A non-drinking, culture-first guide to experiencing New Orleans, even during Mardi Gras
We wrote this guide because two of the most common things we hear at JAMNOLA are “I’m so of over Bourbon Street” and “What else can we do besides drinking?”
New Orleans has a reputation, but that reputation leaves out SO much of what actually makes this city fun. Music, food, art, neighborhoods, conversations, and those tiny random moments that turn into your favorite memory do the heavy lifting here- Alcohol is optional.
If Bourbon Street isn’t your scene, or you’re visiting New Orleans and not drinking much (or at all), you’re not missing out! Here are real, specific, very New Orleans ways to experience the city without building your whole trip around booze.
Live Music That’s Actually About the Music
Photo by Robson Hatsukami Morgan on Unsplash
Music in New Orleans does not belong to bars, It belongs to the street, the neighborhood, and the people.
A Stroll Down Frenchmen Street
Frenchmen Street is one of the easiest places to enjoy music without drinking, especially if you lean into early evenings and the outdoors.
Most nights, you’ll find street performers all along the block. Brass bands, jazz groups, funk musicians, sometimes all at once. People wander, stop for a song, dance for a minute, listen, tip, and keep going. No tickets. No minimums. No cover charge.
Inside the venues, earlier shows tend to feel more music-first and less party-heavy. You can catch a great set, actually hear the band, and head out feeling energized instead of exhausted.
JAMNOLA happens to be right on Frenchmen Street, which makes it easy to pair an art experience with a music-filled stroll before or after. Very little planning required.
Preservation Hall
If you want a truly no-pressure, music-only experience, Preservation Hall is hard to beat. The whole point of the place is listening. Shows are short, intimate, and focused. There’s no expectation to buy a drink, no lingering bar scene, just great musicians doing what New Orleans does best.
It’s one of those experiences that feels special without trying too hard, which is kind of the city’s sweet spot.
Swap Cocktails for Pralines and Muffaletas
Not drinking in New Orleans doesn’t mean giving anything up. It just means shifting your priorities slightly, usually toward snacks.
This is a city where people happily plan entire afternoons around what they’re going to eat next. Pralines from a candy shop you wandered into by accident. A muffaleta big enough to share. Beignets because it’s Tuesday. Po-boys that turn into a debate about bread.
Food here is social, fun, and deeply New Orleans, no alcohol required.
New Orleans School of Cooking
If you want something interactive and genuinely entertaining, the New Orleans School of Cooking is a great option. Cooking demonstrations mix food, history, stories, and a lot of laughs. You’re tasting, learning, and hanging out with other people who are clearly there to enjoy themselves, not rush off to the next bar.
It’s lively in the best way and works especially well if you want something structured that still feels relaxed.
One Solid Outdoor Reset (Because You’ll Want One)
At some point, especially during Mardi Gras, everyone needs a breather. That doesn’t mean leaving the city. It just means changing the pace.
Bayou St. John
Photo courtesy of JAMNOLA
Bayou St. John is a local favorite for a reason. You can walk along the water, sit and people-watch, or rent a kayak or paddleboard if you’re feeling active. It’s close to everything but feels calm, open, and refreshingly normal.
It’s the perfect counterbalance to a busy day of parades, music, or wandering neighborhoods.
Mardi Gras Without Turning It Into a Drinking Marathon
Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash
Mardi Gras absolutely does not require drinking, but it does benefit from a little strategy.
Daytime parades tend to feel lighter and more community-focused. Residential stretches of parade routes usually have more locals, families, and people who are there for the costumes, music, and vibes, not a bar crawl.
Bring water. Bring snacks. Bring something to sit on. Pick a couple of moments you’re excited about instead of trying to do everything at once. Plenty of people who live here celebrate Mardi Gras this way every year, and they’re not exactly bored.
Psst- Looking for specifically kid-friendly, non-drinking fun? Check out our guide here: Kid-Friendly Attractions in New Orleans.
Quick Note Up About JAMNOLA'S Food & Drink Policy
The closest you’ll get to drinking in JAMNOLA is a fake one in our Speakeasy. Cheers to that!
One question that comes up constantly: can you drink inside JAMNOLA or eat snacks?
Short answer: nope!
Side note: you can BRING sealed food or drinks if they're tucked away in your bag, but you can't crack them open until you're done exploring.
We keep the experience food-and-drink-free for a couple of reasons. First, every inch of our space showcases handmade installations by New Orleans artists, and we owe it to the artists to keep everything pristine. Second, it turns out that when people aren't juggling drinks, they're way more present: more playful, more connected, more likely to actually talk to strangers. The vibe becomes the main event, which is exactly how we like it.
**side note- you CAN bring them in if they are fully closed and tucked away in a bag on your person. You just can't enjoy them while experiencing JAM.
Check out more frequently asked questions about JAMNOLA at our FAQ page.The Bottom Line
Not drinking in New Orleans doesn’t mean a quieter or less fun trip. It just means your highlights might look a little different. More music you actually hear. More food you actually remember. More wandering, less rushing. More moments that feel like “this is why we came here.”
If you’re looking for what to do in New Orleans besides Bourbon Street, especially during Mardi Gras, think music-first, food-forward, outdoors when you need a reset, and experiences that don’t need alcohol to be fun.
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