From bayou paddles to brunch plates, plan a long weekend close to home with food, fun, and plenty of ways to unwind.

Labor Day weekend is the perfect excuse to slow down and explore what’s close to home. This four-day itinerary is designed as a choose-your-own-adventure: pick your “home base” in Covington, Mandeville, Slidell or Abita Springs, then mix and match activities and meals to suit your style. The dining spots featured here are open Friday through Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Most close on Monday, so we’ve included a shorter list of Monday-friendly options to help you wrap up the weekend. This itinerary highlights a variety of combinations, but it only scratches the surface—each town in St. Tammany has even more to discover when it comes to where to eat, stay or play.

Ornately decorated plates and teacups arranged on a table with selections for brunch at The English Tea Room, including soup, salad, sweet and savory scones and creamy spreads and sauces.

August is also Tammany Taste of Summer, the Northshore's own culinary month! Fifty restaurants across St. Tammany are offering great dining deals so you can discover new places to enjoy and different dishes at your favorite places. 

Pro tip: Call ahead or check social media for hours, as holiday schedules may vary.

 

Where to Stay

Southern Hotel's poolside Covington mural and guests

 

Friday – Settle In & Toast the Weekend

After you’ve checked in, ease into the weekend at a few of the Northshore’s newest hot spots—each paired with something fun to do nearby.

 

A man and a woman stand on a sailboat watching the sun set over the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge.

  • Mandeville: Start with a round of virtual golf or games at Loft 18, then head to Aperitif Spritz + Bites for shareable plates and cocktails in a stylish, lakefront setting.

  • Slidell: Explore Olde Towne’s shops or stretch your legs along the waterfront of Bayou Bonfouca in Heritage Park before settling in at Whiskey Kitchen for Contemporary American fare with Southern flair, flame-grilled steaks, craft burgers, and a deep bourbon list. Roots Plants and Coffee has delicious drinks and gluten free pastries and the dining room is adorned with exotic plants for sale. Friday nights are open mics with poets and singer-songwriters.

  • Covington: Stroll Columbia Street’s galleries and boutiques, then stop at Bon Sake Sushi & Bar for fresh sushi, Japanese fusion dishes, and creative rolls. Looking for a coffeehouse vibe? Try St. John's Coffeehouse or Haven Coffee & Cocktails, which has live music every Friday night with local songwriters.

If you’d like to cap the night indoors, head to Movie Tavern Northshore in Covington for a recliner-seat movie. It can be a one-stop, too, with dinner and drinks brought right to your seat.

 

Friday highlights a few of the Northshore’s newest dining and nightlife options—later in the weekend you’ll also find longtime local favorites that have stood the test of time.

 

Saturday – Brunch, Bayous & a Night Out

Saturday blends daytime adventure with a wide spectrum of dining, from casual brunch spots to refined evening meals, giving you plenty of ways to set the pace.

 

Indistinct persons sit around a checkered cloth-covered patio table laid with plates and glasses, eating brunch foods and drinking Bloody Marys and mimosas.
Brunch at Palmettos on the Bayou

Breakfast & Brunch

  • Covington: Mattina Bella is a locals’ go-to for scrumptious brunch, burgers and salads (try the Blue Crab Benedict). Abita Roasting Company downtown and Abita Roasting Coffee Works at Copperstill serve the same delicious menu that includes breakfast all day. Butter Krisp Diner serves retro diner classics and its famous glazed donuts (ask about the weekends-only donuts).

  • Mandeville: La Lou offers stylish brunch with creative dishes and cocktails in a cozy space. Liz’s Where Y’at Diner is colorful and funky, with oversized breakfasts. Tandem Coffee and Cocktails is a welcoming space with great food and drinks, and on Saturday, Tandem Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Coffee Rani is great for healthy salads, wraps and pastry, and just steps away is a coffee and wine bistro, the French-infused delight, Odelia Café.

  • Slidell: NOLA Southern Grill opens for brunch with generous Creole comfort dishes. On Saturdays, Palmettos on the Bayou serves a plated à la carte brunch with Gulf seafood and Southern favorites, plus live jazz from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in a waterside setting. 

 

Two women behind the counter of Tandem Coffee and Cocktails, one shakes a cocktail mixer as the other looks on, with bottles and coffeemakers behind.
Tandem Coffee and Cocktails

Daytime Play & Nighttime Fun

Want to keep your cool?

Prefer the outdoors? 

