Welcome to my New Orleans guide! I have been coming to New orleans a few times a year since about 2014. It has such a special place in my heart and it is hard to not love this city. I find it to be the most unique city in all of the USA, there is just no other place like it. New Oreans is French Creole and the mix of the two creates this incredible place.

Where to Stay

There are so many beautiful and historical hotels in New Orleans (some are even rumored to be haunted!) I have stayed in both the French Quarter and the Warehouse District and they are both great neighborhoods. I recommend trying in the French Quarter for your first visit to New Orleans. The Warehouse district is definetly more hipster and is also about a 20 minute walk from the French Quarter. Here is a list of some of my favorite hotels!

Maison de La Luz- My favorite hotel in all of New Orleans. It is a boutique hotel that is located in the Warehouse district.

Ace Hotel- Across the street from Maison de La Luz is the Ace Hotel. I am sure you have heard of the Ace hotels in other cities and this one is also great. ( the rooms are a bit dark though)

Omni French Quarter- When I stay in the French Quarter I always stay here. They have gorgeous wrot iron balconies that over look the street. This hotel is also said to be haunted but I never experienced any ghosts!

Hotel Monteleone- A classic New Orleans hotel in the French Quarter with the famous Carousel Bar. Also rumored to be haunted.

The Roosevelt Hotel- In between the Warehouse district and the French Quarter, this grand hotel is spooky but gorgeous.

Where to eat

New Orleans has some of the best food in the entire world and of course has the best restaurants. It is hard to narrow it down to my favorites but here we go:

Commander’s Palace- You MUST go here when in New Orleans, no excuses. Located in the Garden District it is a New Orleans institution since 1893. Go for lunch and do their famous 25 cent martinis, yes you heard that right! They limit you to 3 but honestly you will be good after one or 2. They also have a Jazz brunch.

Brennan’s- One of the prettiest restaurants in the French Quarter, their food is also incredible. They are known for their turtle soup which is divine.

August- Located in between the French Quarter and Warehouse, one of the most upscale restaurants in New Orleans. They also have a three course lunch that is less expensive but still incredible.

Emerils’- In the warehouse district you cannot come to New Orleans and not experience famous Emeril’s restaurant. Their smoked exotic mushroom pasta appetizer is one of the best things I have ever eaten and I order it every time I come here. Emeril also has another great more casual restaurant called Meril’s also in the warehouse district which is great for brunch.

La Petite Grocery- Located in the Garden district, you must try their blue crab beignets.

Foods to try:

Turtle Soup from Brennan’s or Dickie Brennan’s

Beignets from Cafe Beignets or Cafe du Monde.

Po boy

Where to Drink

Drinking in New Orleans is on another level, a city that is known for being a bachcanal of pleasure. You can find drinks literally everywhere and you can drink on the street as well. Here is a list of my favorite places to grab a great cocktail or drink.

Bar Marilou- Located in the Maison de la Luz it is definitely the prettiest bar in New Orleans. It is located behind a bookcase and the cocktails are amazing.

Carousel Bar- Located inside of Hotel Monteleone you cannot come to New Orleans and miss this place. The bar is literally a rotating carousel (don’t worry it moves reallyyyy slow) The only thing is that it is super hard to get a spot at the Carousel so you have to come at the perfect time, I recommend during the day when it is less busy.

Sobu- This bar is located in the W hotel and it is called sobu because the neighborhood is called .South of Bourbon street. They have a great happy hour with food as well.

Bar Tonique- Located close to Louis Armstrong Park is is a quaint little divey bar with hundreds of different cocktails.

Pat O’ Brien’s- Located on Bourbon Street, this classic courtyard serves the famous Hurricane drink. I am not a huge fan of the drink because it is very sugary but you must come here at least once to experience it.

The Sazarac Roosevelt Hotel Bar- An old world bar known for their incredible Ramos Gin Fizz cocktail.

What to Do

There are so many great fun things to do in New Orleans that are not just eating and drinking (although that is probably the top of the list).

