My New Orleans: What to See, Sip, & Savor
New Orleans is a city that greets you with all five senses. Long before I arrive, I can almost hear the brass bands warming up in Jackson Square and smell the sweet drift of powdered sugar from Café Du Monde. The Crescent City has always felt like a place that invites you to slow down, listen closely, and savor deeply. As I was born and raised nearby, over the years, certain places have become my touchstones. These are the experiences that keep me returning.
Where I Stay: The Roosevelt – A Waldorf Astoria Hotel
The legendary Roosevelt Hotel is always my anchor in New Orleans — a place where history and luxury meet in the most effortless way. Walking into the lobby feels like stepping into a grand Southern dream with opulent old-world charm. There’s a warmth to the space, a hum of conversation and clinking glasses from the Sazerac Bar that instantly settles me. After a day of exploring, the warm elegance of this hotel feels like coming home.
Where I Listen: The Jazz Rooms That Hold the City’s Soul
Jazz in New Orleans isn’t just heard — it’s felt. At Preservation Hall, the air is warm and close, carrying the earthy scent of old wood and decades of applause. When the musicians begin, the vibrations move through the room like a heartbeat. It’s raw, intimate, and unforgettable.
The Jazz Playhouse offers a different mood — velvet seats, polished cocktails, feel both nostalgic and refined. Fritzel’s brings the lively Bourbon Street energy indoors, where laughter mixes with trumpet runs. Three Maries at the Omni Hotel offers an upscale, quieter, elegant escape. And then there’s Commander’s Palace Jazz Brunch, where a trio travels from table to table. It’s joyful, indulgent, and quintessentially New Orleans.
Where I Dine: The Flavors That Stay With Me
R’Evolution in the French Quarter is where creativity meets comfort. The dishes arrive like small works of art, layered with familiar New Orleans Cajun and Creole flavors reimagined in modern ways.
Delacroix, perched along the Mississippi River, offers a sensory experience. The breeze carries the scent of Gulf seafood, and the glow of sunset reflects across the dining room. Commander’s Palace remains the Garden District’s crown jewel. Every dish tells a story of tradition, pride, and hospitality.
Where I Explore: Experiences That Bring the City to Life
The Sazerac House Legacy Tour fills your senses from the moment you step inside — citrus, bitters, oak barrels, and lively stories of cocktail culture told through interactive exhibits.
Mardi Gras World smells of paint, paper mâché, and creativity, with massive floats towering overhead like colorful giants. And the Timeless Transportation Tour through the Garden District is pure magic in a vintage Cadillac. Riding past historic mansions, hearing stories of families and eras long gone — it’s a journey through one of the South’s most beautiful neighborhoods.
The National WWII Museum in New Orleans tells the story of the American experience in World War II through immersive exhibits and multimedia presentations. As the nation’s official WWII museum, it spans a six-acre campus with multiple pavilions.
These favorites are the places that continue to remind me of growing up near New Orleans, why I return — and why the city stays with me long after I leave.
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