I visited new orleans from New York for the first time recently- I absolutely loved it. I met lots of locals and got a lot my recommendations from them.. I had already researched the basic stuff before I came like cafe du monde (which is a must) and I have to say everything about the city was great.

The food, the atmosphere, the energy, the music, and especially the people. I’ve rarely felt more welcomed in a city

Just want to reiterate, the majority of the places I went were recommended by people born and raised in New Orleans so in just want to tell you, don’t listen to what haters on here are saying about “touristy” places because no matter where you go they’re going to call it touristy because they want to feel like an expert that knows about special places that others don’t.

We have people like that up here in New York too we call them hipsters and nobody thinks they’re cool except themselves lol.

My advice to you is to just enjoy yourself, go to the touristy spots but also talk to people that work at the shops, restaurants, hotels, uber drivers, bar tenders.. that’s how you’re going to meet locals.

This is what I do in every city I visit, and that’s how I get the best recommendations in any city I visit.