Our New Orleans Favorites: Shops, Eats, Music, Services, & more (+Pet Friendly & Female-Owned)

We're asked for recommendations in our shop on the regular, so I've created a list of New Orleans favorites to share <3 These are my treasured N.O. small businesses & unique spots including many pet friendly bars, restaurants, and patios as well as women-owned businesses! (Doesn't include all of the New Orleans institutions, you already know those) This is a living list, so we'll keep it updated as we develop new best loves. 

Music
Preservation Hall - FQ - A must go to for locals and visitors. Gives me the goosebumps every time.
d.b.a - Marigny - Lovely ambience, have seen so many amazing shows here. Great vibes.
Music Box Theatre - Bywater - A beautiful spot, created by New Orleans Airlift, Rusty Lazer, & Swoon, the installation is a series of musical houses which are often played by performers. Have seen so many great shows here, everything from Peaches to Lost Bayou Ramblers to Mono Neon to.... 
Toulouse Theatre - FQ - Former One Eyed Jacks - Mix of local and national artists, sad they took out the U-shaped bar inside the theatre, but still a goodie
Chickie Wah Wah - Mid-City - Awesome little spot w/ a mix of local/national artists.
BJ's in the Bywater - Great neighborhood dive bar with music mostly on the weekends, check their calendar on their FB page
Sidney's Saloon - St. Bernard Ave - Great dive bar, fun spot to see local music
Bullet's Sports Bar - 7th Ward - Awesome neighborhood joint, home of The Original Pinettes, an all women brass band
Maple Leaf Bar - Riverbend/Oak Street - Such a fun spot, local musicians most nights
WWOZ Livewire - ALL of the city's music listings, every day of the week, see who's playing!

Shopping

*Pet friendly restaurants/bars
^ = Female Owned/Run

Boutiques
The Good Shop^* - LGD - We had to include our own collective shop! We're home to 40+ local/diverse/female led ethical makers and a curated selection of plastic-free home goods. A great one stop shop for gifts - people say we make gifting easy & that we're like the store on Schitt's creek (thank you)! We're also the only B-Certified store in New Orleans, some see!
Saint Claude Social Club^ -  LGD - Jewelry, Fashion, & seasonal costuming beauties with fun special events, shop closed, check their page for special events
Freda^ - LGD - A beautifully curated shop - a stunning selection of mixed goods
Freedom Apothecary ^ - LGD - A beautiful shop filled with body care goods, skincare, small selection of makeup & clothing - pop in to see what's new!
Merchant House^ - LGD - Great selection of vintage furnishings with local vendors mixed in
Freedom Apothecary^ - LGD - What a beautiful shop. A lovely selection of skincare, wellness products & a small selection of gorg clothing. 
Lekha^ -  LGD - What a beautiful store. Clothing & home goods, ethically made in India
The Collective Shop^ - Uptown - Beautifully curated shop of jewelry, home goods, body care, prints, so many lovely things
Fifi Mahony's^ - FQ - Wigs, glitter, costuming needs
The Collective Shop - Uptown - Pretty selection of home & bath/body goods
Swamp Rags Vintage^ - FQ - Cool tees, caps, and vintage finds
C'mere^ - FQ - Local makers and fashions, check their cute earring selection
Glitter Box^ - FQ - All Female owned businesses showcased in this sweet store that donates a portion of proceeds each month
Lionheart Prints^ - Uptown/FQ - Stationary, pens, clever cards, and custom prints. Huge selection of ornaments for Xmas
FAIT^ - Follow their insta for Truck popups - Plants + a diverse collective of local vendors (closed)
Dirty Coast^ - Local tees and a selection of local makers, mutliple locations throughout the city: LGD, Uptown, FQ
Defend New Orleans (DNO) - LGD & CBD -Thoughtful local tees and makers.

