Of all the times I’ve visited New Orleans, I had never had the opportunity to ring in the New Year in the Big Easy. That changed in 2026. And it convinced me that the more things change with time, and the more challenges my favorite city faces, the more it retains its singular charm and beauty.
The trip came together on relatively short notice, as Punky and I found surprisingly affordable rates for airfare and hotel. Maybe it was just meant to be. Our home base for five nights was the Hotel St. Marie, one of several properties owned by the Valentino Hotels group that I’d recommend to anyone wanting to focus their New Orleans trip on the French Quarter and downtown area.
We were fortunate enough to have a nice balcony view of the hotel’s courtyard. The pool is another nice amenity to have, even if it was just a little too cold to take advantage of during most of our time there.
Another advantage of staying at the Hotel St. Marie was having Vacherie connected to the property. One side coffee shop, another side bar/restaurant, Vacherie became a convenient and regular pit stop for us, which we could reach without ever having to walk outside.
It didn’t hurt that it had a daily happy hour menu, with an especially tasty rum punch among the specials.
And the food didn’t disappoint, either. This appetizer of friend green tomatoes topped with sizzling shrimp really hit the spot.
With no set agenda, Punky and I spent most of our days simply roaming and getting reacquainted with the familiar sights and sounds of what makes the French Quarter so unique ...
... like the bands set up on Royal Street (pictured) and on Jackson Square.
Speaking of Jackson Square, it seems like I see something I’d never seen before every time I go there – like this hot boudin cart. Hey, if you can trust the Lucky Dog vendor, you can trust the Boudin Man. Entrepreneurship is alive and well in the Big Easy.
We also took our customary stroll along the Moonwalk Riverfront Park. The view of the city from here never gets old.
And it wouldn’t be a complete trip to New Orleans for us without a stop at Pat O’Brien’s for a drink by the courtyard fountain.
Hurricane, of course.
OK, maybe two. We didn’t have any plans to be awake that night, anyway.
We also found ourselves migrating back to familiar places for our favorites in New Orleans comfort food. And at the top of that list is Coop’s Place on Decatur Street.
If it’s anywhere near lunch time, I’m starting with a Coop’s Bloody Mary.
And Punky is ordering her favorite Coop’s appetizer – the smoked duck quesadilla. The duck sauce they drop it in is amazing.
And usually, after a night of rowdiness, I like a nice full breakfast and Punky wants a big juicy hamburger. Clover Grill still does both amazingly well. A fixture on Bourbon Street, this 24-hour diner hasn’t missed a beat. It has, oddly enough, gone from being a cash-only to an entirely cashless venue. A sign of the times, I guess.
It’s important to note that in addition to New Year’s celebrants, New Orleans is always filled with college football fans swarming the city to partake in the annual Sugar Bowl on January 1. The combination of events can make it feel like a mini Mardi Gras at times.
Crowds are just a little bit larger and a little more raucous than usual, even during the day.
And Bourbon Street is just a little more festive at night. You may have to make room for an impromptu band performance in the middle of the street at any given moment.
So, you may wonder, with all the partygoers on Bourbon Street and a huge outdoors New Year’s celebration scheduled along the riverfront, where did we choose to ring in 2026?
Just a couple of blocks away from our hotel at a cozy nautical-themed neighborhood sports bar known as the Schooner Saloon ...
... where our friend Ben bartends and “runs the ship,” keeping order among the chaos. Perhaps more than anything else, it’s making friends like Ben that keeps us coming back to this city.
In 2025, New Orleans experienced as rough of a start to the new year as any city with a lone terrorist attack on Bourbon Street. But no matter what adversity comes along – from fire to epidemics to hurricanes – the Big Easy seems to bounce back stronger than before. It’s open, alive and waiting in 2026 for your next visit.
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