The Haute Bøhemian

Commander’s Palace is located across from the Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District and has been a New Orleans landmark since 1893.

Bacchanal is a little off the beaten path (in the 9th Ward) and I think we ran into it by accident the first time we went there but we definitely seek it out now. They don’t have much info on the website but they describe themselves as “an experience laboratory where food, music & culture collude with Holy Vino to create the most unique evenings you will ever experience in New Orleans Ninth Ward.”

This is how I describe it: You walk into what looks like a run down liquor store from the outside –

and then on the inside it looks like a cute-but-dusty artisanal wine and spirits shop –

The Vessel – Restaurant in a church.

Brennan’s – Famous for the Foster Freeze

Court of Two Sisters – Jazz Brunch buffet 7 days a week 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

The Bower – Don’t remember where I found this one but it looks good

N7 NOLA – French wine bar that was a horse carriage stable, then a tire shop

Lolas – Came across this on a food show – cute, chic southern outdoor seating vibe

Gris Gris – New Orleans Magazine’s “Best Balcony”, “Best Happy Hour”, and “Best Brunch,” and the chef is a badass-looking vet dude

Paladar 511 – Really cool-looking open kitchen concept

The famed Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop was built between 1722 and 1732 by Nicolas Touze, making it the oldest bar in New Orleans, and also one of the oldest surviving structures in New Orleans. It’s known to be haunted, but regardless of the paranormal activity, it’s got that look and feel. The entire place was legit candle-lit until about 8 years ago when they hooked up some wires, but they still use candles as the only source of lighting – they’re just electric candles now. There is a piano in the back, that is often the center of the energy there, after hours when aspiring or professional pianists get that liquid courage.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop gets its name from Jean Lafitte, a pirate, born either in France or the French colony of Saint-Domingue. By 1805, he operated a warehouse in New Orleans to help disperse the goods smuggled by his brother Pierre Lafitte. After the United States government passed the Embargo Act of 1807, the Lafittes moved their operations to an island in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. By 1810, their new port was very successful; the Lafittes pursued a successful smuggling operation and also started to engage in piracy.

Apparently Lafitte still spends a lot of time at the shop. When spotted, he is usually on the first floor near the indoor fireplace, but he’s never interacted with anyone. He just stands in the dark corners, staring at people until he is noticed, and then disappears into the shadows. There is also a female ghost upstairs and, in line with stereotypes, she’s more talkative – known on occasion to whisper people’s names into their ears. Lastly, people have seen pairs of red eyes staring at them from corners of the bar. According to the experts these are not ghosts but “demonic hauntings.”

Lafitte went from pirate to hero during the War of 1812 when he helped Andrew Jackson defend the city of New Orleans from capture at the hands of the British. Walking around the city, you’ll notice landmarks, buildings, and I think even a park named after him.

Hi there, it’s Tujague again. We usually end up here 3-4x per trip so you’ll learn how to pronounce it at some point.

Carousel Bar, is “the only carousel that you have to be 21 to ride.” Very charming circular 25-seat bar that has been spinning around in the center of the venue for 70 years. It’s inside Hotel Monteleone and they have live music from 5:30 – midnight most nights and when it’s not super crowded it’s a great place to post up for a drink.

These guys are off the main drag, in Mid City, and you’ll definitely feel like you’re going the wrong way at some point in your journey there, but Bayou Wine Garden & Bayou Beer Garden are fun patio spaces to hang out and eat crawfish and charcuterie (drinking foods), and if you’re looking for a lot of wine and beer options, or an atmosphere where you can move around and play lawn games. Last time I was there they had a cornhole tournament going on.

The guides surprisingly don’t mention the movie on the tour. Probably because there’s more important history at a plantation than Brad Pitt.

Either way there are many plantations to choose from. The architecture and landscape are beautiful and the history is grim. They’re a little way out of town (you’ll need to rent a car or do a group tour with a bus – ew), and should be combined with a swamp tour if you’re doing going all that way. Also stop by some random food places to get a little more authentic country cajun-style food experience and mingle with the nice country folk.

The National WWI Museum is a good museum. Its $30, centrally located on Magazine Street. Tickets can be purchased online, and it can be visited in under and hour and a half.

The French Market is open from 5:00 – 10:00 PM daily, and is in the French Quarter right near Cafe Du Monde. It has casual street food and trinkets (junk). You’ll probably run into it at some point and you should stop in for a snack, a drink, and a gander. If you’re into chess pay the guy in the red hat $5 to beat you in 3 moves or less.

The Frenchmen Art Market is tiny but the only place I’ve ever bought anything in NOLA besides food, alcohol, and hot sauce from the Pepper Place. Their vendors are actual artisans with one-of-a-kind art and jewelry. And it’s adorable. They’re open until 12:00 AM every night, except Sundays, when they’re open until 1:00AM so it’s perfect for after hours when you’re out on Frenchman.

Here is my Google Maps New Orleans list with all the above-mentioned spots, so that you’re out wandering around you’ll know if you’re near any of these spots.