Wedding Blog
New Orleans is a city full of food, culture, and fun! Being from the area, I’ve seen a good bit of the city. For those of you who would like to vacation in New Orleans one day, I’d like to share my favorites with you in the form of a sample 4-day honeymoon itinerary (to make this wedding related, of course!). Let’s just say that your tummy will be super happy after this trip, but there will be some walking to do!
Day 1 (arrival)
Let’s just assume you get to your hotel for 2PM at check-in time.
2:00PM Check in, nap, and beautify yourself (I have to nap after traveling… just have to!).
5:30PM Kick off your New Orleans trip with flair and have dinner at the infamous Brennan’s Restaurant in the French Quarter. This would be a splurge of a dinner, but I promise you, it’s well worth it!! Be sure to try the Banana’s Foster… they come out and make it right in front of you! Super cool! If you love the food that much, totally purchase their cookbook as your first souvenir. It’s called “Breakfast at Brennan’s (and Dinner too!)”. Or, check out some of their featured recipes here, as well!
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8:30PM If you are looking for a night of fright (hehe!), take a New Orleans Ghost Tour. I’ve never been on the ghost tour (not a fan of that kind of stuff), but I’ve heard wonderful things about it!
Day 2
9:00AM Have breakfast at Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter. Just be sure not to wear a black shirt, or you will look a mess from all the powdered sugar on those beignets! Be sure to buy some mix to make beignets for yourself at home!
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10:00AM Spend the morning checking out the fabulous French Market area in the French Quarter. There is tons of stuff there, like handmade soaps, jewelry, purses, New Orleans home decor, etc.! Also, be sure to check out the street entertainment. There are musicians, artists, and dancers all throughout the area! If you are ready, go ahead and sip a daiquiri drink while you shop! You can walk around with alcohol in New Orleans!!
12:30PM Take a walk to Crescent City Brewhouse in the Jackson Square area of the French Quarter and enjoy some local beer and a hearty lunch!
2:00PM Hop on a carriage near Jackson Square for a carriage ride tour of the French Quarter during the day!
4:00PM Stroll along the Mississippi River and enjoy the breeze. Definitely consider taking a ride on a steamboat for a mini-tour of the Mississippi River! If not, take a little time to have an afternoon drink at Pat O’s! (Hey, you gotta drink in NOLA right??)
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7:00PM Enjoy dinner at Mother’s Restaurant. If you like what you eat there, here are some of their recipes!
Day 3
11:00AM Yes, I’d totally sleep in today. After two fun-filled days in New Orleans, you’ll need to sleep in a little. I really recommend spending the later morning/early afternoon at a relaxing (and super classy) Jazz Brunch at the infamous Commander’s Palace. This place is a little pricey too, but it has wonderful food. It’s a three-course brunch with a jazz band that walks around and plays music requests table to table. It’s so well known that there is a special booth that the President (yep, of our country!) sits in when he visits NOLA. You will need to take a cab here, but I promise it’s worth it!! I actually went to the jazz brunch today, to celebrate Momma Ballet Flat’s, MOH Ballet Flat’s and (not to toot my horn here) MY upcoming birthday! Be sure to try the turtle soup (trust me here)!! Here’s a couple of recipes as well, and they sell a cookbook at the restaurant!
2:30PM Check out a tour at Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World!! You definitely will need a cab from here, but it’s worth it! You will get an up close look at Mardi Gras floats, costumes, along with the history of the carnival season!
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6:30PM Enjoy a more casual dinner at Port of Call in the French Quarter. This place is known for its awesome burgers and drinks! After this, spend the evening scoping out Bourbon Street and enjoy some fun bars, karaoke and music!!
Day 4
10:00AM Today is all about uptown New Orleans. Start your day by going to the Audubon Zoo, which, in my opinion, beats out the aquarium in the French Quarter. Be on the lookout for the Roman Candy cart somewhere in the zoo!! It’s a really awesome taffy-like candy in strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate.
3:00PM Take a walk down Magazine Street and go shopping! For an indulgent afternoon snack, be sure to stop by Sucre for some great gelato, desserts, and heck, even some tasty souvenirs to bring home!
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6:00PM Take a cab back to the hotel, get ready, and have dinner one last time in the French Quarter at Muriel’s in Jackson Square.
This is just a sampling of what New Orleans has to offer, but based on local favorites, I thought this would help, especially if you are looking to stay in country for your honeymoon!!
N’awlin-eans, do you have any more suggestions for fellow bees looking to honeymoon in our fine city? 
Previously:
San Francisco by Miss Peep Toe
Western Michigan by Miss Powder Puff
Rural Pennsylvania by Mrs. Pineapple
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Share this post: Honeymoon in my Hometown: N’awlins Style
New Orleans is high on the list of places we want to go next! The food looks divine!
