Unusual Date Night Ideas for New Orleans
This is a collaborative post.
There are few cities in the southern United States that are as charming, mysterious, and magical as New Orleans. This Louisiana city, founded in 1718, is rich in history, Gothic lore, and culture with French, African American, Creole, and Spanish influences. It is an amazing location with something new to discover around every corner, making it an excellent place for couples to enjoy a unique and unforgettable date night. If you love haunted places and fancy a visit to explore haunted America, specifically New Orleans, then these suggestions should help.
10 Suggestions for a Memorable Date Night in New Orleans
Coming up with new ideas for date night that will keep you and your significant other entertained can sometimes be difficult. But no worries, we’re here to help with some fun ideas for a date night in the Big Easy. Whether you are looking for something extravagant and exciting or simplistic and affordable, these suggestions are a great place to start.
1. Take a Romantic Stroll Through the Garden District
The Garden District is one of the most enchanting areas in NOLA, making it the ideal romantic location for an evening stroll on your date night. This historic neighbourhood is well-known for its streets lined with oak trees, beautiful, maintained gardens, and a well-preserved collection of southern antebellum mansions. There are also several majestic historic homes in the area, including the Buckner Mansion, which was the former home of author Anne Rice.
Some of the key places to visit while you are in the area include…
The Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
Founded in 1833, Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is one of the oldest cemeteries in the city. It is known for the exquisite above-ground tombs featuring Gothic, Neo-Classical, and Victorian-style tomb architecture. It is frequently used as a filming location for popular TV shows and movies such as the 1994 film Interview with a Vampire and the CW television series The Vampire Diaries and The Originals.
Magazine Street
Everything you need to make your date night complete can be found on bustling Magazine Street. The origins of this street date back to the late 1700s when it became home to a variety of rue de Magasins, or shops. The street is a shopper’s paradise with a great collection of small boutiques, vintage shops, and clothing stores. There are several places to grab a bite to eat, or you can enjoy the vibrant nightlife of NOLA at one of the many bars or upscale cocktail lounges.
St. Charles Avenue
St. Charles Avenue dates back to the 1830s, when it was filled with grand Queen Anne-style residential homes, many of which are still there today for you to admire. There is a streetcar that can take you along the five-mile trek of the avenue as you gaze upon some of the most impressive mansions in the city. If you are in town for Mardi Gras, St. Charles Avenue is the place to be because it is where most of the parades travel. There are also many festivals and live performances held in the area throughout the year that you can check out for free.
2. Go on a Walking Ghost Tour or Haunted Pub Crawl
The LaLaurie Mansion – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
Taking a walking tour of the city is an excellent way to learn more about the history of New Orleans while also spending some quality time with the one you love. And if you want to make your date night extra thrilling, you can check out a ghost tour or haunted pub crawl hosted by New Orleans Ghosts. The company offers a variety of spooky and non-spooky walking tours where you will visit some of the most popular and enchanting locations in town. It’s an excellent opportunity to get a little closer to the one you love.
Shadows of Midnight Ultimate Late Night New Orleans Ghost Tour
This spooky ghost tour takes you on a late-night adventure through Jackson Square, one of the oldest historic districts of New Orleans. Along the way, you will explore the oldest buildings in the area that are linked to spooky tales of the unknown and visit popular sites like the Lalaurie Mansion and the Old Ursuline Convent. Your expert tour guide will share stories of tragedy, murder, and scandals that are sure to haunt you long after your date night has ended.
Time and Money: Tombs and Mansions of the Rich and Famous
If you and your date would rather just learn about the history of New Orleans, you can choose this interesting tour – the Tombs and Mansions of the Rich and Famous of New Orleans – that shows a less haunting side of NOLA’s intricate tombstones and elegant mansions. This tour focuses on the facts behind some of the most beautiful and intriguing locations in town, such as the Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.
