New Orleans Midweek Getaway: Saints Game, Antoine’s & a Creole Queen Cruise

Baked Alaska dessert at Antoine's in New Orleans with the restaurant's name piped in white meringue — Antoine’s baked Alaska, with the restaurant’s name piped right across the top.

New Orleans had been on our list for a while, and this fall we finally made it happen: a Monday-to-Thursday midweek getaway built around a Saints game, a classic dinner at Antoine’s, and a night on the river aboard the Creole Queen. We ate well, walked a lot, and got a little more excitement at the end than we’d planned—Hurricane Isaias sent us home a day early. Here’s how the trip played out, day by day.

Heads up: this post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Monday: Cochon Butcher, the Riverfront & a Saints game

We got into town Monday and headed straight to Cochon Butcher for lunch. No detours, no unpacking—just priorities. The muffuletta was incredible, easily one of the best bites of the whole trip. Fair warning: be prepared for a line. It’s worth the wait, but plan your day around it.

Counter at Cochon Butcher in New Orleans with chalkboard menus above a wall of bottles and hot sauces — The counter at Cochon Butcher: chalkboard menus and a wall of bottles and hot sauce.

Overhead view of a halved muffuletta sandwich on a Cochon Butcher plate in New Orleans — The muffuletta at Cochon Butcher, cut in half and ready to go.

From there we checked into The Riverfront Hotel. It was nice, and the lobby bar was a great spot—the kind of place you can easily settle into for one more drink before heading out.

Check The Riverfront Hotel New Orleans rates

View of the street and downtown New Orleans buildings from a Riverfront Hotel window — The view of the street from our window at the Riverfront Hotel.

Then the main event: we walked over to the Caesars Superdome for the Saints vs. the Falcons. A Saints home game against Atlanta is about as New Orleans as it gets, and it set the tone for the whole trip.

Crowd watching a New Orleans Saints game from the upper seats inside the Caesars Superdome — Inside the Caesars Superdome for a Saints game.

Tuesday: Dinner at Antoine’s & a night in the French Quarter

Tuesday night was dinner at Antoine’s, and it was very good. Antoine’s is the birthplace of Oysters Rockefeller, so sitting down there felt like a little piece of New Orleans history. We started with baked oysters, then a gumbo-style cup served alongside a breadcrumb-topped baked oyster, followed by a fish and asparagus plate.

Baked oysters on the half shell with a lemon wedge on a platter at Antoine's in New Orleans — Baked oysters to start dinner at Antoine’s.

Cup of gumbo with green onions served alongside baked oysters on a plate at Antoine's in New Orleans — A cup of gumbo at Antoine’s.

Fish fillet in a light sauce with asparagus and a lemon wedge at Antoine's in New Orleans — The fish with asparagus at Antoine’s.

And then the showstopper: the baked Alaska, with “Antoine’s” piped right across it. If you go, save room.

After dinner we walked around the French Quarter for a great night—neon signs, iron balconies, and that energy you really can’t find anywhere else. We didn’t need a plan; we just wandered.

French Quarter street at night in New Orleans with iron balconies, neon signs and parked cars — The French Quarter after dark: balconies, neon and a street full of cars.

Wednesday: Creole Queen dinner cruise & Caesars New Orleans

We caught the sunset on Canal Street by Canal Place before heading to the river.

Palm-lined boulevard in downtown New Orleans at sunset, with a Canal Place sign on a building at right — Sunset over the palm-lined boulevard by Canal Place.

Wednesday night was the Creole Queen dinner cruise. The views were amazing—the city skyline at night, the lit-up bridge, and the lights reflecting off the river. Sadly, the food wasn’t great. Still, it was a good experience, and we’d go for the views alone.

New Orleans skyline lit up at night across the Mississippi River, seen from the Creole Queen cruise — The New Orleans skyline at night from the deck of the Creole Queen.

Lit steel truss bridge over the Mississippi River at night, seen from the Creole Queen cruise in New Orleans — Passing the lit-up bridge on the Creole Queen cruise.

Back on land, we wandered a few more string-lit streets, with neon glowing over the quiet corners at night.

Green neon Ernst Cafe sign over a brick building and a quiet street at night in New Orleans — Neon on a quiet street at night.

Then we gambled at Caesars New Orleans, and it was very nice and clean—it looked like it had been remodeled recently. The chandelier atrium is a showpiece, and the casino floor has a gold lion statue that’s hard to miss.

Tiered crystal chandelier hanging in the domed atrium at Caesars New Orleans — The tiered chandelier in the atrium at Caesars New Orleans.

Casino floor at Caesars New Orleans with a gold lion statue, table games and slot machines — The casino floor at Caesars New Orleans.

Thursday: Beating Hurricane Isaias out of town

Thursday didn’t go the way we’d planned. Hurricane Isaias was coming at the Gulf Coast, so we flew out early to beat it. One bright spot on the way out: we grabbed beignets and coffee at Café du Monde—at the airport. Café du Monde is famous for exactly that, and the airport location was surprisingly as good as the original.

Hand holding a Cafe du Monde coffee and beignets bag at the New Orleans airport location — One last Café du Monde bag at the New Orleans airport before flying home.

Quick tips

Cochon Butcher: go for the muffuletta, but be prepared for a line.
Game day: we walked from the Riverfront Hotel to the Caesars Superdome for the Saints game.
Creole Queen: book it for the views, not the food.
Flying out? Don’t skip Café du Monde at the airport—it held its own against the original.

Check The Riverfront Hotel New Orleans rates

Next time: the National WWII Museum

The one thing Isaias took from us was the National WWII Museum. It was on the plan for Thursday, and I was really looking forward to it. That’s the reason we’re already thinking about a return trip. A Saints game, Cochon Butcher, Antoine’s, the French Quarter at night, and a river full of city lights—New Orleans gave us plenty. Next time, the museum comes first. See you back on the road soon.

This post may include affiliate links. See our Disclosures page for details.