A First-Timer’s Guide to the New Orleans Jazz Fest
New Orleans Jazz Fest Photo by David Fary
There are many jazz festivals the whole world over, yet there is only one of the genre in the city that birthed it: the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which has been around for over five decades and still takes over the city during the last weekend in April, the first weekend in May, and pretty much all days in between (Thursday, April 23 – Sunday, May 3, 2026).
It is fair to say Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest are the two keystone entries of the New Orleans events calendar. Where Mardi Gras is a celebration with deep Catholic and pagan roots that is indelibly branded by the city of New Orleans, Jazz Fest is rather a celebration of New Orleans itself.
That’s the backstory on the “& Heritage” part of the description in the official Jazz Fest title: The event has become less about showcasing jazz per se, and more about showing off the city that gave us jazz.
Because New Orleans is so central to pop music, almost any act and genre you can imagine has strutted on Jazz Fest’s 15 stages — and yes, there are that many stages popping off at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (1751 Gentilly Blvd.) during the 2026 Jazz Fest. As a result of this sheer scope and size, in many ways, Jazz Fest feels like too overwhelming an event to properly tackle, especially for those who are attending for the first time.
Regarding the festival’s musical acts, there are plenty of commentators who think festival organizers have unfairly stretched the definition of what music falls under the jazz and heritage rubric. We’re not here to debate that topic, but rather point out that there is undoubtedly a wide variety of genre presence at Jazz Fest, which only adds to the looming sense of choice overload.
With all of that in mind, there are some sound tactics for making Jazz Fest more manageable. Here are some of our time-tested strategies.
Ride a Bike
While this choice isn’t going to work for everyone — some visitors simply don’t have urban cycling experience or are scared of the prospect — we can’t stress just how much biking can improve the Jazz Fest experience. Even the most diehard Jazz Fest boosters will admit parking can be a nightmare during the festival. Parking enforcement officers are on high alert — we’ve never seen the impound lot on Claiborne Avenue get quite so busy as it does during Jazz Fest.
Of course, you can pay for parking. Folks who live near the Fairgrounds will turn even the smallest plot of the backyard into an impromptu parking lot (rates vary, but around $30 per day seemed to be the going rate in the past).
There are other ways of outflanking the parking issue, including the official Jazz Fest shuttle, taxis (both cars and bicycle rickshaws), rideshare, and the streetcar. Note that if you take the streetcar, you’ll still have to walk about a half mile to the festival entrance. (Take the number 48 line that runs on Canal Street and get off at the final stop at City Park/Art Museum.)
But we really love getting to Jazz Fest on two non-motorized wheels. Bike lane infrastructure can now bring riders to the gates of Jazz Fest. If you’re staying in the French Quarter, the bike ride to the Fairgrounds covers a 10-15 minute straight shot up Esplanade Avenue.
Plus, there is extensive bicycle “parking” (overlooked by security staff) on site. While we can’t guarantee what the weather will be like during Jazz Fest weekends, in general, late April and early May form a lovely climate window in New Orleans.
In addition, being on a bicycle gives visitors a better sense of the city. You can see New Orleans at the street level without the loss of time walking might engender. There’s an intimacy to biking in the city that’s tough to replicate from a car.
Shape Your Cube
The Jazz Fest lineup is famously scheduled into “cubes” for attendees. Devising a schedule for seeing all of your favorite acts can be a fun logistical challenge, but don’t forget that the stages of Jazz Fest are spread out over a decently large area. If you’re in the middle of the crowd at one of the main stages, it can take about 10 or 15 minutes just to extricate yourself from the center of mass.
Note that Sundays and Thursdays always feel a little bit less crowded at the racetrack, although that “little bit less” is admittedly a relative number — there are no real “light” days at Jazz Fest.
The way you assemble your cube is up to you, but here are some pointers we’ve picked up over the years:
Stick to your cube, but don’t do so religiously. Part of the fun of Jazz Fest is simply letting the music take you wherever it wants to go.
Don’t ignore smaller stages. We found one of our great unexpected Jazz Fest shows at the Kids Tent. We also always find the Fais Do-Do stage to be a consistently good break in our routine — basically, you can never go wrong dancing to Cajun or zydeco music.
Visit the Gospel Tent at least once. We’ve consistently found that even those who know next to nothing about gospel music have their spirits lifted and their musical boundaries expanded in this venue.
Cool Off
It can get hot during Jazz Fest. A few good means of beating the heat include:
Enjoying the air conditioning in the Grandstands
Hitting the mist tents by the Gentilly Stage and #2 food vendor area
Sitting down and relaxing in the vicinity of the Louisiana Folklife Village
Getting strawberry lemonade and Mango Freeze! (And of course, hydrating with water)
Staying out of the scrum for bigger headliners
Priorities, Priorities
While the price of Jazz Fest tickets continues to climb, the fact of the matter is you can still see some grade-A headliners for a bargain rate compared to similar (or even smaller) festivals. Many locals treat Jazz Fest as a chance to see big acts for relatively cheap. On the flip side, if you live in or near the city, you can see the New Orleans musicians throughout the year at local venues, which means there’s less pressure to see them on the Fairgrounds.
If you’re coming in from out of town, you may have the opposite scenario prioritized — you can see big-name acts anywhere, but this is your best chance of seeing Louisiana music on its native soil. In addition, smaller local acts often occupy stages that are less crowded, and everyone enjoys a break from the seething masses.
With all of that said, don’t forget that during the “off days” in between the two festival weekends, many smaller and mid-sized acts will be playing gigs around town. If you miss them at the Fest, you may well catch them on Frenchmen Street.
With that said, there’s something about seeing local acts at Jazz Fest. The big-name headliners are used to huge audiences. A local Louisiana act would be playing to wow the world, and some of those sets end up being nothing short of legendary.
What to Know About the 2026 Jazz Fest
Jazz Fest will remain cashless. Ticket, food, beverage, craft, and merchandise booths no longer accept cash payments. If you come to the event with only cash, the Festival will offer two cash exchange booths near key vending locations so you can get a prepaid card for your cash.
This year, Jazz Fest features over 5,000 musicians across 15 stages.
The festival will be one of the largest in its 55-year history. Eight is the most number of days for the event, and this year there will be the most food vendors and food items ever. And there will also be over 250 art and craft vendors.
“Locals Thursday” will be April 23 this year, with discounted tickets for Louisiana residents.
This year, Jazz Fest will celebrate Jamaica’s musical and cultural diversity at the Cultural Exchange Pavilion. During the festival, dozens of bands and a wide variety of artisans from throughout Jamaica will present their sounds and traditions.
The Jazz & Heritage Gala kicks off Jazz Fest with the celebration of Louisiana music and cuisine on Wednesday, April 22, at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Blvd.).
Check out the event’s FAQ section for more details.
Coming to Jazz Fest This Year?
See the 2026 Jazz Fest music lineup and food offerings on the event’s website. And be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels!
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This May in New Orleans
Photo courtesy of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Facebook
May sits in the New Orleans climatic sweet spot. It’s sunny, and you can wear shorts on most days, but it’s (usually) not super hot yet. Come evening, when the thermometer starts to dip into the 70s, the air feels something like perfect. If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans this May, find your French Quarter hotel, and check out these big events you can enjoy during your stay.
Jazz Fest
Thursday, April 23 – Sunday, May 3, 2026
Jazz Fest is the biggest music festival in the best music city in the USA and one of the marquee events on the New Orleans calendar. For the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May, the city hosts hundreds of bands and thousands of tourists, who stream into the Fair Grounds Race Course from around the world.
Dozens of food vendors will show off the best of local cuisine, while artisans create and trade Louisiana crafts. On the days between the weekends, some of the world’s great musicians will be partying (and often, playing) at gigs all around the city.
The Jazz Fest lineup is famously scheduled into “cubes” for attendees. So, find your cubes, and enjoy yourself!
