re: NOLA for my first time

Not sure of budget for restaurants but here are a few suggestions from most to least expensive:

Commander's Palace (best dining experience I've ever had)
K-Paul's Kitchen (Best high end authentic NOLA food)
Mr. B's ($1.50 Bloody Mary & Martini at lunch)
Lüke (excellent burger)
Cafe Du Monde

Any John Besh, or Donald Link restaurant is going to be fantastic.

Tons of other great restaurants, but I'm other people will help with the list.

Favorite music venue: Davenport Lounge at the Ritz. Feels like an upscale old jazz club. No cover, great drinks & free snacks.

Frenchmen Street is great for music. Just walk around because there is music everywhere.

Don't worry too much about where to stay as you can easily Uber to and from the Quarter.

If the weather is nice, go up on the balcony at Muriel's overlooking Jackson Square and people watch. Walk in the restaurant and head straight to the back where there will be an old wooden staircase that will lead to the balcony.

Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone is cool to see, but tough to get a seat at.

WWII museum is amazing, and the Mardi Gras museum is pretty cool too.

If you get sick of the smell of vomit on Bourbon, go 1 block toward the river and walk down Royal. Tons of great art galleries to look at.

If you are in the Quarter at night, some black guy is going to try to hustle you, or clean your shoes or some BS like that, just keep walking and don't even respond.