What Makes NOLA Twinkle

Have you ever noticed that there’s something about the holidays in New Orleans that feels…different? Maybe it’s the warm Christmas lights glowing outside the historic homes along St. Charles Avenue, the sound of a brass band spilling out of the Quarter, or the way a Reveillon dinner somehow feels like home, no matter who’s sitting at the table. Whatever it is, it’s pure magic – the kind that makes our city twinkle, even more than it already does. 

 

This holiday season, we’re sharing our favorite spots across the city that shine the brightest. From festive dinners and family light shows to those quiet, only-in-NOLA moments that make the holidays here so very special. Think of this as your holiday “twinkle map,” designed to help families explore, eat and celebrate all the magic New Orleans has to offer. 

✨ Celebration in the Oaks (City Park) – A must-see family favorite with millions of lights, carousel rides, and that nostalgic New Orleans glow. If the locals love it, you know it’s good. 

✨ St. Louis Cathedral Holiday Concerts – Free performances inside one of our city’s most breathtaking landmarks, and it’s the perfect reason to slow down and listen.

✨ Caroling in Jackson Square – Grab a blanket, a candle, and a cup of hot chocolate because since 1946, this long-loved tradition has been making people fall in love with our city all over again.

✨ Reveillon Dinners – From Arnaud’s and Commander’s Palace to King Brasserie and Jack Rose, these classic restaurants turn dining into a holiday celebration you won’t forget.

✨ The Roosevelt Hotel – Step into the lobby and you’ll understand why it’s one of the most photographed holiday spots in NOLA. The Sazerac Bar inside the hotel is also known for its delicious and festive Christmas Cookie martini. 

✨ The Windsor Court – Their tree, garland and lobby displays are pure holiday elegance that is ideal for a festive drink or afternoon tea.

✨ NOLA ChristmasFest (Ernest N. Morial Convention Center) – An indoor winter wonderland made just for kids, complete with ice skating, carnival rides, giant slides and plenty of holiday fun.

✨ Algiers Bonfire & Holiday Celebration – A can’t-miss riverside tradition that lights up the levee and kicks off the season with music, fireworks and charming views.

✨ French Quarter + French Market – Shop, stroll and soak up all the holiday cheer along the backdrop of New Orleans’ most iconic streets.

✨ Holiday Home Tours (Garden District & French Quarter) – Step inside some of New Orleans’ most beautiful historic homes, decked out in twinkling lights, garlands and timeless Southern charm.

From the classic ingredients that define the holidays to the warmth and spirit that fills every dining room, it’s proof that twinkle isn’t just about lights — it’s about heart. To fully understand that, you have to talk to someone who has lived, breathed, and cooked its traditions right here in the City. Chef Eric Cook, the force behind Gris-Gris and Saint John, is exactly that person—equal parts Marine veteran, storyteller, historian, and deeply devoted New Orleanian.

When we asked Chef Eric what the holiday season means to him, he didn’t hesitate.

“Reveillon is the beginning,” he said. “It’s in my blood. It’s in the DNA of this city. Even the word itself—Réveillon—means awakening. And that’s what the holidays in New Orleans always feel like: an awakening of who we are.”

A First Taste of Holiday Magic

Chef Eric’s first memorable Reveillon wasn’t as a chef—but as a newcomer to New Orleans kitchens, fresh out of the Marine Corps and thrown into the elegance of Brennan’s in the French Quarter.

“I had no idea what I was walking into,” he laughed. “I was a jarhead who had spent years around meatheads, and suddenly I’m in this beautiful dining room with polished silver, holiday wreaths, all of Royal Street lit up. Everyone was in a better mood. There was just… a glow.”

But what stuck with him most wasn’t the decor—it was the ritual.

Chef Mike Roussel, a legend in Brennan’s kitchen, would spend days each December making huge batches of his famous homemade eggnog.

“Picture these giant metal milk canisters lined up like something off a farm,” Eric recalled. “Then you look over and see about forty bottles of liquor on the counter and think, What exactly are we making here?”

The eggnog would then appear in a big punch bowl right at the entrance of the restaurant for anyone who walked in.

A tradition that united people – he recalled seeing strangers talking over the ladle, laughing while scooping their eggnog. “That’s what the holidays do in New Orleans. They bring us back to each other,” he said.

Keeping Tradition Alive

To Chef Eric, the meaning of Reveillon isn’t just about white tablecloths or multi-course menus—it’s about honoring where the tradition began and refusing to let it fade.

“So much of what makes New Orleans special is our history,” he said. “But you have to work to keep that history alive.” That philosophy is woven into both of his restaurants and that’s what elevates Chef Eric’s brand. He’s not asleep, he’s not on autopilot.  He shows up—every day—with intention.

Gris-Gris, he explains, was born out of his roots—straightforward, soulful, deeply personal cooking.

“I didn’t go to some fancy culinary school. I’m a street kid. Gris-Gris was me cooking real New Orleans food the way my mom and dad made it. No molecular gastronomy. Just honest, old-school food that people recognize.”

Saint John, on the other hand, became an elevation of that story.

“When we walked into that old Maximo’s building, it spoke to us,” he said. “Everything happens for a reason in this city and it was our turn.” 

He laughs as he explains how the restaurant got its vision: his wife, standing in a dimly lit barroom with the stools still flipped upside down, suddenly seeing the entire future of the space.

“She just knew. And once she knew, that was it. We were doing it.”

The Spirit Behind the Food

What sets Chef Eric apart—what makes him a genuine “twinkle” in the city—is that for him, food is never just food. It’s connection. It’s story. It’s responsibility.

“We’ve been given this incredible city,” he said. “And it should motivate you beyond measure to help make it great—especially during the holidays. It’s about the memories and this time of year because that’s when New Orleans shines its brightest.”

And that, perhaps, is the heart of what makes our city twinkle: people like Chef Eric Cook, still committed to preserving the traditions that brought us here—one meal, one memory, one holiday season at a time.

So grab your map, the people you love (maybe a beignet or two) and go find the places that make your NOLA twinkle.