Attending for the first time? Check out our First-Timer’s Guide to the New Orleans Jazz Fest!
New Orleans Greek Festival
Friday-Sunday, May 22-24, 2026
New Orleans Greek Festival returns on the Memorial Day weekend to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral (1200 Robert E. Lee Blvd.). As usual, expect great Hellenic music, traditional dancing, cathedral tours, ouzo, Greek wines, and Greek coffee, plus, of course, the food.
Oh, the food. Souvlaki, baklava, dolma (stuffed grape leaves), spanakopita (spinach pie), and gyro sandwiches (pita bread pockets stuffed with lamb, pork, and zesty sauce), and more. The fest is kid-friendly, and is held both indoors and outdoors.
More May Events
Although not specific to New Orleans, there are a few events you can celebrate here with gusto. Grab a margarita at one of our many wonderful restaurants on Cinco de Mayo (Tuesday, May 5, 2026), celebrate Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10, 2026) by booking brunch at one of the many elegant eateries, or visit The National World War II Museum to honor Memorial Day (Monday, May 25, 2026).
Coming to New Orleans in May?
Check out our guide to where to stay in the French Quarter, and be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels. Also, consider booking a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans.
For easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
Happy May!
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Mother’s Day in the French Quarter and Nearby
New Orleans and the French Quarter in particular are fantastic options for Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10, 2026), from the elegant perfection of jazz brunches and the relaxing stroll on the scenic Mississippi Riverfront to exploring the magnificent architecture of the centuries-old streets and shopping in the chic local boutiques. Show your appreciation for the mothers in your life with these suggestions. Just please remember to make your reservations in advance, as Mother’s Day is a popular time for brunching and dining.
Brunch
Brunch with Mom is one of New Orleans’ most popular Mother’s Day activities. Not only do the French Quarter and the adjacent Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods have some of the best restaurants in the country, but several have excellent Mother’s Day special brunch offers.
Broussard’s Mother’s Day jazz brunch is usually held in the courtyard and features the restaurant’s classic French Creole cuisine plus bottomless rosé or mimosas. (To make a reservation, call 504-581-3866 or book online.) The classic Sunday jazz brunch at either Antoine’s or Arnaud’s is elegance personified and is a perfect way to give back to the women and mothers in your life.
The French Quarter has some of the best European-style patisseries in the country, so if you want a classic French croissant or quiche, head to Croissant D’Or Patisserie.
Outside the Quarter, if you’re up for a scenic walk or ride through the historic neighborhood of the Marigny, check out Ayu Bakehouse, a bright, quaint corner shop with a mellow vibe. There are savory pastries, crusty baguettes, sweet croissants, cookies, and buns, plus breakfast and lunch items like a frittata and seasonally rotated sandwiches.
Still further down, in the Bywater, you can hit The Country Club’s brunch of gluten-free shrimp and grits, or boudin boulettes in the restaurant, or just head to the pool that has its own poolside menu. There’s also a very popular drag brunch at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (it sells out quickly, so a reservation is a must).
Exploring the French Quarter on foot
Few cities in the world have as much easily accessible and well-preserved architecture as New Orleans. If your mom is up for walking, explore the centuries-old streets of the French Quarter and the nearby mostly residential Marigny to take in all the magnificent architectural elements they have to offer, with all their lush tropical courtyards with gurgling fountains, French doors, stucco exteriors, lacy Victorian ironwork, and vibrant Caribbean colors.
While you’re at it, you can stroll the mile-long Riverfront with its walkway called the Moonwalk, the scenic views of the Mississippi River, and Woldenberg Park.
Don’t miss the French Market across the street, from its food stands to the daily flea market at the end of Esplanade Avenue. It’s a great stop to slurp a dozen raw oysters, or pick up pralines and a beignet mix to take home from any of the surrounding retail shops.
Just down the street is one of the most important national landmarks, the timeless Jackson Square, with Andrew Jackson’s bronze statue as the focal point of the square, surrounded by lush greenery. Come inside the St. Louis Cathedral that overlooks the square, to take in its stunning interior, or shop at the block-long rows of the Pontalba Buildings that flank the square in both directions.
Jackson Square also features an open-air artist market and performance space, with local art displayed along the fence. While there, browse the art, dance to a brass band, have your fortune told, or have a sketch done on the spot.
Taking a carriage ride
If your mom is not up for walking, unveiling the city’s colorful past is as easy as taking a mule-drawn carriage ride through the streets of the French Quarter. Just grab a first-come-first-served French Quarter Mule Tour offered by Royal Carriages on Decatur Street right outside the Jackson Square gate, from 8 a.m. through midnight daily. Some tour packages stick to the Quarter only; others venture out to the Marigny or St. Louis Cemetery #1.
Shopping
Besides what the French Market and the shops surrounding Jackson Square have to offer, you can head down to the chic boutiques lining Chartres Street, branching off the square and leading to Canal Street.
One of the most popular destinations on the Chartres Street retail row is Hemline, which carries a well-curated shoe and women’s fashion collection from local and national brands. Also on Chartres, the well-hidden United Apparel Liquidators (UAL) is unsurpassed for hunting name brands with deep discounts (and even some haute couture). And, if you head to Canal Street, there’s a slew of upscale retailers at The Shops at Canal Place.
Dining
It’s going to be easy to impress your mom with dozens of stunning options in the French Quarter and nearby. You’ll be in good hands at the enchanting Sylvain on Chartres Street, with a candlelit bar and a lovely patio. The charming Bayona also offers a patio, along with a historic setting of a two-century-old Creole cottage on a quiet block of Dauphine Street.
If you want to go with the upscale Creole cuisine in unbeatable locations, then Tujague’s, Napoleon House, or Muriel’s Jackson Square won’t steer you wrong. For something less traditional but still sophisticated, head to Cane & Table for a top-notch cocktail and small plates, or hit the hole-in-the-wall Cuban gem, Manolito. Of course, the one and only Galatoire’s needs no introduction (where you’ll be lucky to get a table).
Finally, why not wrap up with a glass of bubbly and the world-famous Bananas Foster in a lush courtyard at Brennan’s, flambeed tableside? Giving back to your mom has never been easier.
Coming to New Orleans this spring?
Check out our guide to where to stay in the French Quarter, and be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels. Also, consider booking a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans.
For easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime, and your mom won’t have to do all this walking!
Happy Mother’s Day!
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Things to Do in New Orleans This April
Photo by David Fary
April is one of our favorite months in New Orleans. Between the usually warm winters and super-hot summers, April sits in the New Orleans climatic sweet spot. It’s sunny, and you can wear shorts on most days, but it’s not impossibly hot yet. Come evening, when the thermometer starts to dip into the 70s, the air feels something like perfect.
Then there are the festivals, of course. In New Orleans, April is considered the start of the festival season, which lasts from now into the dog days of summer. On almost every weekend (and during the mid-week as well), you’ll find outdoor concerts, parties, live performances, and general revelry just dripping out of the city.
Plus, spring just brings out the love in people. Folks get down, hang out, and are just that much more at ease. In a city nicknamed the Big Easy (you’ll never catch us using that term, but we accept it is a title New Orleans must live with), that’s saying something.
Oh, there’s one other great thing about April: crawfish. Sure, they’re usually in season by March, but April is when the boils really start becoming a common sight citywide.
Here’s how we do April.
Photo courtesy of YLC Wednesday at the Square on Facebook
Wednesday at the Square
Free music? Good weather? Food stalls? Good folks? All this and more at Wednesday at the Square in downtown New Orleans, which continues for 10 weeks from March 11 through May 6, 2026. The concert series kicks off in Lafayette Square; music lasts from 5 to 8 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Crescent City Classic on Facebook
Crescent City Classic
This annual 10K run is one of the largest athletic events in New Orleans, partly because the race is open to all, and as a result tends to attract a wide swathe of runners, from casual beginners to world-class runners (many don a costume to run, this being New Orleans). You do have to register to run; the cost is $70 ($50 if you run for a charity). The price increases after February 20, 2026.
