Welcome to New Orleans!
Below are lists curated by your very own SAIR colleagues who know and love the city of New Orleans. Their suggestions are based on their knowledge of the city’s rich culture and cuisine, as well as neighborhoods that are safest to visit.
Your local experts:
- Steven Brouillette, Louisiana State University
- V. Allen Gale, Xavier University of Louisiana
- Kimberly Kirkpatrick, Louisiana Board of Regents
- Treva Lee, Xavier University of Louisiana
- Nigel Noll, Tulane University
- Shawn Potter, Tulane University
- Robert Tsien, Tulane University
You may also visit the SAIR microsite graciously created by New Orleans and Company. https://www.neworleans.com/sair-2022-conference/
Ruby Slipper
Cheery cafe serving signature omelets, Southern brunch fare & cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere.
204 Decatur St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Open 7:30 am – 2:00 pm weekdays, 7:30 am – 3:00 Saturday - Sunday
Café Maspero
Sandwiches, seafood & New Orleans-style bites in a casual, brick-lined space with an old-world vibe.
601 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Open daily 8:00 am – 10:00 pm
Tujague’s
Grande dame of New Orleans dining founded in 1856, serving a traditional, fixed-price Creole menu.
429 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Coterie Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Breakfasts & New Orleans fare in a brick-walled space with lots of TVs & a sports bar feel.
135 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Open daily 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Deanie’s
Features hefty seafood platters & entrees in a laid-back space.
841 Iberville Street, New Orleans, LA 70112
Open daily 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Bakery Bar (catch a rideshare)
Cozy spot serving up baked goods, doberge cakes by the slice, inventive cocktails & savory bites.
1179 Annunciation St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Open Tuesday - Friday 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Saturday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Willa Jean (get the cookies & milk)
Retro-chic café operation offering Southern menus, baked goods, coffee, tea & cocktails.
611 O'Keefe Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113
Open daily 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Café du Monde (beignets)
Iconic New Orleans cafe known for café au laits, chicory coffee & beignets since 1862.
848 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Open 7 am - 11 pm daily
Café Beignet
Charming, intimate bistro with Cajun fare, beignets & café au lait, plus patio seats.
334 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 (and various other locations in the French Quarter)
Open daily 7:00 am – 5:00 pm (check other locations for hours of operation)
Urban South Brewery
It's a place where charm and grit mingle, and where everything's shared. Down here, we share meals, laughter, and our homes.
https://urbansouthbrewery.com/
1645 Tchoupitoulas St.
New Orleans Lager & Ale (NOLA) Brewing
NYC-style pizzas join more than 20 beers on tap at this two-story brewery with a roof deck. https://www.nolabrewing.com/
3001 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone
The Carousel Bar overlooks famed Royal Street, where guests can enjoy the best people watching in the French Quarter. With its regular entertainment schedule of live New Orleans music and craft cocktail selection, this New Orleans hotel bar has become one of the most popular bars in the French Quarter.
Rosie's on the Roof (inside the Higgins Hotel)
A place for entertainment and social engagement, this stunning rooftop bar and lounge with sweeping views of the New Orleans skyline is the perfect place to start — and finish — your night in New Orleans.
1000 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Hot Tin (inside the Ponchartrain Hotel)
High atop the Pontchartrain Hotel, Hot Tin returns as the convivial rooftop bar known for its craft cocktails and chic atmosphere. The 1940s artist-inspired space hosts both inside and outside areas to revel with first come, first served entry.
2031 St Charles Ave FL 14, New Orleans, LA 70130
Touché Bar (at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel)
Warm haunt in the Omni Royal Orleans serving creative spins on classic cocktails & refined bar fare.
621 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130 (enter from Royal Street)
New Orleans Social House
Fashionable spot offering New American shared plates, cocktails & music in a cool, loungey setting.
752 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
New Orleans Art Bar
A bookstore wine bar lounge offering bargain books, food, craft cocktails a tasty selection of wines by the glass or bottle.
2128 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116
Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel
Grand Roosevelt Hotel cocktail bar with classic drinks, plush banquettes & elegant old-world vibe.
130 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans, LA 70130
Fleurty Girl
Retailer known for funky, New Orleans-inspired T-shirts, plus accessories, home decor & gifts. All of the items that Fleurty Girl carries are inspired by New Orleans and most of the items are made by local New Orleanians.
