A Perfect Day in New Orleans On A Budget

Visiting New Orleans soon and want to save some money? Check out this post on how to spend the perfect day in New Orleans on a budget!

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Here are a list of things you can do in New Orleans for no more than $7 a day below! I have done some of these things myself and from my perspective I saved a LOT of money. If you’re in New Orleans on a budget you need to try out this list for yourself below!

Get a cheap New Orleans breakfast at Cafe Du Monde!

Getting some beignets at Cafe Du Monde is the cheapest way to start your day! I got some beignets for breakfast everyday in NOLA (New Orleans) and it didn’t seem to break my bank at all. Three beignets together for 2.75 at Cafe Du Monde is a GREAT deal; I think every tourist should take advantage of this. Also, as a travel tip, always remember to bring cash whenever you’re looking to purchase beignets from this place! Cafe du Monde does not accept card so please keep that in mind.

You can find Cafe Du Monde located at 800 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116 in the map below!

Get a free Voodoo Lesson at Voodoo Authentica!

If you didn’t already know, New Orleans was actually the first U.S. city to be introduced to voodoo magic. Because of the Atlantic Slave Trade, voodoo culture is now very intertwined with New Orleans culture; together, they gave birth to New Orleans Voodoo, a set of spiritual beliefs and practices developed from the traditions of the African Diaspora in Louisiana. At Voodoo Authentica, a voodoo shop in the French Quarter, you can actually get a free lesson on voodoo and the history behind it. If you’re in the shop, feel free to walk up to any employee about any questions you may have. They would be happy to educate you on voodoo culture and voodoo magic.

Voodoo Authentica is located at 612 Dumaine St, New Orleans, LA 70116 as you can see in the map below!

Get some cheap fried chicken at Hank’s Supermarket!

Hank’s Supermarket is definitely a hidden gem for any fried-chicken lovers! When I was there, I got 1 piece of chicken for just 75 CENTS. Isn’t that crazy? The flaky crust and the tender meat will give your taste-buds a bit of a surprise. Even the locals will admit that this corner store has one of the best fried chicken deals in town.

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As a travel tip, this corner store is not located in the best area of New Orleans. So, if you’re planning on traveling there by yourself, I would suggest you do it in the daytime. When I was walking to Hanks from the French Quarter, I noticed I got a lot of unwanted attention and stares from all kinds of men.

Hank’s Supermarket is located at 2634 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117 in the Bywater neighborhood as you can see in the map below. Most of the houses in this neighborhood look pretty run down if you come across them, but this is due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Get a $1 Daiquiri at Cafe Maspero!

Cafe Maspero is known for doing this $1 Daiquiri deal all day everyday! You will need your ID to purchase one obviously but most of the time if you look older than 21 they’ll let it pass. The daiquiris are usually strawberry flavored and the service is top notch!

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Cafe Maspero is located at 601 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130 as you can see in the map below! Make sure to get and grab a daiquiri before they’re all gone.

Take some selfies near Studio Be!

Studio Be is one of the top art spaces in NOLA known for its murals. Housed in a warehouse, the visual art depicts the stories of revolutionaries, heroes and everyday New Orleanians. It is also home to the local artist, Brandan Odums, as his first solo project. If you’re interested in art in any way, shape, or form, Studio Be is definitely the hidden gem for you.

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The guided tours are not too expensive and it’s perfectly free for you to take a selfie with a mural outside the warehouse. Also, if you identify as BIPOC, you cannot afford to miss this place! From what I’ve heard, Studio BE captures the black experience in NOLA like no other.

Studio Be can be located at 2941 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70117 as you can see in the map below. Not only will this warehouse showcase authentic black art, but it will also give you a true reflection of NOLA’s society and culture.

Go to a free brewery tour at the NOLA Brewing Company!

If you love beer, this place is for you! NOLA Brewing Company was founded by Kirk Coco after seeing a lack of breweries in NOLA after Hurricane Katrina. As of right now, the brewing company is very popular and its known for making several craft beers by hand.

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If you ever stop by this place, you need to try the NOLA Brown and the NOLA Blonde for yourself. According to the brewing company, these are their top two drinks! They offer free brewery tours on Friday and Saturday from 2-3pm if you want to check it out. Their tours will not only teach you how they make their delectable beers but they will also allow you to taste them.

The NOLA Brewing Company is located at 3001 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115 as seen in the map below. I hope your experience there will be just as awesome as mine was!

Go to Clesi’s Restaurant for their Oyster Happy Hour!

Oyster Happy Hours are such a huge thing in New Orleans! At Clesi’s Restaurant, you can get oysters at their Happy Hour for JUST 25 cents each. I unfortunately did not have the privilege to try this out when I was in NOLA but I want you all to take advantage of this.

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Their Oyster Happy Hour usually runs from 4-6pm so you want to make sure you’re at the restaurant around this time. Please feel free to check out there Facebook Page or any of their other social medias for any other deals they may have during your visit.

Clesi’s Restaurant is located at 4323 Bienville Street, New Orleans, LA 70119 as seen in the map below. You can always take the NOLA streetcar if you’re too far away from the destination or an Uber or Lyft. If you don’t know how to use NOLA’s public transit system, you can check out this post here.

Get a tour of the city on the St. Charles streetcar!

The St. Charles streetcar is one of the most historic streetcars in NOLA. As the oldest, it has been in operation since 1835 and counting! You can hop on the streetcar for just a $1.25 at the intersection of Canal and Carondelet St. On the streetcar, you’ll get a beautiful view of the Garden District and the magnificent mansions that were built around the area. Some of the mansions make take your breath away like this one.

Please feel free to check out this map below, so you that you can easily find the St. Charles streetcar when you need it.

Go to Frenchmen Street for a live Jazz Show!

Head on over to the Blue Nile Jazz Club for a free live Jazz show! This club usually doesn’t charge admission for most of their shows unless it’s for a special live performance. As an intimate music venue, this club has been the home of countless top funk, blues, and brass shows for years.

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If you plan on visiting this place, you must be 21 and over to enter. They are usually pretty strict about this so please make sure to bring your ID if you’re of age.

The Blue Nile Jazz Club is located at 532 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA 70116. It shouldn’t be too far of a walk from the French Quarter but be aware of your surroundings. Instead of spending the night on Bourbon St like everyone else, you’ll be dancing away to the beautiful jazz music at the Blue Nile.

Overall, I hope this post was able to help you save some money as you explore New Orleans on a budget! Feel free to let me know which budget tip you liked the most in the comments down below.

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