New Orleans

The oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in the US anchors Jackson Square with its iconic triple-spired silhouette rising above street performers and artists.

An immersive, world-class museum that tells the full story of the Allied war effort through stunning artifacts, oral histories, and a genuinely moving 4D film experience.

Stroll oak-canopied streets lined with antebellum mansions, lush gardens, and wrought-iron fences for the most picturesque architectural walk in the South.

The beating heart of New Orleans, where wrought-iron balconies drip with bougainvillea above a labyrinth of jazz clubs, Creole restaurants, and centuries-old courtyards.

Set inside a grand Beaux-Arts building within City Park, NOMA houses over 40,000 works and is surrounded by the enchanting Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden.

One of the largest urban parks in the US, home to centuries-old live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, a botanical garden, sculptures, and the beloved Carousel Gardens.

Hidden in plain sight on Magazine Street, this organization celebrates New Orleans architecture and hosts free exhibits about the city's endangered historic buildings and unique neighborhoods.

This intimate Tremé neighborhood museum preserves the dazzling costumes and living traditions of Mardi Gras Indians, second lines, and jazz funerals with passionate authenticity.

Tucked at the end of a quiet Bywater street, this wine shop spills into a candlelit courtyard where live jazz plays nightly and you can order cheese plates under string lights.

A slender riverside greenway in the Marigny offering spectacular skyline views, a striking rusted-steel arch entrance, and a peaceful escape from the tourist bustle.

A free ferry ride across the Mississippi delivers you to this quiet, historic neighborhood of colorful shotgun houses and a tiny-town feel utterly removed from tourist bustle.

Tucked inside a beautiful 1823 apothecary on Chartres Street, this quirky museum traces the history of American pharmacy through antique cure-alls, leech jars, and voodoo remedies.

A Bourbon Street treasure since 1905, Galatoire's bustling bistro dining room serves impeccable Creole classics like trout meunière and shrimp remoulade to regulars who've claimed the same tables for decades.

The legendary Creole soul food restaurant founded by Leah Chase remains a cultural landmark, serving incomparable fried chicken and red beans with civil rights history woven into every wall.

An institution of Creole haute cuisine in a Victorian Garden District mansion, Commander's Palace has launched the careers of legendary chefs and still sets the gold standard for New Orleans elegance.

The home of Bananas Foster and a temple of New Orleans breakfast and brunch culture, set inside a stunning pink Royal Street mansion with lush tropical courtyard dining.

Chef Nina Compton's inventive Caribbean-meets-Creole cuisine, including her famous curried goat with sweet potato gnocchi, earns every accolade in a chic, buzzing space inside the Old No. 77 Hotel.

Housed in a stunning 19th-century tobacco warehouse in the CBD, John Besh's flagship delivers refined contemporary Louisiana cuisine with an exceptional wine program.

One of the oldest bar structures in the United States, this candlelit 18th-century Creole cottage on Bourbon Street operates without electricity after dark, making it achingly atmospheric.

An Uptown institution with an expansive draft tap list, a sprawling courtyard fountain, and a reliably convivial atmosphere that draws students, locals, and visitors in equal measure.

A no-frills Irish pub tucked just off Bourbon Street that locals swear by for dirt-cheap frozen Irish coffee, cold Abita on tap, and a refreshingly authentic escape from the tourist chaos outside.

A beloved Uptown neighborhood bar with an unpretentious, welcoming vibe, strong pours, and a loyal local clientele that keeps the jukebox and the conversation flowing every night of the week.

A pioneer of the New Orleans craft cocktail movement in an airy, converted Freret Street firehouse, Cure offers a rotating menu of technically brilliant, thoughtfully sourced drinks.

Sprawling over an enormous oak-shaded lot in Mid-City, this garden bar offers dozens of craft beers, communal picnic tables, and a deeply relaxed New Orleans pace of life.

A sacred, deliberately bare-bones French Quarter venue where traditional New Orleans jazz is performed with reverent authenticity every night by the incomparable Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

This legendary Uptown music hall has been the beating heart of New Orleans live music since 1977, hosting everything from brass bands to nationally touring acts on its storied stage.

One of Frenchmen Street's anchor venues, d.b.a. books exceptional local and touring talent nightly in a long, atmospheric bar with serious craft beer and whiskey selections.

A large, high-energy warehouse venue in the Warehouse District hosting nationally touring DJs, electronic acts, and late-night dance parties that keep going until the early hours.

A cozy, red-lit Frenchmen Street staple where some of the city's finest jazz and swing bands play to a dancing crowd in a space that perfectly captures the spirit of old New Orleans.

A stretch of bars and clubs in the Marigny where multiple live jazz, funk, and brass band performances spill out onto the sidewalk every single night of the week.