I have found since after Wilma, the streets are a lot safer to walk late at night. Many of the unsavory characters went to Houston and never came back. Make sure you get a Hand Grenade, the green grain alcohol drink that you will see everyone staggering around with. I like go from bar to bar on bourbon street listening to all of the bands (blues and rock and roll). One of my favorite restaurants on Bourbon Street is in the Royal Orleans Sonesta, called Desires. If you are on the Mississippi (right by the casino) I would go to Dragos restaurant inside the Hilton and get their famous charbroiled oysters.
New Orleans named one of ten most dangerous cities in the world ( #6) Be careful.
http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/06/09/worlds-most-dangerous-cities-video/
http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/06/09/worlds-most-dangerous-cities-video/
Came in here to say get a Hand Grenade. The bar that makes them is called Tropical Isle. They're great and you're shitfaced after only 1. After that you should hit the strippies. There are a bunch and they're fun. My friends and I usually end up at Lil' Darlin's. Strictly dark chocolate. haha.
Have fun. NOLA is a great city. The harrahs is great also.
Dont know who Wilma is, but if you are talking about Katrina I do know her.
Crime is gotten much worse since Katrina.
But I do agree wholeheartedly on your Dragos suggestion.
Best in the world by far.
Crime is gotten much worse since Katrina.
But I do agree wholeheartedly on your Dragos suggestion.
Best in the world by far.
While Vegas is a great place to visit, NOLA comes in a very, very close second, and when experienced properly, can even be better than Vegas.
Here's what to look / do IMO.
#1. Acme Oyster Bar. 724 Iberville St. http://www.acmeoyster.com/ When walking down Bourbon Street from the main drag you will make a right onto Iberville and it will be a short way down on the right. Eat the best damn oysters in the world ... and make sure you EAT AT THE BAR - not a table, even if you have to wait. Have one of the shuckers or the bar girls get you some phone albums to entertain you while your oysters get shucked. It'll give you an idea of what you'll see in the next few hours.
#2. Andrea's. It's in Metairie so it's a bit of a drive. http://www.andreasrestaurant.com/ Try the beef carpaccio it's off the charts. They use a truffle infused olive oil and fresh shave parmesian cheese on it. They have a phenomenal Northern Italian wine list. You can't go wrong here and since it's in Matairie you won't get the tourist trap feeling. I have nothing but good to say about this restaurant and will continue to take clients there for dinner.
As for other restaurants, many, many to choose from and you can't go wrong with Dickie Brennan's at 716 Iberville (Brennan's family is responsible for Banana's Foster receipe), Commander's Palace (a bit pricey but it's got great food and a wonderful atmosphere) and Emeril Lagasse. Given a choice among those 3 I would have to pick Commander's Palace, however if you are into Veal then I would choose Emeril's as they've got the must succelent Veal Chop you will ever taste.
Start the evening off at Jimmy Buffet's place. You will want to start your night out here (early evening actually) for a cocktail or two and some Buffet music to get you in the party mood. You'll want to take a taxi since it's not directly on Bourbon Street, but its as good as any to start getting your drink on.
After getting to Bourbon Street for the evening's entertainment, you can't go wrong with one of the hand grenade's recommended above. In addition, grab yourself a Hurricane at Pat Obriens http://www.patobriens.com/patobriens/havefun/our_story.asp. If beer is your choice there's many places along the route to pick up a tall frosty malt beverage of your choice.
After getting hammered off your gourd, make your way down to Bourbon and sample all the live music bars. All of them are great places to grab another social beverage and hang out a bit. There's also plenty of titty bars along the way, but keep in mind these places are pricey and you'll see just as much, if not more, as the night wears on for free (or a few sets of beads).
Your final destination of the evening should be Cat's Meow (it's a Karaoke place but don't let that fool you) or Tricou House (701 and 711 Bourbon respectively). Make your way to the balcony at either of these places and make sure you've got plenty of beads. What happens in New Orleans stays in New Orleans. You won't regret going to there.
Have fun and post up pictures - you should have ample opportunity to do so.
Here's what to look / do IMO.
#1. Acme Oyster Bar. 724 Iberville St. http://www.acmeoyster.com/ When walking down Bourbon Street from the main drag you will make a right onto Iberville and it will be a short way down on the right. Eat the best damn oysters in the world ... and make sure you EAT AT THE BAR - not a table, even if you have to wait. Have one of the shuckers or the bar girls get you some phone albums to entertain you while your oysters get shucked. It'll give you an idea of what you'll see in the next few hours.
