New Orleans, Louisiana, has everything you could wish for in a bachelorette weekend getaway: delicious food, live music, dancing, and plenty of activities to entertain your bride's crew. From the vivacious Bourbon Street to the scenic swamps on the bayou, you can rest assured you will never be bored when in NOLA! If you are planning a bachelorette trip to New Orleans, keep reading for my recommendations for dining, dancing, accommodations, activities and more.
Where To Eat
Peche Seafood Grill. This seafood focused restaurant is one of my favorite restaurants in New Orleans. Located in the lower Garden District, this spot offers an upscale ambiance with delicious seafood platters and whole grilled fish. This spot is great for large groups or for a romantic date.
Jack Rose. This cajun creole hotel restaurant packs a punch with its food and ambiance. The bold eclectic decor is captivating and the food is delicious. This is an ideal spot for a large group or a fun girls dinner. If you go with a big group, order the disco ball cocktail - it‘s a vodka punch served in a giant disco ball punch bowl and serves 6. The hotel rooftop bar called Hot Tin offers panoramic views of the city and is a great pit stop after dinner before you make your way out for the night.
Cane & Table. If you are looking for an escape in the French Quarter, Cane & Table is your spot. They have a huge cocktail menu, mouth watering food and a large backyard area with outdoor seating. Go with a large group or a small party. This is a great option for either brunch or dinner.
Copper Vine. A gorgeous wine tavern with outdoor and indoor seating located in the central business district. This is a great spot for groups or a date night. Choose from the large wine offering while enjoying a taste of traditional southern cuisine. You really can’t go wrong here.
Misa New Orleans. Looking to shake things up a bit and take a break from creole bites? Misa, located on Magazine Street, offers authentic Mediterranean food and is perfect for brunch or dinner.
Cafe du Monde. If you are prepared to wait in line for 45 minutes, you won’t want to miss these deep fried powder sugar covered heavenly puffs. However, if you don’t want to wait in line then you can get the next best thing on every other corner in New Orleans.
Where To Drink
The Columns Hotel. Built in 1893 as a private residence for a tobacco farmer and then converted to a boarding house during World War I, the Columns Hotel has no shortage of history. Lucky for us it was converted into a Hotel in 1953 and now we can enjoy the beautiful porch front Bar and charming decor. The eclectic and historical details of this space are a sight to be seen. Come grab a specialty cocktail and some small bites with a large group before dinner and explore the beautifully decorated lounging rooms. This place is truly a sight to be seen.
Bourbon Street. If you think of New Orleans, you most likely picture this bustling, neon lit and somewhat nocturnal street with its throbbing music and wandering crowds. Bourbon street comes alive at night. Bourbon Street is lined with a mix of dive bars, clubs and lounges. One bar echoes live kareoke while next door is a raving DJ. You will find open bar doors and blasting music, characters at every corner and dancing in the streets. A little bit sloppy and a lot of fun, prepare to dance the night away. Whatever your taste is, Bourbon Street has something for you.
Frenchman Street. Think of Frenchman Street as Bourbon Street’s classy cousin. There is music on every corner and some of the world’s best live jazz and blues clubs. The street is bustling with large audiences crowding around live performers on every corner. Stop by the Spotted Cat, Snug Harbor or the Blue Nile to hear some of the best live music you will find on this planet. This street was my favorite for nightlife and dancing. It is definitely a must-see!
What To Do
Swamp Tour. The thrill of speeding on a fan boat over the shallow and scenic bayou is worth the short trip outside of New Orleans to the swamplands of Louisiana. If you are with a large group, book a private fan boat tour and get ready for an adventure. The bayou is serene and beautiful. We saw wildlife in their natural habitat and encountered huge alligators. Grab a bucket of Strawberry Abita beers and buckle up for a fun ride!
Cemetery Tour. New Orleans is a city built below sea level and that’s why they bury their deceased in tombs above ground. These unique above ground-cemeteries and burial practices make a cemeter tour a must-do. Take a boozy haunted cemetery tour at night or a historical cemetery tour during the day. Either way, you are in for a treat!
Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. This vast garden features twisting paths sprinkled with benches and panning green lawns to lounge in the shade. Grab a po boy sandwich to-go and come to this garden to relax and enjoy the views.
Magazine Street. Stroll this street lined with fashionable shops and clothing stores to shop local designers.
Walking Tour. The best way to see New Orleans is by a walking tour. Book a tour of the Garden District or French Quarter to learn about the deep history of New Orleans.
Where To Stay
JW Marriott New Orleans. Located in the heart of the french quarter, this hotel is perfectly situated for those who want to be in the center of it all. We stayed at the Presidential Suite at the JW Marriott. This duplex suite boasts 2 large floors with double height ceilings, an inside balcony and 3 large bathrooms. The hotel is modern and the rooms offer a luxurious escape from the nearby bustling Bourbon Street.
The Columns Hotel. This historical hotel located in the ultra-wealthy Garden District is the perfect escape from the New Orleans hustle and bustle. Each room features eclectic decor and art made by an artist resident, who lives on the grounds and can be spotted live painting in one of the many lounging rooms in the hotel. This is a great place to stay if coming with a significant other or a few girlfriends looking to live large and get a unique New Orleans experience.
Bachelorette Party Tips
Private Bartender. Bring the party to you and hire a private bartender for you and your crew for a pre-dinner party in your hotel suite or AirBnB. Our suite boasted a large bar set up perfect for serving and our bartender came equipped to keep the cocktails flowing. This was the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Bonus points if you order a cheese platter from St. James Cheese Shop, the most famous cheese shop in New Orleans.
Survival Kits. Pack each of your babes a survival kit to help make the weekend even more comfortable. I curated a 90‘s themed survival kit and even included a fan that doubled as a phone battery pack and a flashlight. Click below for everything I got to make the kits.
Flexible Itinerary. The key to a perfect bachelorette is to have a manageable schedule. You want to have an itinerary that is structured enough so you are not stuck wandering with a large group of people, but also have flexibility so that each girl is comfortable. We booked reservations for every meal, but kept an open mind to move things around and even skip reservations to explore on our own. I designed and printed a Bachelorette Itinerary using Canva. We placed the hard copies of the itinerary throughout the suite so everyone could easily find out what the plan was for each day.
Theme. Picking a theme for a bachelorette just takes it up a notch and creates a sense of intention. For my bachelorette trip, I knew I didn’t want to go with a typical “brides-babes” theme or give the girls goodies they would likely never use again. Instead, we went with a 90’s theme. You can shop everything I got to go with the theme below.
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