Crescent City Classic is also notable for its route, which takes in some of the best cityscapes New Orleans has to offer. Runners take off from downtown in front of the Superdome, run through the French Quarter and the Tremé, then up Esplanade Avenue — one of the most beautiful streets in the nation — all the way to City Park.
If you’re around on the day of the run (Saturday, April 4, 2026), you’ll likely see crowds lining the route, but try not to drive anywhere near the running path, as roads will be blocked off.
Photo by David Fary
Easter Parades
New Orleans is one of the most Catholic cities in the country, and it celebrates Easter in a big way, although that celebration isn’t always as traditional as one might guess. Long story short: When the 40-day Lent period of fasting ends, New Orleans says, “OK, that was enough self-denial” and throws three big parades. Why? Because New Orleans.
Starting at 11 a.m. on Easter Sunday (Sunday, April 5, 2026) with a hat contest and entertainment at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel Ballroom, the French Quarter Easter Parade winds its way from there and back starting at 1 p.m. via classic convertible cars and mule-drawn carriages.
The Chris Owens French Quarter Easter Parade is celebrating its 41st anniversary this year. Because it is now prohibited to parade on Bourbon Street (due to the terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve in 2024), the parade route changed last year, and the details for 2026 are still being ironed out.
The final parade of the day is the Gay Easter Parade, which rolls at 4:30 p.m. This one is also a family-friendly affair, and has been a long-standing tradition of the New Orleans LGBTQ+ community.
The paraders will march with floats and horse-drawn carriages, rolling by many of the French Quarter’s most storied gay businesses. Bring the kids to this one, as the Gay Easter Parade is famous for its generous throws and elaborate costuming.
Image courtesy of Hogs for the Cause on Facebook
Hogs for the Cause
Hogs for the Cause is back on Friday-Saturday, April 10-11, 2026, featuring more than 90 teams competing for the coveted BBQ Pork Grand Champion title. This signature festival blends live music, great food, and time with family and friends, all while supporting an extraordinary mission. The event is held at the UNO Lakefront Arena (6801 Franklin Ave.). Expect more than 20 bands (this year’s lineup), and all things BBQ.
In its 18th year, so far Hogs has given back more than $15 million, providing over 2,200 direct grants to families battling pediatric brain cancer and contributing millions more to hospital programs and on-campus housing at children’s hospitals. You can get tickets here.
Bag of Donuts by David Fary
French Quarter Fest
French Quarter Festival is the largest free musical event in the New Orleans calendar, and according to organizers, the largest free music festival in the USA. For many, it has become a less crowded, less expensive alternative to the Jazz & Heritage Festival.
With that said, it’s not really fair to describe French Quarter Fest in relation to Jazz Fest. French Quarter Fest stands strongly on its own merits, rocking the city with a fantastic lineup of musicians and an unbeatable setting.
That setting is, as you may have guessed from the name, the French Quarter itself. Unlike so many music festivals around the world, French Quarter Fest eschews a huge grassy space for city streets. And in this case, said streets run through one of the world’s architectural preservation treasures. The festival goes off during the second weekend of April (Thursday-Sunday, April 16-19, 2026), which tends to come with gorgeous weather.
Despite featuring about 20 stages and a staggering number of acts and food vendors, the fest is fairly easy to navigate. Here’s our guide on how to get the most out of the French Quarter Festival if you feel overwhelmed.
Crawfest
One of the surest signs of spring in New Orleans is the presence of crawfish on menus and at boils across the city, and one of the surest signs that crawfish are back in season is Crawfest. Held on Saturday, April 18, this year, this party, sponsored by Tulane University, features some 20,000 pounds of crawfish, thousands of pounds of vegetables, two main stages, a bunch of bands, and a heavy student presence.
With that said, all are welcome — it costs $20 to get in, and kids 12 and under enter for free. (The fest is also free to Tulane students, with a wristband.) Crawfest kicks off on Tulane’s campus in Uptown, New Orleans.
Photo by David Fary
Jazz Fest
The biggest music festival in the best music city in the USA is one of the marquee events of the New Orleans calendar. For the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May (April 23 – May 3, 2026), the city hosts hundreds of bands and thousands of tourists, who stream into the Fair Grounds Race Course from around the world.
Dozens of food vendors will show off the best of local cuisine, while artisans create and trade Louisiana crafts. On the days between the weekends, some of the world’s great musicians will be partying (and often, playing) all around the city.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is a giant event, and in some ways, all of the bands, shows, and sheer entertainment options can feel intimidating. Yet once you find your favorite stage and preferred food vendors, and sit down with a cold drink and the breeze blowing across the Fair Grounds, it can also be very intimate — a means of annually connecting to New Orleans at a deep level that is exacerbated by the warm spring sun of April. For some tips, check out our First-Timer’s Guide to the New Orleans Jazz Fest.
If you’re planning a stay in New Orleans, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
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Best Places for Cocktails Outdoors in the French Quarter
Image courtesy of Jewel of the South on Facebook
The French Quarter in New Orleans is famous for its vibrant nightlife, historic courtyards, and classic cocktails that define the spirit of the city. Whether you’re searching for a romantic garden setting, a lively street-side seat for people-watching, or a refined craft cocktail experience, the French Quarter offers an incredible range of options. From iconic historic venues to hidden courtyard gems, here are some of the best places to enjoy cocktails outdoors in one of America’s most beloved neighborhoods.
Classic French Quarter Courtyards & Garden Patios
1113 Decatur St.
Cane & Table blends Caribbean-inspired cuisine with inventive craft cocktails in a lush tropical courtyard. The atmosphere feels relaxed yet upscale, making it ideal for a romantic evening or a stylish night out. Their rum-focused drink menu pairs perfectly with the warm New Orleans evenings.
727 Toulouse St.
This intimate cocktail bar delivers classic New Orleans elegance. Set within a historic courtyard, Peychaud’s specializes in meticulously crafted local favorites like the Sazerac and Ramos Gin Fizz, offering a quieter alternative to the busier streets nearby.
900 Royal St.
Hidden behind a historic carriage house, Café Amelie features one of the most enchanting garden courtyards in the French Quarter. The peaceful setting pairs beautifully with classic cocktails and Creole-inspired dishes.
500 Chartres St.
Steeped in history and charm, Napoleon House is best known for its refreshing Pimm’s Cup. Guests can enjoy drinks in the shaded courtyard or inside the rustic historic interior, making it a must-stop for visitors seeking authentic New Orleans character.
Iconic & Lively Cocktail Spots
820 N. Rampart St.
A favorite among locals, Bar Tonique is known for its creative craft cocktails and energetic atmosphere. Outdoor tables allow guests to enjoy both expertly mixed drinks and the buzz of the neighborhood.
The Elysian Bar at Hotel Peter and Paul
2313 Burgundy St.
Located just outside the French Quarter in the Marigny, The Elysian Bar offers a visually stunning setting inside a restored historic complex. Its elegant outdoor seating makes it worth the short trip for a sophisticated cocktail experience.
Hidden Gems & Sophisticated Cocktail Experiences
1026 St. Louis St.
Jewel of the South delivers refined, historically inspired cocktails in a stylish courtyard setting. The attention to detail in both the drinks and ambiance makes it one of the most elevated cocktail destinations in the Quarter.
719 Toulouse St.
This lively cocktail bar offers creative drinks and a fun social atmosphere. Its lush outdoor seating makes it a great stop before or after dinner nearby.
625 Chartres St.
Sylvain combines a relaxed courtyard with inventive cocktails and modern Southern flavors. The laid-back vibe makes it popular for both locals and visitors.
21st Amendment at La Louisiane
725 Iberville St.
A classic French Quarter bar with a welcoming courtyard, 21st Amendment is known for well-made drinks and a casual neighborhood feel. A bonus: It’s Prohibition-themed, and the building that houses the bar dates back to 1881.
