Best Daiquiris in the New Orleans French Quarter
Big Easy Daiquiris by AngryJulieMonday on Flickr
Is there a more refreshing drink on a hot New Orleans Day than a daiquiri? Well, that depends — are you looking to get refreshed and, y’know, refreshed? Just sayin’: If you want to take the edge off the day and enjoy a bit of neon slush that will put you in mind of an old-school slurpee, the “daq” can’t be beat. By the way, while a daiquiri does the job in the summer heat, make no mistake, they’re delicious no matter the weather.
Fair warning: The daiquiri is delish partly because they usually (but not always! See below) come with a serving of sugar that would give most nutritionists nightmares. As a result, the daiquiri comedown is a thing of infamous legend. Imagine if a sugar crash got married to a hangover — and you’ve got an idea of what to expect. Ward this away by drinking some water and not going too crazy on the daqs.
Now, as if to refute that entire last paragraph, here is our list of some of the best daiquiris in the French Quarter and around.
Photo courtesy of Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 on Facebook
Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29
321 N. Peters Street
There are plenty of places that are trying to revive the great tiki drinks of days gone by, but few are as dedicated to the craft of the tropical tipple as Jeff “Beachbum” Berry. The man has opened an excellent bar on Peters Street that serves some fine beverages — you can taste fresh fruit and real sugar here, as opposed to an overprocessed syrup profile. While there may not be a drink officially deemed a “daiquiri” when you visit (although there sometimes is), many of Berry’s drinks would, to our palette, fulfill the requirements of an unfrozen daiquiri.
Big Easy Daiquiris
409 Decatur Street, 216 & 501 Bourbon Street, 617 Decatur Street
No, you’re not in some ‘80s neon riff on a washeteria or a psychedelic power plant — those spinning turbines generate sweet daiquiri goodness, not electricity. It’s hard to go wrong here, but we’ve got a thing for the Peach Bellini, although others swear by the 190 Antifreeze. Bartenders will add an extra shot, because why not?
Photo courtesy of Cane & Table on Facebook
Cane & Table
1113 Decatur Street
Now we’re getting into the fancy daiquiris. Cane & Table has an ever-shifting drink menu, but their libations are always inspired creations meant to comfort the sipper as they lounge in the tropics. Your daiquiri may not be frozen, but it will be, by all means, amazing.
Gazebo Cafe
1016 Decatur Street
By name alone, you’d think you were about to drink at a fancy garden party. Well, if fancy garden parties have live jazz, outdoor tables and ice-cream daiquiris, sign us up.
Kingfish
337 Chartres Street
Here’s another contender for the fancy daiquiri crown. Kingfish prides itself on constantly churning out original, Southern-inspired cocktails, so it’s hard to say what kind of daiquiri will be offered here, or indeed, if they will even be serving them. But in our experience, when the bar team here is on a daiquiri tip, it’s best not to pass them by.
Manolito
508 Dumaine Street
This French Quarter ode to Havana’s El Floridita bar is the ultimate daiquiri destination, with its creative, extensive list of fantastic frozen libations. We recommend trying any and all of Manolito’s signature cocktails. The standouts are so many. All cocktails are made with high-end ingredients and are accompanied by the small-plate menu.
Molly’s at the Market
1107 Decatur Street
We suppose this is cheating, as the slushy drink served here is deemed ‘Frozen Irish Coffee’ as opposed to a daiquiri, but whatever — it’s basically a daiquiri, and for what it’s worth, it’s delicious. Plus, it has a practical application — namely, waking you up so you can have another daiquiri.
The Organic Banana
1100 N. Peters Street
If you want to feel good about your daq and its impact on your body, order from this fruit stand and juice bar, located in the French Market. Again, you’re getting real fruit profiles here without an overwhelming wave of sugar. Plus, they use locally made Old New Orleans Rum. The Pina Colada is one of the coolest things in a cup in the entirety of the Quarter.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Late Night Dining: Where to Turn in the Quarter When the Midnight Hungries Hit Hard
The French Quarter is truly a 24-hour neighborhood where “making a night of it” can easily mean greeting the daybreak in last night’s clothes. But even the most spirited reveler must eat, if only to keep up stamina. Fortunately, late-night Quarter restaurants offer a wide variety of options for noshing round midnight, whether you’re hankering for a burger and fries, need to sample jambalaya before your red-eye flight back home or are looking for something a little more upscale to polish off the evening in style. Below is a list of favorite Quarter spots to turn to when midnight cravings hit, even if they hit quite a bit after midnight.
