Visiting New Orleans: A Family Travel Guide

What to eat in New Orleans

There are some amazing places to eat in New Orleans, and the great food was such a big part of us enjoying our trip. While there we picked a variety of places, from casual dining to fancier fare, we tried a little bit of everything. No matter the prices or the wait, they were all very enjoyable!

It was really important to us to experience the true New Orleans cuisine, while adding in things we knew our kids would love. Some of the more popular New Orleans dishes:

• gumbo
• jambalaya (creole dish made with fish, shrimp and crab meat)
• crawfish pie
• candied yams
• red beans and rice
• muffuletta (which has a yummy olive flavor)
• and of course beignets! (we will talk about that a bit later)

We challenged our girls to try a little bit of everything and they were pleasantly surprised by most!

Brennan’s

We heard so much about the brunch at Brennan’s we just had to take the kids. It was voted one of the top 100 best brunch restaurants in America and since brunch is my favorite meal we made sure to get a reservation before our trip. We were nervous it wouldn’t be the best place for kids but actually they had a kids menu with coloring sheets and the staff was so great.

Breakfast Menu

The breakfast menu is large and has all of the classic items that you’d expect from a New Orleans restaurant, including beignets, French toast, benedicts, omelets, and more. 

Baked Apple

We started with the baked apple which is a Brennan’s original – oatmeal pecan raisin crumble, brown sugar glaze, and sweetened crème fraîche. This was so delicious the girls were fighting over the last bite.

Oysters J’aime

The Oysters J’aime were equally amazing. Even our 9 year old tried and loved it. They had a Creole Tomato Gravy with a Cornbread Crumble on top. Such a unique flavor!

Kids Menu

The kids breakfast came with fruit cups with homemade whipped cream which they devoured. Two kids enjoyed eggs and bacon and one of my kids got the brioche French toast. Each of them had clean plates which is a good sign.

Eggs Hussard & Croque Madame

My husband and I split the Eggs Hussard and Croque Madame. We love ordering two dishes and sharing half. Helps with my FOMO. Both were absolutely delish. I will say the eggs hussard was the winner with its unique flavors. Its made with a housemade english muffin, coffee-cured canadian bacon, hollandaise, and a marchand de vin sauce. 

Bananas Foster

Now the dessert is really what makes a meal at Brennans with kids so special. we knew we had to have the WORLD FAMOUS BANANAS FOSTER. Did you know that Bananas foster first started at Brennans? Our waiter told us the story of the owner wanting to find something to do with overly ripe bananas and she was inspired by baked Alaska. Our waiter prepared the Bananas foster table side and when the girls saw him flambé the bananas, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and rum they thought it was the best thing ever! They served it over New Orleans Ice Cream Co. Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and we all swooned over the perfect end to our perfect meal.

Reservations

We do recommend making a reservation for Brennans as it is a popular place. They are also open for dinner, you can check out that menu here.

Price: $$$$

The Court of Two Sisters

I was really wanting to experience jazz with the kids and a jazz brunch was the perfect way to get in a jazz show in a kid friendly environment. I was expecting it to be nice but it was so much better than I could have imagined. We sat on the gorgeous terrace and the weather was just beautiful. With greenery, a wishing well, and a jazz band playing, it really was a special experience. If you make it for their famous jazz brunch you will get your pick of the buffet. Here are some things you can expect to see.

Buffet

• Turtle soup
• jambalaya
• red beans and rice
• sweet potatoes
• veal
• bread pudding
• bananas Foster
• mimosas 

The Court of Two Sisters was very kid friendly. My 3 girls weren’t even the only kids there. The restaurant has excellent service, the staff was so nice, and getting a reservation was pretty easy. This would be at the top of my recommendations when visiting New Orleans.

Parking

Parking is abundant too; this area of New Orleans has plenty of lots where you can park an SUV or minivan without risking dings and scratches from other drivers who may have had one too many Hurricanes while they were in town.

Price: $$$. Menu 

Dat Dog

With its colorful and eclectic aesthetic, Dat Dog is a place your kids will loved when visiting New Orleans. It takes the traditional hot dog and adds its own New Orleans flair. Don’t expect a traditional ball park dog here (even thought they do have it on the kids menu) their imaginative creations include dogs made of crawfish, alligator, duck, cod, and so much more. You little ones will find so many options on the children’s menu, my kids especially liked the tots. The famous Crawfish Etoufee Dog is made with crawfish sausage, sour cream, onions, tomato’s and creole mustard. Very tasty!

