Top Things to Do in New Orleans This Weekend
Jonathan Barlow
Editor
Top Things to Do in New Orleans This Weekend
New Orleans is a city that runs on weekends. Every Friday through Sunday, the city comes alive with live music, festivals, culinary events, and a cultural energy that makes it one of the most exciting weekend destinations in the country. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a regular, there is always something new to discover in New Orleans. This guide highlights the best things to do in New Orleans this weekend — and every weekend.
What makes a New Orleans weekend special is the layering of experiences. You can start with beignets at Cafe du Monde, walk through Jackson Square, stumble into a second-line parade in Treme, have the best meal of your life at a hole-in-the-wall in Mid-City, catch a brass band on Frenchmen Street, and end the night dancing at a club that does not close until you decide to leave. No other city packs this much culture, food, and music into 48 hours.
Friday Night: Frenchmen Street and the Marigny
Start your New Orleans weekend on Frenchmen Street, the live music capital of the city. The Spotted Cat Music Club kicks off early with jazz and swing sets — arrive before 9 PM to snag a spot inside this tiny, standing-room-only venue. d.b.a. next door books national touring acts alongside local legends. Walk the street and let the music pull you into whichever door sounds best — there is no bad choice on Frenchmen Street.
For dinner before the music, Three Muses on Frenchmen serves tapas with live jazz accompaniment. Bacchanal Wine in the Bywater is one of the most magical dining experiences in the city — a wine shop, courtyard, and live music stage in one.
Saturday: French Quarter, Garden District, and Magazine Street
Saturday morning in New Orleans starts at the French Market, the oldest continuously operating public market in the country. Grab beignets and chicory coffee at Cafe du Monde, then walk through Jackson Square to see the street performers, artists, and fortune tellers. St. Louis Cathedral provides a stunning backdrop and is worth a quick visit inside.
In the afternoon, take the St. Charles streetcar through the Garden District. The oak-lined avenue is one of the most beautiful urban corridors in America. Stop at Commander's Palace for a long, leisurely lunch — their 25-cent martini lunch special is legendary. Magazine Street runs parallel and is packed with shops, galleries, and restaurants worth exploring on foot.
Saturday Night: Bourbon Street and Beyond
Saturday night in New Orleans demands at least a walk down Bourbon Street, even if it is not your scene for the whole night. Get a Hand Grenade at Tropical Isle, listen to the karaoke at the Cat's Meow, and take in the pure energy of the street. Then head to the Warehouse District for cocktails at the Sazerac Bar or Cure on Frenchmen for one of the best cocktail programs in the South.
Sunday: Brunch, Music, and the Bywater
Sunday brunch is sacred in New Orleans. Brennan's does it with old-school elegance, complete with Bananas Foster (which they invented). Atchafalaya in the Irish Channel does a jazz brunch with live music and a laid-back neighborhood atmosphere. Boucherie on Magazine Street serves creative Southern dishes in a cozy cottage.
Sunday afternoons are for second-line parades. Check local listings for brass band parades winding through Treme and Central City — these spontaneous celebrations of music and movement are pure New Orleans. End your weekend in the Bywater, walking along the levee at Crescent Park and catching one last set at Vaughan's Lounge.
Browse New Orleans Events for this weekend's lineup. Find Hotels in New Orleans in the French Quarter or Marigny. Search Flights to New Orleans for weekend getaway deals.