  • Take to the trees in Covington at Tree Frogs Adventure Park. Stroll the Mandeville lakefront park under ancient live oaks or hike the trails at Fontainebleau State Park. (Both offer splash pads to cool off). In Slidell, stroll the boardwalk through the nature preserve of Camp Salmen Nature Park, which also has new fitness courts and an accessible playground. 

 

A group of people cheer on a man practicing his golf swing with virtual golf.
Loft 18 

Dinner Options
  • Covington: Lola serves creative Southern fare in an adorable converted train depot. Meribo specializes in wood-fired pizzas and pastas. The Greyhound is known for cocktails and polished New American plates. Cured. On Columbia focuses on charcuterie, small plates and wine. Tavi offers modern Israeli flavors and to-die-for hummus. 

  • Mandeville: When it's twilight time, it's hard to beat lakefront eateries for their sunset views and lake breezes. Rips on the Lake is a local go-to for seafood (reservation recommended), Pat's Rest Awhile is the sprawling, family-friendly location of the Gallagher brand, serving a casual menu. If you love oysters, don't miss the Raw Bar. Barley Oak Old World Draught Haus has 100+ craft beers from around the world and a delicious pub menu. McClain's Pizzeria (okay, it's half a block from the lake) is a funky, friendly place with hand-tossed signature pies, house-made sauces, salads and shareables. All have balcony views and all welcome pets on the ground level.

  • Slidell: Gallagher’s on Front Street is the Slidell location of the steakhouse favorite, while NOLA Southern Grill keeps things casual with hearty seafood and Creole classics. Want something more laid-back? Hit Cousin Street in Olde Towne for Olde Towne Pizza Company or Tacos and Beer, and cap your night with a drink at The Brass Monkey, a bourbon and cigar at Whiskey and Ashe, or dessert at Old Town Slidell Soda Shop, where milkshakes and sundaes are served old-school style.

  • Madisonville: The Anchor offers casual, open-air dining on the river, while Tchefuncte’s upstairs delivers refined Gulf-to-table cuisine. For upscale dining in a chic atmosphere, check out Social, part of the Habs Group (Habaneros, Whiskey Kitchen), serving Peruvian cuisine. 

 

Sunday – On the Water, At the Table

Sunday is all about comfort—easy mornings, time on the water, and classic Northshore favorites that locals return to again and again.

 

Six young people are seated in a canopied pontoon boat, talking and drinking, with the Tchefuncte River behind.
Tchefuncte River cruise with Louisiana Tours & Adventures

Breakfast & Lunch

  • Covington: Haven Coffee & Cocktails is a stylish café with craft coffee drinks, cocktails, and light brunch fare. 

  • Mandeville: Crazy Pig Southern Kitchen dishes out playful comfort food like chicken and waffles.

  • Slidell: Creole Bagelry & Cafe is known for fresh-baked bagels and full breakfast plates, and their head chef competed in the Louisiana Seafood Cook-off this summer. Palmettos on the Bayou hosts its popular Jazz Brunch, complete with buffet breakfast and a jazz duo at this waterside haven. 

 
Daytime Play

Spend the day on the water in Madisonville with a private cruise and swim with Tchefuncte River Charters, Louisiana Tours and Adventures, or T'Funk Charters. Explore Covington's scenic Bogue Falaya River on a cruise with Blue Gator River Adventures or on a kayak or paddleboard from Canoe and Trail Adventures.

You say you've already explored those rivers? How about a new adventure, north into Washington Parish? Bring swimsuits, coolers and picnics for a day of tubing the Bogue Chitto River with Louisiana River Adventures or Bogue Chitto Tubing. 

Beat the heat altogether because there's plenty to do inside. For the kids, there's Altitude Trampoline Parks--Mandeville or Slidell. and for any age, roller skating at Skater's Paraside, bowling at Paradise Alley and pickleball at Category 5 Pickleball, or enjoy a movie (and some popcorn) at Movie Tavern Northshore. 

Pro tip: tours often require advance booking, but may accommodate you with just a little notice. Book early, and call ahead. 

 

Two women, a man and a dog sit atop brightly colored river tubes to float down Bogue Chitto River in Washington Parish, Louisiana, with swimmers in the distance. An extra tube holds a blue cooler. The area is surrounded by lush, green trees and bushes.

 

Dinner & Dessert

  • Covington: Boulevard American Bistro is a polished spot for steaks, seafood, and cocktails. Redbird Fried Chicken (winner of the 2023 National Fried Chicken Festival in New Orleans) serves crispy fried chicken with scratch-made sides. The Jaybird, Meribo's offshoot inside Covington Beer Garden, features inventive small plates paired with local brews. The Chimes is a longtime favorite for oysters, Louisiana classics, and riverside views, and you can book a paddling tour of the river and launch from the docks below. 