Things to know before you visit Dat Dog:

• Dat Dog has locations all over the city, including one on Frenchmen Street in the Marigny neighborhood and one on Freret Street Uptown. The Freret location also features live music that plays every day except Sunday.
• This restaurant features hot dogs as well as sausages, burgers, sandwiches, and salads. Kids can choose from chicken fingers or hot dogs for their meals. There are vegan options too!
• They’re open till midnight most nights of the week (except Sunday).

Best tips for eating at Dat Dog with kids:

• If your kids love spicy food, this restaurant is a must-visit. With toppings ranging from “not spicy” to “very spicy,” there’s something for everyone here—and even non-spicy options will have some kick to them!

Price: $. Menu

Cafe Beignet

For a casual and affordable meal in the heart of New Orleans, Cafe Beignet is a great place for families. Cafe Beignet has an atmosphere for any age and lots of views of the buzzing street performers.

Locations

Cafe Beignet has several locations on Royal Street, Decatur Street, and Bourbon Street (right across from St. Louis Cathedral). Each of them he with vibrant decor and outdoor seating, where guests can enjoy their beignets with coffee or hot tea. The original is on Royal Street, which we visited on our trip.

Additional Menu Items

In addition to their signature beignets (square pieces of dough deep-fried in oil and dusted with powdered sugar), they serve eggs Benedict, omelettes, waffles with fruit toppings, salads, sandwiches, soups, gumbos, creole entrees like jambalaya or red beans & rice. They even have burgers for those who aren’t quite ready for authentic New Orleans cuisine.

Kids Menu

Cafe Beignet also offers a kids’ menu with smaller portions at lower prices. 

Price: $$. Menu

The Napoleon House

The Napoleon House has been in the French Quarter for almost 200 years and is a great dinner option for tasting New Orleans’ favorites with the family. The Napoleon House is a more affordable dining option and the food is great! Our girls loved everything we tried, especially the muffuletta.

Menu Items we Loved

• Italian Muffuletta
• Jambalaya
• Gumbo
• Caesar Salad
• Red Beans & rice

The unique story of the Napoleon House

“The building’s first occupant, Nicholas Girod, was mayor of New Orleans from 1812 to 1815. He offered his residence to Napoleon in 1821 as a refuge during his exile.

Napoleon never made it, but the name stuck, and since then, the Napoleon House has become one of the most famous bars in America, a haunt for artists and writers throughout most of the 20th century.”

Price: $$. Menu

Desire Oyster Bar

The Desire Oyster Bar is another great option to eat in New Orleans with kids. It is open from 11am for lunch all the way too 1am for a late night snack. The food is very good, especially the oysters!

Atmosphere

As far as atmosphere, it is more like that of a sports bar. Very casual and lots of action. Great for kids and families that want a casual dining experience with tasty New Orleans choices.

Unique Dishes

Desire Oyster Bar offers a crawfish pizza, that is one of the most unique dishes in the area.

Crawfish Pizza:

• crawfish tails
• mozzarella cheese
• mushrooms
• tomatoes
• green onions

Price: $$. Z Menu

Cafe Du Monde

As small and simple as it is, this will forever be one of our favorites. There’s something about their beignets and coffee that is so special. We first visited the location in the French Quarter, which is very historical and brimming with life. There’s not many things more  New Orleans than sitting there and listening to love jazz. 

City Park Location

We also visited the location in City Park after our fun-filled day at Storyland Park. This location was very similar to the one at the French Quarter, but much less crowded. Not sure why, but the beignets seemed do be better here as well, as they stayed warm and fluffy longer.

