Hey, guys! While I’m abroad, I thought it would be cool to have some of my friends back in the USA write on the blog about their current cities. In this case, I asked my friend Emily from the Sunday Morning Post to share her experience of living in Shreveport Louisiana! Hopefully, this post will inspire some of you to travel there one day if you haven’t already. Thanks for sharing, Emily!
A Local’s Guide to Shreveport, Louisiana
Hi there, I’m Emily of Sunday Morning Post and I am excited to give you a virtual tour of my current home, Shreveport, Louisiana. I am a born and raised Alaskan who made the jump from the far north to the deep south when my boyfriend, who’s an engineer, got a job here. Enjoy my overview of Shreveport!
Update: Emily and her boyfriend just moved to Seattle, Washington after spending over 2 years in Shreveport. Check out her adventures in Seattle on her blog, Sunday Morning Post.
How long have you lived in Shreveport?
2 years
What part of Shreveport do you live in?
South Shreveport
If you could describe the city in 3 words what would they be?
- Welcoming. Talkin’ bout southern charm, y’all.
- Lively. They live by the saying, Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler aka “let the good times roll!”
- Revitalizing. The days of booming oil and gas were good to the region. They are forced to diversify and adjust to the times now but the city is embracing it and you can truly feel the change happening.
What are your top 3 brunch/breakfast places?
- Another Broken Egg – they offer eggs benedict done six different ways but my recommendation is the huevos rancheros
- Marilynn’s Place – bottomless drinks for Sunday brunch and delicious beignets and coffee – a Louisiana staple! best of all – it’s dog-friendly and the best place to catch the Highland Krewe Mardi Gras parade
- Strawn’s Eat Shop – an iconic Shreveport staple known for their Ice Box Pies – it’s never too early for dessert.
Top 3 lunch spots?
- Ki Mexico – seriously everything is delicious any time of day, they also have a killer Sunday brunch
- Giuseppe’s Pastacaffe – I actually haven’t tried this spot yet but the owner’s father operated Ristorante Giuseppe for years in Shreveport and recently closed shop to retire
- Bistro Byron’s – their version of a Parisian café, “bistro-inspired dishes done the Southern way — comfortable yet special, casual yet elegant, and a bit curious and undefined”
Top 3 dinner spots?
- Frank’s Pizza Napoletana – they make everything from scratch, including their mozzarella – need I say more? if you’re still not convinced, you should know that their wine menu is longer than their food menu)
- Wine Country Bistro – usually we end up in the bar for drinks and apps – their happy hour menu is just enough to fill you up without breaking the bank
- Abby Singer’s Bistro – located on the second floor of Robinson Film Center in downtown Shreveport, their chef, Tootie Morrison, creates a fresh take on hearty staples like chicken and waffles or burgers with fixings you never dreamed of
Favorite cafes?
Rhino Coffee – their pastry chef is incredible – no joke, the night after I first tried her macaroons, I dreamed about them. it’s THAT good
Favorite bars?
We tend to frequent restaurant-bars or the breweries so I’d say Superior Steakhouse and Great Raft Brewing. However, if you’re looking for a fun night out, Noble Savage has incredible live music, Fatty Arbuckles is a bit of a dive but they have great cocktails and Bear’s on Fairfield is always a good time
Favorite shops?
All of the boutiques at Shoppes at Bellmead
Where would you eat if you were on a budget?
The breweries (Great Raft Brewing, Red River Brewing, Flying Heart Brewery) usually host local food trucks that are always affordable. Otherwise, consider dining at any of the local spots during their “Happy Hour” times for cheap food AND drinks.
What do you recommend doing on a weekend?
Check out the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourism Bureau’s calendar for local events. I can almost guarantee that there will be some sort of festival offering local food, music, and arts. My personal favorites are Battle of the Gumbo Gladiators in March, Mudbug Madness in May, and Red River Revel in September.
Is there anything visitors must see?!
Consider making a trek out to Lake Bistineau (my favorite place to paddle board) or Caddo Lake (try a fishing guide) to see picturesque Louisiana landscapes with cypress trees galore
Where would you tell people to stay if they were visiting?
Our visitors have always crashed in our apartment in south Shreveport – but most everywhere is “10 minutes away” so it’s all easily accessible – however, The Remington Suite Hotel & Spa in downtown Shreveport has the coolest vibes, is dog-friendly and always hosting events that even the locals frequent like their Mixology Nights or Rooftop Cigar and Whiskey Parties.
When is the best time of year to visit?
The first weekend of October – see below.
What has been your favorite memory so far?
The first weekend of October is always the Louisiana Prize weekend – consisting of Film Prize, Music Prize and Food Prize. The event started as a local short film competition with the largest cash prize in the world and has since grown into a weekend of music, food, film and everything in between. It’s hosted in downtown Shreveport and as you walk around, you can just feel the energy and good vibes. See more here: http://lafilmprize.com/
Any final thoughts or recommendations for travelers to your city?
Your trip to Louisiana wouldn’t be complete without a drive-thru daiquiri, just don’t break the seal of the tape – see more on this historic icon: http://www.travelchannel.com/shows/anthony-bourdain/video/drive-through-daiquiris
Thanks, Emily!!
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I’m glad to see Emily’s dog getting comfy on the SUP with her… ours gets a little too comfortable at times. He thinks it’s his board!