Non-Drinker’s Guide to New Orleans
Our favorite alcohol-free activities in NOLA
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2022 10:23 AM by Mads Reineke
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2022 10:23 AM by Mads Reineke
Along with the food, alcohol and spirits play a role in the culture of New Orleans, but while the city’s world-famous nightlife is lots of fun, booze is not required to enjoy NOLA to the fullest. After all, the Crescent City’s signature brand of hospitality ensures that drinkers and non-drinkers alike can experience all the beauty, culture, and excitement that NOLA has to offer.
Below are just some of the many ways to enjoy a trip to New Orleans sans alcohol.
While almost every bartender can craft an alcohol-free beverage, many local bars and restaurants have specialty mocktail menus and low-ABV drinks that are both fun and delicious. The city also has many great spots for fresh juice and locally-made kombucha to enjoy.
New Orleans may be known as a place to overindulge, but there are also lots of great options to relax and unwind. Check out one of the many spas, parks, healthy dining options, yoga classes, and more to help you enter that New Orleans “laisses-faire” state of mind.
No matter where you roam in NOLA, you’re likely to be near one of many local coffee shops. Whether you’re a caffeine connoisseur or just need a cup of joe to start your day, these cafés have got you covered.
The museums of New Orleans run the gamut of sizes and topics – after all, it’d be hard to fit over 300 years of history in just one building. You can learn the history of the city’s free people of color at Le Musee de fpc, interact with local art, culture, and music at JAMNOLA, get a taste of the culinary traditions the Southern U.S. at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum – just to name a few.
There are tons of ways to take in the natural beauty around (and just outside of) the city. Unlock your adventurous spirit while kayaking on Bayou St. John or soaring through the swamp at Zip NOLA, exploring the city by bike, hitting some of our favorite running paths, enjoying an afternoon of golf, and much more. Or you could combine art and the outdoors with a visit to the Besthoff Sculpture Gardens, located in City Park just next to the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Hone your culinary skills with some fantastic local chefs at one of NOLA’s many cooking schools and classes. Not only is this an opportunity to sample some of the city’s world-famous cuisine, but you also get an awesome souvenir – the ability to get a taste of New Orleans back home whenever you’re feeling nostalgic.
Mads Reineke is a fourth-generation, life-long New Orleanian raised in historic Mid-City. Through a family deeply involved in the hospitality industry, Mads’ love for her hometown started young and only grew stronger.
Living in a city so full of history and legend alike fueled her love of writing and sharing stories, propelling her to pursue a degree in Mass Communication from LSU, where she wrote for the Daily Reveille newspaper and served as an officer in the university’s chapter of PRSSA. When she isn’t writing for business, Mads can be found writing fiction, sketching, or doing crosswords camped in either her favorite coffee shop or under the oaks of City Park. Or, she’s out and about hoping to find yet another thing to love about the Crescent City.