Price: $. Menu 

Other Restaurants to Try in New Orleans

Of course, in 3 days we couldn’t get to everything. Here’s some other highly recommended places rot try:

• Willie Mae’s Scotch House – ‘America’s Best Fried Chicken’ 
• Po-boy – Parkway Bakery and Tavern Surf & Turf Po-Boy’s 
• Drago’s Seafood Restaurant – Oysters Voison
• Luke – French and German inspired cuisine with a Louisiana twist – Try Blue Crab Gratin plate
• District Donuts Sliders Brew. – Try The Croque Madame

Where to Stay in New Orleans 

If you’ve never been to New Orleans before, and you’re worried about finding an area of town that the family can come and go safely, there are plenty. We did some extensive research on what parts of New Orleans we wanted to stay, which is why we felt we could freely walk everywhere without having to feel unsafe. 

For our trip to New Orleans, we looked at rooms at five different hotels:

• Hotel Monteleone 
• The Jung Hotel & Residences 
• Fairfield Inn & Suites New Orleans Downtown 
• Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center 
• Royal Sonesta New Orleans

Each is distinctive in its own way…

Hotel Monteleone

Hotel Monteleone is a unique hotel offers a classic French flair and is beautiful inside. Besides its charm, it is home to the world famous Carousel Bar. The bar (actually a real carousel) slowly turns around as people sit and chat. The food at the hotel is wonderful and the people were great, so we said longer than we planned. This was definitely a highlight of our 3 days in New Orleans. 

Price: around $250/night. Book Here

The Jung Hotel

The Jung Hotel is modern luxury and is very close to the French Quarter. They have a new pool and some of the best suites in town! Grab a coffee at the Daily Grind and head out to enjoy the city, day or night. 

Price: Around $140/ night. Book Here

Fairfield Inn & Suites

Fairfield Inn & Suites combines modern design with old-fashioned elegance and is right in the center of New Orleans.  Walking distance from historic venues, live music, iconic bars, and creole cuisine, making it easy to see why our guests love our hotel and our premium location. 

Price: Around $130/ night. Book Here

Royal Sonesta New Orleans

Royal Sonesta New Orleans is the Hotel we ended up choosing, mostly for its location, and we were so glad we did! We ended up really enjoying everything that the hotel had to offer. There was a Jazz Club inside, an Oyster Bar connected, a Coffee Shop in the lobby, an exercise facility and a courtyard pool on the interior! The girls enjoyed all of the ammenities and we all appreciated being right in the middle of the action whenever we wanted. Music Legends Park was right across the street with live misic and very good food. Highly recommend the hotel and the park!

Price: Around $160/ night. Book Here

Musical Legends Park: Wonderful place to tale the family for light fare and great music.

Things you should See in New Orleans

Jackson Square

The best views of Jackson Square are from across the street. When you leave Jackson Square, cross Decatur Street to the Washington Artillery Park. Climb up the stairs and then turn back around and look at Jackson Square. This is a wonderful photo spot and allows you to have a bird’s eye view of this central area! 

Canal Street

Walking down Canal street there are so many beautiful buildings with gorgeous balconies.

Locks of Love

If you are walking along the river near the steamboats, you will find the Locks of Love. Bring one with you from home or purchase one from nearby vendors and leave your family’s mark of love #LoveWinsNOLA.

Bourbon Street

This is best to be explored during the day when you are with children. There is lots to see and do on Borubon, but the nightime gets a little rowdy! Make sure to grab a souvenir or two and a hand grenade from Tropical Isle!

Things to do in New Orleans

Take the Streetcar

You can get a  24-hour pass on the New Orleans streetcars and costs just $3. You can pay with cash or you can download the RTAGoMobile app, create and account and put in your payment. This is what we did and it was super easy. We had such a fun time riding the streetcar, great for kids!!

Mardi Gras World

Mardi Gras World is a very kid-friendly attraction located near the Convention Center of New Orleans. You can tour the 300,000 square foot working warehouse where floats are made for Mardi Gras parades. The floats are so vibrant and full of color, there’s lots to see. They also give a great history lesson and offer a tasty snack. Book Here

Carriage Rides

Taking a royal carriage tour is a lot of fun for all ages. They have several themes to select from that focus on different locations or history of the French Quarter. You can choose a neighborhood tour or just a private tour of your choosing. Book Here

Preservation Hall

Preservation Hall offers several 45-minute shows every night. The earliest starts at 5 pm. Although alcohol is not served on premises, you can bring your own. The venue is non-profit and supports local musicians and youth. You can also take a Music Heritage Tour and enjoy learning about the last 300 years of music including the Preservation Jazz Hall. Book Here

Steamboat Natchez 

 The Natchez is an old-fashioned steamboat that offers cruises along the Mississippi Rover with buffet dining, including brunch, and jazz music. Enjoyable for the whole family, but maybe more for older children. Book Here

Storyland at City Park

Take a streetcar from the city. It’s the cheapest option $3 for a 24hr pass which gives unlimited rides. $1 for youth. The park is a little bit of a walk to get to from the stop, but well worth it. The park costs $6 per person and is adorable!

