Three Days in New Orleans With My Bestie: Where We Ate, Stayed & Played

There are some trips that are carefully planned months in advance; and then there are trips where you and your best friend just need to get away.

My three-day New Orleans trip with my bestie, Kenyatta, was definitely the latter.

We came to eat, explore, laugh, experience the city and, honestly, have a much-needed bestie reset, and New Orleans did not disappoint.

First things first: where we stayed.

We called the JW Marriott New Orleans home for our three-day getaway, and the hotel came with plenty of perks. As a Marriott Platinum Elite member, I had access to the VIP lounge, which was a major bonus, along with a $15 daily room credit. Between the amenities and the location, it gave us a comfortable home base for exploring the city.

And let’s be honest: having a good hotel makes a girls’ trip even better.

Now, for the fun stuff. Here are five of the spots that made our trip an unforgettable one:

1. Brunch at Fleur de Lis

As a brunch-er, I have to start with brunch.

We had brunch at Fleur de Lis, and the shrimp and grits were absolutely incredible. Like… out of this world.

If you know me, you know I’m going to remember a trip based on the food.

And these shrimp and grits are going in the New Orleans memory bank.

2. Happy Hour at Creole House & Oyster Bar

This one deserves a special mention because I had never tried oysters before this trip.

And somehow, my first oyster experience was in New Orleans, and honestly, what better place?

We stopped by Creole House & Oyster Bar for happy hour, and I decided to go for it.

Fried oysters? Amazing.

Raw oysters? Also amazing.

And the drinks were just as good.

I officially understand the oyster hype now.

If you’re heading to New Orleans and want to try something new, this was definitely one of my favorite stops.

3. Fat Tuesday

Is going to New Orleans really going to New Orleans if you don’t leave with the obligatory giant Fat Tuesday cup? I think not.

A stop at Fat Tuesday was basically a requirement.

And yes, we got the tall cups.

Because some travel traditions simply have to be honored.

4. Karaoke at Cats Meow

Now THIS was a highlight.

We ended up at Cats Meow on Bourbon Street for karaoke, and I am giving this experience a 10/10.

The energy was everything.

There’s something about being on Bourbon Street, surrounded by people from everywhere, watching strangers get on stage and give it everything they’ve got.

We had a blast. And we, too, gave it everything we had. Shout out to the strangers taking videos of us that we couldn't find by the time our duet to Carrie Underwood's Before He Cheats was over.

If watching or doing karaoke is your thing, put Cats Meow on the list.

5. Mambo’s

Come hungry. That’s my advice.

Mambo’s was easily one of our favorite food stops of the trip.

The food was 10/10, and I got to try something else I’d never had before: fried alligator. And yes, I liked it!

What stood out most was how authentic everything tasted. There was so much flavor in the food, and it genuinely felt like someone cared about what was coming out of that kitchen.

You know when you take a bite of something and immediately think, somebody’s grandmother taught them how to make this?

That’s the feeling I got. You could taste the love.

BONUS: Popeyes

I know.

Popeyes?

In a New Orleans travel guide?

Trust me.

It tastes better in NOLA.

Maybe it’s the location. Maybe it’s the nostalgia. Maybe it’s just the fact that you’re eating Popeyes in New Orleans.

Whatever the reason, I stand by it.

Get the Popeyes.

Final Thoughts

Three days wasn’t nearly enough.

Between the food, music, nightlife, culture and just the overall energy of New Orleans, this was exactly the kind of trip we needed.

Kenyatta and I laughed a lot, ate very well and made memories that we’ll be talking about for a long time.

And now?

We’re already ready to go back – especially because we found out that [fresh] crawfish was out of season. Apparently it's in-season in the months that end in '-ber,' so word to the wise: go in the fall if you want fresh, and not frozen, crawfish. Thank you to the local who explained this to me!

New Orleans, we’ll see you again.

Until then, I’m officially adding, “another bestie trip” to the travel bucket list.