Welcome to NOLA!

This beautiful old city is famous worldwide for its food, its music and, of course, its drinking. We love New Orleans and there’s truly no better place for a convention. But the best way to experience any city is the local way — and we’re here to help you with that. This guide includes recommended spots for eating, drinking, happy hours, and music right near the Convention Center, plus a map of every vape shop in New Orleans.

Since this issue has come up at vape conventions in other cities, we want to make sure you’re aware: you are ALLOWED to vape in the Expo Hall and other directly VPX-related areas of the convention center, but NOT ALLOWED to vape throughout convention center hallways or other parts of the building where the Vaper’s Exhibit convention itself is not taking place. Also, keep in mind that New Orleans has now banned vaping in all indoor public/business locations, so while you can’t vape inside bars anymore, we’ve included plenty of establishments with outdoor seating for your vaping pleasure!

The neighborhood around the Convention Center — known as the Warehouse District — has eating, drinking and partying in droves. Below, we breakdown the top spots within walking distance from the Convention Center for (click to go directly to each section):

• Eating and a little drinking (restaurants, some with bars too).
• Drinking and a little eating (bars, some with food).
• Music venues and shows playing the weekend of VPX.

With one of NOLA’s hottest brass bands plus EDM and Indie shows all happening VPX weekend, there’s a party for every palate.

Oh, and we also have a diverse and rapidly growing vape scene here too — with over 20 other vape shops in the New Orleans area. We’ve included a map of all the NOLA shops below. (Click to view the map.) We hope you’ll hit up as many shops as possible while you’re in town.

Have fun, vape on, and laissez le bon temps roulez!!

Eating and a little drinking…

Herbsaint
Website | Yelp
701 St. Charles Ave (.7 miles from convention center)
(504) 524-4114
Herbsaint Bar and Restaurant features an acclaimed menu with French and Italian-inspired, yet distinctive Southern dishes in a modern bistro setting. Try the frog legs or the pork belly. Indoor and outdoor seating. Reservation recommended.

Emeril’s
Website | Yelp
800 Tchoupitoulas St. (.7 miles from convention center)
(504)528-9393
Chef/restaurateur Emeril Lagasse’s flagship restaurant in a renovated pharmacy warehouse offering contemporary New Orleans cuisine. A little overpriced because of the Emeril name, but still excellent. The BBQ Shrimp is ridiculous. Indoor seating only. Reservation essential.

Antoine’s
Website | Yelp
713 St. Louis Street (1.2 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 581-4422
At 1.2 miles, Antoine’s is the longest hike from the Convention Center on our list. But we wanted to include it if your VPX wandering carries you into the French Quarter and you’re feeling like a genuine Old New Orleans experience. Antoine’s isn’t just the oldest still-running restaurant in the country, it’s a journey into old-fashioned French-Creole cuisine and personalized, classy service. They invented, among other things, Oysters Rockefeller, souffleed potatos and the Baked Alaska. Jackets are preferred—shorts are not. Just ask your server and after your meal they’ll take you on a tour of their 14 lavish, themed dining rooms. Reservations accepted but not needed due to truly expansive seating. Indoor seating only.

Root
Website | Yelp
200 Julia Street (0.2 miles from the Convention Center)
(504)252-9480
Described humbly as “modern American cuisine rooted in traditional flavors and techniques,” Root is a hot new restaurant in New Orleans. Among other things, they serve incredible, huge and juicy scallops in a cigar box. A cigar box! So we’re working with them on their new box mod dish that will ultimately replace that (seriously?). Casual but with a fancy atmosphere, innovative and absolutely delicious. Indoor and outdoor seating. Reservation highly recommended.

Cochon
Website | Yelp
930 Tchoupitoulas Street (0.2 miles from the Convention Center)
(504)588-2123
Cochon serves traditional Cajun Southern dishes, with locally sourced pork, fresh produce and seafood, focusing on traditional methods, creating authentic flavors of Cajun country. Named after the classic Louisiana Cajun dish of slow-cooked pulled pork made into a patty and fried (pronounced coo-shawn), this place offers fresh takes on classic meat-of-the-land country dishes. If you really want to go “full Louisiana,” try the boudin with pickled peppers, the fried alligator and the catfish courtbouillon. Indoor and outdoor seating. Reservation essential.