3137 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
Open Monday – Thursday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Friday – Saturday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Jax Brewery
This 1890s brewery has been converted into a shopping center with apparel, accessory & gift stores.
600 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Open daily 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
French Market
The French Market is a market and series of commercial buildings spanning six blocks in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded as a Native American trading post predating European colonization, the market is the oldest of its kind in the United States.
1008 N Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Open daily 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Royal Street
A shopper’s paradise, Royal Street is a repository of grand family-owned antique shops and fine art galleries just a block and yet a world away from the party on Bourbon Street.
Various stops just steps from the Hotel Monteleone
Canal Place
Bright, luxury retail complex offering 3 floors of brand-name shops for clothing & accessories.
333 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Open Monday – Saturday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Riverwalk Outlets
The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk is a premier first-to-market outlet shopping center located in the heart of downtown New Orleans. Featuring over 75 retailers and restaurants on the bank of the majestic Mississippi River, The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk offers shoppers and diners an experience like no other.
500 Port of Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA 70130
Open Monday–Saturday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am –6:00 pm
World War II Museum
The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world - why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today—so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/
Open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily
The Cabildo
The Louisiana Purchase was signed in this 1790s landmark, now housing the New Orleans History museum.
https://louisianastatemuseum.org/museum/cabildo
Open 9 am to 4:00 pm Tuesday – Sunday
The Presbytere
Former courthouse built in 1813, now a state museum with Hurricane Katrina and Mardi Gras exhibits.
https://louisianastatemuseum.org/museum/presbytere
Open 9 am to 4:00 pm Tuesday – Sunday
Mardi Gras World
Mardi Gras World provides visitors with the opportunity to don authentic Mardi Gras costumes and tour enormous warehouses filled with floats.
http://www.mardigrasworld.com/
Open 9:00 am to 5:30 pm 7 days a week
JAMNOLA
JAMNOLA stands for Joy, Art & Music – New Orleans. JAMNOLA is New Orleans’ first experiential pop-up that takes audiences of all ages on a topsy-turvy stroll through the cultural gems that make the city so special. Enjoy 12 exhibits celebrating the iconic art, music, food and theatrics of New Orleans through the eyes of 20+ local artists and creative partners.
2832 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70117
https://jamnola.com/
Open Thursday – Monday, various times
Vue Orleans
Rise high above NOLA and discover the city’s only 360° observatory, offering stunning views in every direction. Venture inside and immerse yourself in the stories and storymakers that make New Orleans a tale that’s always worth telling.
2 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 (Entrance to the left of the Four Seasons Hotel)
https://vueorleans.com/
Open Daily 10AM–6PM
New Orleans Jazz Museum
The New Orleans Jazz Museum celebrates the history of jazz, in all its forms, through dynamic interactive exhibits, multi-generational educational programming, research facilities, and engaging musical performances.
http://www.nolajazzmuseum.org/
Open 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Tuesday – Sunday
Woldenberg Park
Woldenberg Riverfront Park is 16 acres of sprawling green space stretching between the Mississippi River and the historic French Quarter. The path along Woldenberg Park and the Moonwalk provides a place to bike, walk or jog with wide, open views of the river - arguably the best in the city.
Lafayette Square
Lafayette Square is the second-oldest public park in New Orleans, Louisiana, located in the present-day Central Business District.
New Orleans City Park
For over 170 years, New Orleans City Park has provided access to abundant natural and cultural resources to residents of the region and tourists from around the world. The Park is home to the New Orleans Botanical Garden, Couturie Forest and Arboretum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, and the largest grove of mature live oaks in the world, some of which are nearly 800 years old.
https://neworleanscitypark.com/
Congo Square
In the southern corner of Armstrong Park is Congo Square, an open space where the enslaved and free people of color gathered throughout the 19th century for meetings, open markets, and the African dance and drumming celebrations that played a substantial role in the development of jazz. Local voodoo practitioners still consider Congo Square a spiritual base and gather at the Square for rituals. 835 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116
The Rusty Rainbow Bridge
The name might be off-putting, but trust that the Rust Rainbow makes for a great snapshot. Just on the outskirts of the French Quarter is Crescent Park - a linear park overlooking the mighty Mississippi River. And the Rusty Rainbow is the notable Crescent-shaped bridge that resides in the park. The climb to the top of the bridge is well worth the view once you reach the peak. Celebrate your victory with a snap!
Piety St. at Chartres St., New Orleans, LA
