Magazine Street, New Orleans: A Bachelorette Neighborhood Guide

What Magazine Street Actually Is

Magazine Street runs six miles from the CBD through the Lower Garden District, the Garden District, and into Uptown. The shops are almost entirely locally owned, the restaurants skew creative rather than touristy, and the energy is the opposite of Bourbon Street.

For a bachelorette weekend, this is your day two recovery stretch. Shop, eat, drink something with a view, then head back to the Quarter for the night.

How to Walk It

The most walkable section runs from Felicity Street up to Napoleon Avenue. That is about two miles of nonstop boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, and bars. Most groups Uber to one end and walk back, ducking into shops and grabbing rounds along the way.

If your group has a runner, the strip is flat. If you have eight or more, plan to split into two pods. Magazine Street shops are small and a group of twelve will not fit inside most of them.

Shopping Stops Worth Hitting

Fleurty Girl

Local-girl gifts and souvenirs that are not Bourbon Street trash. T-shirts, jewelry, and koozies that travel well. Most bach groups walk out with matching gifts for the bride here.

Dynamo

Female-run boutique that hosts private parties for bachelorette groups. Book ahead if you want to take over the space for an hour. Romantic clothing, candles, and intimates.

Funky Monkey

Vintage and costume-leaning clothing. This is the place to buy the bride a wig or a feathered headpiece for the second night.

Lionheart Prints

Stationery and prints made locally. Great spot for the maid of honor to grab thank-you cards for after the trip.

Where to Eat on Magazine

Gris-Gris

Best for: Lunch with a balcony view | Price: $25 to $50 per person

Refined Southern menu with one of the best balconies on Magazine. Book the balcony specifically. Order the cornbread and the shrimp and grits.

Dakar NOLA

Best for: A standout dinner stop | Price: $90 prix fixe

James Beard recognized Senegalese tasting menu from chef Serigne Mbaye. This is a destination meal, not a quick lunch. Book six weeks out if you want a Saturday.

Joey K''s

Best for: Cheap, fast, classic Louisiana | Price: $15 to $25 per person

Red beans and rice on Monday, jambalaya every day. This is the lunch your wallet will thank you for.

La Boulangerie

Best for: Morning coffee and pastries before the walk | Price: $10 to $18 per person

Real French bakery. Start your day here. The kouign amann is worth the calories.

Where to Drink on Magazine

Hot Tin (rooftop of the Pontchartrain)

Best for: Sunset cocktails with a view | Price: $15 to $19 per cocktail

The most-photographed rooftop in New Orleans. Book in advance. Sunset is the only slot worth booking.

Jack Rose (downstairs from Hot Tin)

Best for: A dinner that turns into a long night | Price: $40 to $80 per person

Dramatic dining room, strong cocktail program, and ceiling treatments that show up in every Instagram caption. Pair Hot Tin upstairs into Jack Rose downstairs for one of the best three-hour stretches in the city.

Bouligny Tavern

Best for: An understated cocktail break | Price: $14 to $18 per cocktail

Sleek John Besh tavern with one of the smartest cocktail programs on the strip. Good for a small group taking a breath.

The Bulldog

Best for: Beer and a patio dog moment | Price: $7 to $10 per pour

Dog-friendly patio, huge beer list, and the energy of a college-town porch. Cheap, fun, low-stakes.

Paradise Lounge at Hotel Saint Vincent

Best for: Late afternoon to evening pivot | Price: $16 to $20 per cocktail

Velvet, pink walls, and a cocktail menu the bartenders take seriously. The single most photogenic bar in the neighborhood.

A Sample Magazine Street Afternoon

11am: Brunch or pastries at La Boulangerie.

12pm: Shop Funky Monkey, Fleurty Girl, and Dynamo. Bride grabs costumes for tomorrow night.

2pm: Lunch on the Gris-Gris balcony.

4pm: Cocktail break at Bouligny Tavern or beers at The Bulldog.

5:30pm: Sunset at Hot Tin. This is your group photo of the trip.

7pm: Walk downstairs to Jack Rose for dinner.

9pm: Uber back to the Quarter or close out at Paradise Lounge.

Tips Before You Go

• Magazine Street shops mostly close by 6pm. Hit shopping first, drinks second.
• Most boutiques can handle a group of four to six at a time. If you have ten plus, split up and meet outside.
• The Magazine Street bus runs the length of the strip for $1.25 and saves your feet between distant stops.
• Book Dakar NOLA and Jack Rose at least three weeks ahead. Hot Tin sunset slots open exactly four weeks in advance.
• Plan a long lunch instead of a short one. The whole point of Magazine Street is slowing the trip down for a day.

If your group is in town three nights, give Magazine Street a full afternoon on day two. It is the easiest day of the trip and the one your group photos will come from.