Destination Discovery: Where to Stay, Spa & Snack in New Orleans

There’s way more to New Orleans, Louisiana, than Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras. Big flavor for foodies, smooth jazz for music lovers, and so much culture, NOLA is bursting with unique things to experience for travelers! Check out our favorite places to take it easy while you’re in the Big Easy!

Where to Stay & Spa

For a luxurious experience with a great location just outside the French Quarter and a block from Bourbon Street, The Ritz-Carlton on the famed Canal Street, puts you at the center of it all! Occupying the historic 1908 Beaux Arts Maison Blanche building, the hotel features an antebellum mansion vibe and the southern hospitality is palpable. Enjoy a morning coffee or an evening wine in the intimate and lush outdoor courtyard and rest easy in your well-appointed accommodations. For an added treat, visit The Ritz-Carlton Spa. The 25,000-square-foot award-winning spa and wellness sanctuary offers up relaxing and rejuvenating experiences for guests, visitors, and locals, alike. With 22 treatment rooms, more than 100 services to choose from, draped chandeliers, and fountains, it’s hard not to feel like royalty during a visit. Put a local spin on your spa service and opt for the Jazzy Massage, where you’ll enjoy a custom massage during your sensory journey of aromatherapy and soothing jazz music.

In addition to The Ritz-Carlton Spa, there’s also The Peppermint Room, where affordable relaxation awaits and a bevy of other local day spas to pick from!

Where to Snack

Po-boys, beignets, and spicy creole seasonings wait for your around every corner. The Parkway Bakery & Tavern is great for a classic roast beef with gravy po-boy and everyone has heard about the jambalaya at Mother’s. But check out places like Elizabeth’s for “Real Food Done Real Good.” Or stop by Lüke where they pay homage to the grand old Franco-German brasseries of New Orleans’ past, and crawfish, grits, and more classic NOLA dishes are on the menu.

What to See

With architecture that is the perfect marriage of the city’s multicultural backgrounds, just walking around the streets to check it all out is a workout and a sightseeing excursion in itself. Take a photo of the iconic iron balconies along the streets of the French Quarter, visit the animals at the Audubon Zoo, the stop and see the St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest in North America. When your feet give out, hop on one of the city’s streetcars and head out for some cocktails and jazz!