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Let's go to Shreveport, Louisiana


The city of Shreveport is the third most populated city in Louisiana, following New Orleans and Baton Rouge. I generally just refer to Shreveport, but the city actually shares the greater metro area with Bossier City with the Red River dividing the two. New Orleans is one of my all-time favorite cities in the U.S., but unfortunately it’s roughly an 8 hour drive and can get pretty expensive. Shreveport is an awesome alternative as it’s closer to the DFW area (3hr drive) and is considerably cheaper. Honestly, Shreveport shares some of the greatest things about New Orleans like Cajun food, Mardi Gras celebrations and casinos without all of the hustle and bustle of Bourbon Street. Let’s talk about why you need to go to Shreveport Louisiana!


What to eat

Cajun and creole has got to be one of my favorite types of food because it infuses seafood, fresh-baked breads, sauces, rice, and spiciness! Shreveport has plenty of great places to eat from sweets to Cajun classics and here is a list of some of my favorites:

  • Marilynn's Place - Marilynn's is on the top of the list for a reason! This casual New Orleans style restaurant (in an old auto shop) has some of the best cajun food you'll ever have. They have all the classics like po'boys, gumbo, etoufee, beignets, and more. I have been a handful of times now and their over-stuffed fried shrimp remoulade po'boy is my normal addiction - it's out of this world. If you go on a Sunday, they replace their normal menu with a delicious brunch and a bottomless brunch cocktail option for $17.

  • Southern Maid Donuts - This Shreveport staple has been around since 1937 making delicious sugary morsels with quality ingredients. They have your normal donut varieties including holes, eclairs, and fritters, but their jelly and cream filled donuts are where it's at! Fun fact: Elvis sang the jingle for the Southern Maid Donuts commercial in the 1950s and it was the only commercial he ever did.

  • Strawn's Eat Shop - For a legit diner experience with great breakfast, Strawn's is where you need to go. Strawn's might not have a website, but they do have three different locations with very creative names "Strawn's Eat Shop", "Strawn's Eat Shop Too", and "Strawn's Eat Shop Also". Everyone in our group tried something different including sandwiches, burgers, pancakes, and breakfast platters - all of which were fantastic. Besides the great service and diner food, Strawn's is famous for their ice box pie in flavors that include strawberry, chocolate, coconut, banana and butterscotch.

  • Herby K's - For another historic dining experience, check out the best "hole-in-the-wall" in Shreveport that's been around since 1936. I know it doesn't look like much, but this place is a must for mixed drinks, beer, and delicious sandwiches. If you go, I'd recommend getting their world famous Shrimp Buster - an open-faced Po' Boy with butterflied fried shrimp served on top of buttered and toasted french bread with fries, coleslaw, & their amazing Shrimp Buster sauce.

  • Lilah's Bakery - One of the most historic pastries in Louisiana is a King Cake, an oval-shaped bakery delicacy that's a mix between a french pastry and a coffee cake that is said to have originated in France around the 12th century to honor the three kings. The King Cake is generally decorated in three colors, purple which signifies justice, green for faith, and gold for power. Hidden in the cake is a small plastic baby to signify baby Jesus that adds a fun activity when giving everyone a slice of cake to see who finds it. While custom holds that the person who finds the baby will be rewarded with good luck, that person is also traditionally responsible for bringing the King Cake to the next party or gathering. There are plenty of great bakeries in Louisiana that make different variations of this signature treat, but if you are in Shreveport, you have to check out Lilah's Bakery. We tried their Zulu, Pralines n' Cream, and their Italian Cream - with the Italian Cream taking the cake (pun intended). The cakes are not cheap and run from $18-$26 for a medium, but definitely worth getting one to share or to bring home for friends and family.


What to drink

Most people think of Louisiana generally as a place with frozen mixed beverages and Mardi Gras, but there are plenty of other places to get your “drink on” in Shreveport including breweries, clubs, and cocktail bars:

  • Great Raft Brewing - Great Raft is one of my favorite breweries in Louisiana as they put out solid beers with a large variety from wild ales to classic styles and easy drinking light beers to hazy IPAs (Grace & Grit double IPA being my personal favorite). They've got a great taproom at the brewery with generally 16 beers on tap, beer to go, brewery tour options on Saturdays, and a big gift shop with something for everyone. If you like beer or breweries, this needs to make the top of your Shreveport list.

  • Flying Heart Brewing - Another great brewery option is Flying Heart Brewing & Pub with good beers on tap and a menu with house-made pizzas and other gastropub-style food. My favorite was their CarnivALE which is a King Cake inspired beer that's actually brewed with King Cakes by The Wooden Spoon Bossier - it was light, sweet, and the hint of cinnamon definitely makes for a refreshing brew.

  • Noble Savage Tavern - Great food, live music, great beer on tap, and an interesting cocktail menu - Yup, Noble Savage has it all. One of my all time favorite beers is the elusive 'Ghost in the Machine' from Parish Brewing, and they had this hazy baby on tap. I also tried the PB&J Old Fashioned which was an interesting twist on a classic cocktail, which I'd highly recommend.

  • Ralph & Kacoo's - This is not just a great seafood restaurant with creole-inspired dishes, it's also home to the Laughing Gator Bar which will serve you Boubon Street-style cocktails in a keepsake glass. Do yourself a favor and get a Hurricane!

  • The Blind Tiger - If you want some great Shreveport nightlife, this modest, casual restaurant serves up a fun atmosphere along with drinks and tasty cajun creations.


What to do

Shreveport and Bossier City have things to do year-round and do a great job of filling their calendar with things to do around the city:

  • Mardi Gras Parades - If you’re lucky enough to make it to Shreveport at the end of January or throughout February, you’ll be able to catch one of Louisiana's largest Mardi Gras parades in the downtown area. In Shreveport-Bossier, there are multiple Mardi Gras organizations, known as "krewes". These krewes produce a busy calendar of parties, parades, and other events during this time that are fun for the entire family. These parades can get very packed along the parade route and the streets get blocked off pretty early, so make sure to get there early and check the website to prepare. We attended the "Krewe of Centaur" parade and found the 14th Annual Red River Mardi Gras Bash online which allowed us front row access to the parade and made it easy to catch the beads, cups, and collectibles from the parade floats. For $40, it also included live music, a shirt, beads, a full cajun meal, king cake, and two non-alcoholic beverages (there was also a cash bar for alcoholic beverages).

  • Festivals - If you can't make it for Mardi Gras, don't worry! Shreveport has festivals year-round including the annual Mudbug Madness Festival which celebrates the love for crawfish, the Red River Revel Arts Fest celebrating local food, music and art and the CORK Wine Festival where you can sample wines from around the world.


The Wrap Up

If you're in for a fun-filled experience for the family with festivities and food, or a crazy friend weekend with food, casinos, and booze, you've got to visit Shreveport. It's a less busy feel than New Orleans and only 3 hours from the DFW Metroplex. You can do a lot in a night, but you could probably knock this entire list out in a full weekend!


Travelingo 3x3

Where to eat:

Where to drink:

What to do:



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