June 2024. For our first visit to the United States of America since the COVID-19 pandemic, we flew to New Orleans via London Heathrow with British Airways. After two days of exploring NOLA, Amtrak‘s Crescent overnight train brought us from Louisiana to New York, where we we stayed one night only before flying home. 

Except it exists, it’s founded by the French, it’s home of the French Quarter and Bourbon Street and it’s famous for Mardi Gras, we didn’t know much about New Orleans. So I asked ChatGPT: “What to do on a Sunday and a Monday in New Orleans, taking into account opening times?”

The response: 

“In New Orleans, you can experience a blend of rich history, vibrant culture, and fantastic food, even on a Sunday and a Monday. Here’s a detailed plan for each day:”

Sunday:

“Start your Sunday with a leisurely breakfast at Café du Monde in the French Quarter. The café is open 24 hours, so you can enjoy their famous beignets and café au lait at any time. After breakfast, take a stroll through Jackson Square, which is right nearby. The square is a hub of activity, with street performers, artists, and beautiful views of St. Louis Cathedral.”

“Around mid-morning, head to the French Market, which opens at 10 AM. Here, you can explore a variety of vendors selling everything from local produce to handmade crafts. It’s a great place to pick up souvenirs and sample local flavors.

For lunch, make your way to the Garden District. Take a guided walking tour to appreciate the historic mansions and lush gardens. Commander’s Palace, an iconic restaurant in the area, opens at 11:30 AM on Sundays for their famous jazz brunch. Be sure to make a reservation as it’s quite popular.”

“In the afternoon, visit The National WWII Museum, which opens at 9 AM. This extensive museum offers a deep dive into the history of World War II with immersive exhibits and interactive displays. Plan to spend a few hours here as there is a lot to see.”

“As evening approaches, head back to the French Quarter for dinner at one of the many renowned restaurants, such as Brennan’s, which opens at 5 PM. After dinner, immerse yourself in the local music scene. Frenchmen Street is a fantastic spot to catch live jazz performances. Venues like The Spotted Cat Music Club and Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro have live music starting in the early evening.”

Monday:

“Begin your Monday with breakfast at Ruby Slipper Café, which opens at 7 AM. This local favorite is known for its Southern-inspired breakfast and brunch dishes.”

“After breakfast, visit the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, which opens at 10 AM. Located along the Mississippi River, the aquarium offers fascinating exhibits featuring local marine life as well as creatures from around the world.”

“Next, head to the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), located in City Park. The museum opens at 10 AM and houses an impressive collection of fine art, including works by artists like Degas and Monet. After exploring the museum, take a leisurely walk through the adjacent Besthoff Sculpture Garden, which is also open from 10 AM.”

“For lunch, head to the Central Business District (CBD) and dine at Pêche Seafood Grill, which opens at 11 AM. Pêche offers fresh, locally sourced seafood and has received numerous accolades for its cuisine.”

“In the afternoon, take a streetcar ride down St. Charles Avenue to see the beautiful oak-lined streets and historic mansions. The St. Charles Streetcar Line is the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world, and it’s a great way to see more of the city at a leisurely pace.”

“For dinner, visit Cochon, which opens at 5 PM and is located in the Warehouse District. Cochon specializes in Cajun cuisine, offering dishes like smoked pork ribs and fried alligator. After dinner, consider visiting the nearby Ogden Museum of Southern Art, which remains open until 5 PM on Mondays. The museum showcases Southern art, culture, and history, providing a deeper understanding of the region.”

End your Monday evening with a cocktail at one of the city’s iconic bars. The Carousel Bar & Lounge at Hotel Monteleone is a unique spot, as the bar itself rotates slowly. It opens at 11 AM, so you can visit anytime, but the ambiance in the evening is particularly charming.”

“By following this plan, you’ll experience a mix of New Orleans’ history, culture, and culinary delights, ensuring a memorable visit even on the typically quieter days of Sunday and Monday.”

That’s great advise, but not what we actually did.

Our Sunday

We started our Sunday with our included breakfast at the hotel, the voco St. James Hotel. The breakfast spot there is called Café Flamant. 

We decided to start with a walk through Garden District, before the afternoon heat. We went there by bus and tram. 

Afterwards we went to the The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk for refreshments. After some boba we headed to the Canal Street Ferry to go to Algiers Point. 

We explored the area briefly but didn’t find what it’s promoted for so we returned across.

The Riverfront Streetcar took us then to the French Quarter and Jackson Square, where we had lunch at Monty’s on the Square.  Escaping the heat, we visited the Louisiana State Museums at the Presbythère and the Cabildo. 

After returning to the hotel to cool down in a cool pool, we had dinner at Curio in the French Quarter. We ended the evening by walking on Bourbon Street, which we found noisy and rowdy. Despite not being it late, many people were under influence of a variety of substances

Our Sunday

Our Sunday was mostly spent at The National WWII Museum, which is a topper in its field. Bring a sweater though because baby, it’s cold inside. 

Afterwards we took an Uber to the nearest Walmart because I love supermarkets and I love Walmarts. Funnily, men’s underwear were protected behind glass. Who wants to steal tighty whities? Come on, there’s no no kink shaming here. 

Muriel’s on Jackson Square provided us with a creole tomato themed dinner. 

Impressions of New Orleans

Two days is perhaps short to visit a big city but Danny and I share a highly paced travel rhythm. Not as highly paced as Oriol and I, but still. We’re there to see and explore, we’re likely not to return. We don’t really shop and we don’t party. 

So, in two days we had good impressions of New Orleans.

The city still has a French flair, over 200 years after the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. It loves to reference its connection to France with fleur-de-lys flags and republican tricolores. 

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) even includes a spelling mistake in its slogan. 

But NOLA also references its Spanish colonial time with (French and) Spanish street name signs, and modern take on the Plaza de España in Seville, the Spanish Plaza. 

Two prices

An oddity we experienced is double pricing. Paying cash in restaurants was slightly cheaper than paying with credit card. Having brought some greenbacks, we did then pay cash. 

Walkable

New Orleans is very walkable. The Central Business District and the French Quarter are next to each other and even the Garden District is not that far. Although taking the streetcar (tram) will save you time. 

Still, NOLA is human-sized and accessible.

So? 

We enjoyed our two days in New Orleans. We ticked off a box and I’m glad we did. We did not ‘use’ New Orleans as you ‘should’ do: partying and drinking. You’d believe The Big Easy is about feasting and drinking when reading travel guides and watching travel videos on YouTube. 

New Orleans ís perhaps partytown, but it’s much more. 

From New Orleans to New York on Amtrak’s Crescent – USA 2024

1. REVIEW | British Airways Brussels to London Heathrow.
2. REVIEW | British Airways World Traveller London Heathrow to New Orleans.
3. NEW ORLEANS | Streetcars, Garden District, Algiers Point, Riverfront, Jackson Square.
4. REVIEW | Louisiana State Museums – the Presbytère and the Cabildo, in New Orleans.
5. NEW ORLEANS | French Quarter ft. Bourbon Street.
6. REVIEW | voco St. James Hotel.
7. NEW ORLEANS | Riverwalk and Riverfront at the Mississippi River.
8. REVIEW | The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.