost every time.
Postcard
Which locations are going on your Instagram highlight reel?
Check out Jackson Square, a historic park in the French Quarter, which is very famous. You can also take a ferry boat down the Mississippi. And Bourbon Street is always a classic.