Eats & Drinks:

Oysters:
Sidecar* - CBD - Pretty courtyard with a great selection of local sustainable oysters as well as from other coasts. Love the manchego burger & their salads. Great selection of local beers & pet friendly patio! 
Seafood Sally's*^ - Uptown/Oak Street - I love their migonette w/ jalapenos in it so much, it's so damn good I want to drink it with my beer. Favorite crawfish in town. Great vibes, sweet folks, and waterside feel. Sit on the porch/patio outside w/ your pup or soak up the good vibes inside. Happy hour $1 oysters (& more) 3-6pm daily! (closed but can't bring myself to remove them from the list)
Superior Seafood - Uptown - Awesome happy hour, love their bar & great fries! Chat with the shucker while you slurp down some oysters.
Luke - CBD - Awesome happy hour & it's EVERY DAY, go early to snag a seat at the bar, it gets full quick. Great burger & fries & moules frites.
Seaworthy*  - CBD - Sit at the bar. Good selection of oysters from all of the coasts. Nice ambience. Pet friendly outdoor seating
Felix's on the lakefront* - I prefer the lakefront location since it's on the water, pet friendly downstairs/outdoors. Oysters are good, happy hour during the week. There are bands on the weekends, can get a little packed. I prefer the quieter times personally so will go early or during the week.
Pascale Manale's - Uptown - Sit at the bar & chat with some of the best shuckers in town. Also famous for their bbq shrimp.

Ice Cream:
Rahm Haus*^ - Follow their insta for popup locays - Jillian is the genius of ice cream, I think it's the best ice cream that I've had in my life ever in the world (and I've had a lot). She's always creating new, wonderful flavors, so follow them on insta so you get the latest. Also - a great spot for cakes, both ice cream and not - they're always stunning & the flavors are inspiring and mouth watering. Some of my fave flavors - Cookie Monster (blue from blue spirulina), Black & gold (made with black garlic), & well, just any of them. Get them by the pint or scoop. Closed : (
Lucy Boone^ - Uptown - Check out their new shop on Baronne! Really yummy flavors, we met doing popups at Coquette during the pandemic, what sweet folks. (no pun intended)
Laozi - Mid-City - So good! Behind Mid-City Donuts. Try all of the flavors! Lots of chunky, delicious treats swirled in & on top of pints.
Creole Creamery - Uptown - I had a honey saffron scoop a few summers ago that I still drool over. Lots of classic flavors with seasonal scoops.

Cocktails/Drinks:
I mean the whole dang city, but these are some of my faves:
Pete's Out in the Cold*^ - Irish Channel - If you don't follow their instagram you should, it's hilarious. Best neighborhood bar, bingo, great jukebox, always some good characters hangin, & red baron pizza if you get hungry. Say hi to Foxy! Well behaved pets allowed on the patio only.
Snake & Jake's Christmas Club Lounge - Uptown - If you like hanging in garages w/ a cast of characters like me, you'll love it here. Maybe don't sit on the sofa?
Pal's Lounge - Mid-City - One of the great neighborhood bars. Lots of great food popups and neighbors bring casseroles on Thanksgiving. Easy to lose track of time and spend way too much time at Pal's! The women's bathroom has some hawt posters btw.
Miel*^ - Irish Channel - New Orleans' prettiest brewery. As a designer my eyes are so happy here. Great courtyard with great food popups pretty much daily. Love their seltzers too. So doggie friendly <3 Husband & wife owned/run.
Courtyard Brewery* - LGD Great beers, lots of great food popups, markets, & events. Don't miss Rahm Haus ice cream inside!! A fun, twitter/insta follow. Pet friendly outdoors
St. Vincent Hotel - What a pretty porch, a lovely spot to while the day away with your bestie(s). I love their spritzers, snacks - they have multiple bars/restaurants & they're all beautiful. Yummy cocktails & good, vacation-y vibes. 
The Chloe - Uptown - A great spot for large groups (table for 12 for a bday or whatevs). Where to sit - the porch, front yard, poolside, at the bar, dining room(s), or by the fire pit? This is another spot that makes my design snob eyes happy, it's pretty everywhere you look. Delicious drinks & eats, good vacation-y vibes.
Compere Lapin^ - CBD, close to the FQ - Love the cocktails, delicious small plates, get the biscuits with the yummy butters.
Faubourg Wines^ - St Claude - A fun, neighborhood vibe with a nice wine selection.
The Corporation Bar & Grill - CBD - Grill is only open til 4 or 5, they make a damn good po-boy & a mean grilled cheese. Always a cast of characters. Stays open late. Near the convention center so a mix of locals & convention center visitors.
Tell Me Bar - LGD - Ambience for days & delicious natural wines, yummy popups too, you'll want to move in