Oooh! I saw the Commander’s Palace on Top Chef!
I love the parades!!! BEADS!!!!
LOL, I love how you’ve included what the hive can purchase as souvenirs! 
Go to the RiverWalk and catch a trolley and ride up to Camelia’s and have a turkey omelet with cheese (or the mexican omelet) and a chocolate freeze and a piece of pecan pie that is to DIE for! Then hop back on the trolley and go to Audobon Park/Zoo. Be sure to bring your camera because you will want to take photos of all the New Orleans homes that are AMAZING! After this head on over to Belladonna or H2O for a afternoon at the spa! WooHoo! (I recommend the hydrotherapy massage at H2O but hey that is just me!) If you want to head back down into the Quarter you need to go to the World War II museum (I am not a history person and yet this museum never fails to inspire me! and they actually have a section on marriages during this time (INSPIRATION!). Make sure your tour the Cathedral in Jackson Square and if you are lucky you may even get a chance to watch a bridal party go by. (They do stop tours for weddings)
Have dinner at Dragos and order the chargrilled oysters! And stop by central grocery (very close to the french market) and pick up some olive salad and a muffelata!
I love your itinerary! The only thing I would add in there is to take the St. Charles Ave Streetcar at some point. I love seeing the beautiful old homes on St. Charles, and experiencing the craziness of the streetcar at the same time. You can take the streetcar pretty close to Audubon Park or to Commander’s Palace.
Oh and for a fantastic place to stay I would say the Monteleone! It is worth every penny and the location puts you at the heart of everything. And ask about the resident haunting!
@laural: I forgot about central grocery! Now I’m craving a muffelata! I wish we had something like that here in Chicago. I’ve never been to Dragos, but I’ve heard the chargrilled oysters are amazing!
@Mrs. Jasmine: Ditto!
And thanks for including the links to the recipes Miss BF Now I can try them at home.
@laural: Yes, definitely visit the Cathedral. Totally forgot to mention that! And yes, yes, yes to Drago’s and Central Grocery!
I heart Mothers. And central grocery. and everything NOLA has to offer. I’m 2 hours away and we go every chance we get!
I wish I would have had this BEFORE my trip to New Orleans! Great post!!
I am bummed that I missed out on Sucre! 
I totally second Muriel’s… We love that place!
I love this post!! NOLA is one of 2 locations we are deciding between for our honeymoon. Thanks!
My fiance and I spent one of the best vacations of our relationship in New Orleans the spring before Katrina came. We’ve been aching to go back, help with a rebuilding project, and revisit the city. New Orleans also had the BEST ghost tour we’ve ever been on. Do they still do them?
Oops. Missed the line about the ghost tour on night one! Sorry!!
I would love to go to NOLA, I have been wanting to go forever!!
I need to bookmark this so I can come back to it! I’ve never been to NOLA and want so badly to go. I’ll need to remember all these excellent recommendations — especially on the food (I’m such a foodie)!
A different, more foodie approach to this trip is as follows. We do this a couple of weekends a year including in a couple of weeks. Can’t wait!
Friday~ early morning flight into NOLA, go straight to Galatoire’s for a long wonderful lunch. Then go back to your hotel for a nap and then it’s off to hear some great music just about anywhere, but try Frenchmen’s Street. If you’re hungry for dinner, go to Acme for some raw or charbroiled oysters or a shrimp poboy. Go find more music to listen to and dance the night away. Look for a late night snack of a oh so bad for you, but oh so good Lucky Dog.
Saturday AM~Wake up and hit Mother’s for Debris biscuits and grits and coffee, then wander around in the Gallery District and buy a local artist’s work to remind you of your trip. If you want to do lunch, go to Central Grocery for a muff, but be warned, they’re not too sweet. If you want to check out the Garden District, jump in a cab and ask them to take you to Domilese’s and get the shrimp or oyster po-boy. Saturday night go to Cochon and eat as much as possible. The oyster roast, boudin, and black-eyed pea gumbo are all personal favorites. If you are like me, you’ll have to spend a little time wandering around the Quarter and as long as you don’t expect too much and realize that it’s full of nutjobs, you’ll have a blast! There is a little bar at the end of Bourbon by the gay dance clubs that has the best burgers and they’re open really late at night. Go get one if you can.
Sunday AM~ Sleep in and then hit Cafe Du Monde right before noon to miss the crowds. After brunch, you can walk around the Quarter, Royal Street and along the river to work off all the food you ate this weekend.
Sucre is sooooo good, btw. I meant to add that to my weekend, but we usually run out of time.
I’ve always thought going to New Orleans would make for a fun trip. Thanks for the info!
