Beyond Bourbon Street: Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in New Orleans
New Orleans is one of my favorite cities to visit down South. The city is over 300 years old and is steeped in history and is home to a fascinating blend of cultures that have influenced the cities architecture, music, and food for centuries now.
New Orleans is also a city that knows how to party. On any given day, you can find a concert in the street and create your own bar crawl depending on your mood. But one of the most fun holidays in New Orleans is St. Patrick’s Day. Sure, they just finished Mardi Gras celebrations, but this city can’t resist a celebration with all the fanfare, and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception. With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, Hotels.com asked me to share my St. Paddy’s guide to New Orleans to help you go beyond Bourbon Street and plan your trip.
Find a place to stay
The French Quarter is one of the most popular places to stay in New Orleans. If you choose this neighborhood you’ll have restaurants and bars at your doorstep; there’s even a St. Patrick's Day Parade that swings through. You can also choose a quieter neighborhood like the Garden District if staying near Bourbon Street isn’t your thing.
Irish Heritage
British persecution, the Potato Famine, and a desire for new opportunities sent waves of Irish immigrants to the United States. Many were drawn to New Orleans because of its Catholic traditions and it was once the largest population of Irish immigrants in the United States. The first St. Patrick’s Day celebration in New Orleans was held in 1809 and throughout the 19th century, Irish social and benevolent organizations were formed, and Irish theater thrived. The Irish Channel neighborhood, although not really an Irish neighborhood anymore, is still the hub of the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
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St. Patrick’s Day Parades in New Orleans
There are parades and block parties for a couple of weeks in New Orleans but these are the two main parades.
Irish Channel Parade on St. Patrick’s Day - New Orleans, Louisiana
The Irish Channel Parade is the OG and viewed as the main event. This parade is fun. I don’t know why I was surprised, I mean, it's essentially Irish pub turned giant block party roaming through the streets. You’ll see some wild floats and tuxedo-clad men tossing Irish stew ingredients, and trading kisses on the cheek/hand for roses. Seriously, watch out for flying cabbage heads. I love this parade because while there’s tons of energy, people dancing and drinking, we were still able to find a grassy spot in the sun to spread out with a cooler of beer and had a fantastic afternoon.
Irish Channel Parade, New Orleans
The Downtown Irish Club Parade is always on St. Patrick’s Day and goes through the French Quarter with multiple stops on Bourbon Street. It’s a lot of fun as well with plenty of bead throwing. If you want to see the whole parade and have a dedicated bar and bathroom situation, bars like Molly’s at the Market in the French Quarter will sell tickets to their balcony.
Other places to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans
Pat O’Brien’s - founded by an Irishman and invented the sweet (but deadly) Hurricane cocktail. It is worth it to go for one and hang out in the courtyard.
Tracey’s on Magazine has been around since 1949 and known as the original Irish Channel Bar. They’re also known for Po Boys, cold beer, and a great party so obviously, they are packed on St. Patrick’s Day.
Molly’s at the Market - Classic saloon off Bourbon Street and deep in the French Quarter. They’re known for their frozen Irish coffee but stock all the classics as well. They also throw a parade the Friday night before the Irish Channel Parade.
Related content: Girls Weekend in New Orleans
I’m not a fan of green beer so here are a couple of other options:
NOLA Brewery - Once the brewing capital of the South, Hurricane Katrina saw the last of the New Orleans breweries close down. In 2008, the guys behind NOLA Brewing decided to bring brewing back to the big easy and they’ve been making really good beer ever since. I’m a fan of the Lager and Irish Channel Stout.
The Bulldog - 48 taps and the best patio on Magazine Street. I think that says it all! They have some really good pub food too if you need a snack.
When in New Orleans, Eat Well and Often.
The key to surviving St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans (or any trip to New Orleans for that matter) is to eat. And eat well. These are a few of my favorite spots for a fantastic meal.
Haydel’s Bake Shop is a three-generation family-run operation on Magazine Street famous for their King Cakes and Christmas Kringles. Y’all know I love sweets so finding a unique bakery or sweet shop is always on my to-do list. My sorority sister Katie and New Orleans local shared this spot with me!
Want to try a little of everything? Try this afternoon Food History Tour
Atchafalaya - This quaint little restaurant serves up big flavor in the Irish Channel. Brunch here is considered the main event and one of the best in the country. The Bloody Mary bar is next level with every accouterment imaginable. I’m a pickled okra fan myself. They have the usual players and Creole concoctions like boudin and cheese curd boulettes (fried meat and cheesy goodness!) Fried Gulf Oyster Benedict.
Le Crepe Nanou - If you’re looking for something quiet for a night, I love this neighborhood French bistro in Uptown. It’s BYO wine and has decadent and affordable crepes.
Dat Dog - This is the ultimate hot dog stand and a great place to duck in for a quick bite during the parade. They have unique sausages like crawfish, alligator, and classics like smoked brats. Vegan/vegetarian? No problem. They make four different vegan sausages like the smoked apple and sage dog. They have a long list of delicious toppings like relish, crawfish étouffée, guacamole, and chili. But if you can’t decide, tell them to dress it for you. There’s tons of outdoor seating so grab a beer at the bar and chill.
Le Petite Grocery - I can’t recommend this spot enough! If you get a second wind after a long day in the sun, go out to dinner at Le Petite Grocery. As a James Beard Award Winner you know it’s going to be good. I love the Blue crab beignets (holy jeez), Turtle Bolognese (!!) but the burger, is my jam. And yes you need the fries.
What to do in New Orleans when you Need a Break from food and booze
Shop
If you need a break from food and booze, hit the shops on Magazine Street. I love vintage shopping and in a city like this treasures abound. There are dozens of shops but a couple of my favorites are Funky Monkey and Bambi DeVille Vintage.
Take a Tour
If you don’t want to be tempted by beautiful trinkets and clothes, visit a museum or take a history tour. Lafayette Cemetery is an eerily beautiful place to visit in the city. Thanks to my time as a cultural resource surveyor, I have an affinity for really old cemeteries. I’ve wandered around on my own before but might be interested in a ghost tour on my next trip.
If you’re into architecture and history, I’d highly recommend a tour of the Garden District. These are some of the most exquisite homes and gardens in the country. I only meandered on my own but next time I’d love to do an extensive tour. As you can imagine there are lots of architecture and history tours in New Orleans and I’d recommend starting with New Orleans Architecture Tours because they partner with the New Orleans Architecture Foundation. Most cities and states have a local non-profit that provides education and advocacy for a city's architecture and cultural resources. In my experience, tours that are endorsed by groups like this usually have the most knowledgeable guides and the money is in part going back to the non-profit.
I’ve always done a DIY architecture tour (maybe I’ll write mine down one of these days) and you can do it too! Walking in New Orleans is like walking through a living museum in a way so bring a good pair of kicks, choose a neighborhood, and hit the streets.
Pin this for later to plan your St. Patrick’s Day trip to New Orleans
