Romantic Things To Do in New Orleans

We recently spent a romantic long weekend in New Orleans and fell in love with the city. There is just something about New Orleans. The live music, the amazing food, the great people, and the atmosphere that just invites romance and great date nights. These are some of the epic Romantic Things to do in New Orleans

Romantic Things To Do in New Orleans

You can combine amazing food, live music, gorgeous sites altogether for an amazing date night in New Orleans. We found ourselves wandering the riverbank holding hands, sipping on iconic New Orleans cocktails, and just enjoying being together.

An Evening by the River

They say the New Orleans moon makes the mighty Mississippi River the golden seaway of the South. An evening by the Mississippi begins with a carriage-ride to the French Market, followed by dinner at Bella Luna, an elegant contemporary restaurant with massive windows overlooking the river.

Watch the ocean-liners sashay around the bend in the river, or contemplate the rooftops of the French Quarter as you dine on Chef/Owner Horst Pfeifer’s roasted corn and smoked shrimp bisque and herb-crusted lamb loin.

The chef grows the herbs in a convent garden just two blocks away. After sharing double fudge ice cream topped with Jack Daniels, take a leisurely stroll down the golden-lighted Moonwalk along the River.

Have a coffee at the historic Café du Monde and decide where the rest of the evening will take you.

St. Charles Avenue Streetcar

No trip to New Orleans, honeymoons included, is complete without a streetcar ride up the Avenue, with stops at all the great New Orleans haunts you’ve heard so much about.

In fact, disembark in the Garden District and stroll among some of the city’s most magnificent mansions.

See if you can spot Anne Rice’s former digs, or at least find where one well-known rock star has a house nearby. Probably so.

Then have a “sloppy” roast beef “po-boy” at one of the neighborhood joints, and once you’re back onboard the streetcar, ride up to the University area and spend some time in the world-famous Audubon Park, especially at the Audubon Zoo.

As the sun sets, the mansions on St. Charles take on a new glow, particularly those with massive diamond-cut glass doorways. The view outside the trolley is only matched by the people-watching opportunities in the car. It is an adventure.

An Afternoon at City Park

New Orleans’ City Park offers an expansive combination of urban sophistication and natural beauty. There aren’t many cities that can boast 100-year old oak trees with Spanish moss cascading over tranquil lagoons.

It’s one of the most beautiful spots in the city and home to the majestic New Orleans Museum of Art. Once inside the park, walk hand-in-hand until you find the perfect shady spot for a long afternoon picnic.

Rent a canoe or a paddle-wheel boat and work off that lunch while seeing the beauty of the park at the same time. It’s a glorious way to spend a day.

The Nightclub Scene

How about a full-fledged date, just the two of you, club-hopping through the City that Care Forgot?

Ladies, break out the little black dress, and gentlemen, go casual but cool. Start off by catching the show at the legendary Chris Owens Club on Bourbon Street.

Ms. Owens is one of the city’s premier entertainers, and the show is a must-see for all. Just blocks away you can enjoy Pat O’Brien’s hurricanes. As the evening wears on, work your way to House of Blues, on Chartres Street, where the music menu is about as eclectic as the appetizer selection.

Find a quiet corner where you can sway to the rhythms together, but remember as the evening progresses, you need to be in midtown to catch the late show at Le Chat Noir, New Orleans’ one and only real cabaret. Right this way, your table awaits. Around midnight, hail a cab and head uptown to the world-famous Tipitina’s on Napoleon Avenue.

You never know if the night’s rhythmic fare might be Bonnie Rait, or Jimmy Buffet, or maybe the Neville Brothers. After the show, you may want to wind your way back to the Quarter, over to the Royal Sonesta, for some late-night jazz and a night-cap. Don’t forget to find jazz crooner Jeremy Davenport play at the Ritz Carlton New Orleans.

Then begin with his show tomorrow night. Where did the time go? Is that the sun coming up east of the river?

Thank you to the New Orleans CVB for sharing some of these Romantic Date Ideas in New Orleans with us.

We truly believe New Orleans is one of the best romantic getaways in USA! There is so much to do in the city and the atmosphere is just amazing.

Additional New Orleans Resources

Free Things to do in New Orleans

New Orleans Travel Tips

Steamboat Natchez Mississippi River Cruise

Restaurants in the French Quarter

New Orleans Jazz NHP

Jean Lafitte NHP

Louisiana National Parks

Check out all of our New Orleans Travel Guides