How to Throw a Bachelorette Party in New Orleans

If you’re a single girl in your twenties, you’re sure to attend a bachelorette party, or weekend, at some point. I’ve been to my fair share and even planned one. So I’ve taken what I’ve learned to put together this post on how to have your own pre-bridal bash in New Orleans. The historic landmarks and open container laws mean it’s a good spot to spend a weekend with your gals.

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Where to Eat in New Orleans

You can’t go to New Orleans without getting dozens of restaurant recommendations from visitors and locals. There are both casual and fine dining options to choose from. If you will be visiting during a busy weekend or are traveling with a big group, consider making a reservation on OpenTable.

Best for breakfast

Everyone knows Cafe du Monde, the 24-hour beignet and coffee stand in the French Quarter, but locals prefer Morning Call in City Park. It’s also open all day and night and takes cash. Willa Jean’s has decadent and delicious Southern fare, but they also have brunch and pastries you can take to go. Located in the Bywater, Cake Cafe and Bakery offers sandwiches, pastries, and has one of the best King cakes during Mardi Gras season.

Best for lunch

If you’re looking for a quick but filling lunch, grab a po boy from just about anywhere in town. If you’re in the French Quarter, Johnny’s and Killer Po Boys are safe bets. Turkey and the Wolf in the Garden District is great too. St. Roch Market is a stylish food hall with everything from oysters to Egyptian to Vietnamese cuisine. For a traditional New Orleans lunch, Commander’s Palace has an affordable lunch menu with two course specials and $5 cocktails.

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Best for dinner

If you want to check out one of the city’s best restaurants, make a reservation. Compere Lapin is a praised restaurant in the Old No. 77 Hotel from Top Chef finalist Nina Compton. There are plenty of places to dine on seafood, but Superior Seafood has a large dining room and a diverse menu that includes barbecue shrimp, oysters, and gumbo. DTB has modern Cajun food in a casual setting, away from the chaos of the French Quarter.

Best for brunch

Get up early or make a reservation for brunch, the best meal to eat out in New Orleans. Located in The Pontchartrain Hotel, Jack Rose has an Instagrammable Caribbean decor with a portrait of Lil Wayne and “chambongs.” Ruby Slipper Cafe is a longtime favorite for their eggs benedict and award-winning bloody marys. If you want to play tourist at jazz brunch, don’t miss the version at Antoine’s, one of the city’s oldest restaurants.

For more on where to eat in New Orleans, check out our guides on This Is My South and Eater New Orleans. 

What to Do in New Orleans

Don’t plan too much during your time in New Orleans because most of us are there to relax. But pick one or two things to do on Saturday morning as a group. If you have more time, get outside of the French Quarter and surrounding neighborhoods.  

For relaxation and wellness

See the city’s waterways through a kayaking excursion with Kayak-iti-Yat. My friend Kristin also recommends the Bounce Ya Brass classes. NewOrleans.com has a great selection of drop-in fitness classes listed, including free yoga organized by Lululemon. There are also lots of spas in town, especially at the luxury hotels, but if you spent too much time imbibing, seek out IV therapy at The Remedy Room.

For arts and culture

New Orleans has a fantastic arts and museums scene, so try to visit at least one (if not all)! The Ogden Museum of Southern Art in the Warehouse District and the New Orleans Museum of Art, with its adjoining sculpture garden, are well worth the entry price.

Mardi Gras World is touristy, but plenty of fun if you’ve never seen how the parade floats are made. And the Southern Museum of Food and Beverage is a unique space that focuses on the dishes and history of “Southern food.” Be sure to check out the Absinthe section and you can even walk around with a drink!

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For shopaholics

New Orleans is fantastic for shopping, especially when it comes to locally owned boutiques on Magazine Street. Fleurty Girl, Dirty Coast, and Defend New Orleans all have unique local gifts. Trashy Diva sells vintage-inspired attire and lingerie. Sucre has the best king cakes and pastries around.