Buffa’s
1001 Esplanade Ave.
A funky mainstay that exists just on the other side of the Quarter in the Marigny, Buffa’s is essential for eccentric servers, New Orleans locals, great burgers and etouffee, and live music (offered in no particular order). We’ve never had a night here that didn’t get delightfully weird. Open till 2 a.m. every day.
Clover Grill
900 Bourbon St.
Both the staff and clientele of this Bourbon Street burger joint look like a casting call for a John Waters movie, and the atmosphere is just about as fun. Located across from a thriving gay nightclub, the tile-and-chrome diner is as heavy on camp as it is on calories. Everyone from drag queens to cab drivers keep the orders for burgers, fries and omelets coming in all night. Open 24 hours.
Coop’s Place
1109 Decatur St.
What appears to be another of the many dark barrooms along Decatur Street reveals an excellent late-night menu of local dishes, including the best inexpensive jambalaya around. Look for pasta dishes loaded with local seafood and tasso (a flavorful Cajun ham smoked on premises), blackened redfish, and a fried alligator appetizer that for once actually tastes like something besides batter. Open till 11 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
Deja Vu Restaurant and Bar
400 Dauphine St.
This 24-hour full-service restaurant and bar in the French Quarter is always available and ready to accommodate. You will find a wide variety of options on the menu ranging from traditional New Orleans fare to downhome comfort food, all reasonably priced. Deja Vu serves breakfast, lunch and dinner all day long and is available for dine-in, carry out or delivery.
The Bombay Club
830 Conti St.
Located in the elegant Prince Conti Hotel, the Bombay Club offers some of the most refined food you’ll find in the French Quarter after 9 p.m. Ribeye, seared Gulf fish and curried cauliflower are a few examples of the dishes served in a British imperial setting of polished wood and well-made cocktails. Dinner is served till 11 p.m.; the bar is open till midnight Wednesday-Sunday.
Three Legged Dog
400 Burgundy St.
This place is an unassuming bar with classic pub grub and really good crawfish boils, when in season. Open 24 hours.
Turtle Bay
1119 Decatur St.
The 24/7 Turtle Bay is famous for its 20-ounce rib eye served with potato skins and garlic bread, big enough for two to share and still a little over $20. The thin-crust pizza comes with lots of toppings, and there is a handful of signature burgers on the menu along with the classic pub grub like wings and nachos.
Verti Marte
1201 Royal St.
A miracle of space management, this tiny corner deli serves an enormous array of sandwiches, po-boys and hot plates ranging from blackened catfish and creamed spinach to a dense block of utterly comforting macaroni and cheese. There is barely enough room to stand and order, never mind sit and eat, so all orders are “to go.” Free delivery is available in the French Quarter, Marigny and the CBD. Open 24 hours.
Don’t miss out on all the excitement the French Quarter has to offer all year round, round the clock! Book your room at any of these historic hotels today.
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French Quarter Food Delivery
Photo courtesy of Oceana Grill on Facebook
After a long day of New Orleans sightseeing — or after a long night out listening to music, downing cocktails, and sampling beer at local breweries — it’s nice to have your food come to you rather than the other way around. To that end, you need to know who is delivering food in the French Quarter. This is especially relevant given that many historic hotels may not possess a refrigerator, a microwave, or other food preparation facilities en suite.
To that end, don’t forget that our recommended hotels allow for front desk food delivery, and that online platforms like UberEats, Grubhub, DoorDash, and Postmates are all available within New Orleans. If you use one of those apps/websites, a ton of restaurants that aren’t listed here come into the food delivery range, although you’ll generally have to pay more of a delivery fee if the food is coming from further away.
