Exploring the CBD

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I know what this title sound like! I’ve actually never taken CBD oils and won’t be talking about those today. Instead, I want to introduce you to one of my favorite New Orleans neighborhoods, the Central Business District. Although people normally list the French Quarter or Garden District first, the CBD is an absolute gem tucked right between the two. Whenever we come into town, it’s our number one preference to stay. Here’s a quick guide to exploring the CBD.

Originally built in the early 1800s, this area was known as the American Sector, to differentiate from the French Quarter. As the current name suggests, it is the home to many companies and businesses that call the Crescent City home. Amongst the high-rises though, you’ll also find trendy boutique hotels, new-school Creole restaurants, intimate bars, and quirky coffee shops. In other words, it has everything I could possible want in a neighborhood.

Hotels:

My favorite spot to call home while in New Orleans is, hands down, the Ace Hotel. I think it’s the ideal example of what a boutique hotel should be like. Decorated in a combination of modern and traditional elements, you are greeted by an onsite coffee shop, bar, and award-winning restaurant. In true New Orleans fashion, they also have an intimate venue for local musicians. The crown jewel to this hotel is their rooftop pool and bar. Even if you’re not staying here, you can pay a cover to enjoy frozen concoctions and sunshine. When it comes to recommending NOLA hotels, this is always my number one recommendation.

Restaurants:

If you want world class, traditional restaurants, your first destination should be the French Quarter. But, if you want to be introduced to a new class of James Beard award-winning restaurants, then you need to come to the CBD. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you will not leave hungry.

Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you need to start off a Willa Jean. This southern inspired restaurant and bakery opened in 2015 and was an instant classic. Sampling their biscuit station may be the best decision you make in the day. I’m always partial to the boudin and greens biscuit, but I recently had the chicken biscuit with a side of pimento cheese and was in food heaven!

For a later meal, you have a whole slew of options! On this most recent trip, we enjoyed a new take on Creole/Cajun style cooking at both Herbsaint and Compere Lapin. Most meals were absolutely fantastic and have an epic collection of cocktails to pair with your meal. For a more casual affair, I have to lean towards Cochon Buchter. Vegetarians and vegans beware! They describe themselves as pork-focused, but offer a long list of sandwiches and sides. Be sure to come hungry.

Coffee Shops:

I tend to judge a city by it’s local coffee scene and New Orleans is one of the best! While touring a new museum, we learned that this passion for coffee stems back to the foundation of the city. Coffee shops, originally called exchanges, was where all of the city business was accomplished. New Orleans is a port city and was constantly receiving shipments of coffee from the Caribbean and beyond.

In modern day NOLA, the CBD has some of my favorite coffee shops. We had previously discovered Revalator and Mammoth on past trips. They are great for a round of cold brew or pour over coffee. If you are looking for a more substantial bite with your morning cup, I am happy to introduce you to Congregation Coffee. They have a full menu of breakfast items, but their quiches and croissants are enough to fill the hungriest traveler.

The next time you’re in New Orleans, by all means, explore and learn to love the French Quarter. Once you have your fill of drinking and Bourbon Street, take a quick walk down the road to find a more refined way of enjoying NOLA in the Central Business District.

Love from New Orleans,
Katie

If you are more interested in travel than style, be sure to visit my exclusive travel page, here.

Night Out in New Orleans

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I know I’ve been sharing that nights out are really my scene, but you should give yourself at least one opportunity to let loose when in New Orleans. Knowing that my best friend was coming into town too, I waited for her arrival to be out until the wee hours of the morning. After we were positively stuffed from Thanksgiving dinner, we went to some of our favorite bars in the French Quarter. We event got to try a few new spots too. Here’s a quick look at our night out in New Orleans.

Our night really started at Brennan’s. It’s one of the most cherished restaurants in the city and a personal favorite. Just look for the bright pink building on Royal Street, you can’t miss it! To get reservations for Thanksgiving, I’m pretty sure my mom called them everyday for a month straight. Her persistent definitely paid off, thanks Mom, because our meal was absolutely phenomenal. Around the table for this holiday were my parents, brother, my best friend, her mom, David, and I. Since it was a prix fixe meal, there were many different options. I’m pretty sure we all nearly had something different. Such a feast!

After dinner, the “grown-ups” parted ways from the kids and I was able to hop around the French Quarter with David and my friend. Since I know Brooke oh-so well, I knew she would love the quiet and intimate vibe at the French 75 Bar. We were able to grab seats in a cozy corner booth to spend the next few hours sharing cocktails and stories. We also made a quick pit-stop at the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street. The Saints were playing and I wanted to try their absinthe frappe, a uniquely New Orleans drink. Tasting like straight licorice, I know it’s not for everyone, but still good to sip.

