New Orleans

[BH]

We’ll be in New Orleans over new year. I’ve already got NYE planned and have sketched-out reservations at a few restaurants. Does anyone have any restaurant recommendations please – preferably skewing to something you wouldn’t find elsewhere rather than overpriced “French”?

I’m also keen to find somewhere (a bar) that has more modern (than trad) jazz as well as a good blues place.

Finally, I’ve seen a fair few walking (including vampires, ghosts, murders, assorted crime) tours of the Vieux Carre, Cemetery tours, and air boat tours. I’m not sure we’ll want to do all these things but recommendations of good past experiences would be invaluable.

[NorthernLass]

I’d also be really interested in this as it’s on my list for NY 25/26!

[Richie]

BTW the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Montelone is good if you like a drink.

Brunch at The Eliza Jane was very good.

I did do some searches for excellent restaurants that aren’t overpriced when I was there, but didn’t find any.

BTW the lounge BA use at MSY is average and get’s packed, don’t count on a hot meal before a MSY-LHR night flight.

[Richie]

The parade on the 6th January to mark the start of the Mardi Gras season is also good.

[elguiri]

Dinner on the paddle boat looked good – didn’t actually get chance to try it in the end as Covid hit whilst we were there and we had to escape to Houston to get out of the US.

We did get chance to eat at the Cochon Butcher which was good (again, in 2021), plus a great place for Gumbo whose name escapes me right now.

[TMG]

I’d recommend GW Fins for a high end meal. Carousel Bar is an experience but be prepared not to get a seat at the bar itself. Sazerac House is a nice little tour if you are interested in some of the cocktail history of New Orleans. Also worthwhile riding the St Charles streetcar, gives you a good view of some of the fancy houses. Also take in the Sazerac Bar in The Roosevelt. The lobby has one of the best Holiday displays and the bar itself is consistently one of the best hotel bars in the US.

[TMG]

Additionally take in the Saints game on the 29th, always an experience. The Superdome is an easy walk from the CBD/ French Quarter.

[BH]

Thank you all. I’ll report back after the trip @NorthernLass. I think we’ve found a good place for NYE, but will let you know.

@Richie Yes, drinks in order! I’ve added the Carousel Bar and, @TMG, quite ready to have to watch the bar revolve from afar! GW Fins looks great, so I’ll fit that in somewhere.

Unfortunately, we’re leaving on 3rd January so won’t see the parade. (Was supposed to be 2nd but BA cancelled our flight.)

@elguiri. I read this somewhere (probably TA) that rather put me off the paddle boat dinner: “One cautionary word of advice: unless you want real horror don’t make our mistake of boarding the Natchez paddleboat steamer for a jazz dinner cruise (£79; steamboatnatchez.com). Queueing for a buffet that would make a 1970s motorway services canteen blush and spending three hours on a riverboat with less glamour or charm than a cross-Channel ferry was a nightmare so bad that we practically died laughing.”

I had a look at the Saints game. It had been mentioned to me by our hotel (Kimpton Fontenot) as a reason they get full around this time. Not really my idea of fun, but I checked ticket prices. Unless we sit a mile away from the pitch, they’re really silly.

[BH]

Don’t know what’s going on, but attempt at reply disappeared into the ether, so this might be a dupe.

Thank you all. I’ll report back after the trip @NorthernLass. I think we’ve found a good place for NYE, but will let you know.

@Richie Yes, drinks in order! I’ve added the Carousel Bar and, @TMG, quite ready to have to watch the bar revolve from afar! GW Fins looks great, so I’ll fit that in somewhere.

Unfortunately, we’re leaving on 3rd January so won’t see the parade. (Was supposed to be 2nd but BA cancelled our flight.)

@elguiri. I read this somewhere (probably TA) that rather put me off the paddle boat dinner: “One cautionary word of advice: unless you want real horror don’t make our mistake of boarding the Natchez paddleboat steamer for a jazz dinner cruise (£79; steamboatnatchez.com). Queueing for a buffet that would make a 1970s motorway services canteen blush and spending three hours on a riverboat with less glamour or charm than a cross-Channel ferry was a nightmare so bad that we practically died laughing.”

I had a look at the Saints game. It had been mentioned to me by our hotel (Kimpton Fontenot) as a reason they get full around this time. Not really my idea of fun, but I checked ticket prices. Unless we sit a mile away from the pitch, they’re really silly.

[agroves]

Peche Seafood Grill in the CBD was our favourite and we also liked Thaihey NOLA.

[elguiri]

BH wrote:

Don’t know what’s going on, but attempt at reply disappeared into the ether, so this might be a dupe.

Thank you all. I’ll report back after the trip @NorthernLass. I think we’ve found a good place for NYE, but will let you know.

@Richie Yes, drinks in order! I’ve added the Carousel Bar and, @TMG, quite ready to have to watch the bar revolve from afar! GW Fins looks great, so I’ll fit that in somewhere.

Unfortunately, we’re leaving on 3rd January so won’t see the parade. (Was supposed to be 2nd but BA cancelled our flight.)

@elguiri. I read this somewhere (probably TA) that rather put me off the paddle boat dinner: “One cautionary word of advice: unless you want real horror don’t make our mistake of boarding the Natchez paddleboat steamer for a jazz dinner cruise (£79; steamboatnatchez.com). Queueing for a buffet that would make a 1970s motorway services canteen blush and spending three hours on a riverboat with less glamour or charm than a cross-Channel ferry was a nightmare so bad that we practically died laughing.”

I had a look at the Saints game. It had been mentioned to me by our hotel (Kimpton Fontenot) as a reason they get full around this time. Not really my idea of fun, but I checked ticket prices. Unless we sit a mile away from the pitch, they’re really silly.

Good job we avoided that one then 🙂

[Man of Kent]

Mardi Gras World is quite fun if you have half a day free. It’s near the Convention Center and is where the floats are constructed and stored.

[agroves]

Man of Kent wrote:

Mardi Gras World is quite fun if you have half a day free. It’s near the Convention Center and is where the floats are constructed and stored.

I’ll second that! A really interesting look into the history of the event

[Andrew.]

BH wrote:

I had a look at the Saints game. It had been mentioned to me by our hotel (Kimpton Fontenot) as a reason they get full around this time. Not really my idea of fun, but I checked ticket prices. Unless we sit a mile away from the pitch, they’re really silly.

Went to a game in the Dome in August. It was £27 a ticket and the location was off-centre, and I felt high up. But then looked above me and we were nowhere near the top.

[BH]

Andrew. wrote:

BH wrote:

I had a look at the Saints game. It had been mentioned to me by our hotel (Kimpton Fontenot) as a reason they get full around this time. Not really my idea of fun, but I checked ticket prices. Unless we sit a mile away from the pitch, they’re really silly.

Went to a game in the Dome in August. It was £27 a ticket and the location was off-centre, and I felt high up. But then looked above me and we were nowhere near the top.

I think it’s a popular game because of timing and all available tickets are authorised resales.

[LD27]

@BH Will be interested to hear how you find the Kimpton Fontenot – we’ve booked for next March. Also looked at Indigo and Voco. Not sure whether we have made right choice and sadly will have been demoted to Platinum by then. We’ve booked flights into New Orleans. We’re then picking up a car and making our way to Atlanta before flying back to UK.