Daisy Dukes
121 Chartres St., 504-561-5171
Daisy Dukes has several locations in New Orleans, including one in the French Quarter. Don’t expect a light meal — they crank out burgers, chili cheese fries, po-boys, and a bunch of variations on fried seafood platters; a full breakfast rounds out the menu. Delivery in the French Quarter and the CBD.
Matassa’s Market
1001 Dauphine St., 504-412-8700
It’s an iconic destination for French Quarter locals and tourists alike: a family-owned market where you can grab everything from a sausage po-boy and a six-pack to paper towels and bananas. Plus, they deliver. Is it any wonder Matassa’s business has been booming for decades?
Meals From the Heart Cafe
1100 N. Peters St. #13, 504-525-1953
This is a beloved French Quarter source of mobile calories located at the French Market. You can order on the phone or online. Take a look at that menu — it’s one of the healthier ones in the Quarter, and includes a ton of salads, vegan crab cakes, vegan beignets, and vegan blueberry pancakes. If that’s not your style, no worries — there are po-boys, loaded scrambled eggs for breakfast, and gumbo to scratch that New Orleans food itch.
Oceana Grill
739 Conti St., 504-525-6002
Need some seafood delivered to your doorstep? Give the folks at Oceana a call (or order online). The menu, which includes a kids menu, has crabmeat in a crawfish and mushroom cream sauce, barbeque shrimp, grilled tuna, and other seafood specialties (plus ribs and pasta dishes) that you may not normally associate with delivery cuisine.
Verti Marte
1201 Royal St., 504-525-4767
This tiny counter stand/convenience store is famous for cranking out some of the best po-boys in town, including the gloriously sloppy All That Jazz (grilled ham, turkey, shrimp, cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, sauce, amazing). They also sling a full menu of hot dishes (brisket, lasagna, etc); there are even a few vegetarian options, including the wonderful Mushroom Mountain (basically a lot of mushrooms and a lot of cheese). Verti Marte offers free delivery to the French Quarter, the Marigny and the CBD.
Vieux Carre Pizza
733 St. Louis St., 504-529-1999
Sometimes, a pizza is the only thing that will do. If it’s late at night and some hot cheese, tomato sauce and a good crust is what you’re in the mood for, give a call to Vieux Carre Pizza, and let them do the rest of the work. Open till 4:40 a.m. on Saturdays and till 3 a.m. the rest of the week.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Diet Another Day: New Orleans Must Eats in the French Quarter
Amazing food is everywhere in New Orleans. From the Creole grand dames to the contemporary wonders helmed by the award-winning chefs, you can easily check a few famous renditions of the New Orleans and southern staples off your must-try food list — without leaving the French Quarter. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Gumbo and Jambalaya
Gumbo is one of Louisiana’s most famous dishes, but there’s no single recipe to prepare it. In New Orleans, excellent gumbo is easy to find. The chefs tend not to deviate too much from the classic Cajun and Creole recipes, and even the beaten paths would often lead you to the best gumbo you’ll likely ever taste. The difference is whether you like your gumbo laden with meat or seafood; and with dark roux or a lighter roux. Most restaurants include at least two versions on the menu — the meat and the seafood.
Appropriately enough, the French Quarter restaurant that includes the dish in its name is a great place to try several of its varieties. Gumbo Shop (630 St. Peter St.) serves seafood and okra gumbo that is thick with shrimp and crabmeat, a smoky chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, and even gumbo z’herbes, a rarely-seen vegetarian gumbo made with greens. Cup-sized portions are available for easy sampling.
Staying true to the classic Creole cuisine since its inception in 1918, the fabled Arnaud’s Restaurant (813 Bienville St.) offers seafood gumbo on both its dinner and jazz brunch menus (and chicken and andouille gumbo on the jazz brunch menu).
Another beloved local institution, Galatoire’s (209 Bourbon St.), also serves two classic Creole gumbos. The seafood okra gumbo is made with shellfish stock and light roux, and is packed with Louisiana jumbo lump crabmeat and shrimp. The shredded duck and Andouille sausage gumbo is made with a dark roux and duck stock.
