Eat
If you have a quick break during the work day, head to Cochon Butcher (930 Tchoupitoulas Street). It’s only a five-minute walk from the convention center and is a casual, walk-in spot that doesn’t require reservations. It’s based on the tradition of old-world butcher shops, and all the meat served in the restaurant is made by the restaurant’s 5 full-time butchers. The butchers craft, smoke and cure 2,000 pounds of meat a week. There’s no better spot to get a sandwich in the city!
Another restaurant that’s just a quick five-minute walk from the convention center is Annunciation (1016 Annunciation Street). Visitors to New Orleans who leave without a taste of Creole cooking are making a huge mistake, and Annunciation offers some of the best Creole dishes in the city. On the menu are fried oysters, soft-shell crab and grilled drum—a fish found in the Gulf. There’s not much that’s more local than that!
Sleep
Although the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center doesn’t have a hotel attached, there are plenty of hotels within walking distance of the center. The Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel is a three-minute walk from the convention center—it’s right across the street! The hotel offers a free hot breakfast, and it’s only two miles from the city’s famous Riverwalk.
The Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans also is a three-minute walk from the convention center. It has an on-site restaurant, fitness center and a rooftop pool, so it has everything you need to be able to relax after a long day on the show floor.
Play
The National WWII Museum is a 15-minute walk from the convention center and an even faster ride. Rated one of the top destinations not only in New Orleans, but in the country, the museum offers a blend of sweeping narrative and personal stories. Visitors are treated to immersive exhibits, a collection of artifacts and multimedia experiences.
The Arts District of New Orleans is close to the convention center and far from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter. The area is packed with galleries, performance spaces and some of the best bars and restaurants in the city. It’s definitely worth spending a few hours exploring the area.