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Walk the French Market

The French Market is a marketplace in a series of commercial buildings spanning about six blocks in the French Quarter. It was once a Native American trading post and is the oldest market of its kind in the United States. It’s fun to walk through during the day, grab a snack and a drink and check out the local merch.

Swamp Tours

Family Friendly Ghost Tours

The French Quarter has many stories about ghosts that haunt the city. You can take a family-friendly ghost tour that is packed with historical facts and just scary enough for most kids to handle. Book Here

Frenchmen Street

Frenchmen street is typically crowded, buzzing and full of music. Many live performances ranging from traditional jazz to blues and reggae. Though the streets were a bit more quiet on our trip in April, there were still many places that were catching some crowds.

• The Maison
• The Spotted Cat Music Club
• Blue Nile
• Snug Harbor
• Apple Barrel
• Vaso

Things you should know when visiting New Orleans

Music and History of New Orleans

Kids will love the food, music and history of New Orleans. There’s so much to take in and learn.

Kids will Love the Jazz in New Orleans

• Preservation Hall
• Musical Legends Park – outdoors, cafe beignet there
• Just walking around the streets (young and old street performers)

Kids will Love the Food in New Orleans

• Creole cuisine, as my kids loved the jambalaya and gumbo
• Ice cream shops (heard great things about Creole Creamery)
• Pralines and other Candies

Kids will love the History in New Orleans 

• Historic architecture and landmarks like St. Louis Cathedral
• Fun tours around the city, in the swamps and in haunted buidlings
• entertainment in the streets 

Weather in New Orleans

The weather in New Orleans can be unpredictable. NOLA can be very hot in the summer and there’s normally a lot of humidity and heavy rainfall.

If you are visiting New Orleans at any point between April and October, it’s important to keep an eye on the forecas so you can prepare accordingly. Always check the forecast before you pack your bags, and make sure that everyone has ponchos. I would also bring hats, sunglasses, towels, and water with you while you are out to make it more comfortable.

What to Pack when visiting New Orleans

When packing for a trip to New Orleans with your kids, be sure to bring the following items:

• Bring an extra set of clothes for a couple of days in case of rain, mud, or spilled drinks.
• Sunscreen and bug spray. The sun in New Orleans can get intense, and mosquitoes thrive in the bayou. 
• Umbrella, poncho and rain boots are good, as it can rain anytime during the year in New Orleans. 
• Backpack to carry everything on your daily adventurs and gathering souvenirs.
• Have some cash on hand for street vendors and tipping on tours and rides.

FAQ

Sample 3- Day New Orleans Itinerary

Day 1:

Check in at Royal Sonesta

Check out Cafe du Monde

Leah’s Pralines 

Carousel Bar @ The Monteleone

• Truffle Fries
• Oysters Rockefeller 
• Fleur de Lies cocktail

Walk around the French Quarter

Jackson Square and Bourbon street

French market until close at 5pm

Saint Louis Cathedral 

Jazz show at Preservation Hall 

Dinner – Napoleons

• Muffuletta, gumbo
• Jambalaya
• Bread pudding 

Day 2:

Breakfast- The Court of Two Sisters (be sure to sit outside if available)

Their Buffet:

• Turtle soup
• jambalaya, red beans and rice
• sweet potatoes
• veal
• bread pudding
• bananas Foster
• mimosas

Storyland at City Park

Lunch @  Dat Dog 

Frenchman street for music 

Street car to garden district 

Day 3:

Breakfast- Cafe Beignet 

Morning Swamp Tour Pickup

Lunch  @ Brennan’s (Reservation Required)

Mardi Gras World 

Dinner @ Desire Oyster Bar

Day 4:

Walk Bourbon

Purchase souvenirs

Uber to airport

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