Jordan Hefler
Undeniably, football is a big draw to Baton Rouge, home of Louisiana State University (as well as HBCU powerhouse Southern University and A&M College). But it would be a mistake to come here for a game and miss out on everything else the area has to offer. As the state capital, the city has a wealth of historical and cultural activities. Some are even within quick walking distance of each other, like the beautiful Old State Capitol building and the LSU Museum of Art, both of which overlook the Mississippi River. Although the food scene is often overshadowed by culinary hotspot New Orleans an hour southeast, it’s easy to eat well here. You’ll find dozens of dining options that combine the region’s bountiful produce and seafood with global influences ranging from Mexico to Vietnam. This culinary richness is best experienced along the Perkins Overpass, a lively district lined with restaurants that captures the city’s laid-back, fun-loving vibe.
Football Fan
Stay
A large purple tiger statue sits at the door of Origin Hotel Baton Rouge, welcoming guests to Tigerland. You’ll find more nods to LSU’s mascot throughout: feline artwork in the elevators, animal-print stools and carpeting, and a mini gift shop with accessories, greeting cards, and Louisiana-themed goods by retailer Sweet Baton Rouge.
Shop
Looking for truly unique team gear? Hunt for vintage LSU T-shirts, hats, letterman jackets, and other treasures at the sprawling Pink Elephant Antiques in the trendy Mid City neighborhood.
Taste
A campus visit isn’t complete without a trip to the Dairy Store, open since 1972, where the flavors are made on-site by students from the school’s AgCenter. Go for the classic Tigerbite, featuring golden vanilla and blueberry, a nod to LSU gold and purple.
Cheer
Open since 1983, the Chimes is such an iconic LSU institution that the restaurant might as well be on campus. It’s famous for its massive beer selection (80 on tap and more than 100 by the bottle), Louisiana-style bar food such as boudin balls and fried alligator bites, and a rowdy atmosphere on game days.
Visit
Photograph courtesy of Visit Baton Rouge
Images of the big cats are everywhere in Baton Rouge, but if you want to see the real deal, LSU mascot Mike the Tiger lives in a luxurious 15,000-square-foot habitat across from Tiger Stadium. Mike—technically, Mike VII—receives visitors when he feels like it. Early morning or late afternoon are the best times to catch him.
Culture Connoisseur
Groove
Every fall and spring, downtown’s Galvez Plaza comes alive with music and dancing during Live After Five, the city’s longest-running concert series. The free Friday night event features genres ranging from zydeco to reggae to jazz. Food trucks and vendors dish out local specialties, such as sno-balls, fried catfish, and jambalaya.
Photograph courtesy of Jordan Hefler
Appreciate
While on campus, pop into the LSU Textile & Costume Museum to check out the latest free exhibit, Stitches in Time, which juxtaposes 19th- and 20th-century quilts with quilted clothing by legendary Louisianian fashion designer Geoffrey Beene.
Explore
The LSU Museum of Art spotlights a wide-ranging permanent collection with works by Louisiana artists such as self-taught painter Clementine Hunter and potter Anna Frances Simpson. Temporary exhibitions include the Folk Art Gallery, which includes works on loan from the American Folk Art Museum in New York, as well as a whirligig, face jugs, and mud painting.
Gaze
Photograph courtesy of Maggie Bowles
Located in a castle-like Gothic building, Louisiana’s Old State Capitol dates to 1850. Today, it’s a museum dedicated to the state’s political history with rotating and permanent exhibits, but the most spectacular attraction is overhead: a domed stained-glass ceiling in a kaleidoscope of colors.
Admire
Baton Rouge Gallery has showcased contemporary art from Louisiana and beyond since opening in 1966. The gallery represents more than 75 artists who work in all types of mediums, from soft watercolors to fantastical sculptures. In the fall and spring, it hosts movie nights on the lawn, pairing silent films with live original music performed by local musicians.
Food Lover
Sample
Stop into Oxbow Rum Distillery for an enlightening tour and taste award-winning single-estate rum produced on-site with sugarcane from owner Olivia Stewart’s family farm in nearby Pointe Coupée Parish.
Savor
At Mestizo, chef-owner Jim Urdiales draws on his Mexican and Cajun-French heritage in dishes like duck empanadas and grilled redfish topped with shrimp and crab and served with purple rice, avocado, and cotija cheese.
Indulge
Photograph courtesy of Taylor Oliver
When Elsie’s Plate & Pie was recommended by the Michelin Guide in 2025, locals weren’t surprised. Folks gladly wait in line for slices of chef Paul Chauvin Dupré’s sweet creations such as lemon icebox or coconut cream, along with savory options like Louisiana Poulet Pot Pie, a mixture of smoked chicken and roasted peppers in tasso cream sauce.
Dig in
Jason Cohen
Head beneath Interstate 10 to the Perkins Overpass, where you can choose from more than a dozen places to eat and drink within a short walk. You can’t go wrong with antipasti at DiGiulio Brothers Italian Cafe, a steak and potato grazing board at BLDG 5, and a nightcap and slice of Nannette’s Double Chocolate Cake at the Colonel’s Club.
Wander
On Saturdays, locals head to Red Stick Farmers Market for delicacies like Creole cream cheese from Feliciana’s Best Creamery, fresh shrimp from Anna Marie Seafood, muscadine jelly from Lena Farms, or a crawfish pie and a Vietnamese iced coffee from Sugar Mill Confections.
This article appears in the Fall 2026 issue of Southbound.