  • Madisonville: The Anchor offers casual, open-air dining on the river, while Tchefuncte’s upstairs serves elevated Gulf Coast cuisine in a fine-dining setting. Social is a stylish addition to the culinary scene, serving Peruvian cuisine and cocktails. 

  • Slidell: Southside Café is a longtime favorite for po’boys and seafood platters. End on a sweet note at Old Town Slidell Soda Shop, where milkshakes and sundaes are served old-school style. 

 

Monday – One More Bite, One More Adventure

Monday keeps things simple, with just a handful of restaurants open and light activities to enjoy before heading home refreshed.

 

Kayaking Honey Island Swamp
Kayaking Cane Bayou with Canoe and Trail Adventures

Most restaurants take a break on Mondays, but a few options are open if you want to linger over one last meal before checkout:

 

Then take in one more adventure—bike a stretch of the Tammany Trace, which starts in Covington and spans 31 miles across the parish with stops at trailheads along the way. You can rent wheels in Covington at Brooks' Bike Shop, in Mandeville at Brooks' Bikes/Trikes & Beyond and O'Wheelies, and in Slidell at Brooks' Bike & Board Shop.

Not feeling a bike ride? Stroll the boardwalk at Fairview-Riverside State Park or the trails and sandy beach at Fontainebleau State Park. Paddle Cane Bayou in Mandeville or Bogue Falaya in Covington with Canoe and Trail Adventures. Paddle Honey Island Swamp with Honey Island Kayak Tours. 
 

Tammany Trace Bike Trail

Whether you spend the long weekend paddling bayous, tasting your way through the local dining scene, or simply unwinding by the pool, The Northshore makes it easy to turn Labor Day into a true staycation. With charming inns, fresh flavors, and plenty of ways to play indoors and out, all that’s left to do is pick your spot and start your adventure.

Pro Tip: Before your visit, take a peek at The Northshore events calendar to see what’s happening over Labor Day weekend — from live music to markets to swamp tours and more. 

Explore Olde Towne Slidell

 

Quick Picks

Here’s your cheat sheet: a quick look at where to stay, eat, and play in each community. Mix and match to build your own long-weekend adventure.

 

Friday – Settle In & Toast the Weekend

In Mandeville, play virtual golf at Loft 18, then sip spritzes at Aperitif. Slidell’s Olde Towne pairs Heritage Park strolls with dinner at Whiskey Kitchen or coffee at Roots, where open mic nights add local flavor. In Covington, browse Columbia Street, then try Bon Sake or live music at Haven. End the night at Movie Tavern Northshore with dinner and a film.

 

Saturday – Brunch, Bayous & a Night Out

Brunch picks include Mattina Bella, Abita Roasting, La Lou, Coffee Rani, Tandem, Odelia Café, NOLA Southern Grill, or Palmettos with live jazz. Spend the day at art shows, brewery tours, adventure parks, or trails, then dine at Covington’s Lola, Meribo, The Greyhound, Cured. On Columbia, or Tavi; Mandeville’s lakefront favorites Rips, Pat’s Rest Awhile, Barley Oak, or McClain’s; Slidell’s Gallagher’s, NOLA Southern Grill, Olde Towne Pizza, or Tacos and Beer; or Madisonville’s riverside standouts The Anchor, Tchefuncte's, and Social. 

 

Sunday – On the Water, At the Table

Grab breakfast at Haven, Crazy Pig, Creole Bagelry & Café or Palmettos’ jazz brunch, then choose from river cruises, tubing, trampolines, pickleball, or pool time. For dinner, Covington offers Boulevard American Bistro, Redbird, The Jaybird, The Chimes, Meribo and many more; Madisonville shines with The Anchor, Tchefuncte’s, and Social; Slidell keeps it classic with Southside Café and sweets at Old Town Slidell Soda Shop.

 

Monday – One More Bite, One More Adventure

Finish with breakfast at  Mattina Bella or Butter Krisp in Covington, La Lou or Liz's in Mandeville, or NOLA Southern Grill or Southside Café in Slidell. Before heading home, bike the Tammany Trace, stroll Fontainebleau or Fairview-Riverside, or paddle Cane Bayou or Honey Island Swamp.

 

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An exterior view of the Abita Mystery House, a roadside attraction in Abita Springs, Louisiana, a rambling series of buildings filled with oddities, collections, handmade and vintage signs, interactive dioramas and toys, and classic arcade games.