Five days in New Orleans in April 2024, staying on Canal Street at the edge of the French Quarter. We ate chargrilled oysters three different ways, had gumbo at a legendary Tremé restaurant, drank frozen daiquiris on Bourbon Street and learned the history of the Sazerac. Here is the whole trip, day by day.
Day 1: Acme Oyster House
We arrived on a Sunday evening and went straight to Acme Oyster House on Iberville Street, a block from our hotel. A bag of boiled crawfish, chargrilled oysters, a gumbo and jambalaya platter and boudin balls made a classic first night. More photos are in our Acme Oyster House post, plus a video of the chargrilled oysters.
Day 2: Beignets, Jackson Square and Deanie’s
Breakfast was beignets and coffee at Café Beignet on Bourbon Street. Then we walked to Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, down to the Moonwalk on the Mississippi and back through the French Quarter’s iron-lace balconies.
Dinner was at Deanie’s Seafood in the French Quarter: a frozen cocktail, two rounds of chargrilled oysters, a huge fried seafood platter and New Orleans barbecue shrimp.
Day 3: Dooky Chase’s, Royal House and Bourbon Street
Lunch was at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant on Orleans Avenue in Tremé, the Creole restaurant made famous by Chef Leah Chase. We had gumbo with rice and a shrimp dish with potatoes and peas, plus mac and cheese on the side.
After a Steamboat Natchez cruise we had more chargrilled oysters at Royal House Oyster Bar, then steak and seasoned fries at a French Quarter dinner. We finished with frozen Purple Drank daiquiris on Bourbon Street.
Day 4: Mother’s and the Sazerac House
Mother’s Restaurant on Poydras Street has been serving po’ boys and jambalaya for decades, and its walls are covered with framed press clippings. Afterwards we went to the Sazerac House on Canal Street, a free museum about the Sazerac cocktail and New Orleans cocktail history.
Day 5: One more Acme
We couldn’t leave without one more trip to Acme, this time for a fried seafood po’ boy.
Tips for eating in New Orleans
- Stay near Canal Street and you can walk to Acme, Deanie’s, Mother’s and the Sazerac House.
- Acme often has a line at peak hours, so go mid-afternoon or late evening.
- Dooky Chase’s is a short ride from the French Quarter. Check its hours before you go.
- The Sazerac House is free, but booking a timed entry online is a good idea.
- Order chargrilled oysters everywhere and compare.
Planning your own trip? See our guide to where to eat in the French Quarter, with every New Orleans meal from both of our visits.