New Orleans NOLA | The Most Worth-Visiting City

I hesitated a lot before going, but after visiting, I wish I could project a recommendation on Times Square to tell everyone how amazing it is! ▪ Food 🦪 The oysters here are huge—so big and fresh! My friend and I devoured four dozen on our first meal. Not a single restaurant disappointed—here are the highlights: 🔺 Luke: Must-tries include their oysters, chicken liver, and bone marrow. Every dish is rich and full of flavor. 🔺 Jewel of the South: The beef tongue is incredible—tender and perfectly seasoned. The rabbit meat, though? Just so-so. 🔺 Big EZ Seafood: Their grilled oysters and crawfish 🦞 are not to be missed! It’s close to the airport—we recommend going right after landing to avoid making a round trip later. 🔺 Coops Place: A super local spot for fried alligator 🐊 and fried chicken. Heads up: The waitstaff here is very straightforward (they might tease you a little!), but that’s part of its fun vibe. The fried alligator has a slight fishy taste—tastes like over-fried chicken nuggets, honestly. 🔺 Café Du Monde: Try their beignets for a classic NOLA snack—they’re tasty, though not mind-blowing. The coffee? Not good ✋. But the atmosphere is unbeatable: open-air seating, jazz musicians playing on the corner, and people walking by. You’ll even find yourself tapping your feet or dancing a little 💃🏼! ▪ Accommodation 🔻 Virgin Hotel (Highly Recommended!) It’s a 4-star hotel, but it has so much more local character than chain hotels. The owner has great taste—bold color combinations that are visually striking, instantly awakening your senses to the world around you. The room design is full of clever little details too—I even wanted to take their coffee table home with me 😂! ▪ Activities & Transportation 🔺 Cajun Swamp Tour + Oak Alley Plantation Combo: A morning shuttle picks you up from your hotel, and the driver shares stories about NOLA along the way—super informative. The alligator tour 🐊 is fun: The guide feeds marshmallows to the alligators the whole time. The best part? Everyone gets a turn to hold a baby alligator—it’s surprisingly soft! Oak Alley Plantation is beautiful, but it’s so hot you can’t stay outside for long ☀️. 🔺 National WWII Museum: Just okay ✋—not a must-see unless you’re really into WWII history. 🔺 The Sazerac House Tour: Too commercial for my taste. The whiskey here is on the sweet-tart side, lacking depth. 🔺 Jackson Square / French Quarter: It’s all about soaking up the local vibe—being surrounded by music and vibrant colors. Every shop has jazz playing, and I fell in love with that energy 🎷! ▪ Entertainment / Jazz 🔺 Mahogany Hall: Great atmosphere—small and intimate, with seats close to the stage. The band is super laid-back, which fits the jazz spirit perfectly. You can walk in without a reservation; the drinks are just average. Afterward, we walked 20 minutes to the next spot below 👇🏻. 🔺 Frenchman St: Guys, this street is incredible! So much fun! I was a little worried on the walk over— the side streets were dark and quiet. But then we turned a corner, and faint music started to float over… and suddenly it was party time! We popped into two random spots, and their music, stage presence, and vibe blew everything else out of the water. Who knew clubbing (or “jazz raving”) in a jazz city could be this fun! 🎉 P.S. The service in New Orleans is totally worth tipping for—friendly, attentive, and full of local charm! #Oysters #StudyInUSA #NewOrleans #Jazz