I’ve been to Louisiana several times– and I absolutely love cruising out of New Orleans! It’s so convenient—just a quick ten-hour drive for us! But here’s the crazy part: despite all those trips, I’ve never visited Bourbon Street. Crazy, right?
Every trip, we’d stick to the same routine: drive in on embarkation day, head straight to the port, park the car and set sail. No sightseeing, no beignets from Café du Monde, and definitely no Bourbon Street. Just – straight to the ship, every single time.
Now, I know that driving in on embarkation day is risky and ill-advised. But we had our reasons for going this route in the past. However, this year is going to be different. We’re planning to drive in a day early, giving us a rare opportunity to explore New Orleans before we set sail. The catch – we’re only going to have a short three hours to squeeze in all of our sightseeing, so I’ll need to come up with a plan to make the most of our time!
Cruising out of New Orleans: The Drive In
So, first things first –we’ll hit the road bright and early at 6 am—coffee in hand and excitement building to make our way to New Orleans. The drive is about ten hours, which may seem long to some, but for us, it feels pretty short compared to the marathon drives we’ve done down to Orlando or Miami. Even with a few snack stops and stops to stretch our legs, we should make good time and arrive at our hotel around 4 pm. And, after checking into our hotel, we’ll take a couple of hours to rest and recharge before we get started on our evening around 6 pm!
Hour 1: Bourbon Street—Vibes, Drinks, and Dancing
We’ll start our adventure with a walk down the iconic Bourbon Street, the beating heart of New Orleans nightlife. Known for its vibrant energy, Bourbon Street is a feast for the senses. Every bar and restaurant spills over with live music—from jazz to rock to dance beats—while talented street performers dazzle crowds with their skills.
While exploring, I’ll be on the look-out for two of the city’s most famous cocktails:
The Hand Grenade: This is truly an iconic New Orleans drink that lives up to its name. The Hand Grenade is sold exclusively at Tropical Isle, and no other bar in New Orleans can serve it, which adds to its mystique and charm. This drink is famous for its bright neon-green color and signature taste. But, we don’t know exactly what makes this cocktail so potent and green since the recipe is a closely guarded secret.
What we do know is that the Hand Grenade is an incredibly potent cocktail—it’s a blend of grain alcohol, melon liqueur, rum, and citrus flavors, making it both sweet and deceptively strong. The drink is served in a large, grenade-shaped souvenir cup, perfect for sipping while strolling down Bourbon Street.
The potency of this drink is part of what makes it a New Orleans favorite. Whether you’re a seasoned drinker or just here for the fun, you’ll definitely feel the kick of this cocktail. The Hand Grenade has become a symbol of the city’s wild, party-loving spirit, and it’s impossible to experience Bourbon Street without seeing someone walking around with one in hand. A visit to Bourbon Street wouldn’t be complete without trying it!
Expect to pay around $11 USD for this cocktail.
The Hurricane: This fruity rum-based cocktail is as iconic as Bourbon Street itself. It was created during World War II at Pat O’Brien’s Bar when liquor distributors forced bar owners to buy large quantities of rum before selling them whiskey or scotch. To use up the rum, Pat O’Brien came up with the Hurricane, which is made with light and dark rum, passion fruit juice, orange juice, lime juice, grenadine, and simple syrup. The Hurricane is a tangy, tropical treat named for the shape of the hurricane lamp-shaped glass it’s served in.
The drink is a sweet, citrusy celebration in a glass, and sipping one at Pat O’Brien’s courtyard is an unforgettable New Orleans experience.
Expect to pay around $13.50 USD for this cocktail.
Once we’ve got our drinks in hand, we’ll need to find a bar for some dancing. Bourbon Street is packed with live music and DJ sets—every bar has its own vibe. Whether it’s jazz, swing, or top 40 hits, the music here will make it impossible not to move. We’ll keep our eyes open for the bars with the most energy, where the crowd is dancing and everyone’s having a good time. Some bars even host dance floors where you can twirl and shake to the rhythm of New Orleans. We’ll definitely jump into the party, even if it’s just for a few songs, because no night in New Orleans is complete without a little dancing.
