If there’s one place that knows how to celebrate any kind of occasion, it’s New Orleans, and birthdays are certainly no exception. Whether you take vacation time from work or save the party for the weekend, check out these tips to plan your perfect NOLA birthday.

Morning

New Orleans is a great place to wake up on your birthday with so many great dining options in every neighborhood. A few places we’d recommend for a birthday breakfast or brunch include Birdy’s Behind the Bower Up&Adam Eatz, Surrey’s Café & Juice Bar,  and one of French Truck Coffee’s many locations. 

Once you’re filled up on tasty food, head out to an attraction or two, or combine that first meal of the day with a show! New Orleans is home to a bevy of drag brunches and jazz brunches so you can start the party early and keep it going all day long. Be sure to make a reservation in advance. For a full list of our favorite breakfast and brunch spots, check out this list.

Afternoon

Spend the day exploring local breweries and taste-testing new beers at on-site taprooms. To check out multiple breweries, plan a crawl starting at NOLA Brewing, then heading to Urban South, and ending at Port Orleans. If you’re visiting over a weekend, NOLA Beer Bus handles the logistics of getting brewery-to-brewery with their hop-on-hop-off style shuttle service. Not much of a beer drinker? Order some cocktails and relax amidst the ambiance at the Elysian Bar or, enjoy the view from the Rooftop at The Barnett or any one of NOLA’s rooftop hotspots.

If you prefer something more low-key, be sure to check the festival calendar. Local markets are also held throughout the year and often feature live music. Check out Arts Market of New Orleans (the second and last Saturday of every month) or take a stroll (or a bike) down any of the city’s most iconic streets and experience the food, shopping, culture, history, and more that you can only find in the Crescent City.

Evening

As the sun goes down, it’s time to grab some dinner! Whether you want to keep the momentum going and stroll somewhere casual or go back to wherever you’re staying to put on your birthday best, New Orleans’ restaurant scene is the gift that keeps on giving. Book your reservation at one of the city’s most famous restaurants, treat your tastebuds to a meal from a James Beard Award-winning restaurant, or browse our restaurant directory  to find a place that best fits your birthday vibe.

It wouldn’t be a birthday without a slice of cake (or a cupcake if that’s more your style) from one of the spots on our list of best cakes in New Orleans! Or, try a twist on a classic and grab some cocktails and specialty beignets at The Vintage. If ice cream is your preferred birthday treat, check out The Creole Creamery, Drip Affogato Bar, or Piccola Gelateria.

After dessert, venture out to see live music, a play, a comedy show, or other performance. Check the calendars for the Saenger Theatre, the AllWays Lounge, the Joy Theater, the Civic Theatre, the Marigny Opera House, and Comedy House NOLA.

Late Night

Nighttime is best for catching live music. Tipitina’s is an old favorite, and there’s always a wide variety of shows in tons of different genres – most of which you can find on our live music calendar. Alternatively, pop into almost any music club on Frenchman Street or St. Claude Avenue or one of our best places to hear jazz music. If you’d rather be the star of the show, check out one of the city’s karaoke hotspots (Cats Meow and Kajun’s Pub are classics) or dance to a beat of your own at one of NOLA’s best dance clubs. No matter your vibe, there’s always something going on in the city’s thriving nightlife scene.

Kid's Birthdays in New Orleans

While this itinerary is clearly geared towards adults, there are plenty of ways to celebrate a child’s birthday in New Orleans for the whole family to enjoy. Explore, play, and learn a bit along the way at the Louisiana Children’s Museum, and the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium, experience the rhythmic fun of the Music Box Village, or jump into the kooky world of JAMNOLA. After a busy day, treat them to dinner at Pizza Domenica or Dat Dog, then ice cream at Lucy Boone or gelato at Angelo Brocato’s, or you can always go for the classic beignets at Café du Monde.

For the night owls, catch a movie at the Prytania Theatre, get your game on at City Putt, enjoy the thrills of the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, or, for young music lovers, drop into one of these places to see live music for people under 21. You can find even more kid-friendly fun in our family itinerary.

Lagniappe: Of course, New Orleans has a special tradition for birthday folks to help celebrate their special day. Before starting your day, pin a single (or a couple) dollar bill to your ‘fit, and many locals will add to your fund along with birthday wishes!