{48 Hours in New Orleans}

Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!

Grayson and I recently visited New Orleans for the first time courtesy of refinery29 and Hotel Indigo. It was such a whirlwind trip that we literally booked it right before Thanksgiving and left the day after the holidays for a quick, 48 hour getaway. Since we didn’t have much time to spend in NOLA we definitely had to make the most of it. Whether you’re staying for the weekend or longer, here’s my must see guide to guarantee a great time in New Orleans.

With our home base being Hotel Indigo’s Garden District property, we were already in a great location to start exploring. Once we got settled in our room we quickly wanted to go get some oysters! Our Uber driver gave us some really good restaurant recommendations that were in walking distance so we strolled down to the Blind Pelican. The oysters were out of this world and HUGE!! Make sure you go for their Happy Hour because oysters were 25 cents!

Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!Whether you have a destination or not, I would highly recommend taking a ride on the Street Cars! It was perfect because it was literally right in front of our hotel so we could easily hop on and off to all of the New Orleans’ hot spots.

New Orleans is also known for it’s fabulous Jazz music. We had the tastiest dinner at Palm Court Jazz Cafe and listened to some really great music! If you go, make sure the owner is there because she was a hoot!! After dinner we walked down to BB King’s Blues Club to end the night.

The next morning we hit up Jackson Square in the French Quarter – There was so much to do and so much history there we literally spent an entire day exploring! We visited St. Louis Cathedral during Sunday mass and it was such an amazing experience. If you’re getting hungry, make sure you hit up Cafe du Monde for the yummy beignets! Almost everyone who I have talked to has raved about Cafe du Monde and it did not disappoint! If you love roaming around for unique finds, there are a ton of little shops and street vendors selling handmade goodies. We got sucked in to so many and ended up shipping stuff back to the house!

Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!

Another great restaurant in Jackson Square was the Stanley. Even though they are in the heart of Jackson Square they weren’t as touristy as we had worried about. We were also so dang hungry we would have eaten anywhere at that point. If you have a sweet tooth, I highly recommend getting the Bananas Foster French Toast! It is literally heaven in your mouth!!

Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!If you’re into witchcraft and voodoo, you’re in the right place. I had always wanted to go see a psychic (obviously skeptical) and ended up going to see a tarot card reader and she nailed it. Both Grayson and I were in shock and how dead on she was. I even got a couple (happy) voodoo dolls to take back home with me.

Of course, Bourbon Street! I’m not a huge drinker but it is definitely a must see no matter what. This is what New Orleans is known for!!

Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!Geaux to a Saints Game! There was a game the day after we got in but sadly, we just didn’t have enough time to go! We definitely mingled with all of the Saints fans when we were trying to find a place to go eat. Every place was PACKED! SO, if you are looking for a restaurant before or during game day, I would suggest getting away from the stadium.

There were so many good restaurants we literally couldn’t pick where to go. Besides the few I listed above I would highly suggest checking out Dragos. My friend’s uncle owns it and definitely recommends checking out the original location if you’re going to go.

Willa Jean was by far our favorite restaurant! I mean, who doesn’t love FROŚE?! Yes, you read that correctly, frozen rośe. We started out with THE BEST artichoke dip. You see that cheesy goodness in the photo below… that’t it. I opted for the avocado toast for dinner and ended the evening with a peanut butter hot chocolate! One of the richest meals I have had in a while, but it was worth all of the calories!

Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!Of course, there are some amazing museums to check out and if you are into gambling, check out Harrahs. Grayson had been to NOLA before but had never ventured outside of the casino… ha! We definitely changed that on this trip. There is also an area called the Frenchman that we didn’t go to but I’ve heard is awesome!

I was very thankful I could partner with Hotel Indigo for this trip. I was located in such a great location and we couldn’t have asked for a better getaway. We’re already looking forward to out next trip back, that will hopefully be longer than 48 hours!

Planning a trip to New Orleans? DTKAustin has you covered with all of the hotspots and restaurants!

19 Comments

  1. Pam Dorrell
    January 23, 2017 / 3:02 am

    These look like great suggestions for a NOLA getaway. Hotel Indigo sounds like a great hotel and in a perfect location plus your many restaurant and sight-seeing suggestions sound amazing.

  2. January 23, 2017 / 3:24 pm

    I have only been to NOLA once and it wasnt for any fun! The next time I go I know where I am headed! That food looked so bomb and you look stunning! XO

  3. Anna English
    January 23, 2017 / 3:27 pm

    We visit Nola quite frequently, I love the hidden gems around every corner!

  4. Annabel Eguagie
    January 23, 2017 / 4:24 pm

    Although I have never been to New Orleans but, I love everything about this post. Love the outfit, your accessories, the food looks gorgeous..lol or should i say mouth watery… 🙂 yummmm. xoxo

  5. January 23, 2017 / 4:58 pm

    Hi Ashley, this post is so helpful! I haven’t been to New Orleans yet and I will definitely bookmark this for a future trip 🙂
    ~Jessica

  6. January 23, 2017 / 5:31 pm

    such great photos and recommendations! definitely adding to my list of places i want to travel!

  7. January 23, 2017 / 5:58 pm

    You should have warned me to not read this post while on Whole 30 — I want all the food!!!!!! So happy you had a good trip! Hope your shoulder is feeling better!

  8. January 23, 2017 / 7:34 pm

    Saving this post because New Orleans is definitely on our travel bucket list!

  9. Stephanie
    January 24, 2017 / 3:56 pm

    I was just in NOLA last weekend! Only for 24 hours for a wedding, but I will def. bookmark your post for the next time I visit! Gorgeous photos!

    xO – Steph
    http://www.UrbanBlonde.com

  10. January 24, 2017 / 7:12 pm

    NOLA is so much fun! I went there for a bachelorette party last year and I loved it!

    Xo, Nina
    Law of Fashion Blog

  11. Kristina
    January 24, 2017 / 9:10 pm

    Love this city! I went there for a bachelorette party 2 years ago and it was a blast- so much good food!

    xo, Kristina

    Medicine & Manicures

  12. January 28, 2017 / 5:32 pm

    NOLA is one my fav cities to visit. We went twice last year and are always finding so many good places to check out.

  13. Nataly
    January 28, 2017 / 11:48 pm

    I have always wanted to visit New Orleans! Looks like you all had a fabulous time!

    xo, Nataly

  14. January 30, 2017 / 12:12 am

    I can’t believe you fit all of that in in 48 hrs! What a fun trip! I’d love to go, maybe one day soon!

  15. January 31, 2017 / 5:24 am

    Wow!! Babe I’m incredibly jealous. I would love to go to New Orleans via refinery29! You are totally killin it!! You go girl!

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