HOW TO SPEND A WEEKEND IN NOLA

MORNING

Days that begin with lemon ricotta pancakes have a 100% chance of happiness. At least, they do if you order them at Trattoria Barnett (at The Barnett hotel), where you’ll also take 20% off your bill, if you flash your SET wristband. Not a pancake person? Try the breakfast bowl with cheddar grits and andouille sausage, instead.

To walk off breakfast, wander down towards Bourbon Street – stay with us, it’s (slightly) less intense by day – and segue into exploring the French Quarter which, despite its name, was actually far more influenced by the Spanish. Browse an antique shop or two on Royal Street (the best ones are like mini museums – MS Rau or French Antique Shop), admire the incredible architecture (shotgun houses, 19th-century cottages, wrought-iron balconies) and check out the street performers and jazz musicians, before pit-stopping at Cafe du Monde for a mid-morning beignet, inch-thick with powdered sugar. 

AFTERNOON

Got room for lunch? Good. Head straight for Cochon, housed in a rustic, renovated warehouse that belies their adventurous approach to Cajun cooking (we recommend the chicken and andouille gumbo as a starting point to your order). 

Post-lunch, walk towards the Tchoupitoulas Flood Wall Mural – a new NOLA icon in the making. James Pierre, Big Easy-born artist and educator, is currently less than 25% of the way through a mural that will depict more than 300 years of New Orleans history, from Louis Armstrong to The Ursuline nuns. A rare and exciting opportunity to witness history in the making – you might even catch the artist at work…

EVENING

After all those steps (and a mandatory post-Cochon nap), venture out again for a low-key dinner and drinks at The Elysian Bar, inside Hotel Peter and Paul – their Med-inspired small plates are the perfect choice if you fancy something light. Show your SET wristband to take $10 off your bill (chin-chin). 

Sports is a big, no, HUGE, deal in NOLA – so go and see a game of NFL football (New Orleans Saints) at Caesars’ Superdome or basketball (The Pelicans) at Smoothie King Center. Soak up the team spirit with the locals as The Pelicans face off against the L.A. Lakers this Saturday 16 November at 7:00pm. 

Not ready to go home yet? Bar hopping on Frenchman Street is the only answer. We love DBA, Preservation Hall or The Spotted Cat. 

To round off the night, have a nightcap at Fives Bar (and take 15% off your bill as part of the SET crew) – famous for its selection of raw oysters and martinis packed with pickles. 

MORNING

Few too many Sazeracs last night? Hotel Henrietta’s brunch is the remedy. Not only is their green-hued decor incredibly easy on the eye, but they’re currently collaborating with the creators of quite possibly the best bagels in NOLA, Flour Moon. (15% off your bagel bill will no doubt soothe your headache, too.) 

After an extra-strong Riverboat Cold Brew, spend the morning wandering through the Garden District – a very different vibe to the French Quarter, and home to New Orleans’ rich and famous – Beyoncé & Jay Z own a house here. Prefer to travel in style? Jump on the St Charles Avenue streetcar, which will take you along one of the most beautiful urban thoroughfares in the country.

Be sure to browse the indie shops and costume stores on 6-mile long Magazine Street, as well as artist workshops – we love Simon of New Orleans located on Jackson Avenue.

AFTERNOON

NOLA is the city for a laidback, culture-filled afternoon, and you won’t be short on options. In the mood to take in some art? Head to Arthur Roger Gallery, Octavia Art Gallery or New Orleans Museum of Art. 

If you’re not totally carbed-out from your brunch bagels, make room for a po’boy (a sandwich stuffed with mouthwatering fillings like fried shrimp, oyster or hot sausage, piled sky-high with pickles and mayo) or a muffaletta (a sandwich of Sicilian origin shaped in a circle, with bread as big as the plate.) Without them, a trip to NOLA is simply incomplete. Our favourite spots for a po’boy fix? NOLA Poboys, Liuzza’s by The Track or Parkway Bakery. For a muffaletta, try a visit to DiMartino or Verte Marti. 

EVENING

On the way back to your hotel, round off the weekend with some small plates (or one large one) at Columns Bar at The Columns Hotel – you’ll get 15% off your bill, too. Our top choices would be the cheese plate and tuna crudo with a side of cajun-seasoned fries, or the pan-roasted gulf fish with the oatmeal cream pie to finish. 

Another beloved local joint is the Tell Me Bar – a hidden, speakeasy-style wine bar in the Lower Garden District, where you can sip on a glass of low-intervention wine by candlelight. Eater NOLA has just awarded them Wine Bar of the Year, in case you needed another reason to stop by…