50 Things to Do in New Orleans During Rotoplas 2026

Some of the best food, music and museums in the country are a short walk from Rotoplas. Staff recomendations are marked 👌

Distances are approximate, and hours change, so check before you go.

0 to 0.5 miles: Around the Convention Center

1. Louisiana Civil Rights Museum: Louisiana’s civil rights history, inside the Convention Center near the Julia Street entrance.
2. The National WWII Museum: One of the country’s finest history museums. Allow several hours. 👌
3. Ogden Museum of Southern Art: Southern art, with strong collections of photography and work by self-taught artists. 👌
4. Julia Street galleries: The Arts District’s contemporary galleries, including Arthur Roger and Jonathan Ferrara.
5. The Howlin’ Wolf: Warehouse District music venue with local and touring bands.
6. Cochon and Cochon Butcher: Donald Link’s Cajun cooking, with his sandwich and charcuterie counter next door for a quick lunch. 👌
7. Pêche Seafood Grill: Wood-fired fish and Gulf oysters.
8. Emeril’s: The first restaurant in New Orleans to earn two Michelin stars, now led by chef E.J. Lagasse. Book well ahead.
9. Compère Lapin: Nina Compton’s Creole and Caribbean cooking.
10. The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk: Outlet stores along the river, right next to the Convention Center.

0.6 to 1.0 miles: Easy walks downtown

11. Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium: Gulf and world marine life, plus a butterfly garden and insect exhibits in the same building.
12. Woldenberg Riverfront Park and the Moonwalk: Walk along the Mississippi and watch the river traffic. The park starts at the Aquarium, and the Moonwalk runs on to Jackson Square, a little over a mile away.
13. Algiers Point ferry: A short ride across the Mississippi with great skyline views.
14. Sazerac House: A hands-on cocktail history museum with free tours and tastings for adults. 👌
15. Herbsaint: Southern cooking with a French accent.
16. Willie Mae’s NOLA: The Seaton family’s famous fried chicken, now on Baronne Street downtown.
17. Rouses Market: A local grocery on Baronne Street.
18. Royal Street and M.S. Rau: Antique shops, galleries and fine old buildings.
19. St. Charles Avenue streetcar: Ride the green streetcars past the city’s grand homes. 👌

1.1 to 1.5 miles: The French Quarter

20. Galatoire’s: Classic French Quarter Creole dining. Friday lunch is a local institution. Jackets are required for men at dinner.
21. Carousel Bar: Have a drink at the rotating bar inside Hotel Monteleone.
22. Napoleon House: A muffuletta and a Pimm’s Cup in a building more than 200 years old.
23. Central Grocery: Home of the original muffuletta. A quarter sandwich is plenty for one person. 👌
24. Jewel of the South: One of the city’s best spots for cocktails and food.
25. New Orleans Pharmacy Museum: The history of medicine, some of it unsettling.
26. The Historic New Orleans Collection: A local history museum, with free exhibitions.
27. Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral: Street performers and artists in front of the landmark cathedral. Step inside.
28. Café du Monde: Hot beignets and café au lait at the original French Market location. 👌
29. Faulkner House Books: A small bookstore in Pirates Alley, in the house where William Faulkner once lived.
30. Preservation Hall: Traditional New Orleans jazz in a small, packed room. Buy tickets ahead.
31. Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square: A park honoring the city’s music, and a site central to the history of African American music.
32. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 guided tour: The city’s oldest cemetery and its famous aboveground tombs.

1.6 to 2.5 miles: Frenchmen Street, Trémé and the Lower Garden District

33. New Orleans Jazz Museum: History, instruments and live shows inside the Old U.S. Mint.
34. Frenchmen Street: Walk from one music club to the next. A better bet than Bourbon Street for live music. 👌
35. Louisiana Music Factory: A record store devoted to jazz, blues, funk and Louisiana music. 👌
36. New Orleans African American Museum: Art and history of African American life and culture in Trémé.
37. Turkey and the Wolf: Inventive sandwiches at one of the city’s most talked-about casual spots.

2.6 to 4.0 miles: Garden District, Uptown and Mid-City

38. Garden District mansion walk: Stroll under huge oaks past 19th-century homes.
39. Commander’s Palace: One of the city’s most celebrated restaurants, best for lunch or brunch.
40. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 guided tour: The Garden District’s famous aboveground tombs, across the street from Commander’s. Tours are limited to six a day for groups of 16 or fewer, so book ahead,
41. Magazine Street: Miles of independent boutiques, vintage shops, antiques and home stores.
42. Dooky Chase’s Restaurant: Leah Chase’s restaurant, central to both Creole cooking and the civil rights movement.
43. Parkway Bakery & Tavern: A classic roast beef or fried shrimp po’boy. 👌
44. Liuzza’s by the Track: A Mid-City neighborhood favorite near the Fair Grounds.
45. Cure: The Freret Street bar that helped launch the city’s modern cocktail scene.
46. Tipitina’s: One of the most important music venues in New Orleans.

4+ miles: City Park and beyond

47. City Park: Old oaks, gardens and lagoons.
48. New Orleans Museum of Art and Besthoff Sculpture Garden: A major art museum, plus a sculpture garden with free admission. 👌
49. Dakar NOLA: Chef Serigne Mbaye’s Senegalese tasting menu, recognized by the Michelin Guide. Book well ahead.
50. Maple Leaf Bar: A legendary neighborhood club for funk and Louisiana roots music.

We are on track for a great Rotoplas 2026. Check out all of the education sessions and exhibitors. Here’s the event FAQ.