Whether you’re planning a bachelorette party, mom-daughter trip or just a bestie gal getaway, New Orleans is the ideal spot for a weekend girls’ trip. Eat your way through a lavish food and beverage scene, enjoy attractions and live music and find off-the-beaten path activities to satisfy the whole group. Follow the itinerary below for highlights, but remember that there’s always more to see and do in NOLA.

Friday

Kick off your girls’ weekend in true New Orleans fashion with a stop at Café du Monde for beignets and coffee. Not only is the French Quarter location iconic, but it’s also right across the street from Jackson Square, primed and ready for your “Princess and the Frog” moment. Once you’ve fueled up and taken plenty of pictures, get ready to do some walking all around town.

The best way to see and learn about New Orleans in a short amount of time is with a walking tour. Support woman-owned tour companies like Two Chicks Walking Tour for a tour of the Garden District or French Quarter, Drink & Learn for a cocktail tour and Tours By Judy for a Civil Rights Movement tour.

After you’ve worked up an appetite, head to The Rum House for lunch. Enjoy a selection of tacos and Caribbean food alongside signature cocktails. Take your time before heading to Sazerac House, a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to the Sazerac cocktail with free admission and tastings.

If you’re feeling fancy, consider booking a tasting at Ole’ Orleans Wine and Spirits, the only Black woman-owned winery in the city. The owner, Kim Lewis, curates wine from the region, including right here in Louisiana. Enjoy a 45-minute wine tasting in her outdoor space on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard. Afterwards, head to dinner at a place where every member of your group can find something to eat: a food hall! Auction House and Pythian Markets are conveniently located downtown with options for Indian cuisine, seafood, Mexican cuisine and more. Drip Affogato Bar is a great spot for coffee-meets-ice cream nearby.

Saturday

One of the best and most relaxing ways to spend a New Orleans morning is with a walk through the Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. This expansive garden features winding walking paths and plenty of benches and greenspaces in shady areas. Located in beautiful City Park, there’s plenty to explore in the area. When you get hungry, head to lunch at a nearby restaurant.

For traditional New Orleans food, enjoy red beans and fried chicken at Neyow’s Creole Café. For a delicious brunch of Spanish tapas, enjoy Lola’s on Esplanade Avenue. Both are within walking distance of City Park.

Ready to shop until you drop? A girls’ trip to New Orleans wouldn’t be complete without a stroll on Magazine Street. From boutique shops to record stores, bars and restaurants to coffee shops, plus antique stores and spas—everyone will find something to do on Magazine. Take a seat and get your hair styled at Blo Blow Dry Bar while on Magazine. Browse the merchants here to map out your afternoon. When your feet can’t take the heat anymore, enjoy a sugar scrub pedicure from Southern Swings Nail Bar & Spa.

It’s dinner time and you’re Uptown—we have to recommend Jack Rose for dining with the gal pals (two words: disco punch). Move the party up a few floors to Hot Tin, the rooftop bar located above Jack Rose with the best view in the city.

Keep the cocktails flowing and the ambiance just right with a venture to Bar Marilou in the Warehouse District. Small bites and craft cocktails in a lounge-y atmosphere has made this spot a local’s favorite.

When you’re full of cocktails and good food, enjoy live music on Frenchmen (or just about anywhere in NOLA on a Saturday night). You can also check out Preservation Hall, Tipitina’s, The Maison or Lafitte’s Blacksmith’s late-night piano bar, for tunes that flow nonstop.

Sunday

Ready to get moving? Pole Perfect Fitness offers group classes in pole dancing basics, plus hula hooping and Pilates. If pole dancing isn’t quite your cup of tea, we’d recommend visiting Congo Square on a Sunday afternoon around 3 p.m. for the weekly community drum circle. As a gathering spot for enslaved Africans and free people of color throughout centuries, Congo Square is a great place for learning more about the city’s Black culture.

Lined with dozens of bars and restaurants, the French Quarter is the perfect place for a late afternoon cocktail crawl. Check out our French Quarter Cocktail Crawl for ideas.

End your busy day exploring NOLA with dinner at Meril in the Warehouse District. This Emeril Lagasse restaurant has seafood, ribs, salads and flatbreads along with a great selection of signature cocktails and desserts. If someone in your group is celebrating, make sure to let the waiter know (cotton candy fireworks, anyone?).

Lagniappe (a little something extra)

Of course, we can’t end our itinerary without a few additional dining recommendations. Check out Birdy’s or Backatown Coffee Parlour for breakfast, Copper Vine or Lilly’s for lunch, Jewel of the South or Bacchanal for dinner and The Elysian Bar or Effervescence for drinks. And if you’re planning a bachelorette party, check out our itinerary here.