Historic Restaurants With Great Cocktail Atmosphere
417 Royal St.
An iconic New Orleans restaurant established in 1946, Brennan’s offers elegant cocktails in a gorgeous courtyard setting. Every Friday at 5 p.m., there’s champagne sabering in the courtyard, plus a high-end champagne happy hour that includes discounts on bottles and a variety of bubbly cocktails. Not to tempt you any further, but Brennan’s is credited with inventing Bananas Foster. The dramatic, tableside-flambéed original remains a standalone draw for the post-dinner crowd and to this day apparently remains the restaurant’s most-ordered item.
430 Dauphine St.
Chef Susan Spicer’s Bayona, located in a charming historic cottage, features a serene courtyard and an upscale cocktail experience paired with globally inspired cuisine. The quiet elegance makes it ideal for a relaxed evening.
613 Royal St.
Famous for its historic courtyard dining, Court of Two Sisters also serves classic cocktails in a beautiful garden setting that reflects old-world New Orleans charm. Check out the daily jazz brunch buffet of Cajun and Creole cuisine.
801 Chartres St.
Muriel’s offers generous balcony seating overlooking the historic square, making it a fantastic place to sip cocktails while enjoying one of the most scenic views in the French Quarter.
630 St. Peter St.
While best known for its traditional Creole dishes, the award-winning Gumbo Shop also offers a charming courtyard where guests can enjoy classic cocktails along with Creole staples in a relaxed atmosphere. Established in 1948.
Casual & Outdoor Cocktail Stops
1018 Decatur St.
Located near the Riverfront and next door to Café Du Monde and The Market Cafe, Gazebo Cafe is a casual spot for frozen drinks like ice cream daiquiris and live music, making it a fun and easy stop while exploring the always-bustling part of Decatur Street.
… And, You Can Always Take Your Cocktail To Go
One of the unique features of New Orleans is its open-container culture, enjoyed by many a visitor and the locals. Popular spots like Tropical Isle (with five locations throughout the French Quarter) offer daiquiris and hand grenades, and Erin Rose (811 Conti St.) makes an excellent Bloody Marys and frozen Irish coffee, allowing you to stroll through the French Quarter with a drink in hand.
Suggested Walking Cocktail Itinerary in the French Quarter
Speaking of walking, one of the best ways to experience the cocktail culture of New Orleans is by exploring the French Quarter on foot. Most of these destinations are within a few blocks of each other, making it easy to enjoy a relaxed evening of drinks, atmosphere, and historic scenery.
Stop 1: Brennan’s – Start with Elegant Classics
Begin your evening with a high-end cocktail in Brennan’s spacious courtyard. A French 75 or classic champagne cocktail sets a festive tone for the night.
Stop 2: Café Amelie – Garden Charm
Just a short walk away, Café Amelie offers one of the most romantic courtyards in the Quarter. This is a great place to slow down and enjoy a classic cocktail surrounded by lush greenery.
Stop 3: Sylvain – Modern Craft Vibes
Head to Sylvain for creative craft cocktails in a relaxed courtyard setting. Their inventive menu bridges traditional New Orleans flavors with modern mixology.
Stop 4: Jewel of the South – A Serious Cocktail Experience
This award-winning cocktail destination focuses on historically inspired drinks and elegant presentation, making it one of the most memorable stops on the route.
Nightcap: If you’re still exploring, walk toward Bar Tonique for bold craft cocktails or stop at Napoleon House for a laid-back Pimm’s Cup in a historic setting.
Best “Of” Cocktail Spots in the French Quarter
Best for Brunch Cocktails
- Court of Two Sisters – Famous for its jazz brunch and classic mimosas in a historic courtyard.
- Brennan’s – A top choice for brunch cocktails like the Brandy Milk Punch.
- Café Amelie – Ideal for a relaxed brunch with stunning garden seating.
Best for Date Night
- Cane & Table – Romantic tropical courtyard and inventive rum cocktails.
- Bayona – Quiet, upscale courtyard dining with sophisticated drinks.
- Jewel of the South – Elegant atmosphere perfect for a refined evening.
Best for Live Music Atmosphere
- Gazebo Cafe – Casual setting with frequent live jazz and frozen drinks.
- Tropical Isle – Lively Bourbon Street energy and signature daiquiris.
- Muriel’s Jackson Square – Balcony views and nearby street performers enhance the experience.
Best for Classic New Orleans Cocktails
- Peychaud’s – Traditional cocktails crafted with precision.
- Napoleon House – Famous for the Pimm’s Cup in a historic setting.
- The Will & The Way – Modern interpretations of classic drinks.
Best for Craft Cocktail Enthusiasts
- Bar Tonique – One of the city’s most respected craft cocktail bars.
- Jewel of the South – Award-level mixology and presentation.
- Sylvain – Creative cocktails with a relaxed local vibe.
Tips for Planning Your French Quarter Cocktail Walk
- Start early: Courtyard venues are especially enjoyable around sunset.
- Stay hydrated: New Orleans’ climate makes water essential between stops.
- Wear comfortable shoes: The historic streets are best explored on foot.
- Take advantage of to-go drinks: Yes, you are allowed to take your drink with you.
Are you visiting New Orleans soon?
We’d love for you to stay at one of our Valentino hotels! And if you do, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
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French Quarter Dining Al Fresco
Photo courtesy of Louisiana Pizza Kitchen on Facebook
Despite its steamy reputation, the weather in New Orleans for most of the year is actually quite mild and pleasant. Winter days and summer nights and mornings often feel just as spring-like as an April afternoon.
With this abundance of great weather comes the ability and the desire to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Al fresco dining combines casual-to-fine dining with a Sunday afternoon picnic vibe, and the French Quarter has many restaurants and cafes that offer a breath of fresh air.
Mornings in the Quarter are filled with locals tending to their hanging gardens and shopkeepers preparing for the first customers of the day. Take a leisurely stroll to the Lower Quarter and visit the Croissant D’Or Patisserie, a charming European-style pastry shop with extremely reasonable prices. Enjoy fresh coffee, pastries, soups, salads, sandwiches, and quiches in a quiet courtyard or the shop’s tiled, old-world dining room.
Is it lunchtime? Louisiana Pizza Kitchen sits just steps outside of the French Market, with sunny sidewalk tables offering a welcome break from sightseeing and bargain hunting. Gourmet, wood-fired pizza is the specialty here, with ingredients such as sun-dried tomatoes, barbecue chicken, banana peppers, Portobello mushrooms, and even shrimp topping the unbleached flour or whole wheat crusts. Traditional toppings are also available for the less adventurous, as well as a large selection of appetizers, wood-fired sandwiches, fresh salads, and creative pasta dishes.
For those who prefer gumbo to gourmet, the Gumbo Shop offers all of the New Orleans favorites such as jambalaya, red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, blackened fish, po-boys, and, of course, several varieties of gumbo. This busy restaurant has a small courtyard for dining outside of the packed main dining room, and prices are reasonable. Lunch is usually less crowded than dinner, and the central French Quarter location makes an easy mid-day stop during sightseeing or shopping.
Dinner in the French Quarter is superb cuisine served in historic and charming surroundings. Muriel’s Jackson Square offers these things and more in an opulently restored townhouse complete with balcony dining. French doors open the restaurant to Jackson Square, just steps away.
Watch the French Quarter go by while enjoying dishes such as seafood gumbo, crawfish and goat cheese crepes, and wood-grilled selections such as filet mignon plus seasonal vegetables. For dessert, the vanilla bean crème brûlée is a standout (while there are some mainstays and the favorites, the menu changes, so these are just samples the restaurant had offered in the past).
Bayona Restaurant is also located in a beautifully renovated French Quarter home, but the surroundings are more intimate. Several small dining rooms and a romantic courtyard are available for dining on Chef Susan Spicer’s creations. The menu is subject to change, but expect impeccably executed Southern classics like grilled Gulf shrimp and sweetbreads.