Cochon Butcher
Website | Yelp
930 Tchoupitoulas Street (0.2 miles from the Convention Center)
(504)588-7675
This is the more casual offspring of Cochon. It’s a butcher shop, a sandwich counter and a wine bar. Inspired by old-world meat markets, Butcher specializes in house made meats, terrines and sausages. The fresh cuts are handpicked and ready-to-cook items are available daily. Awesome for lunch. Indoor and outdoor seating available. No reservations, but expect a line during peak hours.

Mulate’s
Website | Yelp
201 Julia Street (0.2 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 522-1492
For a taste of Cajun culture, come to one of the restaurants that made it famous. They serve authentic Cajun cuisine and seafood. They also feature live Cajun bands seven nights a week. Service is hit or miss, but this local spot is ingrained in the Cajun history of the area and they sure know how to deep fry some seafood. Indoor seating only. No reservations.

Annunciation
Website | Yelp
1016 Annunciation St (0.3 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 568-0245
Annunciation Restaurant is all about fresh ingredients, sourcing the best vegetables, fruits and meats from around the country. It’s an ideal spot for clean, fresh food, skillfully crafted cocktails, fine wines and an assortment of classic and contemporary Cajun and Creole dishes. Indoor seating only. Reservations recommended.

Cafe Adelaide
Website | Yelp
300 Poydras Street (0.5 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 595-3305
Modern Creole cuisine. Hit them up on the weekend for their awesome Saturday and Sunday brunch – with Hat-itude. Wear a hat — not a baseball hat (or e-juice brand hat!) — and get three complimentary martinis! Price Fixed menu available nightly — enjoy a filet, glass of wine and dessert for only $39. A great place for eating, drinking and carrying on! Try the excellent turtle soup, a Louisiana specialty. Indoor seating only. Reservations recommended.

Mothers
Website | Yelp
401 Poydras Street (0.6 miles from the Convention Center)
OK, so we have to include Mother’s because it’s super famous and has been around since 1938. It’s really good, but expect a huge line during peak hours. Honestly, there are too many  amazing places to eat in this city to wait in line for an hour – but if you can make it here off-peak, it’s well worth the trip. Renowned for its “World’s Best Baked Ham.” Other specialties include ham debris, (a twist on the New Orleans classic of meat drippings and chunks normally made from roast beef), roast beef debris, and big buttermilk biscuits. Breakfast is served all day. Indoor seating. No reservations – but usually a big ass line.

Carmo
Website | Yelp
527 Julia Street (0.5 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 875-4132
Carmo is a tropical restaurant with a wide array of options for vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike. This casual restaurant is great for lunch, and offers super unique flavor combinations from around the world at affordable prices. The Sushi-style Yellowfin Tuna salad is awesome. The Rico – a breadless sandwhich, grilled plantain patty (instead of bread) topped with melted cheese, spicy smoked pulled pork, and avocado — is out of this world. Indoor and outdoor seating. Reservations accepted.

Pêche
Website | Yelp
800 Magazine Street (0.5 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 522-1744
Pêche Seafood Grill serves simply prepared coastal seafood with a unique, modern approach to old world cooking methods. Featuring rustic dishes prepared on an open hearth over hardwood coals, Pêche’s open kitchen offers a unique eye-level view of the fire. The oyster bar showcases gulf seafood including oysters, crab meat, and fresh gulf fish. This place seriously has some of the freshest seafood you will ever have – but it’s definitely on the pricey side. Indoor seating only. Reservations essential—credit card number required for reservations for parties of five or more.