Hour 2: Savor Classic Cajun Cuisine at The Gumbo Shop
Once we’ve soaked in the energy of Bourbon Street, it’s time to refuel with a taste of true New Orleans comfort food. The Gumbo Shop is a local institution, famous for serving some of the best gumbo in the city.
Gumbo is more than just a dish; it’s a symbol of Louisiana’s rich culinary heritage, blending African, French, and Spanish influences into a bowl of savory perfection. At The Gumbo Shop, I’m planning to order their seafood gumbo, a hearty blend of shrimp, oysters, and sausage simmered in a deeply flavorful roux. The warm spices and rich flavors are like a hug in a bowl—exactly what you need to recharge for the rest of the evening.
The Gumbo Shop is also beloved for its inviting atmosphere, with a cozy courtyard that feels like a little oasis in the middle of the bustling French Quarter. If you’re not a fan of gumbo, check out their menu for other tasty meal options.
Expect to pay around $13.50 for a bowl of gumbo.
Hour 3: Indulge in Dessert at Brennan’s
To end my adventure on a sweet note, I’ll head to Brennan’s, a legendary restaurant known for its elegant Creole cuisine and timeless charm. But I’m here for one thing: their world-famous Bananas Foster.
Created at Brennan’s in 1951, Bananas Foster is a New Orleans classic that’s as much a performance as it is a dessert. The dish features bananas flambéed tableside in a decadent sauce of brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and rum, then served over vanilla ice cream. The flames, the aroma, and the rich flavors make it a dining experience like no other.
Brennan’s itself is steeped in history, with its pink façade and beautifully restored interiors making it a destination in its own right. Reservations are a must, and luckily, I’ve snagged one to make sure I get to experience this unforgettable dessert. For anyone who is not a fan of banana’s, Brennan’s has a full dessert menu with other tasty options like The Snickers – which is made with ice cream, Bavarian milk chocolate and caramel. Or their sweet potato creme brulee – made with sweet potato chips, honey marshmallow and pecan-miso ice cream.
Expect to pay around $14 – $15 for any of their desserts
In just three hours, I’ll have soaked in the vibrant energy of Bourbon Street, savored the comforting flavors of gumbo, and indulged in one of New Orleans’ most iconic desserts. It’s a quick trip, but it’s packed with all the things that make this city so special—music, food, history, and a little bit of magic.
Making the Most of Bourbon Street by Mapping it All Out
Now I could stop here, but since we have such a short amount of time for this adventure, I want to make sure I maximize our route and know where to park. So I started by heading over to Google maps to see how each of my must-see venues line up on a route. After adding each establishment to the directions feature, I was able to drag and drop to change the order of each stop to ensure my route was direct without a lot of backtracking.
At first glance, the plan looked solid since everything is within just a few blocks of each other. But when I studied the map a little bit closer it became very clear that we would be doing a fair bit of back-tracking with my initial plan. Since we need to be as efficient as possible, I began playing around with the order of my stops to make the most of our time.
The only major constraint we have is our reservation at Brennan’s at the end of the evening. But there’s no requirement to complete our trip in the order I initially planned. I found that by starting our night at the Gumbo Shop, we could then easily take a direct route to our other stops without covering the same ground over and over again.
Finding the Perfect Parking Spot
One of the biggest decisions I had to make while planning our Bourbon Street adventure was where to park. Since I haven’t booked our hotel yet, I’ve been weighing a few options. Staying at a hotel within walking distance of Bourbon Street would be incredibly convenient, allowing us to skip the parking hassle entirely. But downtown hotels in New Orleans are notoriously pricier than those located further out, like near the airport. And even with the convenience, many of these hotels charge extra for daily parking on top of their room rates, which can really add up.
On the other hand, staying near the airport could save some money on the hotel itself, but it also adds the challenge of parking logistics for the night we plan to visit Bourbon Street. I also had to consider the bigger picture: should we book a stay-and-park package at a hotel or plan on parking at the port when we set sail? Parking at the port is a popular and convenient option for cruisers like us who want to hit the road quickly after disembarking. However, I realized that with some research, I could potentially find a hotel that includes parking for about the same price as the port’s parking fees.