Up on Decatur Street, towards the “bottom” of the Quarter and the beginning of the Marigny, Cane & Table serves Caribbean-inspired small and large plates and excellent cocktails, all deliverable in one of the Quarter’s great courtyards, a tropical-chic delight that makes us want to sip a negroni or a frozen paloma.
Whether it be a sunny spring morning, breezy fall afternoon, or warm summer night, the French Quarter offers a bounty of al fresco dining options. The above suggestions are only the beginning — on almost every block, you will find both quaint cafés and elegant bistros offering a chance to dine and soak up the classic Quarter atmosphere while actually becoming a part of it at a street-side table or balcony.
Explore all the Quarter has to offer and find a favorite of your own!
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Things to Do in New Orleans This March
With March upon us, expect a good slate of early-spring activities in the Crescent City. Also, the weather is warmer — hopefully just pleasantly warmer — the kind of spring sunshine that equals t-shirts and jeans, if not shorts.
Mainly, we consider this time of year an awesome window when the Carnival wraps up (or, depending on the year, is over) and the festival season is yet to begin. This is that rare time when the city settles for a very slight breather between its biggest parties and still means there’s a ton of stuff to do. Here are the highlights.
New Orleans Entrepreneur Week
Monday-Saturday, March 9-14, 2026
The New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) kicks off six days of speeches, speaker sessions, and networking events on Monday, March 9, 2026. According to the event organizers, one of the main events is the NOEW 2026 Summit at Loyola (Thursday-Friday, March 12–13), which “packs in two days of immersive workshops, hands-on sessions, and real founder stories designed to help you start, scale — and connect.” NOEW is now in its 15th year and has attracted thousands of attendees over the years. For this year’s keynote speakers and more info, check out the event’s website.
Wednesday at the Square Concert Series
Wednesdays, March 11 through May 6, 2026
Unwind with a cold beverage on any given Wednesday at the Square, a free concert music series held in the spring in Lafayette Park (located one block off of Poydras Street, between St. Charles Avenue and Camp Street in the heart of the Central Business District) every Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. From March through May (March 11 – May 7, 2026), these outdoor concerts feature a variety of jazz, rock, swamp pop, brass, Latin rhythms, and more.
Bring a chair or a blanket, or head to the front of the stage to partake in some dancing. You can bring your dog (as long as your pet is on the leash at all times), and there are vendor booths surrounding the park where you can buy food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (no outside food or beverages, please).
The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane
Thursday-Sunday, March 12-15, 2026
The New Orleans Book Festival features both fiction and non-fiction and readings, panel discussions, symposia, and keynote speeches. It also provides an opportunity for outlets, authors, and readers to interact with each other. Sunday, March 15, is Family Day, so bring your kids to the Tulane campus for some fun. Previous year’s notable authors and speakers on the impressive roster included Andy Borowitz, Richard Campanella, Maureen Dowd, and many more — so expect A-list greatness this year as well. The festival is free and open to the public.
St. Patrick’s Day
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
It sometimes comes as a surprise to first-time visitors to New Orleans that this city has a deep Irish heritage, which traces back to its history as a Catholic port of call that was one of the main entry points for the USA. There’s an entire neighborhood in this town called the Irish Channel, plus a plethora of fantastic pubs that eschew cheesy emerald-green Irish stereotypes for rough-hewn hospitality (Finn McCool’s and Erin Rose come to mind, plus a selection of our favorite Irish pubs in the French Quarter).
As such, there are plenty of Irish in this town, and thus, the weekend closest to St. Patrick’s Day is an important one for the city of New Orleans. Numerous parades kick off, including the massive Irish Channel parade (on Saturday, March 14, 2026), where float riders pass cabbages to the screaming crowds (among many other parade-specific throws).
The Downtown Irish Club Parade rolls on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from the Bywater to the French Quarter, making several pit stops on its way to Bourbon Street.
How much you enjoy all of the above is linked to your tolerance for public drinking and green beer. St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans is not quite as kid-friendly as the Carnival — you’ll still see families, but these parades are more aimed at adults.
Super Sunday
Sunday, March 15, 2026
The annual gathering of the Mardi Gras Indian tribes is perhaps the most open means of accessing this unique element of New Orleans backstreet culture. The tribes will be out in large numbers on Super Sunday, which usually falls on the third Sunday of March.
While the Mardi Gras Indians have their set routes and parade areas, no one event packs the tribes into one public space like Super Sunday. In this case, said public spaces are A.L. Davis Park, at the corner of Washington and LaSalle streets; and Bayou St. John in Mid-City, at the intersection of Orleans and Moss streets, on the bayou’s banks and the Orleans Street bridge. The Indian procession usually leaves the gathering spot around 1 p.m.
We can’t stress this enough: Be respectful if you go. Take pictures at a distance, and don’t get in the way of marching Indians or their friends, family, and attached bands. Super Sunday has been overrun with spectators in the past years, so please do your part to enjoy this amazing cultural event responsibly.
Some background: The Mardi Gras Indians are the most vibrant, visible, and conversely mysterious expressions of African-American New Orleans culture. To distill them into an extremely simplistic sentence: Mardi Gras Indians are African-American New Orleanians who dress up (or, in local lingo, ”mask”) as stylized Native Americans.
They take to the streets in fantastic costumes made of beads, feathers, and sequins that cost thousands of dollars, weigh hundreds of pounds, and require hundreds of days of painstaking labor; no element of costume creation is automated.
On Mardi Gras Day, Super Sunday, St. Joseph’s Day, and a select few other special occasions, the “chiefs” and their tribes parade through the city, chanting, shouting, and challenging each other to determine who is “the prettiest.”
There’s a ton more background on this fascinating subject at the Backstreet Cultural Museum in the historic Tremé neighborhood.
New Orleans French Film Festival
Thursday-Tuesday, March 19-24, 2026
Per its organizers, the New Orleans French Film Festival “is one of the longest-running international language festivals in the U.S., celebrating contemporary and classic Francophone cinema.” In its 29th year in 2026, the festival runs various events, including the Prytania Theatre Uptown and other venues across the city. For this year’s lineup, schedule, and ticket info, please check the festival’s website.
Danny Barker Banjo & Guitar Festival
Friday-Sunday, March 20-29, 2026
The Danny Barker Banjo + Guitar Festival pays homage to New Orleanian musician, writer, instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, and lyricist Danny Barker. The 10-day festival features a mixture of programming, including live music performances, panel discussions and workshops, special events and outings, second lines, and more. It will be held at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. There is also a Golf Tournament on Friday, March 20, which is a fundraiser to support the Daniel Moses Barker Foundation.
Tennessee Williams Literary Festival
Wednesday-Sunday, March 25-29, 2026
Writers have always been drawn to New Orleans. Few cities in America (or the world, really) can match this town for its atmosphere, sense of place, or penchant for fun and pathos (all good elements of a writing life).
The Tennessee Williams Literary Festival celebrates this city’s love affair with the written word, as well as writers’ love affair with New Orleans. Notable authors will be in attendance, hosting seminars, workshops, and lectures.
Plus, this being the Tennessee Williams Festival, there is, of course, a “Stella” shouting contest, which involves folks screaming out the iconic scene from A Streetcar Named Desire to appreciative crowds on Jackson Square. The program will also include a scholar conference, walking tours, masterclasses, theater, and more.
Note that on Friday-Sunday, March 27-29, 2026, the city will also host the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival, an alternative literary event that celebrates LGBTQ+ authors. The three-day festival will include panel discussions and a fair amount of networking opportunities between authors, editors, and publishers.
Congo Square Rhythms Festival
Saturday-Sunday, March 28-29, 2026
The musical heritage of New Orleans follows a line that can be traced all the way back to Africa, where the black diaspora begins. The music of that continent evolved here and in the Caribbean, influenced by Europe and indigenous music, into the forms and traditions that are the core of today’s New Orleans sound.
