New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is one of my favorite cities in the United States. It is filled with a vibrant energy around music, delicious food and drinks, an eclectic mix of dialects and cultures, and celebrations. I hope that for those joining us in person, you get to experience why I love this city. I’ve put together a guide to help. Thanks to those in the Design Systems Slack who shared some additional recommendations as well! Have a suggestion that should be here? Let us know!

— Jina, Clarity founder

Local Guide

Angie’s Picks

Portrait of Angie Jones — Angie Jones, 2021 speaker, is local to New Orleans. She has graciously shared her picks:

Restaurants

Acme Oysters or Dragos for chargrilled oysters
Neyow’s for other Cajun dishes
Late night “soak up the liquor” grub can be found Willie’s Chicken.
The Ruby Slipper is good for breakfast. The white chocolate bread pudding pancakes are amazing.
Poboys are always a good idea. They are sold all over. Hot sausage, shrimp, or roast beef are the best ones

Drinks

Get a hand grenade on Bourbon from a place called Tropical Isle… but only get ONE hand grenade! They taste like Kool-aid so you don’t realize how strong they are. I’ve seen a many people laid out in the streets cuz they were drinking them like juice.
Daiquiris are the move. You can buy these all over the place. It’s like Wet Willie’s. Get an extra shot in them to turn up. You can drink these all day

Things to Do

Harrah’s Casino on Canal St. They also have a buffet breakfast and lunch that’s pretty good.
If you want a lowkey mature evening, go on Frenchman Street. There’s a bunch of jazz clubs. It’s still fun but like Bourbon Street for adults.
Cat’s Meow is fun for karaoke.

Desserts

Everyone always wants to get beignets. I think they are overrated but if you insist, that’s a place called Café Du Monde. They are on Decatur.
Right across the street from Café Du Monde is Southern Candymakers. They make praline candy, a NOLA fav.

More Recommendations

Attractions

French Quarter — New Orleans’ most famous neighborhood. Includes museums, riverboats, tours, and more.
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum — a favorite of mine!
Audobun Butterfly Garden and Insectarium — if you're cool with bugs, this place is gorgeous and seriously cool.
Take a Tour — New Orleans has walking history tours themed around voodoo, ghosts, vampires, etc… as well as tours for seeing swamps, architecture, food, and more.
Bourbon Street — that famous street. Though a lot of the side streets can be less chaotic and just as fun.
Studio Be — see some great art!

Food

Meals from the Heart — cafe that vegans can enjoy
Spitfire Coffee — good coffee
Backatown — Black-owned coffee shop
Verti Marte — cash-only late night sandwich spot
Turkey and Wolf — lunch hot sandwich spot
Cochon Butcher — another great sandwich spot
Cochon Restaurant — great dinner spot
Bakery Bar — food, drinks, coffee, iconic Doberge Cake
Luke — Ben Colar introduced me to this place. Delicious!
Stanley — located in Jackson Square
Zuppardo's — family market. Can get muffulettas here
Surrey’s — cafe for Nola-style breakfast and juice bar — go early or you’ll wait
St. Roch Market — tons of food to choose from
Jamaican food stalls outside of the Spotted Cat (late night)
Jaques-Imo’s — “Real Nawlins Food Not famous since 1996”
August — Creole restaurant
Cafe Amelie — brunch and dinner
Domilise’s — po-boys!
NOLA Eater City Guide — I usually trust Eater guides.
All of the Oyster Bars! Any on this page is great — it is hard to choose which one is the best.
Brennan’s — If you want a fancy sit-down place, try this place out. Try the turtle soup, the milk punch (cocktail)— and you must get the famous Banana’s Foster served table-side! (Note: it is highly likely reservations will not be possible to get in a short timeframe, but I’m listing it anyway because I love it! Maybe keep it in mind for your next visit.)

Nightlife & Bars

For 21+ attendees (please drink responsibly!). New Orleans has an amazing cocktail scene — which is to be expected as many classic cocktails were invented here. There are also some beer and wine places if cocktails aren’t your thing.

Sazarac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel — and get a… well, you know. A Sazarac. And the Ramos Gin Fizz.
Pat O’Briens — Hurricanes
Arnaud's French 75 Bar — French 75 and Cafe Brulot
Tujague’s Bar — Ramos Gin Fizz, Grasshopper
Broussard’s Empire Bar — Ramos Gin Fizz
Napoleon House — Pimm's Cup
Bourbon House — Milk Punch
Carousel Bar at the Monteleone — The bar is a carousel you can sit at that slowly rotates. Legend has it that The Vieux Carré cocktail was invented here.
Manolito — lots of Cuban-themed drinks. Try the Floridita Daiquiri and the Swamp Water
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar — one of the oldest bar in New Orleans.
Old Absinthe House — super old cocktail bar. Will be busy. But it’s worth a stop.
Cane & Table — great cocktails and good snack food — try the glazed ribs
Molly’s at the Market — great frozen Irish coffee
Erin Rose — frozen irish coffee with a fernet float
Bacchanal — wine spot
Spotted Cat — jazz club
Le Bon Temps Roule — open 24 hours for bar, sandwich, music, etc
Preservation Hall — music
Willie Mae’s Scotch House (2 locations)
House of Blues — nightlife with live music
Wetlands Sake — like sake? Visit the taproom
Brieux Carré — what an excellent name for a beer spot in Nola!
Urban South Brewery — beer taproom
Courtyard Brewery — another beer spot