New Orleans Ghosts, Boos, and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl
If you are ready to spend the night out on the town and mingle with other couples, a Boos and Booze pub crawl is the place to be. This two-hour-long pub crawl takes you to visit some of the most popular places along the French Quarter, where you can enjoy a cold drink or a delicious meal, all while learning about haunting ghost legends from the company’s knowledgeable tour guides.
3. Have a Sunset Picnic
Picnic – Public Domain Image
Having a picnic in the park at sunset is one of the most romantic date night experiences you can have in New Orleans, as well as one of the most affordable. There are many public locations throughout the city where you can admire the NOLA skyline at sunset as you share a meal or snack with that special someone. Two of the top places that we recommend include Lakefront City Park and New Orleans City Park.
Lakefront City Park
The enchanting Lakefront city park, originally founded following the Second World War, is best known for family fun and exploration. It is also the top NOLA location for delicious seafood and homemade ice cream, which you could enjoy during your picnic. Plus, there are plenty of shopping opportunities at the park if you want to grab a souvenir to help you remember this special night.
New Orleans City Park
New Orleans City Park is home to 1,300 acres of outdoor fun. Here you can explore the beautiful botanical garden, spend your evening on a peaceful bike ride, or relax while sitting near the Big Lake. Special attractions are held at the park throughout the year, with one of the most popular being the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, featuring more than 90 captivating street art sculptures on display, surrounded by lagoons, Spanish moss-laden live oaks, magnolias, pines, and camellias.
4. Enjoy Live Music Together
Jazz – Public Domain Image
New Orleans is well known for being the birthplace of jazz music. The high-spirited sound emerged during the late 19th century from the city’s mix of African, Caribbean, and European traditions. With jazz and other forms of music being so popular in the city, it is no surprise that there are so many options where you can listen to live music, many times for free.
Just take a stroll down one of New Orleans’ historic streets, and you will find talented local musicians playing in front of buildings and on the corner. Frenchman Street is one of the best places to hear jazz acts playing nightly. You can also go to Preservation Hall at 726 St. Peter to hear traditional jazz performances almost every night of the year. This location has been in the French Quarter since 1961, and while it may be a modest building with no air conditioning and plain wooden floors, it offers a unique live music experience that you can’t find anywhere else.
5. Explore the French Quarter
The French Quarter at night – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
The French Quarter is perhaps the most popular place to visit while you are in New Orleans. It is an excellent location for a date night because there are so many options for food, drinks, music, and entertainment.
Take a Romantic Carriage Ride
A private carriage ride through the French Quarter is a great way to see all the sights and spend a romantic evening with the one you love. These rides typically last around one hour and will take you through historic neighborhoods where you can learn more about the history, architecture, and culture of New Orleans, thanks to your helpful tour guide. You have the option to bring along a snack or beverage to enjoy on the ride.
Visit the St. Louis Cathedral
The St. Louis Cathedral is a beacon of light in the French Quarter. It is an enchanting historic landmark that is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting the area. It features impressive old-world architecture, and when people step inside, they say they feel a great sense of tranquility, making it a place to relax and reset after an overstimulating day in the city.
The cathedral can be found on Jackson Square and is often surrounded by local artists and street performers, making it a one-stop spot for anyone who enjoys architectural history and learning about local culture.
6. Relax with a Drink and Authentic Louisiana Cuisine
Crawfish boil, a staple of Cajun cuisine – Public Domain Image
Going out to dinner may seem like a boring date night option at first, but when you choose to go out to eat or grab a drink in New Orleans, it is sure to be an experience you won’t soon forget.
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop
The historic bar is one of the greatest places to be during Mardi Gras. It was built between 1722 and 1732. It is known as the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States.
According to the local lore, Jean Lafitte and his brother, Pierre Lafitte, operated a blacksmith shop here as a cover-up for selling goods as well as the enslaved people they plundered while sailing the high seas. The brothers served in the Battle of New Orleans, and Jean later acted as the leader of the Frenchmen of Barataria.