For the curious

Want to see how rum is made? Old New Orleans Rum offers tours and tastings in their facility as well as a shuttle from the French Market. Another experience unique to the city is getting a psychic or tarot reading. For metaphysical supplies and crystals as well as psychic readings, go to Hex. Bottom of the Cup Tea Room has been doing tea leaf readings since 1927.

Where to Drink in New Orleans

Let’s be honest: a lot of people come to New Orleans just to party. The open container laws and raucous bars on Bourbon Street make it a popular destination. But there is more than one type of way to imbibe in the Big Easy. Just remember to drink responsibly. No one wants to be that amateur tourist.

For classic New Orleans cocktails

There are dozens of watering holes that have been around for generations. The Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone dates back to 1949, hosting countless celebrities over the years. Grab a Sazerac to drink. Arnaud’s is the home of the French 75, a champagne cocktail. Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is a dive bar that was built in the 1700s that has a reputation for its candy-like frozen drinks and association with pirates.

For new-school New Orleans drinks

Hot Tin (as in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”) at the Pontchartrain Hotel has unrivaled views of the city. Piscobar at the Catahoula Hotel focuses on the Peruvian liquor in all of their drinks. Bacchanal is a long-running wine shop and bar with a courtyard that hosts live music. To cool off in the summer months, head to The Country Club to use their pool and enjoy food and drinks.

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For live music

Choose a bar in town and there’s likely live music one some night or another. Frenchman Street, in particular, is great for jazz music, but the Spotted Cat is a favorite. Maple Leaf Bar is also known for its nightly music. Preservation Hall is another place music fans can’t miss.

For dancing

In addition to the music venues, there are plenty of bars and clubs for those looking to dance into the night. To leave it to the professionals, catch a burlesque show from Fleur de Tease or a drag show at The Golden Lantern.

Where to Stay in New Orleans

Accommodations are the most expensive part of planning a bachelorette party in New Orleans. But thankfully there are some stylish hotel options that are also affordable. Start out by picking a neighborhood where you’d like to stay that is relevant to the places you’ll be going.

The Pontchartrain Hotel in the Garden District is in the perfect location near the streetcar with multiple bars and restaurants as well as pale pink decor. If you don’t mind sharing a room with your friends, get a bunk room at The Quisby, also on the St. Charles line, for cheap.

Over in the Warehouse District and Central Business District, The Catahoula Hotel has reasonably priced rooms, including a bunk room for groups. Old No. 77 Hotel and Chandlery is a former warehouse that is home to Compere Lapin and decorated in local artwork. The Eliza Jane features mid-century decor and Courvant, one of the city’s top restaurants.

Airbnb is a good resource if you have a small group, but keep in mind that there are limited rentals to keep the housing costs affordable for locals.

Additional Advice

Plan for an early night on Friday since everyone will likely be traveling. This is the perfect time to enjoy games and chill drinks. I found this wedding-style Cards Against Humanity (Cads Against Matrimony) that was a hit with the group. I printed it off at home and cut up the cards myself for free. At other bachelorette parties, we’ve done the game where you guess which pair of panties represents which guest and the bride keeps them all.

You can also create your own photo booth with your smartphone with help from Pinterest. Keep the party going with this awesome playlist from PopSugar. Pick up some custom temporary tattoos to keep your group together as well as some phallic paraphernalia online. My crafty friend made cutout faces of the groom to carry around as well as tote bags and tanks for our most recent bachelorette. You can even make a Snapchat filter to use on Bourbon Street.

If you’re renting a place, cut costs by eating a few meals in like breakfast. Split the snacks between the group. Make splitting costs easy by making everyone download Splitwise and Venmo before you go.

Stop drinking early enough in the day that you can rally at night! I’ve been to a fair few that ended in extended naps. Take Lyft or walk everywhere and don’t risk DUIs. There’s no reason to drive in New Orleans! The city is fairly casual unless you’re going to a nice dinner, so rent something fabulous from Rent the Runway just in case. Bring a pair of extra shoes in case your feet hurt. Tieks are my personal favorite.

Are you ready for a bachelorette weekend in New Orleans?

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