Our next destination was a repeat from the night before. The Bombay Club is a great spot to grab a drink and snack. Since it’s one block past Bourbon Street, it seems like it’s off the beaten path, but still part of the action. They have an endless cocktail list and a piano player in the corner to help create a mood. Since the Saints game was still on, he had a little competition for attention, but the whole bar game him love during the commercial breaks.

Our last spot for the evening was at The Black Penny. Brooke was meeting a friend there and it was his recommendation. Still in the French Quarter, it has a reputation for being a local hang-out with nearly endless hours. It’s extremely minimalistic, especially compared to the other bars we had been to, but a great way to cap of the evening. I’m always a fan of talking to the regulars and this is the place to do it.

We ended our night, at 3 in the morning, by walking through the French Quarter back to our hotel. This may be one of my favorite times to take in the neighborhood. The streets are quiet and you feel like you have the whole world to yourself. It can be incredibly romantic! I’ve never felt unsafe here, but I always make sure to use common sense. Stay with a group, avoid dark side streets, and trust your gut. Most important, New Orleans is a city to have fun and explore a new side to yourself. Enjoy it!

Love from New Orleans,
Katie

If you are more interested in travel than style, be sure to visit my exclusive travel page, here.

City Guide: New Orleans (Part 2)

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It doesn’t seem that long ago, but my last trip to New Orleans was back in April for the 50th Jazz Fest. I wrote a city guide, posted here, and it’s still one of my favorite blog posts to date. I love travel writing and it’s even more true when it’s about the city I love. This past trip marked my 10th trip to NOLA in around 6 years. Each time I find something new and fall even deeper in love. Since we had a whopping five days in town, I wanted to really stress trying new-to-me places. Always having to visit a handful of my favorite spots, I think I culminated a nice balance to make for one of the best trips to the Crescent City. Let’s take a look at my New Orleans City Guide, Part Two!

Where to Stay:

• Le Meridian (Central Business District): We have stayed a few different hotels in the city, but my mom had Marriott rewards burning a whole in her pocket. For David and I, this was the perfect hotel. It was in Central Business District, one of my favorite neighbors, and just a short walk to the French Quarter. It offered breakfast, but there’s so many great coffee shops in the area that you’ll be wanting to explore. 
• Hotel St. Pierre (French Quarter): We discovered this hotel while wandering along Burgundy. It’s situated in one o the oldest buildings in the city and is positively dreamy inside. Although very close to the bustle of Bourbon Street, it’s down in the more residential part of the Quarter and was surprising quiet. We’ll definitely consider staying here on our next trip.
• Royal Sonesta (French Quarter): This hotel was the first one my mom and I stayed at on my birthday trip, year ago. It is stunning space with a lively rooftop pool. It deserves a special recognition this time of year because it has one of the finest display of Christmas lights you will ever see! We made it a priority to see on our trip.

Where to Eat:

• Compere Lapin (Warehouse District): After a big lunch on our first day in NOLA, David and I weren’t sure where to eat. This restaurant, located in the No. 77 Hotel, was across the street from our hotel. I have heard so many amazing things about this spot and it all lived up to my expectations. We had a few cocktails and shared a some plates, especially loving their Collard Greens. Recently, they received the James Beard award, so you know everything will be cooked to perfection. 
• Herbsaint (Warehouse District): This restaurant, also in the Warehouse District, had a very similar feel as Compere Lapin. I would describe it as a new school twist on New Orleans cuisine. It features recipes and ingredients that you know and love, but with a more modern approach. Craving some good, old-fashioned Creole cuisine, I cannot recommend their Gumbo enough. 
• Tujagues (French Quarter) This restaurant is steeped in tradition. It was established 1856, making it the second oldest in the city, but it’s age doesn’t show at all. Instead, you will find more classic Creole dishes, done to perfection. Finish off your meal with a grasshopper cocktail. After all, they invented it! Created in 1918 by the owner for a cocktail contest in New York, it’s hard to believe that it only won second place. Think of it like a melted down (and surprisingly boozy) mint milkshake.
• Antoine’s (French Quarter): I wrote about this restaurant in my last City Guide, but it deserves repeating. We actually had the pleasure of visiting for their $20.19 Lunch. That’s right, a three course meal for only 20 dollars and 19 cents. Not included are your cocktails, but for only 25 cents, I think you can include in their budget. Many of New Orlean’s most cherished restaurants have amazing lunch specials. It’s a great way to take a culinary tour of the city, even if you’re on a budget.  
• Mother’s (Central Business District): We eat here on almost every single visit, but I realized that I never mentioned it before. It’s home cooking, pure and simple. Expect po-boys, jambalaya, and crawfish etoufee. You can will probably find a line around the building, so either come right at 11 am or after 2 pm to beat the lunch crowd. 

