Best Arts and Culture Places in Metairie

"At this stately museum in City Park, you’ll experience New Orleans’ oldest fine arts institution, which opened in 1911 and showcased just nine works of art. Fast forward more than 100 years, and NOMA (1 Collins Diboll Circle; 504-658-4100) plays host to a permanent collection of nearly 40,000 objects that include photography, glass works, French and American art, Japanese and African works, and much more. Just outside, the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is home to over 60 sculptures by renowned artists from around the world."

"Located in City Park, the neo-classical, Beaux Arts-style New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) presents an impressive collection spanning the 15th-20th centuries. A great escape from the hectic pace of life in the Big Easy, strolling through NOMA grants visitors a look at Impressionist masterpieces by Monet, Pissarro and Renoir, as well as Surrealist works by Miro, Magritte and Ernst. Additional displays feature Faberge objects and tribal figurines from Hawaiian and Gulf Coast tribes."

"The city’s oldest art museum boasts over 40,000 artworks and objects from across the globe and the ages. But if you’re in town for Mardi Gras, make a point to see their current exhibition on 19th-century Swedish artist Bror Anders Wikstrom, who immigrated to NoLa in 1883 and helped shape the carnival experience into what it is today with his elaborate float designs. Afterwards, take a stroll through the museum’s enchanting five-acre sculpture park."

"Mid-CityWhile the adjacent New Orleans Museum of Art charges an entrance fee on most days (see below), the glorious sculpture garden on its grounds is open seven days a week and totally gratis to all comers. Meander the footpaths and marvel at over 60 impressive -- and sometimes disturbing -- works of sculpture by a bevy of international artists. When you get tired, you can always avail yourself of mini-golf, beignets at Morning Call, or any other variety of fun activities to be had in City Park."

"Inside City Park, the New Orleans Museum of Art and Besthoff Sculpture Garden is a fun find for families looking to escape the heat and meander through galleries of exquisite art. The museum offers regular galleries and visiting exhibitions. Families can enjoy galleries featuring everything from West African art to Roman Catholic art from India to contemporary art pieces."

"The CAC complex in historic downtown is a cultural leader, bridging the gap between the visual and performing arts by combining exhibitions, concerts, dance and plays. Past interactive events, such as Leverage by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes, had patrons delightedly playing on what resembled a giant see-saw. Upcoming exhibitions include 30 Americans, showcasing the last three decades of art by the most influential African-American artists, and Julian Sands in A Celebration of Harold Pinter, where the actor will share and provide insight into Pinter's little-known poetry."

"Visit the spacious art galleries of the Contemporary Arts Center to see some world-class fine art in the up-and-coming warehouse district in downtown New Orleans. There are different artist residences happening and constantly rotating and changing exhibits. The museum is famous for the events that it hosts with different performances and lectures."

"– Located in the heart of the Central Business District, the Contemporary Arts Center is perfect for those that want to spend some time soaking in Contemporary Art and dodging the heat. Every Sunday, the Contemporary Arts Center is free for Louisiana Residents through the Helis Foundation or the Library’s Culture Pass Program."

"If you like arts and culture, you might enjoy a trip to the New Orleans Museum of Arts aka NOMA. Here you’ll find art work from famous artists like Picasso, Joan Miro, Georgia O’ Keffe, and also some local Louisiana artists. The art exhibition are divided into arts from different regions of the world. NOMA has a nice cafe, a cute garden to enjoy a picnic and a lake behind to kayak."

"Many visitors pigeonhole New Orleans art as big, bright and made for tourists, but this is hardly the case at the Angela King Gallery, one of the best contemporary art galleries in the city. At any one time, the gallery showcases the work of up to 30 artists, whose talents range from oil paintings to mixed media to ink sketches. This is an extremely varied, diverse gallery, and a great stop for visiting (and local) art lovers."

"It’s not the most quintessential New Orleans-related activity, but the New Orleans Glassworks & Printing Studio is a great place to stop by if you’re into artisan-related hobbies. The studio specializes in creating unique works of art with glass, metal, and prints. They offer free demonstrations daily, or sign up for one of their mini-workshops or courses."

"The best kind of gift is usually one that is made with love – and this extends to both gifts to others and to yourself. And what is a souvenir but a gift of love from your travels?. So if you’re in Louisiana, consider heading on down to the New Orleans Glassworks & Printmaking Studio to personally craft a souvenir of your own!"

"– What is more fun than seeing an experienced glassblower making amazing designs?. At New Orleans GlassWords and Printmaking Studio, you can watch the masters at work. You might even end up buying something from their tax-free studio."

"Since 1983, LeMieux Galleries has been showcasing artists from the Southern US. It’s a mix of pop-surrealist narratives, vibrant colors and remarkable Louisiana landscapes from painters like Thomas Deaton, Kate Samworth and Billy Solitario. Here, you’ll find artwork which captures the rich atmospheres of New Orleans to take home with you. But if you’re not looking to buy, it’s still worth investing an hour or two to see some of the Southern visual culture on display."