Eats:
Uptown
Atchafalaya* - Uptown - A great neighborhood restaurant, awesome for brunch, dinner, happy hour. I love their salads, cocktails, chicken & waffles...Pet friendly seating outside. Jazz brunch on the weekends, think the bloody mary bar is no longer post-pandemic, but that was great. Sweet folks.
Barracuda* - Uptown/Algiers - Yummy tacos and margaritas. Mezcalarita, yes please. Love the queso & guac too. Fresh ingredients & beautifully presented. Low key vibes. Pet friendly patio w/ doggie water bowls. Happy hour during the week, 3-6.
Costera - All the food & drinks here please. Cozy bar, great service, I always want to go back.
Domelise's - Uptown - This is one of my favorite poboys in town, I love the grilled shrimp. Family owned little spot uptown, sweet folks.
Levee Baking Co.^ - Breads, breakfast sammies, cookies, croissants, cakes by the slice or whole cakes, & more - I want it all, all the time, closes in the afternoon & sells out often, so get in there & nab something delicious to make your day!
Mister Mao*^ - Fun vibes, pretty ambience, sweet staff - this is hands down one my fave New Orleans restaurants, if you love spicy food, you'll be in heaven. I love all the eats & drinks here. Pet friendly seating outside. 
Mosquito Supper Club^ - In a beautiful old home, reservations are needed for dinner but can pop in for drinks/snacks at their pretty bar whenevs. Family style meals, multiple delicious courses from Melissa's family recipes, don't miss!
Pomelo^ - Such yummy Thai food & sweet vibes. I'm a noodle lover & I love their soups & noodle dishes & don't forget to get dessert!

LGD
Lengua Madre^  - Traditional Mexican cuisine. Tasting menu, reservations only. Beautiful everything - ambience, food, drinks, wonderful service, I want to go here all of the time. (closed - looking forward to her new place coming soon in the Bywater) now closed but I can't bring myself to delete it, excited for her seafood restaurant opening soon in the Bywater
Piety & Desire Chocolate Bar - Delicious truffles with amazing flavors, some examples: sesame tahini, sourdough, tiki bar. Hot chocolate, affogato, bars, & so many more. Sweet folks!
St. Pizza/Patron Saint Wines - Delicious pizzas by the slice & don't miss their amazing delicous cookie, which they'll heat up in the oven for ya quick. All natural wines in a beautiful space with tasty snacks.
Union Ramen - Love all of the ramens, including broth-less. But the broth is so GOOD! (Eyes roll back in head) Also don't miss the spam appetizer & mushroom confit salad, so deelish.
Hi-Volt - Coffee shop with yummy eats including healthy options, open for breakfast & lunch
Stein's Deli - All of the delicious sandwiches & did you know that they have delicious salads too? I recently discovered this - The Xim Salad + Fernando is my go-to. Great selection of beers & market items. Don't touch the Fonz.

CBD
Butcher* - CBD - If this tells you anything, once I went here twice in one day - lunch & dinner. I love to sit at the bar or outside - you can't go wrong, they've got great everything. I especially love the mac & cheese, brussels, charcuterie plate, bacon melt, burger, & during Mardi Gras get some boudin with some king cake. Pet friendly seating outside.
Peche* - CBD - The best hush puppies & seafood everything. Seriously, I think they're my favorite hush puppies ever. When they have tables outside, can sit w/ your pup on the sidewalk.