Where to Drink:

• Congregation Coffee (Warehouse District): This neighborhood is filled with great, unique coffee shops, but this may be my new favorite. The coffee was what I needed to start my day, but it also had a great breakfast menu to match. I love their sausage and caramelized onion croissant so much, I came in new days in a row to enjoy it. 
• French 75 Bar (French Quarter): On this trip, I really wanted to put a focus on sampling the different cocktails that represent New Orleans. You have to include the French 75 drink on that list. Named after arlitery from Word War I, of all things, It’s refreshing for the day or night. The French 75 Bar has a great cocktail list, making it a fun spot to grab one last night-cap after dinner. 
• Bombay Club (French Quarter):Tucked away just past Bourbon Street, this was a suggestion from friend, Brooke. It’s another quiet, intimate with some live music andiron at the Roosevelt HOte a nice food menu. In true New Orleans fashion, this bar even boasts it’s own resident ghost. Multiple people from the staff shared their own stories with Madame Sophie. Since this part of the French Quarter was original a red light district, they suspect she ran a brothel. Don’t worry though, she’s a very benevolent ghost with an understandable soft spot towards women. Men, be good!
• Roost Bar (French Quarter) Brennan’s is probably my favorite restaurant in the city, but there happy hour is just too good to pass up. With champagne cocktails for $6 and fantastic people watching, it’s a great place to start your night out. If you’re having your meal at Brennan’s, even better! They will treat you like royalty.
• Sazerac Room at the Roosevelt Hotel (Central Business District): In 2017, the Sazerac was officially named the official cocktail of the city. All of its ingredients are uniquely New Orleanian. The best place to grab this part of NOLA history is at the Roosevelt Hotel’s Sazerac Bar. Back during Prohibition, this was the place to see and be seen. If rye is not your speed, I recommend sipping on the Ramos Gin Fizz. Also born at the Roosevelt Hotel, it’s a gin (obviously) based drink that tasted like you’re sipping on Lemon Meringue Pie. It could possible be a new favorite for me. 

What to Do:

• Visit the Sazerac House (Central Business District): After you sip the city famous cocktail, you should absolutely go to learn about it! This is a new installation on Canal, just down the street from the Roosevelt Hotel, and is completely free. I cannot believe how well this was put together. You learn about the history of the cocktail and different spirits in relation to the city. You also get a few samples along the way to keep things interesting. My favorite part were the virtual bartenders. Represented are the four different bar types found around New Orleans: Classic New Orleans, Tiki, Bespoke Hotel, and Sporty Dive. They each run you through how different cocktails are made and make you virtual cocktail in the process.
• Grab a Mardi Gras Sneak Peek (Lower Garden District): You really can’t have a conversation about New Orleans without talking Mardi Gras. In my opinion, it’s one of the best holidays of the year. Similar to Thanksgiving, it’s food based, but is all about having fun before giving something up for the Lent Season. Think parties, costumes, and parades galore! Those parade floats don’t happen over night and Mardi Gras World is a great look into how they come to be. More like a work space, you can see artists work on the floats all year round. 
• Be a History Buff at the WWII Museum (Warehouse District):If you enjoy history, this is the place for you! It’s consistently ranked the top site in the city. The exhibits are always changing, so even if you visit once, it could be almost like an entirely different museum when you return. Interestingly, the reason this museum is in New Orleans is because the duck boats used on D-Day were invented nearby on Lake Ponchatrain.
• Always Shop Local (New Orleans): I have a list of shops to love in this city almost a mile long. New Orleanians are extremely proud of their city and they are constantly rocking the swag. If you are looking for fun graphic tees and house items, Fleurty Girl should be on the top of your list. For more menswear or pieces that are bit preppier, I love to shop at Perlis. Their collection of Smathers and Branson are unique to New Orleans. Finally, I simply adore Krewe sunglasses. The silhouettes are so eye-catching, I guarantee you’ll receive a compliment every time you wear them! 

If you have a love for New Orleans too, or at least a keen interest in learning more, be sure to check back all of this week for more on NOLA. It’s always such goo time to share the city that I love.

Love from NYC,
Katie

If you are more interested in travel than style, be sure to visit my exclusive travel page, here.