When it came to parking specifically for our Bourbon Street adventure, I wanted to know all the options. My first stop was SpotHero.com, a great tool for finding and reserving parking ahead of time. I found a few lots with reasonable rates, but after adding those parking lots to my Google Maps plan, I realized we’d be walking about 15 minutes each way to get to and from Bourbon Street. With our limited time in the city, those extra 30 minutes would eat into our plans, and I wanted something closer.
Just when I thought I wouldn’t find a good solution, I stumbled upon a small but game-changing note in the FAQs on Brennan’s website: parking for just $8! Not only was this the best rate I’d seen so far, but it was also much closer to Bourbon Street than any of the other parking options I’d found. There’s just one catch—you’ll need to show your Brennan’s receipt when leaving the garage to get this rate. It’s a small step, but completely worth it for the convenience and savings.
With this plan, I’ll be able to park close to all the action, maximizing our short adventure and avoiding the stress of a long walk or expensive parking. It’s a small detail, but one that makes a huge difference when you’re working with limited time.
Planning for Wait Times
One of the key things to consider when planning a quick trip like this is how much time you might spend waiting at each stop. While we have just a few hours to explore, being aware of potential wait times will help us make the most of our evening without feeling rushed. Here’s what I’ve found about the places on our itinerary:
- Tropical Isle for a Hand Grenade
Tropical Isle is a must-visit for their famous Hand Grenade, but since this drink is so iconic, there can be a line during peak times. On a Saturday evening, I’m anticipating a short wait—around 10 to 15 minutes—to order at the bar. The good news? Tropical Isle has multiple locations along Bourbon Street, so if one spot looks too busy, it’s easy to head to another and grab a drink without much delay.
- Finding a Bar to Dance In
Bourbon Street is lined with bars and clubs, and most of them don’t require cover charges, which means you can hop in and out until you find the perfect spot. Depending on the crowd, finding a bar with a good vibe might take 5 to 10 minutes of strolling and peeking inside. But once you’re in, it’s all about enjoying the moment!
- The Gumbo Shop
This New Orleans institution is incredibly popular, especially during dinner hours. If we arrive during the dinner rush, there’s a good chance we’ll face a wait of 20 to 30 minutes for a table. However, the food here is well worth the wait. To minimize delays, I’ll call ahead to see if they accept walk-in reservations or offer a waitlist option.
- Brennan’s for Bananas Foster
Brennan’s is another beloved New Orleans hotspot, known for its fine dining and iconic Bananas Foster. Since we’re visiting just for dessert, the wait time might be shorter than for a full dinner, but it’s still smart to plan ahead. I’ve already made a reservation to ensure we don’t have to wait too long, as Brennan’s can get very busy on weekend evenings. Without a reservation, we could easily face a 30 to 45-minute wait.
By keeping these potential wait times in mind, I’ve built some flexibility into our itinerary. If we arrive at a spot and find that the wait is longer than expected, we’ll have time to adjust our plans and keep the evening fun and stress-free.
Wrapping Up Our Bourbon Street Adventure
As the night winds down, we’ll head back to our car, reflecting on the whirlwind evening we managed to pack into just three hours. From sipping iconic drinks to savoring gumbo and indulging in a tableside dessert experience at Brennan’s, we’ll have enjoyed some of the best that New Orleans has to offer in a short amount of time.
The vibrant energy of Bourbon Street, the incredible food, and the music pouring from every corner will no doubt leave us eager to return. There’s something magical about the way New Orleans wraps you up in its culture, even if only for a few hours.
And while our focus this time was on Bourbon Street, I know there’s so much more of the city left to explore. Whether it’s a beignet from Café du Monde, a stroll through Jackson Square, or discovering the quieter side of the French Quarter, New Orleans has endless adventures waiting for us.
For now, though, I’ll treasure this short but unforgettable evening. As we head back to the hotel to rest up for our cruise, I know one thing for sure: New Orleans isn’t just a city—it’s an experience.