Gumbo Ya-Ya, a house specialty at Mr. B’s Bistro (201 Royal St.), is a Cajun country-style gumbo made with a dark roux, lots of Creole spices, chicken, and Andouille sausage. The seafood gumbo is a satisfying classic with shrimp, crabmeat and oysters.
Don’t be discouraged by the line at Acme Oyster House (724 Iberville St.): its classic menu of oysters, po-boys and gumbo is that good. Plus, you can get a cup of gumbo with half of po-boy, or as part of the New Orleans Medley, a hearty combo of gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and grilled smoked sausage. Go ahead and chase yours with an oyster shooter of vodka or an oyster-topped Bloody Mary.
Jambalaya is right up there with gumbo for international fame, but this flavorful rice-based dish is cooked more often at home than at restaurants. The one-pot local staple has absorbed French, Spanish, African, and Native American influences, and traditionally incorporates stock, meat, seafood, long-grain rice, and vegetables (like the “holy trinity” also used in gumbo — bell pepper, onion and celery). The main distinction is that the Creole version has tomatoes and the Cajun recipe doesn’t.
You can find one of the best versions of jambalaya at Coop’s Place (1109 Decatur St.), a local watering hole that serves excellent food until quite late at night. Coop’s rabbit and sausage jambalaya can be upgraded to “supreme” by adding shrimp and tasso, a spicy Cajun ham smoked on premises. Because Coop’s offers video poker, children under 18 are not allowed inside.
To sample jambalaya in a more upscale setting, try the version cooked up at the Pelican Club (312 Exchange Pl.), which uses the traditional ingredients of sausage, chicken and shrimp.
If you just want a taste, the spicy Creole jambalaya at Napoleon House (500 Chartres St.) comes with chicken and sausage and could be ordered as an appetizer or as a side. Consider pairing it with the restaurant’s famous muffuletta and washing it down with its signature drink, Pimm’s Cup.
Don’t Call It a Sandwich
A po-boy — the French-bread sandwich that is to New Orleans what the cheesesteak is to Philadelphia — comes in as many versions as there are ingredients to stuff inside a loaf. But one of the classic favorites is the fried oyster po-boy, which takes advantage of Louisiana’s abundance of bivalves and indigenous local skill in frying anything.
Johnny’s Po-Boys (511 St. Louis St.) has been dishing them out since 1950 and, in addition to a first-class sandwich, the popular lunch spot offers a glimpse of a truly down-home po-boy joint packed with character and characters. Ask for your po-boy “dressed,” and it comes with chopped lettuce, tomato, pickles, and plenty of mayonnaise.
If you want to depart from the traditional po-boy, pop into Killer PoBoys (219 Dauphine St.). They play around with the ingredients here — the black beer beef debris, served with pickled peppers and green beans, is to die for, while the roasted sweet potato sandwich with pecan spread is great for herbivores — and the results would make a purist’s mouth water.
Killer Poboys has another branch in the back of the excellent Erin Rose bar (811 Conti St.). Or venture to the very edge of the Quarter, into the orange bomb shelter that is The Orange Store (1700 N Rampart St.), also referred to as the Rampart Food Store. This neighborhood convenience store has all the atmosphere of the moon, but the fried shrimp po-boy is the stuff of culinary legend.
New Orleans’ other famous sandwich is the muffuletta (sometimes also spelled as “muffaletta”), the Italian answer to the po-boy: a round, seeded Italian loaf crammed full of cold cuts and cheeses and a big oily pile of the indispensable olive salad. The definitive version has been made since 1906 at Central Grocery & Deli (923 Decatur St.), where the only menu choices are a whole or a half muffuletta (half is plenty for most appetites). When the weather is nice, many people take their muffuletta and a Barq’s root beer to the nearby Riverfront or Jackson Square.
Like with most signature New Orleans creations, opinions run strong when it comes to any deviation from the tradition. Some maintain that muffuletta is a cold-cut sandwich, period. Yet Verti Marte (1201 Royal St.; 504-525-4767), for example, serves its Mighty Muffuletta cold AND hot (on the hot grilled Italian bread). Napoleon House also serves its traditional muffuletta warm. It’s one of the specialties, and is big enough for two people (you can also get it in half and quarter sizes).