Great post! NOLA is my favorite place to just get away. A couple (yummy places I would add) Central Grocery is a must for lunch, just remember it’s closed on Sundays. Grab a muffaletta and head over to the river to take in waterfront. If you are around on a Sunday have breakfast at The Coffee Pot, it’s one of the oldest restaurants in the city. If you are lucky you can catch a soulful rendition of “Amazing Grace” sung by one of the friendly servers.
I’m going next month for a conference and have never been—thanks for the yummy-sounding itinerary! I’m going to have my own private honeymoon
we might be going here for our honeymoon! thank you!
also– is john besh’s restaurant August good?? what about Emeril’s Delmonicos, is this too touristy/overrated?
Great post! We love when locals share the love.
One lucky couple could win a free Top Chef Dream vacation in May! Please let your readers know about the contest. Especially those Top Chef fans like MightySapphire! Details here: http://budurl.com/7rs2.
Good luck!
pick up some pralines while you are in new orleans. either for you to eat or a food goodie for someone else. but i bet you won’t stop craving it after you have one.
I still have to write my New Orleans recap (my pc got fried with all the pics on it).
It was one of the best trips of my life…. I super heart New Orleans, and I’m sad we didn’t get to meet while I was there!
From what I recall (this was 6 years ago) the highlight of my trip to New Orleans were the beignets, chickory coffee & Acme Oysters!
I LOVE the Roman Candy! Every time I go to the zoo, I have to find the cart! And if someone I know goes to the zoo, the first thing I say when they get back is “did you get me any candy?”
i have always wanted to visit new orleans and will have to show this to the fiance to convince him to take a mini-moon there.
@materialgirl13: I haven’t been to either restaurants…sorry! I’ve heard great things though!
@Mrs. Bee: Aww..I’m SO sorry we didn’t get to meet either!!
@Miss Dumpling: Awesome!! That would be fun!
@loralie: Amen!! I’m glad I’m not alone here!!
@materialgirl13: it’s been years since i have been to delmonico’s (for a bridesmaid lunch and another rehearsal dinner) but in my opinion there are MUCH better local restaurants out there with better quality and better prices. so like many “famous” new orleans restaurants, it’s definitely overrated. and overpriced! i’ve never been to august but i have a good friend who loves it.
i posted a message here adding my favorite nola restaurants…. but it won’t show up! Maybe because I included links?? Well here is the message without the links….
“How did I miss this post the other day?! Born and raised in Nawlins - I gotta add my 2 cents girls! Some local favorites are Dick and Jennys on Tchoupitoulas street, Tommy’s Cuisine (ask for JC and tell him Liz sent you…), Louisiana Bistro owned by a fellow rescue friend of mine, LB is a little known gem rated #1 on Trip Advisor for new orleans restaurants, Parkway Tavern for the BEST po-boys you’ve ever had, Ralph’s on the Park for delicious (but pricey) seafood and an AWESOME bar - which thankfully is stumbling distance from my parents house, Mat and Naddie’s for delicious down-home creole cooking at a great price… and my ABSOLUTE favorite - Crepe Nanou on Robert St. uptown (get there by 6:30 at the latest if you don’t want a 2 hour wait - they don’t take reservations) OK I could go on but i’m making myself really hungry… feel free to message me for any more info/questions! ENJOY!! “
My fiancé and I got engaged in New Orleans on the waterfront! Right after, to celebrate, we went to Cuvee Restaurant and it was amazing! Highly recommend it, very romantic and the food is incredible!
Go to see the sculpture garden at City Park.
Listen to music at the Spotted Cat.
Eat pizza with a bottle of wine at Mona Lisa Restaurant on Royal St.
Picnic at Armstrong Park. Bring extra bread for the ducks!
Have breakfast on Chartres & Spain at the Cake Cafe. I love love love this place.
Watch the band outside the Rouse’s on Royal.
Catch a second line (try the Treme on a Sunday afternoon)
Take the ferry to Algiers Point.
If you have a car, drive to the Laura Plantation. I think it’s in Vacherie. It’s a great tour.
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Mrs. Ballet Flat, New Orleans
Age and Occupation: 24, Geographic Information Systems Analyst
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, IT Analyst
Engagement Date: March 16, 2008
Wedding Date: May, 2009
Blogging Since: September 25, 2008
Venue: St. Charles Borromeo Church/Jefferson-Orleans North
About Me: I absolutely love wedding planning, spending time with Mr. Ballet Flat, various crafts, watching football, baking, pop music, bargain hunting and ice cream. My idea of a great date night is dinner and clearance shopping with Mr. Ballet Flat! I currently live below sea level in the suburbs near New Orleans, where I make maps all day, everyday for my job. I'm slowly becoming more and more obsessed with anything New Orleans related for our wedding, and I can't wait for the big day!
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