Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Metairie

"A must-see on most visitors’ New Orleans itineraries, and deservedly so. The building itself, set back in City Park, is imposing and grand with its alabaster walls and Greco-Roman columns. There's also a beautiful five-acre sculpture garden, with artwork beneath magnolias and Spanish moss-laden live oaks."

"Behind the museum’s main building is a gated outdoor space in 11 acres of mature parkland enriched with more than 90 works of sculpture. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened in 2003 and at the time of writing in 2019 had just doubled in size with an expansion that included 26 new works, mostly by 21st-century artists. On serpentine paths among pines, magnolias, camellias and live oaks draped with Spanish moss there are pieces by Henry Moore, Deborah Butterfield, Barbara Hepworth, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Robert Indiana, Gaston Lachaise and René Magritte, as well as contemporary sculptors like Katharina Fritsch, Hank Willis Thomas and Jeppe Hein."

"This five-acre sculpture garden is a park within City Park, and acts as an open-air annex to the wonderful New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). 90 sculptures—mostly modern and abstract—are set among magnolias and live oaks, framed by bridges and reflecting pools, with world-renowned artists Henry Moore, Antoine Bourdelle, and Ossip Zadkine represented. The lake-set Virlane Tower by Kenneth Snelson is a favorite, as is the familiar Love, Red Blue sign by Robert Indiana, but it’s best to come without a map."

"The sculpture garden that sits just outside the New Orleans Museum of Art is a wooded quilt of streams, pathways, lovers' benches and, of course, sculpture, mainly of the modern and contemporary sort. During spring and summer, theatrical productions are often put on here, but it's a lovely spot for a stroll any time of year."

"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."

"Right next door to The National WWII Museum is the Contemporary Arts Center, known to locals as the CAC. This artistic hub hosts a variety of exciting contemporary art exhibits and events. To open the 2018 season, the CAC is presenting “Constructing the Break,” their annual open call exhibition of 29 regional artists."

"The CAC has free admission for Louisiana residents on Sundays courtesy of the Helis Foundation. The museum focuses on multi-disciplinary programming and rotating exhibits."

"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."

"Located in the center of City Park is NOMA, New Orleans Museum of Art which the building itself is beautiful holding a permanent fine art collection of over 40,000 pieces. We will be checking this out on our next trip as well!"

"Gracing the main entrance to City Park since 1911, this traditional fine-arts museum draws from classic Greek architecture, with several…"

"Take the famous St. Charles Streetcar to Central City to visit the McKenna Museum of African American Art. The museum’s mission is to make African Diasporan fine art available and accessible to visitors of all ages. They work to preserve the culture of the African American community in Louisiana."

"The McKenna Museum is a fine art institution with a direct focus on African Diasporan pieces. In addition to their collection, McKenna offers a range of diverse programming such as guest speakers, workshops and book readings to further their mission and work."

"After voodoo (or vodou) came to New Orleans in the 1700s—first via West African slaves, then with Haitians after the Haitian Revolution—it entwined with the city’s identity. Which is why, since the 1970s, a French Quarter visit has been deemed incomplete without a stop at the tiny Historic Voodoo Museum. If it’s lore you seek, you’ll find it here."

"Housed in a low-slung purple building in Treme, you are obliged to place your order at a bulletproof glass window within. No worries, you will have plenty of company and even massive catering-sized orders roll up magically fast. The fried wings are addictive ($5.39 for 8 plus a side of fries or shrimp fried rice and a side salad) and the yakamein ($5.49) is spot on, too."

"The best place to find this street food is really at neighborhood corner joints like Manchu Food Store and Chinese Kitchen, a small bright-purple cinderblock building under the bridge on Claiborne."

"Low key West Bank sushi spot Daiwa, known for its uni, karaoke rooms, and Hello Kitty aesthetic, opened a second location in Metairie a few months ago. The Vets Boulevard restaurant in a former World of Beer location ups the ante in space and menu, with the option of omakase (chef’s choice) dinners and new specialties featuring less common fish like Japanese striped jack and sardines. Lunch was also just added in August."

"5033 Lapalco Blvd., Suite B6, Marrero, (504) 875-4203; www.daiwasushi.com. Spicy City is a deep-fried sushi roll filled with marinated crawfish, snow crab, cream cheese, avocado and jalapeno and topped with eel sauce and spicy mayonnaise."

"Atelier Vie is a craft distillery that produces a hefty lineup of spirits including Euphrosine Gin #9 Bottled in Bond; a standard version of Euphrosine; and a nine-month, barrel-aged version called Barrel-Finished Reserve. The Atelier Vie lineup also includes Louisiana Single Malt; Riz, a Louisiana rice whiskey; Calio Rum and Barrel Aged Calio Rum; Orphan Street Brandy and Orphan Street Brandy “El Jefe” Edition; Toulouse Green, a traditional-style absinthe distilled with Louisiana wormwood; and Toulouse Red, an American absinthe colored red with hibiscus. Atelier Vie also bottles Buck 25 Vodka and Orphan Street Bourbon."

"Founded in 2011, Atelier Vie produces vodka, gin, whiskey and even absinthe, from its South Broad Street location in Mid-City New Orleans.Atelier Vie’s two varieties of absinthe include the traditional green absinthe and a red version colored and flavored with hibiscus flowers. Try: Louisiana Single Malt Whiskey, Calio Rum, Orphan Street Brandy, and Euphrosine Gin, which took the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition."

"Eric and Leah Jensen have created a community haven on the corner of Lesseps and Royal Streets, with a giant beer garden and a cool, funky vibe. Try hop-forward beers like Green With Envy NEIPA, lagers like the Czuck Pilsner, or something similar to a farmhouse style like the Berry Poppins black and raspberry gose. Parleaux also serves non-alcoholic drinks and hosts food trucks and pop-ups like La Monita and Tacocat."

"This neighborhood craft micro-brewery and taproom in the Bywater produces high-quality, small-batch brews with a funky twist inherent to New Orleans. The rotating tap list changes constantly, and the brewery prides itself on not having a flagship beer. Instead, the 12 taps are a virtual laboratory of experimental brews that push the boundaries of typical beer styles."

"A post shared by The Fudgery (@thefudgery) on Sep 21, 2014 at 4:23pm PDT. The Fudgery offers a large selection of flavors for your ice cream, fudge, shakes, smoothies, candy apples, and other delicious sweet treats. The moment you step into the shop, you will be greeted by the divine aroma of fudge and bright smiles by its charming employees."

"This soft serve chain started five years ago in Sydney, with franchises now in Texas, Virginia and here in New Orleans, the second U.S. location. Aqua S dishes Instagrammable soft serve in flavors like cappuccino, Arnold Palmer, and cotton candy that look and taste just like how they sound. This location is owned by sisters Loan Le and Yen Truong, who fell in love with the place in Houston."

"This outpost of the Australian brand is famed for its creamy, bright-blue, sea-salt soft serve and Instagramable décor begging for selfies. With a library of more than 100 flavors, only a few are offered at a time, and they change every two weeks. A recent favorite—pancake swirled with sea salt—was cool, salty-sweet hominess."