Perhaps you’re already in the city; maybe you’re arriving in a day or two for the game. If you’re lucky enough to be headed to Super Bowl LIV in New Orleans and you don’t know the city, then you owe it to yourself to make it the best trip imaginable.
New Orleans is one of the greatest cities in the United States. It’s incomparable. There’s amazing culture in New York, or Chicago — but there’s just something so different about New Orleans that it feels like stepping into a different country. Embracing French and African culture like nowhere else, it’s one of the few cities in country to have a profound, lasting, global impact from jazz, to Cajun food, to Creole — and everything in between.
Embrace walking
New Orleans is a big city, with so much to explore — but for most tourists you’re probably going to stick to the neighborhoods around the crescent of the Mississippi River. This includes the French Quarter and Garden District, areas where you could get delightfully lost for entire days.
Part of what makes this city so special is just walking the streets and taking everything in. From street performers that put most cities’ professional musicians to shame, pop-up parades that seemingly happen when you least expect them, to just soaking in the atmosphere or Creole locals talking to each other in the parks.
New Orleans knows what it is, and it’s acceptable to dress down a little even at some of the city’s best restaurants, where nice jeans and a button down are perfectly acceptable at most locations. So make sure you’ve got some comfortable shoes and embrace getting up your step count — because you’ll need it when it comes time to eat.
Food
- Melba’s (Elysian Fields) $: You can get a great breakfast for under $10 at Melba’s, but the real name of the game here is the PoBoys. Hulking sandwiches with fried seafood spilling out of perfectly baked French bread. Simplicity is the name of the game with a PoBoy, and at Melba’s they don’t do much to mask the ingredients with sauces, which is perfect to highlight the quality of local gulf shrimp and fish, seasoned simply with some Creole seasoning.
- Napoleon House (French Quarter) $$: Truthfully, a lot of the restaurants in the quarter can be tourist traps. Bright neon signs flashing “GUMBO,” designed to entice travelers to assume they’re legit. Napoleon House is a major exception. Open since 1914, this small, unassuming restaurant boasts an array of some of the best New Orleans classics in food and cocktails. You’re right in the middle of everything at Napoleon House, making it an ideal place to grab a heavy lunch or dinner before exploring more. Reservations are a must, but the food is absolutely worth it.
- Brennan’s (French Quarter) $$$: Everyone should eat at Brennan’s once in their life, because it’s an institution. Is it my favorite restaurant in New Orleans, no. Is it the one place I think everyone should go because of the history? Yes. Opening in 1946, Brennan’s blends the old and the new to form a hybrid of New American cuisine, and classic regional staples. The gumbo is great, the turtle soup is life-changing — but the most iconic thing you have to order is Bananas Foster. Invented at the restaurant in 1951, the dish is a whole production that can feel like a little much — but it’s absolute perfection.
- Café du Monde (French Quarter) $: Is there a better beignet in New Orleans? Yes. Is there one that comes with the history that Café du Monde offers as well? No. Instead of hunting down the absolute best, get something that’s damn near close to perfection and accept that you’re about to cover yourself with powdered sugar and look like Tony Montana on a three-day bender. Lines at breakfast time at the original Café du Monde in the quarter are stupidly long, so instead aim to hit this up mid-afternoon. Get a few beignets, a cup of their classic chicory-blend café au lait, and stare out at the Mississippi River and appreciate you’re at a place where locals have been coming since 1862.
What attractions to visit
As I mentioned before, there’s no shortage of things to do in New Orleans when it comes to partying, drinking and eating. However, if you’re in town for the Sugar Bowl and want some cultural experiences that go a little deeper then check out these places.
- Frenchman Street (7th Ward): One of the biggest misconceptions by tourists is that Bourbon Street is also where the music is. The epicenter for jazz is a few blocks over on Frenchman Street, where clubs line both sides of the street for truly the best late-night experience in the city. From the iconic Spotted Cat Music Club, to the Blues-focused Apple Barrel Bar, you’ll literally walk into any bar and hear something incredible. One thing to note: The majority of venues on Frenchman have jazz until around 11 pm, at which time many pivot into funk, hiphop, or something in between. So if you’re looking for that classic jazz or brass sound then plan to arrive a little earlier than you’d expect.
- National WWII Museum (Lower Garden District): The most stunning exhibit of WWII history in the United States actually exists in New Orleans, and most people don’t know about it. The city was critical in constructing the landing craft used to storm Normandy, and they’re on full display along with dozens of exhibits outlining not just the United States’ role in the European side of the war, but also highlighting the Pacific Theater, the Eastern Front, and everything in between. It’s a must-visit for anyone with an appreciation of the time we kicked Hitler’s ass.
- Southern Food & Beverage Museum (Central City): So much of New Orleans is focused on the food, and there’s nowhere better to understand this on an intellectual level that at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum (SoFab). From highlighting the various cultural exchanges that took place leading to the rise of Creole and Cajun cuisine, to charting food trends across the Southern United States, it’s a fascinating journey for any foodie. In addition to the regular exhibits, SoFab currently has two special exhibits which will be in place through the Super Bowl: “The First Settlement: Filipinos in Louisiana,” which shows the impact of Filipino culture on the food of the city, and “Trail of Smoke and Fire,” highlighting the cultural growth and impact of barbecue across the southern U.S.
