Chelsea Brasted

Read the latest articles by Chelsea Brasted at Thrillist

Contributor

New Orleans

Photo courtesy of New Orleans City Park

Travel

Explore adventure guides and design a custom itinerary for the destination of your choice in and around the city.

Best Travel Guides, Cool Hotels and Interesting Events - Thrillist

While Louisiana doesn’t usually come to mind when discussing “The Great Outdoors,” the state has much more in the natural beauty department than you might think.

These Beautiful Places in Louisiana Prove Swamplands Can Be Absolutely Stunning

Photo by Justen Williams, courtesy of NOTMC



Spring has sprung, so you better get out there to enjoy some of the best weather of the year before the summer heat takes over.

Cool Things to Do in New Orleans This Spring

Photo courtesy of Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism 

With so many things to do in New Orleans, it’s hard to ever leave.

10 Spring Day Trips From New Orleans 

New Orleans Mardi Gras


Lifestyle

There are many places around the globe where you can celebrate Carnival, from Rio de Janeiro to Venice, but there’s a reason that Mardi Gras in New Orleans is listed among the most famous of these debaucherous and outlandish traditions—it is just a rollicking good time.

The Ultimate Guide to Experiencing Mardi Gras Like a Local

Banh Mi Boys

Find the best spots daily to eat and drink in hipster neighborhoods. Hit the roof, drink a beer and eat delicious at top-tier restaurants. Plan your nightlife adventure with maps and reviews of unknown micro-brews, rooftop parties, and independent drink.

Best Restaurants & Bars - Places to Eat & Drink - Thrillist

A lot of people come to New Orleans to drink.

The 15 Most Essential Food Experiences in New Orleans

Nation

Spirit Free

The non-alcoholic beverage resource for the sober curious, mindful drinker, or those wanting a spirit-free drink where the booze is optional, but flavor is not.

Spirit Free: Ultimate Non-Alcoholic Drink Guide - Thrillist

Photo by Jhonny Ramos

Drink

It’s a sweaty midsummer Friday afternoon in New Orleans, and in a bar just a half-block from Bourbon Street, there’s a lively jazz trio playing in the corner as a steady line of patrons steps across the threshold to find a friend, a drink, or both.

Why Tales of the Cocktail Looked a Lot Less Boozy This Year

Brennan's Restaurant


There’s no place where you’re guaranteed a classic restaurant experience quite like New Orleans.

12 Old-School Restaurants in New Orleans for a Classic Night Out

Photos by Denny Culbert, design by Chineme Elobuike for Thrillist

Jonathan Foret can’t count how many times he has said “we’re one storm away from our communities looking very different.”

Chef Melissa Martin Works to Repair the Louisiana Bayou After Hurricane Ida

Photo by Matt Harrington

The pandemic couldn’t have come at a worse time for New Orleans restaurants, shutting down the city just as we were about to host graduations and a busy festival season.

10 New Orleans Restaurant Openings You Might Have Missed

Photo by Winter Caplanson from @connfoodandfarm for Sherkaan

There’s a simple pleasure Chris Hannah enjoys on his days off from tending bar at his French Quarter spots Manolito or Jewel of the South: Going for a walk with a drink in hand.

As New Orleans Cracks Down, the Rest of America Discovers the Beauty of To-Go Drinks

It would be impossible and, frankly, gastronomically reckless to visit New Orleans without paying a visit to one of the city’s outposts for its most famous deep-fried treats: beignets.

The Most Delectable Donut Shops in New Orleans

Grace Han/Thrillist

News

We’ve learned a lot in 2020, but few things have been as clear as this: Every single voice matters.

Chelsea Brasted

Latest Posts From Chelsea

These Beautiful Places in Louisiana Prove Swamplands Can Be Absolutely Stunning

The Bayou State is also home to beautiful city parks and botanical gardens.

Cool Things to Do in New Orleans This Spring

Get out on the water, feast on crawfish, and hit up festivals big and small.

10 Spring Day Trips From New Orleans

From wildlife refuges to charming downtown streets, these are the best day trips from New Orleans to escape the city.

The Ultimate Guide to Experiencing Mardi Gras Like a Local

Go beyond the deadly cocktails and beads of Bourbon Street, and dig deep into the culturally-rich New Orleans tradition.

The 15 Most Essential Food Experiences in New Orleans

Forget Popeye’s—these hyperlocal culinary adventures provide a true taste of the Big Easy.

Why Tales of the Cocktail Looked a Lot Less Boozy This Year

The shift in programming and parties marks a significant sea change in the industry.

12 Old-School Restaurants in New Orleans for a Classic Night Out

These are the places that made the New Orleans food scene what it is today.

Chef Melissa Martin Works to Repair the Louisiana Bayou After Hurricane Ida

The Mosquito Supper Club owner has helped raise more than half-a-million dollars.

10 New Orleans Restaurant Openings You Might Have Missed

From sleek hotel additions to food truck favorites.

As New Orleans Cracks Down, the Rest of America Discovers the Beauty of To-Go Drinks

How bars have gotten creative and why takeout drinks might be here to stay.

The Most Delectable Donut Shops in New Orleans

Go beyond Café du Monde.

Louisiana: What to Do to Ensure Your Vote Counts in the 2020 Election

Everything you need to know, including key deadlines, how to vote safely, and more.