This vital legacy is celebrated in Armstrong Park, on the grounds of Congo Square, where local slaves were once permitted to practice the musical traditions of Africa and the Caribbean. Congo Square Rhythms Festival is a celebration of global and local music, and offers both amazing food and a fantastic lineup of music. The festival kickoff concert is typically held on Friday.
Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the festival features Mardi Gras Indians, African dance, brass bands, soul-funk, as well as indigenous music of Honduras, and highlife from West Africa. The large art market and a Soul Food Court complete the experience.
Don’t miss one of the fest’s highlights, the Mardi Gras Indian “battle” — when the tribes gather in the center of the square, plus the festival’s largest to date assemblage of New Orleans-based African dance troupes (they typically perform on Sunday). At the time of this writing, the lineup hasn’t been released.
Are you visiting New Orleans this spring?
We’d love for you to stay at one of our Valentino hotels! And if you do, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
Happy Spring!
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Get the Most Out of the French Quarter Fest
Photo by Zack Smith Photography. Courtesy of French Quarter Festivals, Inc.
French Quarter Fest is back, baby! And it’s its 42nd anniversary, no less. For four days (Thursday, April 16, through Sunday, April 19, 2026), a big chunk of the French Quarter — also known as the Vieux Carré, French for the “old square” (or “old quarter”) — will be transformed into a series of festival stages, each showcasing a different brand of music either rooted in or heavily influenced by, the sounds of Louisiana. Here’s a quick look at what you need to know about French Quarter Fest 2026.
Stage & Music Lineup Highlights
This year again expect the total of 22 stages with over 300 performances scheduled. You can find the lineup by stage and, at the same time, by day on the event’s website. The performers are too numerous to mention, but the highlights are the best of what the city and the state have to offer, many of whom have performed at the festival before. There are, of course, artists from elsewhere, and a few newcomers.
We are excited about the music lineup every year, and this year is no exception. Come see PJ Morton, Irma Thomas, Cyril Neville, Big Freedia, Flagboy Giz & the Wild Tchoupitoulas, Kermit Ruffins & The Barbecue Swingers, Amanda Shaw, The Soul Rebels, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Preservation Brass, Rebirth Brass Band, John Boutté, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Honey Island Swamp Band, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and many more!
In other words, the who’s who of the local music scene is returning or joining this year. Expect beyond excellence when it comes to the French Quarter Fest music lineup!
Food Vendor Highlights
As in the previous year, expect a mouthwatering melting pot of traditional New Orleans dishes such as fried shrimp or catfish, stuffed crabs, locally brewed beers, meat pies, crawfish macaroni and cheese, and hot sausage po-boys. Beyond that, there will be plenty of global flavors.
There will be about 70 culinary vendors on site (here’s the vendor lineup). Our favorite vendors that are returning include Jacques-Imo’s Cafe, Tujague’s Restaurant, Addis NOLA, Pat O’Brien’s, Miss Linda the Yakamein Lady, Loretta’s Authentic Pralines, and many more.
In addition, Mike’s Amazing Culinary Stage, located in Woldenberg Riverfront Park on the Kohlmeyer Lawn, will feature one-on-one interviews with iconic local chefs and culinary favorites. Mike’s Amazing’s team will once again share signature recipes.
New in 2026
This year, the festival footprint expands along the Mississippi River with a new site in Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park at Governor Nicholls Wharf. The new riverfront park site adds green space and opens additional programming opportunities along the Mississippi River. Attendees can enter along the riverfront or access the park at the foot of Esplanade Avenue, adjacent to the French Market and New Orleans Jazz Museum.
According to the festival organizers, there will be more live music than ever before, including additional Thursday performances. This year, several stages will appear in new locations. The Pan-American Life Insurance Group Stage will return in 2026 at Governor Nicholls Park at the foot of Esplanade, and will feature four full days of programming.
Due to construction at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, the Louisiana Fish Fry Stage will temporarily move to the riverfront in front of the Audubon Aquarium. The stage will highlight an expanded mix of DJs and brass bands, adding a strong street music presence to the festival footprint. Its schedule will also extend to four days.
The House of Blues Voodoo Garden Stage will further expand the music lineup with four full days of stage programming and a special Thursday night FQF After Dark show at the iconic venue, keeping the music going after the festival closes on opening night. Festival-goers can also visit the House of Blues Fest Family VIP Lounge in Jax Lot throughout the weekend, styled in the venue’s signature look for an immersive on-site experience.
The New Orleans Jazz Museum will remain a major festival site, hosting programming Friday through Sunday, including performances at the Loyola University Esplanade in the Shade Stage and the Songwriter Stage.
The French Quarter Festival is also debuting a 5K race in 2026. Taking place on Saturday, April 18, the race will combine fitness, community, and celebration through the French Quarter. Registration opened in early February, with details available at https://runsignup.com/fqf5k.
Special Events
Every year, the festival features special events. While the schedule hasn’t been announced at the time of writing this, expect the festival kickoff parade and opening day ceremony, a slew of dance classes, kids’ activities, and more.
Getting Around the Fest
Getting around the Fest should be fairly easy if you’re walking or biking. Parking will be limited, so arrive early and try these lots: French Market, 500 Decatur Street, 300 North Peters Street, 211 Conti Street, The Garage at Canal Place, plus street parking within walking distance.
We do suggest that instead of driving, you use RTA buses, streetcars, rideshare services bikes, cabs, or the ferry to get to the festival. In addition to increased traffic, some streets will be closed for the duration of the festival beginning at approximately noon until 8:30 p.m. (Those who live in the area will need to have access passes from the NOPD Eighth District Station.) The streets that will be closing are Iberville, N. Rampart, Dumaine, and Decatur.
A Few Facts About French Quarter Fest
Here are a few facts about the fest and what to expect this year:
- The Fest celebrates local music and represents every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R&B, New Orleans funk, brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, Zydeco, classical, cabaret, and international. It’s a medley, and a great way to sample the local music scene.
- It debuted in 1984 as a way to bring residents back to the Quarter following the World’s Fair and extensive sidewalk repairs in the French Quarter.
- The Fest employs more than 1,800 local musicians, with over 60 local restaurants participating as culinary vendors.
- The food and beverage vendors are set up in several locations throughout the French Quarter: Jackson Square, the Jazz Museum at the Mint, JAX Brewery, and Woldenberg Riverfront Park.
- You can buy the official 2026 poster at one of the merch booths at the festival, as well as on the festival’s website.
- To streamline your music experience and navigation, you can download an app on the fest’s website (either for IOS or Android).
- The live-music hours every day of the festival are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- No coolers and ice chests, please. Help keep the festival free by purchasing food and beverages at the festival.
- The festival is cashless. All booths accept major credit cards and digital payments. Need cash exchange? Visit Jax Lot (500 Decatur St.).
- And yes, the fest is free unless you opt to buy a pass for a VIP experience.
If you’re planning a stay in New Orleans, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
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Where to Score the Best Crawfish in New Orleans
Spring means crawfish season in New Orleans, and that means picking the best spot to enjoy an old-fashioned boil. This list is far from exhaustive — in fact, it’s more like a drop in the bucket — and that’s a good thing. We’re lucky to live in a place where boils happen in bars, restaurants and backyards every day this time of year.
Cajun Seafood
1479 N. Claiborne Ave. (plus three more locations Uptown, Downtown, and New Orleans East)
Cajun Seafood opened its original location on S. Broad Street in 1995 and remains, in the words of many locals, “The best smelling corner in the city” (as the company’s website reminds us). Since then, Cajun Seafood expanded to three more locations (each family-owned and operated), and the one on N. Claiborne is located in Tremé. The counter service spot usually has a wait, sometimes trailing around the outside of the building on Saturday afternoons and during second lines.