"As the name suggests,  pho is the main event here at this spot from the chef behind the beloved Maypop. They offer a choice of broth with standard adds such as pork shoulder and meatballs, premium adds such as a slow-poached egg and ribeye steak, and top shelf adds such as duck confit. The crispy chicken wings with lemongrass and ginger are also much-praised, as is the selection of spring rolls."

"Chef-owner Michael Gulotta served as chef de cuisine at fine-dining August before opening this hipster Vietnamese retreat in Mid-City last year. His skill reveals itself on a whimsical menu that embraces kicky chicken wings and pho in a handful of flavors but also po’ boys stuffed with “sloppy roast duck” and banana barbecue sauce."

"Thai hot is only for the very brave at Suko Thai, a Thai eatery with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and dishes some of the best Thai cuisine in town in a setting that will soothe and delight. Everything is good, from the pad Thai to curries as fiery as you like and stir fries perfumed with Thai basil. Service is most accommodating and gluten free is the order of the day, since flour isn't a common ingredient in Thai cooking."

"Sukho Thai endeavors to bring her patrons the true cuisines of Thailand right at the heart of New Orleans. They have an a-la-carte menu designed to be shared by everyone at the table, and each menu item is individually prepared using only the freshest ingredients and secret homemade sauces. This is also one of the very few Asian restaurants where you will find a decent chunk of the menu dedicated to vegan options."

"2200 Royal St., (504) 948-9309; 4519 Magazine St., (504) 373-6471; www.sukhothai-nola.com. Pineapple seafood curry includes shrimp in red coconut curry with pineapple, bell pepper, broccoli, zucchini and sweet basil."

"Clearview Parkway, Suite A, Harahan, (504) 733-8879; Independence Mall, 4201 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite A4, Metairie, (504) 779-7253; www.sakecafela.com. A Clearview Roll features snow crab, avocado, crawfish, cream cheese, tempura-fried shrimp, smelt roe and eel sauce. Reservations accepted."

"Even though they call themselves a café, this is certainly an upscale spot. Make your reservations because it’ll book fast. They, too, incorporate New Orleans cuisine throughout their menu– some highlights include the Crawfish Corn Soup and PoBoy Roll."

"A good meal was ruined by four obnoxious children running and stomping across the upper level and around the entire restaurant while two mothers sat drin..."

"A Hana special roll combines tuna, salmon, crab stick, tempura-fried shrimp, avocado, tamago and smelt roe. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily."

"I've been eating here since I was little, the food is amazing, the prices are good, the atmosphere and the decorations are great, and the people tha..."

"Set in a renovated home with an outdoor deck on funky Freret Street, Origami has line-up of specialty rolls with topical (and dated?) names like FEMA roll, chocolate city roll, and bye-bye Katrina roll, the latter including layers of smelt roe, cucumber, eel, and shrimp tempura wrapped in tender soy paper, and garnished with snow crab and a drizzle of sweet and salty eel sauce. The fish is pristine and chopped with the kind of expertise that comes from years of experience. Six oyster shooters with spicy ponzu sauce for $6.95 is a deal."

"While from the outside it may look like your average home, Origami is far from ordinary. The menu is extremely versatile– from a poke salad with chili ponzu sauce to seafood gumbo to crawfish sushi. The prices are very reasonable, making it perfect for a night out with friends."

"That’s the one word to describe the food at Superior Seafood!. This stylish restaurant has a zinc bar and full-service oyster bar perfect for anyone looking for Louisiana seafood and Creole-inspired cuisine. The menu changes weekly at Superior Seafood to highlight the freshest, local ingredients available, so you can always expect a quality experience."

"Yes, even a seafood restaurant makes the list of best vegan restaurants in New Orleans!. Just like the other restaurants on this list, Superior Seafood also offers superior sides an..."

"Superior Seafood and Oyster Bar sits at the intersection of Napoleon and Charles avenues. Grab a window seat to watch all of the neighborhood locals and tourists as they move down ..."

"For more than a century, there’s been a long line outside Galatoire’s, the most famous restaurant on one of the world’s most famous streets (Bourbon). Like the city itself, Galatoire’s is a restaurant that combines elegant with raucous. From the Soufflé Potatoes appetizer followed by Black Drum topped with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat to Carmel Cup Custard and a cup of Flaming Café Brûlot, this is an experience not to be missed."

"Galatoire's is another of the French Quarter's grand, family-owned restaurants, sharing much in common with Antoine's. It was opened on Bourbon Street in 1905 by Jean Galatoire, a French immigrant, and focuses on French-Creole cuisine. The main dining room is at street level and features a high ceiling with fans, mirrors along the walls, and numerous coat hooks that hang above them."

"If you're lucky enough to go on a night when soft-shell crab is on the menu, it'll be one of the best damn pieces of food you'll ever put in your mouth."