25+ best indoor things to do in New Orleans metro

Caveat: Check hours and availability before you visit.

Go out to eat

Hit up the hundreds of restaurants in the area for a tasty meal out of the elements.

Look for meal experiences if you want a longer escape, such as:

• Le Petit Chef at Criollo.
• High tea at Windsor Court downtown and The English Tea Room in Covington.
• Tasting menus at Mosquito Supper Club and Dakar.
• Chef's table at Commander's Palace.
• St. Roch Market for a food hall with local vendors.
• Crazy Hot Pot in Metairie with robot servers.
• Omakase sushi meals at Yakuza House, Seiji's Omakase and Kenji Omakase.
• DIY Korean or Japanese BBQ at Gangnam Korean BBQ, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ and Coco Korea BBQ.
• Make your own pizza at Reginelli's.

See a movie

Catch a flick at the independently owned Prytania Theatre and Broad Theater. Look for new releases and classic favorites.

• The Broad Theater has $6 Tuesdays and a nice pinball machine selection.
• Or try the dine-in and reclining options at AMC Theatres in Metairie, Elmwood and Harvey.

Grab a drink

Enjoy a beverage at one of the many fine establishments in town.

• Cocktails: Jewel of the South was recently recognized as the best bar in the country. You can go for a ride at The Carousel Bar or embrace your tropical side at Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29.
• Beer: The city has a lively brewery scene that's family-friendly.

• Alcohol-free: Head to Dream House Lounge, a zero-proof cocktail space.
• Coffee: Leisurely sip a cuppa joe at Rue De La Course, French Truck and Backatown Coffee Parlour. Or combine your ice cream and caffeine at the chic Drip Affogato Bar.

Go shopping

Head to the mall for retail therapy — or a nice walk in a climate-controlled space.

• Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie, Oakwood Center in Gretna and Riverwalk Outlets and Canal Place downtown are your biggest options.
• Lakeside, Oakwood and Riverwalk also have indoor play areas for young children. And, Lakeside has the Lego store and Build-a-Bear.

Go for a swim

The city has several indoor options that are open all year for lap swimming and water aerobics:

• Gert Town, 3411 Broadway St.
• Joe W. Brown, 5601 Read Blvd.
• Treme, 900 N. Villere St.
• Sanchez, 1616 Fats Domino Ave.

Go deeper: See our guides for outdoor public pools, drop-in hotel pools and nearby splash pads.

Visit a museum

The National WWII Museum is the most visited one in town, but we have dozens of others celebrating art, food, culture and music. See our full guide.

• You can score free tickets through the New Orleans Public Library (reserve) and the Jefferson Parish Library (reserve).
• The Helis Foundation also regularly hosts free visits at a few of these institutions.

The Storyville Museum opened in 2024 and examines the city's history with prostitution. Go deeper.

Grab your skates

Airline Skate Center in Metairie, Skate Country in Gretna and Skater's Paradise in Slidell have public skating sessions and an indoor arcade.

Next level: Watch some thrills on wheels at the Big Easy Roller Derby matches. See the schedule.

Take a hobby class

Learn how to make gumbo at the New Orleans School of Cooking, blow your own glass ornament at New Orleans Glassworks, become an expert glitter applicator at NOLA Craft Culture and learn how to sew at ricRACK.

• The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts also has painting, drawing, photography and sculpture classes for children and adults.
• Plus, the New Orleans and Jefferson Parish library systems have free classes and workshops.

Go deeper: Free things to do at the library.

Create with friends

Paint a canvas with your besties at Painting with a Twist or some pottery at Chez Clay and Posh Paint Pottery.

Visit an indoor playground

The Louisiana Children's Museum is the biggest indoor play space for kids in New Orleans.

• NOLA Kidsground and Luv 2 Play are popular indoor playgrounds for younger children. The Kids' Castle at Lakeside is a free alternative.
• The Hive on Woodland in Belle Chase is an indoor playground with pop-up play sessions.
• Create & Play Club in Old Metairie has a kid-friendly play studio and classes for sensory play, music, movement and more.

Jump around: Sky Zone and Airborne X are trampoline parks with ninja courses and other activities.

• And, Crescent City Ninja Academy is available for all ages wanting to master their skills.

Play tag

Check out the laser tag options at Adventure Quest and Game On Social Hub.

• They both have indoor arcades as well.

Escape room adventures

Figure out the answer at Clue Carré, Escape My Room and The Escape Game.

• They have options for different ages and group sizes.

Target practice

Check your aim at the indoor shooting ranges in town — The Shooter's Club and Jefferson Indoor Range.

• They have rental firearms, including submachine guns, for use at the firing range.

See a live performance

We've got everything in New Orleans — music, touring Broadway shows, plays, burlesque, musicals, ballets and more.

• Check out the schedules at the Saenger, the Orpheum, Mahalia Jackson, the Fillmore, the Joy Theater, Rivertown Theater and the Jefferson Parish Performing Arts Center.
• The WWII Museum also does shows at BB's Stage Door Canteen.

Go deeper: See WWOZ's live music schedule and Gambit's events calendar.

Visit the fish

The Audubon Aquarium and the Audubon Insectarium are both indoors. They are connected but require separate tickets.

• There's a ray touch tank and a butterfly garden inside.

Go rock-climbing

The New Orleans Boulder Lounge has options for youth and adults with day passes and shoe rental.

Pamper yourself

Have a spa day. Woodhouse Spa and EarthSavers are local favorites.

• Go a little more luxurious at the Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf Astoria and Windsor Court spas.
• Do a cold plunge and sauna session at Melt or relax while floating in a tank at Float NOLA.
• Or buy a day pass for Spyre, where you can take a yoga class, steam in the sauna, do a cold plunge and drink a smoothie.

Throw an axe

Channel your inner lumberjack at Game On Social Hub in Kenner and Pickle N Pins in Metairie.

Go bowling

Knock over the pins at Rock 'N' Bowl in Uptown, family-friendly Colonial Lanes in Harahan, Westside Bowling Lanes in Harvey and swanky Fulton Alley downtown.

Laugh until you cry

Check out a comedy show or catch one of the weekly showcases and open-mic nights. Schedule.

Sing your heart out

Grab the mic for karaoke at Cat's Meow on Bourbon Street and Kajun's Pub in the Marigny.

• Cat's Meow has a livestream so you can watch the fun at home too.

Play a game

Hit up the arcade at flashy Dave & Busters or kid-friendly Chuck E. Cheese.

• Escape to an alternative reality virtual reality arenas: Another World in Harahan and Zero Latency downtown.
• Go 4 Games in Metairie has board and card game events, including Pokémon and Magic the Gathering.
• Or, put some skin in the game with the machines at Caesars Casino, Treasure Chest and Boomtown Casino.

Make perfume

Create your signature scent at Tijon and Bourbon French Parfums.

Take a selfie

Do it for the 'gram at JAMNOLA, which is now open on Frenchmen Street. This indoor funhouse has 29 installations that are perfect for selfies and social media.

Be competitive

Hang with pickleheads at the indoor pickleball courts at The Exchange Pickleball + Bar, NOLA Pickleplex and Pickle N Pins.

• Check out the batting cages at Junction Place Sportsplex.
• Cheer on your team at Manning's Sports Bar in one of the leather recliners.

Win the race

Channel your inner NASCAR driver at K1 Speed with indoor go-kart racing. They have electric go-karts and helmets for youth and adults.

Get lost in a book

Head to your local library branch for books, classes and other free things to do.

• Or visit one of the wonderful indie book shops in town.

Editor's note: This story was updated July 24, 2025, with new businesses.