Things to Do Near the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)

Where to eat, drink, and play near the Mid City art museum

With a history over a century, the New Orleans Museum of Art has long been a destination for visitors. The museum hosts an impressive permanent collection of more than 40,000 objects in addition to rotating exhibits that draw travelers from far and wide. Situated in New Orleans’ City Park, there’s plenty to explore just steps outside the museum. Read on below for where to stay, what to see, and where to eat and drink when visiting the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Where to Stay Near NOMA

If you’re wanting to stay near the museum, booking a bed & breakfast is the way to go. Oakview Bed & Breakfast is located right across from City Park. The Canal Street Inn is located just a few streetcar stops away and holds 11 charming and unique guestrooms.

Things to Do Near NOMA

NOMA is located in beautiful City Park, a New Orleans treasure. The 1300-acre park features dozens of attractions including Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, New Orleans Botanical Garden, Louisiana Children’s Museum, Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, City Putt, Storyland, and more. You could spend a whole day or a whole trip exploring City Park.

Outside of the park, find the Lafitte Greenway, lined with breweries and small businesses, and Bayou St. John, a fun place to go kayaking or paddleboarding. Visit the Pitot House Museum, a West Indies-style historic home. The New Orleans Lakefront, great for boat-watching, is not too far from the museum either.  

Hop on the historic streetcar and ride all the way down Canal Street, which ends at the foot of the French Quarter.

Where to Eat Near NOMA

Conveniently located inside the museum, Café NOMA serves flatbreads, sandwiches, and salads during museum hours. Café du Monde is also located in City Park, so beignets are just a hop, skip, and jump away. MOPHO has pho, vermicelli, and other Asian specialties, and Monday Restaurant + Bar is the perfect place for New Orleans cuisine like red beans & rice. For BBQ, head to Blue Oak, and for breakfast, visit Toast. Craving a sweet treat? Pandora’s Snowballs is open during the summer.

Esplanade Avenue is home to many great restaurants. Enjoy Spanish cuisine at Lola’s, Tex-Mex at Santa Fe, French food at Café Degas, and Ethiopian cuisine at Addis NOLA, located just off Esplanade on Bayou Road.

Where to Drink Near NOMA

After a busy day exploring Mid-City, wind down with a drink. Deutsches Haus is within walking distance from the museum and specializes in German beer. Pal’s Lounge is a neighborhood bar with plenty of personality. Other hangs in Mid-City include The Bulldog, Finn McCool’s, and Twelve Mile Limit.