#2. Andrea's. It's in Metairie so it's a bit of a drive. http://www.andreasrestaurant.com/ Try the beef carpaccio it's off the charts. They use a truffle infused olive oil and fresh shave parmesian cheese on it. They have a phenomenal Northern Italian wine list. You can't go wrong here and since it's in Matairie you won't get the tourist trap feeling. I have nothing but good to say about this restaurant and will continue to take clients there for dinner.
As for other restaurants, many, many to choose from and you can't go wrong with Dickie Brennan's at 716 Iberville (Brennan's family is responsible for Banana's Foster receipe), Commander's Palace (a bit pricey but it's got great food and a wonderful atmosphere) and Emeril Lagasse. Given a choice among those 3 I would have to pick Commander's Palace, however if you are into Veal then I would choose Emeril's as they've got the must succelent Veal Chop you will ever taste.
Start the evening off at Jimmy Buffet's place. You will want to start your night out here (early evening actually) for a cocktail or two and some Buffet music to get you in the party mood. You'll want to take a taxi since it's not directly on Bourbon Street, but its as good as any to start getting your drink on.
After getting to Bourbon Street for the evening's entertainment, you can't go wrong with one of the hand grenade's recommended above. In addition, grab yourself a Hurricane at Pat Obriens http://www.patobriens.com/patobriens/havefun/our_story.asp. If beer is your choice there's many places along the route to pick up a tall frosty malt beverage of your choice.
After getting hammered off your gourd, make your way down to Bourbon and sample all the live music bars. All of them are great places to grab another social beverage and hang out a bit. There's also plenty of titty bars along the way, but keep in mind these places are pricey and you'll see just as much, if not more, as the night wears on for free (or a few sets of beads).
Your final destination of the evening should be Cat's Meow (it's a Karaoke place but don't let that fool you) or Tricou House (701 and 711 Bourbon respectively). Make your way to the balcony at either of these places and make sure you've got plenty of beads. What happens in New Orleans stays in New Orleans. You won't regret going to there.
Have fun and post up pictures - you should have ample opportunity to do so.
I can't remember the name of the bar, but the last time I was there they were running a special that if you bought one beer you got two free. I believe it was limited to Budweiser products...I remember it had a mechanical bull and a country/western theme. It was about mid ways up Bourbon...might be worth checking out.
Sorry, Wilma hit Miami and I had no power for 2 weeks. Yes I meant Katrina and the four or five times I have been since then I noticed much less crime and unsavory characters. I would routinely get followed late at night and it hasn't happened to me since the hurricane.
thanks for all the tips.did many many many of the suggestions over the last 2 nights..just back now to the room..quite fun...tonight monday is much quite than last night which was not so bad the places were not that crowded and could move around quite a bit...great tip on Cat't Meow and those oysters at Dragos wow unreal...
and im staying at Royal Orleans Sonesta so that Desires was a great tip also..
and im staying at Royal Orleans Sonesta so that Desires was a great tip also..
Couple blocks past the "end" of Bourbon Street. You have to walk through the gay section (not that there's anything wrong with that).
Worth a visit, even if just 1-2 drinks. From what I remember, cash only.
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is a site in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is a tavern located on the corner of Bourbon Street and St. Philip Street. The tavern's building, built sometime before 1772, is one of the older still standing structures in New Orleans (the Ursuline Convent, for example, is older) and has been called the oldest continually occupied bar in the United States. According to legend the structure was once owned by the pirate Jean Lafitte, though as with many things involving Lafitte, no documentation of this exists.
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop had been a gay bar for some time before a 1953 change in management. The ousted patrons founded a new bar up the street, Cafe Lafitte In Exile, which claims to be the oldest gay bar in the country.[3]
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970.[2][4
Worth a visit, even if just 1-2 drinks. From what I remember, cash only.
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is a site in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is a tavern located on the corner of Bourbon Street and St. Philip Street. The tavern's building, built sometime before 1772, is one of the older still standing structures in New Orleans (the Ursuline Convent, for example, is older) and has been called the oldest continually occupied bar in the United States. According to legend the structure was once owned by the pirate Jean Lafitte, though as with many things involving Lafitte, no documentation of this exists.
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop had been a gay bar for some time before a 1953 change in management. The ousted patrons founded a new bar up the street, Cafe Lafitte In Exile, which claims to be the oldest gay bar in the country.[3]
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970.[2][4