Diverse offerings include po-boys, Chinese food, boiled seafood, ya-ka-mein (also spelled as yaka mein — a magical concoction of chopped beef, noodles, green onions, hard-cooked egg, and broth), and fried chicken, as well as varying fresh seafood options. The boil is moderately spicy, with a pleasant clove and garlic flavor. It’s a middle-of-the-road crawfish — a crowd-pleaser.
Captain Sal’s Seafood & Chicken
3168 St. Claude Ave.
Located on St. Claude Avenue in the Bywater, Sal’s sells inexpensive boiled seafood, fried chicken, and po-boys from an inauspicious concrete building. The crawfish are spicy, and that spice carries over into the corn and potatoes for some of the spiciest sides we’ve ever tried.
The crawfish are also buttery and garlicky; they have a particularly rich flavor. As the season progresses, Sal’s offers weekly half-price deals, usually beginning around Easter. There’s plenty of space to sit inside, and there’s counter service. Don’t expect much of a wait here.
Captain Sid’s
1700 Lake Ave., Metairie
Located just down the street from Deanie’s in the heart of Bucktown, Captain Sid’s has been around since 1979. Captain Sid’s specializes in fresh and boiled seafood, plus there’s a deli with cooked items like stuffed crabs, crawfish pies, alligator sausage, the bisques, and the etouffees. The place is no frills, there are no tables, so be ready to take your order to go. The original owner, Sidney “Captain Sid” Patrick, came up with a unique seafood seasoning, and that’s what you’ll be tasting in your crawfish.
Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant
1713 Lake Ave., Metairie; 841 Iverville St., French Quarter
Deanie’s, around since 1961, is an institution and a recognized name in the city known for its great seafood. The original restaurant and seafood market are located in Bucktown in Metairie. There is one more location in the French Quarter. Both are perfect for dining in.
Mid-City Seafood and Deli
2526 St. Bernard Ave.
This Seventh Ward spot near the corner of St. Bernard Ave. and Broad St. is known for its boiled seafood and fried chicken. The boil has strong hints of clove, and deep, delicious flavor as well as a mild, lingering heat. It’s counter service only — but you come for the food, not the atmosphere. The po-boys are numerous, well-priced, and also well regarded.
Salvo’s Seafood
7742 Highway 23, Belle Chase
It’s a bit of a trek, but Salvo’s offers delicious boiled seafood at better prices than most restaurants in the city. Their all-you-can-eat seafood specials rotate nightly between crab, shrimp, and crawfish, but crawfish is consistently available by the pound as well during season.
The full-service restaurant has been open since 1984, and also offers sandwiches, steaks and ribs, though most people come for the boiled and fried seafood specials. The all-you-can-eat boiled seafood specials also include all-you-can-eat boiled sides.
Boils at Bars
Crawfish can be found at bars around the city in the spring. The R Bar in the Marigny often doles out crawfish, and the Maple Leaf Bar is known for its boil helmed by Jason Seither (of Seither’s Seafood), which offers a unique boil with carrots, garlic, and sweet potato, among other unusual vegetables sometimes added to the pot. The 24-hour Three Legged Dog in the French Quarter also has weekly boils, and the Mid-City’s Bayou Beer Garden throws an occasional boil on its spacious back patio, during the Saints games in particular.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans this spring? This is a great time to visit as the temps get higher and the city’s schedule is full of fun events and the annual spring festivals. To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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How to Spend St. Patrick’s Day in the Quarter
Photo courtesy of Erin Rose
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering New Orleans’ deep Irish heritage, that the weekend of St. Patrick’s Day (Tuesday, March 17, 2026) is one of the biggest parades and party times in the city (outside of the Carnival and Halloween). The city’s connection traces back to its history as a Catholic port of call that was one of the main entry points for the country.
There’s an entire neighborhood called the Irish Channel, which, as the name implies, was originally settled largely by immigrants from Ireland in the early 19th century. To this day, many locals have roots on the Emerald Isle.
Thanks to this connection, the weekend closest to St. Patrick’s Day is filled with parades, pub crawls, and block parties. While the biggest event, the Irish Channel Parade, plus the most massive block parties, are happening Uptown, there’s plenty to see, do, and drink in the French Quarter. There are some fantastic Irish pubs we recommend, many of which will be hosting their own St. Patrick’s Day parties, plus a parade that rolls through the Quarter.
Here’s how you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day — all without leaving the French Quarter.
The Parade
Downtown Irish Club Parade
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 7 p.m.
This parade rolls from the Bywater to the French Quarter, making several pit stops on its way to Bourbon Street. It begins on the corner of Burgundy and Piety streets in the Bywater, proceeds up Royal Street, across Esplanade Avenue to Decatur Street, and up Canal Street to Bourbon Street. The parade makes several stops at the various bars in the Marigny and the French Quarter on its way to Bourbon Street.
The Bars
These are all fair game during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, whether you want a relatively quiet stopover for some Guinness and a game of pool or an epic party with live music and an Irish buffet. Several of these bars serve as the stops for the parades, so we can assure you — they’ll be partying.
Erin Rose
811 Conti St.
Just a few doors away from Bourbon Street, Erin Rose is a low-key watering hole favored by the locals. On St. Patrick’s Day (or make that the weekend), you can head to Erin Rose in confidence — there’s going to be a party there. While you mingle, check the memorabilia galore and try the bar’s excellent frozen Irish coffee or a Bloody Mary (made with the house secret recipe). Of course, there’s Guinness on tap plus a selection of local brews. The bar is also home to the popular Killer Poboys (look for the takeout window in the back). Everything on the small but mighty menu is delicious.
Fahy’s Irish Pub
540 Burgundy St.
Fahy’s keeps it pretty traditional as far as Irish pubs go, with inexpensive drinks, a horseshoe-shaped bar, pool tables, darts, framed photos, and a laid-back ambiance. There are some Irish beers on tap, but you should try the bar’s specialty called Mind Eraser. It’s made with vodka and Kahlua, and it’s meant to be shared with friends by everyone sticking straws into the drink at the same time and racing to the bottom. For St. Patrick’s Day, Fahy’s has been known to put out an Irish buffet with traditional offerings like corned beef and cabbage.
Finnegan’s Easy
717 St. Peter St.
Another low-key Irish bar on the same block as the Boondock Saints, Finnegan’s Easy is long, narrow, and more crowded, but with ample capacity to handle it thanks to its spacious courtyard. You could tell it caters more to the visitors as it serves as a stop on some of the walking tours in the French Quarter. Finnegan’s features sports on TV and cheerfully serves Irish grub along with more American fare like wings. The drink menu also varies from the local beer on tap to Mai Tais and Hurricanes.
Kerry Irish Pub
331 Decatur St.
Kerry packs the house for St. Patrick’s every year with live bands performing back to back, with the doors opening as early as 8 a.m. in the years past. You may not find green beer at Kerry, but you are guaranteed a proper pint of Guinness.
Molly’s Irish Pub
732 Toulouse St.
Not to be mistaken for Molly’s at the Market, this Molly’s is close to Bourbon Street geographically but might as well be miles away for its understated charm and low-key vibe. Housed in an old Creole cottage, Molly’s is all brick and dark wood. You won’t find an epic party there (although things will definitely liven up during the St. Patrick’s weekend), but if you want a bar with Guinness on tap, a pool table and a great jukebox, this local favorite is it.
Pat O’Brien’s
718 St. Peter St.
As you might have guessed from its name, this iconic French Quarter bar was founded by an Irishman. What’s more, the invention of one of New Orleans’ most famous cocktails, the Hurricane, is credited to him, too. Every year on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the bar participates in the festivities with drink and food specials and live music. Also, check out the flaming fountain on the bar’s patio (it’s a water fountain with fire emerging from its center, as crazy as it sounds).