Mid-City/7th Ward/Treme
Addis^ - Bayou Road - I love Ethiopian food & am so excited that they're here! Their new Bayou Road location is lovely. Great cocktails too, one of everything please!
Church Alley Coffee Bar^ - Awesome coffee shop w/ delicious eats. Love their iced herbal teas too. Breakfast panini, the salad dressing y'all, & the bagel sandwich - put a fork in me I'm done (bagels are from H&H/NYC).
Flourmoon Bagels^ - The most beautiful bagels. You will be so happy, get everything.
Lagniappe Baking^ - Treme/Order Online - Beautiful pastry boxes, everything is so gorgeous & delicious, my mouth is starting to water just thinking of these perfect confections! 
Leo's Bread^ - So delicious, my mouth is watering already - breads, bagels, sandwiches... get anything and your belly will be so happy.
Margot's - My favorite pizza in town, hands down. Chewy, thin crust, total perfection in my pizza book. Beautiful, initimate space & they have a negroni menu, heaven! Also - their marg is primo.
1000 Figs - Bayou St. John - All the toum please. One of my favorite falafels in town, the fries, the bread, the brussel sprouts, the olives... the just everything. What a cute spot too. I love it all!
Parkway - One of my fave poboy spots, love their condiment bar (their remoulade sauce is the best). Think you can bring your dog to the patio?

French Quarter
Cane & Table - Beautiful ambience, lovely courtyard too. Amazing cocktails & those crispy braised ribs. Can get any cocktail in a pineapple!
Sylvain - A French Quarter classic. Beautiful room, lovely courtyard - I love the pappardelle bolognese & their moscow mule is amazing, so much fresh ginger.
Verti Marte - Oh these po-boys y'all, they're 24 hours so a great late night spot. Also love their mac n cheese, made with spaghetti noodles : )

Bywater/St. Claude
Alma^ - Lovely spot, fresh ingredients, beautiful plates, a pretty spot to look out the window and while the afternoon away with eats and drinks.
Bacchanal - Chocolate bark, vino, build an amazing cheese plate, sit outside beneath the palms, and soak up some tunes with your buds. 
Jamboree Jams & Bakery^ - This sweet Little Jam shop on St. Claude makes amazing jellies & donuts & more - they also have soft serve in the summer & rotating bakery items, go see em'!

West Bank/Metairie/etc:

Mawi Tortillas - Metairie -  Handmade Tortillas, Birria Tacos, Pupusas, yum oh yum! Breakfast, lunch, & an early dinner. Such sweet folks, you're going to want to go back real soon

Stella Maris Cafe & Grocery - Arabi - Craving some shawarma or falafel or baba ganuj? Come & get all the things & shop their grocery too. Don't forget to get a mint lemonade.

Tan Dinh - Gretna - I'm a sucker for a vermicelli bowl & theirs is amazeballs. Love the spring rolls & well, anything. They have a big menu - try it all!

Services:

Hairs Did:
- Jennifro Hair & Makeup - Uptown - Have curly hair and looking for a great haircut and or color? Go see my girl Jennifer, we've been friends since way back & she'll never give you a shrinking haircut! I've loved every cut and color that I've gotten from her over the past 20ish years. She's got curly hair too y'all, she knows! She's also a talented makeup artist and reiki healer. Good vibes all the way. She offers gift cards too
- Sweet Olive Salon - Mid City - A certified sustainable salon, they recycle their foils and 90% of their salon's waste is repurposed or recycled, how great is that! In a pretty New Orleans home in Mid City, they also do non-gendered haircut pricing.

Bicycle Repair:
Dashing Bicycles - LGD - Also my favorite bike shop! Affordable bike repair and such sweet folks, they have an awesome selection of cool bikes.

Green Energy:
Arcadia - Turn your regular electricity usage into power via solar or wind for $5/month - rent, own, commercial, or consumer. Love this so much. See which wind or solar farm is powering your home or business on your account!

 All photos taken by me (Tippy Tippens).