New Orleans in December: A Holiday Itinerary
When the air cools and jazz drifts through oak-lined streets wrapped in white lights, New Orleans in December reveals its most glamorous side. The crowds thin, hotel lobbies glow with garlands, and every cocktail feels like it was mixed just for you.
At NOI, we believe luxury and responsibility belong together — not bamboo straws and budget hostels, but heritage hotels, chef-owned restaurants, and small-group experiences that sustain the soul of the city. Here’s your five-day guide to doing New Orleans in December beautifully — where indulgence meets intention.
Day 1: French Quarter Grace & Holiday Glow
Check into the Hotel Saint Vincent or Windsor Court Hotel, where history meets high design. Both are locally operated landmarks and NOI-preferred stays for winter getaways.
Hotel Saint Vincent Photo Credit Kathryn White Chillcut
Spend the morning wandering Jackson Square, where the artists are locals and the street music is world-class. Step inside St. Louis Cathedral for a free midday organ recital, then linger over champagne and oysters at Brennan’s courtyard — a quintessential New Orleans in December indulgence.
At dusk, stroll Royal Street for gallery-hopping beneath holiday lights. Dinner is a Réveillon menu at Broussard’s or Arnaud’s — classic Creole elegance that supports generational local ownership. End the night with a private carriage tour through the Quarter — the bells of the horses mingling with carols in the distance.
Day 2 | Garden District & Gilded Traditions
Begin your day with café au lait at Still Perkin’, then board the St. Charles streetcar, a moving museum trimmed in tinsel each New Orleans in December. Disembark near The Columns Hotel for brunch on the veranda.
Join a private architecture and history tour through the Garden District — a tailored experience offered by local guides NOI partners with NOLA Tours. Every stop tells a story of preservation, craftsmanship, and quiet grandeur.
In the afternoon, head to City Park’s New Orleans Museum of Art for the annual holiday exhibitions, then stay for Celebration in the Oaks. The proceeds fund the park’s conservation programs — proof that luxury can coexist with legacy.
Dinner at La Petite Grocery pairs modern Southern cuisine with candlelight. Cap the night at Tipitina’s, where you can book VIP seating to watch local legends play for the city that raised them.
La Petite Grocery Menu Photo Credit Kathryn White Chillcut
Day 3 | River Rhythms & Creole Flavors
Morning begins at Café du Monde, because some traditions are timeless. Then step aboard the Creole Queen Jazz Brunch Cruise, where the brass section sets the tone for a decadent New Orleans in December afternoon.
New Orleans Paddlewheeler- Creole Queen
After docking, take a private Creole cooking lesson with the New Orleans School of Cooking — you’ll master étouffée and pralines while sipping local rum. Each booking supports family-run culinary education that keeps Creole cuisine authentic.
Crawfish Étouffée
Later, tour the Backstreet Cultural Museum (private curator-led sessions available) or indulge in a spa treatment at The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans — a serene reset amid the festivities.
Dinner at Coquette or Sofia introduces modern Gulf luxury. End with jazz and cognac at Arnaud’s French 75 Bar, the definition of sophisticated New Orleans in December nightlife.
Day 4 | Art, Architecture & Understated Adventure
Breakfast at The Elysian Bar — the kind of place that makes you linger. Explore the Bywater with a food, drinks, and history tour.
Next, escape the city on a luxury eco-swamp tour with Wild Louisiana Tours — champagne optional, conservation essential. Small groups glide through cypress groves as guides share stories of bayou restoration — sustainable luxury in motion.
Back in town, browse Magazine Street’s designer boutiques for artisan jewelry, handmade leather, and bespoke fragrance — all local.
Tonight’s dinner is at Compère Lapin, Chef Nina Compton’s award-winning Caribbean-Creole restaurant. Request the rum tasting; toast to New Orleans in December and to thoughtful travel that feels indulgent, never wasteful.
Day 5 | Farewell to the Festivities
Your final morning calls for brunch at Paladar 511, then a private chauffeured heritage tour of the Tremé & Marigny neighborhoods — connecting music, architecture, and resilience through the lens of local historians.
Make one last stop at the Lower 9th Ward Living Museum, where small donations support ongoing community storytelling.
As twilight settles, return to the French Quarter for a farewell toast at Bar Marilou — the candlelight reflecting off mirrored walls like the season itself. This is what New Orleans in December is about: beauty, generosity, and memory that lingers long after the glitter fades.
Bar Marilou
NOI Travel Tips for December Guests
Book boutique. Hotel Saint Vincent, Windsor Court, and Maison de la Luz are NOI-preferred for design and local ownership.
Dine intentionally. Choose chef-owned restaurants serving Gulf-sourced ingredients.
Opt for private guides. Small-group experiences deepen connection and respect heritage.
Dress the part. Think silk scarf, velvet blazer, block heel — December’s chill deserves glamour.
Give back quietly. A donation to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation keeps the city’s rhythm alive.
Why Luxury and Responsibility Belong Together
Luxury isn’t excess; it’s access — to culture, to craft, to authenticity. Traveling through New Orleans in December with NOI means every reservation sustains artistry, every indulgence honors legacy. You’ll leave the city better dressed and better connected — to its music, its makers, and its magic.
Because conscious travelers don’t compromise — they curate.