Bourbon Street - You must come to Bourbon street if it is your first time in New Orleans. The most famous street known for the Mardi Gras parade. I still walk through it every time I am in New Orleans but I much prefer staying away from that crowd I have seen some pretty raunchy things on Bourbon street. There are countless bars and many of them serve Grenandes and other cheap drinks. Try an original Hand Grenande from Tropical Isle. It is the famous New Orleans drink that will get you completely drunk our of your mind. It comes in a fluorescent green test tube with a smiley face bottom and tastes like melon and no alcohol. Try a Turtle as well they are basically the same drink but different bar.

Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral- This is the famous cathedral in New Orleans and is beautiful to see both inside and outside. You can get a great view of the cathedral too if you walk up the steps on Decatur toward the water to Washington Artillery Park.

Live Music on Frenchmen Street- If you really want to hear great live music from local musicians, Frenchmen Street is the way to go. It is further out from the French Quarter but it is the heart of music in New Orleans.

Antique and art shopping in the French Quarter-There are a ton of beautiful antique shops all over New Orleans and it is fun to look around.

The Pharmacy Museum- A small museum that is all about old medicine, it is so cool.

The WW2 Museum- A striking museum in the Warehouse district that is

Where to Eat

Guiso- One of the best latin restaurants I have every been to. The chef is super young but so talented, as his grandmother in the kitchen.

Camp Fina- Incredible wood fired pizza and fresh pasta.

Bravas de Tapas bar- An amazing tapas restaurant, everything we had was unique and so good.

Barndiva- A french style restaurant inside of a rustic barn.

Wineries

There are countless wineries to choose from in Sonoma Valley and the surrounding areas. Here are some of our favorites:

Lancaster- A beautiful winery in Alexander Valley. All of their wines are excellent and they have a wine cave that is something out of Lord of the Rings.

Kunde- I loved this tour so much! Request the hill top tour and they take you up to the best view for the wine tasting outside.

Chateau St. Jean- A gorgeous winery that definitely makes you feel like you are in France! I recommend the reserve tasting outside on the patio.

Scribe- This beautiful winery is located in a Spanish style house. It has a very farm to table approach with a chef prepared light meal with your wine tasting.

Repris- This is a small vineyard boutique winery but the wines are so incredible. They do a wonderful tasting by starting with taking you up to the vineyards in an ATV, a tour of the wine caves, and then a tasting with cheese in their wine room.

Ledson- This winery is in a huge Gothic style chateau and the wine are so unique.

Buena Vista- The oldest winery in all of Wine Country founded in 1857. You really do get the feel that you are back in time. The tour is super outrageous and not what you would expect at all, I will leave you wondering.

Gundlach Bundschu- The second oldest winery still owned and operated by the family and of the most impressive wine caves I have been to!

Hamel- A modern boutique vineyard. They will set you up with a chef driven private tasting inside their dining room overlooking the vineyards. The best rose I have ever had!

NAPA

I cannot really create such a guide without at least mentioning Napa Valley. Napa is a lot more touristy and commercial than Sonoma and the downtown is kind of small and not as quaint, yet I still enjoy it of course when we go. I have only been to Napa twice and stayed in Downtown Napa once so I am not really an expert on it but I can show you a few great places we went to.

Where to Stay

There are not that many hotels in Downtown Napa but we stayed at The Archer. It was a really nice hotel with great rooftop and we had a huge outdoor terrace with fireplace. There is also the Andaz which is on the same block.

Where to eat

Model Bakery- Honestly it is worth it just to come to Napa for this bakery. They have the best breakfast sandwiches made with their famous english muffins.

Tarla Mediterranean- Great Middle Eastern food and also the manager of the restaurant is a hoot.

Torc- Delicious farm to table cuisine served tapas style.

Oenotri- We went here years ago but it was a delicious Italian restaurant downtown.

Angele- A French bistro style restaurant right on the water, beautiful views and great traditional food.

Wineries

Darioush- Worth going to just for the massive Persian estate but the wine is also spectacular as are the bottles they come in.

Domaine Carneros- If you love bubbles they have excellent sparkling wine but it is very touristy so make sure you reserve ahead of time.

Ashes and Diamonds- A sister property to Darioush but could not be more different. This winery is super modern and they do an excellent cheese pairing.