Ryan’s Irish Pub
241 Decatur St.
Just down the street from the Kerry and next to House of Blues, Ryan’s is another stop for the St. Patrick’s Day parades/pub crawls that go through the Quarter. Cozy booths, a beautiful antique bar, and plenty of local brews on tap draw a mix of local regulars and visitors.
The Boondock Saint
731 St. Peter St.
Tucked into a brick hideaway between Royal and Bourbon streets across from Preservation Hall, this intimate Irish pub was named after a movie that runs on the loop on the TV inside the bar (don’t worry, there’s a good jukebox too). The famously friendly bartenders serve Guinness and local beer on tap, as well as Irish car bombs. The prices are very, very good — so think of Boondock Saint as your perfect getaway from the 24/7 party happening just steps away on Bourbon Street.
Balcony Viewing Parties
For some traditional French Quarter-style partying, be on the lookout for balcony bashes at the bars located all up and down Bourbon Street. A balcony bash is pretty much that — you’ll pay a cover and be allowed to plant yourself on a wrought-iron balcony overlooking the street below. Since the parade that rolls in the French Quarter hits Bourbon Street, prepare for much (green) bead tossing and catching.
Are you visiting New Orleans this spring?
We’d love for you to stay at one of our Valentino hotels! And if you do, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
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Experience New Orleans Mardi Gras Like a Local
If you’re a true Mardi Gras fan like us, you started counting down the days until Carnival as the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve. While Mardi Gras is on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday, known as Carnival season, make Mardi Gras one of the best times to experience the Big Easy.
Packed with parties, parades, king cakes galore, and fun for the entire family, Carnival season lasts more than a month and ramps up on the Thursday before Mardi Gras. If you want to be in the midst of all the action, Mardi Gras weekend is the best time to stay. So, start planning your trip now to make sure you don’t miss a thing this Mardi Gras season.
Book a New Orleans Mardi Gras Hotel
When it comes to experiencing New Orleans Mardi Gras like a local, it’s all about location. Since the majority of the action is just steps from the parade routes, the ideal New Orleans hotels are located in the French Quarter and downtown.
If you’re looking for historic French Quarter hotels that capture the timeless beauty of New Orleans and are located in the heart of Mardi Gras activities, Place d’Armes Hotel, Prince Conti Hotel, Hotel St. Marie, The Brakeman Hotel, and French Market Inn are perfect places to stay. But you’ve got to plan ahead because the best Mardi Gras hotels book up quickly. So, make your New Orleans room reservations today to secure your spot!
Create a Mardi Gras Parade Plan
With more than 80 parades on the 2026 Mardi Gras parade schedule, you’ll want to plan ahead. There are many different types of parades, so find out about each krewe and its theme before you make your list.
Must-See New Orleans Mardi Gras Parades
- Druids and Alla on Wednesday, February 11, 2026
- Babylon, Chaos, and Muses on Thursday, February 12, 2026
- Hermes, d’Etat, and Morpheus on Friday, February 13, 2026
- Iris, Tucks, and Endymion on Saturday, February 14, 2026
- Okeanos, Mid-City, Thoth, and Bacchus on Sunday, February 15, 2026
- Proteus and Orpheus on Monday, February 16, 2026
- Zulu and Rex on Tuesday, February 17, 2026
There are Mardi Gras parades that start as early as the Twelfth Night (January 6, the annual start of the Carnival season), and things pick up towards the end of January. So, you won’t have any trouble finding excitement at various locations across New Orleans during Carnival time.
French Quarter Mardi Gras Parades
- Chewbacchus on Saturday, January 24, 2026
- Krewe du Vieux on Saturday, January 31, 2026 (Note: This parade is very risque and may not be suitable for children.)
- Mystic Krewe of Barkus on Sunday, February 8, 2026 (dogs!)
How to Experience Mardi Gras
Photo by David Fary on Flickr
Most people will likely be standing to see the parades, but there is an option for reserved seating. Companies offer grandstand seating on the parade route, some with amenities such as easy access to restrooms, nearby parking, food packages, and more. If you’ve never experienced Mardi Gras before, this could be a great option for you.
Many Mardi Gras goers with children and people who don’t want to or can’t stand for extended periods of time enjoy the comfort and convenience of Mardi Gras grandstand seating. You will have an excellent view of all of the Mardi Gras parades without having to lug around ladders and chairs. All you have to do is bring a “bead bag” for all of your beads and catches.
Grandstand seating is limited, so we recommend booking as soon as you’ve made your travel plans. On NewOrleansParadeTickets.com, choose between their Place St. Charles grandstand (located directly on St. Charles Avenue near Canal Street) and their Lafayette Hotel grandstand (located on the opposite side of St. Charles Avenue between Lee Circle and Poydras Street, adjacent to Lafayette Square). Either location will be great, and if you will be enjoying multiple parades, you might try switching up your location to experience different views.
More Activities to Enjoy During Mardi Gras Season
Mardi Gras parades and parties are undoubtedly the main event, but remember to check out other fascinating attractions while you’re in the French Quarter this February. Take a break from catching beads and take the family to see the sights around historic Jackson Square, such as the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral.
If you want a behind-the-scenes look at the city’s culture, stop by the Basin St. Station and learn more about the different walking tours you can take, including the St. Louis Cemetery #1 Tour — one of the most popular New Orleans cemetery tours. Then, head over to Bourbon Street to visit some of the top New Orleans live music venues.
Tour the city in an open-top, double-decker bus when you hop on a City Sightseeing Tour Bus. With 18 stops along the route and a new bus arriving every 30 minutes, this is the best way to explore New Orleans. Tickets start at $51.
What to Eat and Drink During Mardi Gras
Photo by Patrick on Flickr
Beignets and Brunch
Of course, you’ll want to indulge in the world-famous beignets at Cafe Du Monde (various locations) and enjoy the one-of-a-kind Louisiana cuisine at renowned French Quarter restaurants. These sweet treats are perfect for breakfast or brunch, late-night cravings, and basically any time of the day.
Coffee and Cocktails
If you need coffee to start your day, delight your senses with a searing hot macchiato or Americano from PJ’s Coffee (501 Decatur Street).
With a selection that features several types of whiskey, cognac, tequila, mezcal, rum, gin, and more, even the most discriminating drinker is bound to find something they will love at The Bombay Club (830 Conti Street).
Po-Boys
Killer PoBoys (219 Dauphine Street and in the back of the Erin Rose Bar, 811 Conti Street) pushes the envelope with some of its unique po-boys, and if you love shrimp and breaking from the traditional, you have to try their seared Gulf shrimp po-boy that features Sriracha aioli, herbs, daikon radish, pickled carrots, and cucumbers (the menu changes).
For more ideas on where to find the best po-boys in the Quarter, read New Orleans’ Po-Boy Is a Rich Food Tradition.
King Cake
Widely considered the official dessert of Mardi Gras, this is an absolute must-try if you’re in town for Carnival.
Choose from several different types of king cakes at the Bywater Bakery (3624 Dauphine Street). The flavors may change, but in the past years, there were pecan praline, cream cheese, strawberry, custard, and cinnamon apple.
If you ask New Orleans natives and long-time transplants, a large percentage of them will count Manny Randazzo King Cakes (3515 N. Hullen Street) at the top of their list, and you would have to trek to Metairie to get your hands on these cakes (and they might sell out).
More Mardi Gras
- Mardi Gras in the French Quarter
- Here are all the can’t-miss events happening on Mardi Gras weekend
- The Rules of Mardi Gras — guidelines and official laws
- How to Dress for Mardi Gras
- Traveling with kids for Mardi Gras? Read our guide to exploring the French Quarter with kids
Are you planning to visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras? We’ve got a fabulous lineup of events that celebrate the Crescent City’s unique culture. Visit FrenchQuarter.com/hotels to find your perfect historic French Quarter hotel that will put you right in the center of all of the action and within walking distance of many of New Orleans’ bars, restaurants and entertainment spots.
Happy Mardi Gras!