Capdeville
Website | Yelp
520 Capdeville St (0.6 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 371-5161
This New American pub-style restaurant is casual but with a note of upscale. A great place for lunch and/or happy hour. Some stand-out dishes are the alligator corn dog, alligator-stuffed chicken. Nice big salads. The mac and cheese is perfection. Reservations accepted. Indoor and outdoor seating available. They also have a solid happy hour.

Happy Hour:
Monday – Thursday 4:30pm – 7pm
Friday 11am – 7pm
$4 for almost every drink item including cocktails and four types of wine
Special pricing on appetizers

Drinking & a little Eating

Courtyard Brewery
Website | Yelp
1020 Erato Street (0.5 miles from the convention center)
New Orleans’ first “nano-brewery” is a hot place for locals in-the-know. It has a real laid back party atmosphere to it, and an ever-changing selection of incredibly delicious artisanal beers brewed in small-batches. Depending on your selection, you may be getting a Limited Edition beer (to go with your Limited Edition Snow Wolf 200watt?). With a huge courtyard perfect for vaping and a local food truck usually on the premises, this is a great spot for post-convention shenanigans.

Dino’s
Website | Yelp
1128 Tchoupitoulas (0.3 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 558-0900
Dino’s is a divey bar that serves typical bar food in the heart of the Warehouse District. Locals can be seen picking up their takeout alongside regulars occupying their usual barstool. The food here isn’t bad, but this is more of a spot for drinking right near the Convention Center.

Happy Hour:
Mon-Fri 4pm-7pm
Discounted signature cocktails and beers

Barrel Proof
Website | Yelp
1201 Magazine Street (0.6 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 299-1888
Offering a whopping 249 different whiskeys, this is a real-deal whiskey/scotch/bourbon drinker’s dream. Their barbecue comes from a local pop-up vendor and the folks at Barrel Proof know which food pairs with which drink perfectly. Dark atmospheric lighting lends to an intimate atmosphere. Indoor and outdoor seating.

Happy Hour:
Mon-Fri 5pm-7pm

Lucy’s Retired Surfer Bar & Restaurant
Website | Yelp
701 Tchoupitoulas Street (0.4 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 523-8995
This place can get real busy, especially at peak hours. Lucy’s is a popular bar and restaurant with mainly a younger crowd. Standard bar fare, good (not great) Tex-Mex and local Louisiana style food, and great specialty cocktails.  Make sure to try their house Margaritas and the Puerto Rican Zombie. No reservations. Indoor and outdoor seating.

Happy Hour:
Mon-Fri 4pm – 7pm
$5 Wells, $1 off all beers, $10 Domestic Buckets (5 beers), $5 14oz Classic Ritas

Vic’s Kangaroo Café
Yelp
636 Tchoupitoulas Street (0.4 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 524-4329
Vic’s can be thought of as Lucy’s grittier neighbor. Known as a bar that caters to the late night service industry folks, don’t expect anything fancy. With food ranging from mediocre to delicious, if you want a humble place to get a nice, cheap drink and to have great company, perhaps even meet new friends, Vic’s is the way to go.

Happy Hour:
Mon-Fri 5pm-7pm

Barcadia
Website | Yelp
601 Tchoupitoulas Street (0.5 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 335-1740
Barcadia is as it sounds—craft beers, burgers and lots of video games. On the other hand, don’t necessarily expect a relaxed 80s/90s arcade-style-plus-drinking type of environment—this place can get super busy and sometimes tends to have a nightclub feel to it. That said, this is one of the more unique bars in New Orleans and great for a bit of group gaming fun. The food is usually really good, great burgers and sandwhiches. Indoor and outdoor seating.

Happy Hour:
Mon-Fri 4pm-7pm
1/2 off Top 5 Apps, $1 off Wells & Drafts, $8 Miller Lite Pitchers, $5 Doubles (Ketel One, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Tanqueray, Bulleit, Don Julio, JW Red)

The Rusty Nail
Website | Yelp
1100 Constance Street (0.4 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 525-5515
The Rusty Nail is a music venue, bar and restaurant all in one, with a nice big patio perfect for vaping (be courteous with your clouds, as always!). The food is delicious, the servers are helpful, and the place is both buzzing and relaxed all at once, if that’s not a total paradox (have ya’ll tried Paradox E-Liquids by the way?). Try their eponymous cocktail The Rusty Nail, or if you’re a bourbon fan, The Bulleit Smash will be right up your alley.

