Beignets, Booze & Besties: A New Orleans Bachelorette Food & Drink Guide
“I’m going back to New Orleans, to wear that ball and chain.”
Omg, where do I begin?! How about the beginning! In March of 2018 one of my nearest and dearest friends got engaged and asked lil ole me to be her Maid of Honor. Of course, I said yes and immediately we started thinking of bachelorette destinations. Long story short, the bride to be landed on New Orleans and the rest is history!
New Orleans is a culture rich city with many amazing historical attractions and areas such as Bourbon and Frenchman Streets where you can see any thing from a band of street performers to a Second Line parade. We did, in deed see these things (and more). NOLA is also the home of the Essence festival which most of our group had attended a couple years ago (highly recommend) but for this New Orleans trip, the food was the real star of the show.
Aside from the planned activities such as pole dancing, a party bus and celebrating Wuzzam Supa’s second year anniversary of her cosmetics company “The Crayon Case” we were fortunate to partake in the many different flavors of New Orleans. Here is a list of a few restaurants you must visit while in New Orleans.
Willie Mae’s Scotch House - $$
What I must say is, it’s no wonder why Travel Channel and Food Networked dubbed this spot as having “America’s Best Fried Chicken” because it is crazy good. Perfectly seasoned and crisply fried, this made for the perfect first food stop in NOLA. The portions (like most of the restaurants on the list) were hearty and very fulfilling. All of the sides looked so delicious I couldn't choose just one and I was not let down!
These restaurants seemed to be sprinkled around NOLA like little gems. Perfect if you want to stop in for a chicken combo and a biscuit while out and about. However, what sets Willie’s apart from other chicken joints are the multiple frozen drink options available. Chicken and a frozen daiquiri are an awesome combination on a hot Louisiana day!
Bourbon House - $$
Bourbon House was our choice for a dressy dinner night and the ambiance did not disappoint. The food was delicious of course and like many New Orleans restaurants they serve a mix of seafood and other entrees. However, for me, the best items at Bourbon House were those that included, you guessed it, bourbon! The Bourbon Milk Punch was a pleasant surprise. Similar to an eggnog type beverage, this frozen drink was great when paired with a dessert. I had it alongside the bourbon soaked corn cake and it was amazing!
Oysters on the half shell with crab meat at Bourbon House
Mini frozen Bourbon Milk Punch at Bourbon House
Bourbon Soaked Corn Cake at Bourbon House
We Dat’s Chicken and Shrimp - $$
Locally owned and operated, this spot was a favorite among our group when we wanted to grab a quick bite. We Dat’s offers many unique flavorings and pairs such as their “wuzzam” wings, coined after New Orleans’ own Wuzzam Supa (wuzzam is also slang for “what’s up” in NOLA). Also, when it comes to loaded fries, We Dat’s is the place to go! One of the best parts is that We Dat’s can be delivered using Uber Eats (code eats-brandim129ue gets you $5 off of your first order) and they stay open until 2 am so it’s perfect for late nights that turn into early mornings 😉
The Original French Market Restaurant and Bar - $$
By far my favorite out of this list. The Original French Market gets its name from the area in which is located on Decatur street. They have a host of delicious steamed seafood options served by the pound or the “boat”. This is the one of the best places to get the steamed crawfish you’ve been craving. Like most of the other seafood restaurants in the area, they have oysters on the half shell and I would absolutely recommend their Oysters Rockefeller
Boiled crawfish boat, boiled shrimp and boiled crab leg cluster at The Original French Market
Oysters Rockefeller and macaroni and cheese at The Original French Market
Cafe Du Monde - $
Last but CERTAINLY not least, no trip to NOLA is complete without a stop at Cafe Du Monde. Established in 1862, this spot is open 24 hours to satisfy your sweet tooth. The beignets are perfectly prepared and served 3 for under $3 (which is why I purchased 9 and ate 6 of them by myself, judge not) and even though this place stays busy, the service is amazingly fast! Cafe du monde is also in walking distance of The Original French Market restaurant so be sure to leave room for dessert or just grab some beignets to go!
New Orleans is by far one of my favorite places to visit and it was amazing to do with a group (which I’ve done twice now). Make it your next travel destination and enjoy some pics of the bride to be and friends below!
The rotating Carousel Bar & Lounge, Hotel Monteleone as seen in Girls Trip
Bourbon House, New Orleans
Bride and Maid of Honor, Congrats Jess!