The bar is linked to many historical tales and even a few haunted stories that you may hear while drinking among friends and locals on your date night.
Arnaud’s Restaurant
Arnaud’s is a one-hundred-year-old establishment that offers some of the best Creole-inspired food in town. This traditional restaurant is the ideal place to celebrate your love for one another. It was opened by a French wine salesman named Arnaud Cazenave in 1918. He believed that the pursuit of the pleasures of the table was as worthy as anything else one chooses to pursue in life.
That mission is something the staff at the restaurant has continued to strive for more than a century later. While you’re there, you can enjoy your meal in the main dining room or the Jazz Bistro. You can also have a drink at Frech 75 or the Richelieu Bar.
7. Visit Popular Historic Buildings and Landmarks
Going sightseeing in New Orleans with your partner can be a fun experience, whether it is your first time in the city or you visit frequently. Learning something new about the popular sites and landmarks throughout the Big Easy can help you create memorable moments between you that will last a lifetime. Here are a couple of popular spots to visit on your date.
Congo Square
Located inside Armstrong Park is Congo Square. It was once a meeting place where enslaved Africans and the free people of color would gather during the 18th and 19th centuries. Every Sunday, the park would be filled with joyous live music and dancing, which helped to shape the present-day New Orleans music scene.
Today, Congo Square is an important place in town where annual festivals are held as well as other gatherings such as drum circles and second lines. While it’s open every day, Sunday evenings are the best time to go because that’s when the local musicians carry out the same tradition of the weekly gatherings from long ago.
New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
Voodoo has always been a part of New Orleans culture. Whether you are a skeptic or a believer, this form of magic is something that intrigues so many people once they hear about it. The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum preserves this aspect of NOLA history through entertainment and education, letting visitors explore the magic and mysteries behind this ancient practice.
8. Take a Jazz Cruise
Jazz – Public Domain Image
Have the date night of your dreams when you take a cruise along the Mississippi River. And make it even more special by choosing a cruise that features dinner and live jazz music. These evening tours last around two hours and provide impressive views of the NOLA skyline.
As you ride in an old-fashioned steam wheeler paddleboat, you can enjoy a refreshing cocktail for two while chilling on the deck; you can also enjoy listening to talented local artists playing soothing jazz music as you dine on authentic Creole-style dishes. There are several cruise tour providers available in the area, so be sure to look around to find the one that’s best for you.
9. Go to the Audubon Zoo or Aquarium
Two of the top tourist attractions in New Orleans are the Audubon Zoo and Aquarium. These locations are a part of the Audubon Nature Institute, which features several fun nature parks and attractions, including Parks and Athletics, an Insectarium, and a Conservation & Nature program.
The Audubon Zoo
The Audubon Zoo is one of the top attractions in New Orleans and is located in the historic area of Uptown. The zoo features endangered and exotic animals from all around the world. There are several natural habitats on-site for the animals, which make them feel right at home, such as the Louisiana Swamp and the iconic Monkey Hill.
The Audubon Aquarium
The Audubon Aquarium is an indoor, underwater world featuring stunning Caribbean reefs, ocean tunnels, and an adorable penguin exhibit. While there, you can touch a sting ray and get as close as possible to sharks and sea turtles. The aquarium takes pride in its efforts to preserve marine life by working with the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program, preparing many of the animals featured in their tanks to be released back into the wild.
10. Spend Some Time in Nature
Biking in nature – Public domain image
New Orleans offers several different ways for you and your partner to enjoy nature. You can rent a blue bike to ride down the 2.6-mile Lafitte Greenway linear park and multi-use trail. Or take a ride in a tandem kayak along Bayou St. John, which is known for its beautiful scenery and annual festivals, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
These are just a few ideas for fun and romantic things you and your loved one can do while in New Orleans. As you get out and explore the city, you are sure to find even more ways that you can jazz up your date night in this magical and mysterious town.