Happy Hour:
Friday from 4 to 7
½ off all bottles of wine and $1 off everything else.

W.I.N.O.
Website | Yelp
610 Tchoupitoulas Street (0.5 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 324-8000
Come here if you want to put on your fancy pants. This pay-to-sample wine bar offers bottles, glasses and samples of wine ranging from fruity whites to dry reds, affordable to astronomical, and everything in between. WINO stands for “Wine Institute of New Orleans,” so expect to get a schooling on wine if you don’t come prepared. But for those who love the nectar of the vine, these Winos know their stuff, and are glad to share their knowledge with you. There’s also cheese, crackers, tapenades and a few other delicious dainty appetizers for your pairing pleasure. No happy hour, no outdoor seating.

Venues and Shows on VPX Weekend

There are literally hundreds of places to see music around NOLA every weekend. Here are the three closest venues with interesting shows convention weekend… If you want a full list of every single show in across the city, check out the WWOZ Live Wire.

The Howlin’ Wolf
Website | Yelp
907 S. Peters Street (0.1 miles from the Convention Center)
(504) 529-5844
The Howlin’ Wolf is a widely beloved music venue in New Orleans sitting right at the cusp of the Lower Garden District and the Warehouse District. They regularly host New Orleans’ hottest bands. They also have a good selection of drinks and late night bar grub for your pleasure. The Weekend of ECC the Hot 8 Brass Band is playing, so if you’re looking for a classic New Orleans experience, here’s your place.

What’s playing VPX weekend?

• Sunday, November 8^th at 10PM — Hot 8 Brass Band. The Hot 8 is one of New Orleans’ best known brass bands—they’re the guys who played hard in New York City to raise awareness about Katrina when it devastated New Orleans. These guys put on one hell of a show. Bring your dancing kicks.

Circle Bar
Yelp
1032 St. Charles Avenue (0.6 miles from the Convention Center)
(504)588-2616
New Orleans may be best known for its jazz/brass/New Orleans blues/boogie-woogie genres but its century-long musical reputation has brought every type of music to the city. The Circle Bar is a go-to place for the Indie scene. With music nearly every night, a $5 door charge most nights, and cheap drinks, this is a great spot for late night post-convention partying.

What’s playing VPX weekend?

• Saturday, November 7^th at 10PM — The JimJims with Biglemoi plus Biscuithound
• Sunday, November 8^th at 10PM — Otonano Trio with Dronebaby

Republic New Orleans
Website | Yelp
828 South Peters Street (0.2 miles from the Convention Center)
(504)528-8282
Republic has a reputation as a Jersey Shore style nightclub experience. If that’s your jam, then this is the place for your post-convention shenanigans. Both bands playing ECC weekend are bumping EDM.

What’s playing VPX weekend?

• Saturday, November 7^th at 9PM (doors at 8PM) — Slow Magic + Giraffage
• Sunday, November 8^th at 9PM (doors at 8PM) — Neon Indian

New Orleans Vape Shops

There are over 20 dedicated vape shops across the Greater New Orleans area. This map includes just about all of them. Hit us up ya’ll!

(If we missed your shop, please contact us and we will have it added immediately.)

Thanks for stopping by. Let us know if you have any questions!

The city has come so far over the last 10 years since Hurricane Katrina, and we’re proud that the vape industry is one of the fastest growing sectors here in NOLA. Thanks for checking out this guide – we hope you found it helpful – but, most importantly, thank you for visiting our city and supporting our local businesses. We hope you have a blast!

If you have any questions whatsoever about anything New Orleans, vape related or not, hit us up anytime and we’re happy to help. Hope to see you at the convention, and at any (or all!) of Crescent City Vape’s locations!