And, just down the block from Central Grocery, Frank’s Restaurant (933 Decatur St.) has been winning fans for close to 60 years with its “World Famous Original Muffuletta” — which is baked and served with toasted bread and melted cheese.
Looking Forward to Mondays
Back in the old days, Monday was laundry day in New Orleans, and while the clothing was soaking so were the kidney beans for traditional red beans and rice. Laundry schedules may have changed, but a plate of red beans and rice with sausage is still the Monday special at diners and finer restaurants around town.
A delicious version is served every day at Buffa’s (1001 Esplanade Ave.), a New Orleans mainstay and a popular live-music spot. Like all good renditions of this classic dish, the red beans are cooked down to utter softness and seasoned for big flavor. And, like in many other local restaurants, you can get either a cup or a plate, and add meat (Buffa’s choice is smoked sausage).
Finales Fatales
You can usually tell when someone has visited Cafe Du Monde (800 Decatur St.) by the traces of powdered sugar that inevitably sprinkle their clothing. This means they’ve indulged in the bite-sized New Orleans tradition called beignets (pronounced “ben-yea’s”), square donuts covered liberally in powdered sugar and served piping hot. At Cafe Du Monde, a true New Orleans fixture in the French Market that closes only for Christmas and hurricanes, the automatic accompaniment to a plate of beignets is a strong cup of café au lait.
Most visitors to New Orleans have heard of Cafe Du Monde and its beignets, but don’t miss out on another dessert New Orleans is famous for — Bananas Foster. This decadent dessert remains a staple, impressively served flambéed tableside, or in many delicious variations (as a pie, ice cream, or French toast) in some of the best restaurants in the city.
If you want to try the classic version, Brennan’s Restaurant (417 Royal St.) is the place, since it was the restaurant’s Chef, Paul Blangé, who came up with it in 1951. Chef Blangé’s version remains the original go-to recipe and is made by sautéing the bananas in butter, sugar and cinnamon, then adding rum and igniting the concoction tableside, and served over ice cream. Arnaud’s is another notable version, with more cinnamon, and big enough to share.
With all the po-boys in this town, there’s bound to be some leftover French bread. Happily, this is the main ingredient in the Creole dessert called bread pudding. At the elegant and picturesque Court of Two Sisters (613 Royal St.), the bread pudding is served traditionally, spiked up with a hot whiskey sauce over the top, while the Palace Cafe (605 Canal St.) serves an excellent modern take on the dish with white chocolate baked inside. Either way, the dish makes a pleasing end to a rich dinner and an absolutely decadent finale to a courtyard brunch.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Co-Working in the New Orleans French Quarter
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash
If you are staying in the French Quarter during a business trip, you are in luck. The area is teeming with some of the best places to meet over coffee, have a business lunch or dinner, hit a happy hour with your co-workers, or just park somewhere, chill with your laptop, and put in a day’s worth of work, uninterrupted, and, often, in a historic setting. Here are our recommendations if you must bring your work on the road.
Co-Working Spaces
While there are none located in the French Quarter, there are plenty of shared spaces to choose from nearby, in the Central Business District (CBD), Bywater, Uptown, etc. These few are closest to the French Quarter and are easily reachable by streetcar or car.
Located near Crescent Park in Bywater, The Warehouse is outfitted with exposed brick and shared and private offices. There’s a weekly co-working option, indoor bike parking, and lots of cafes and restaurants within walking distance.
Located at the edge of Broadmoor, Propeller is known as an incubator for local startups, especially those focusing on social and environmental issues. The 10,000-square-foot building also provides collaborative working space.
The beautiful and contemporary workspace located on the third floor of the Contemporary Arts Center on Camp Street, The Shop features concrete floors and exposed brick walls.
Coffee Shops
Any number of coffee shops in the French Quarter is well suited for a business breakfast or a quick business meeting, or if you just want to sit somewhere with a non-alcoholic beverage and put in a few hours of work. Cafe Envie (1241 Decatur St.) is an airy coffeehouse with comfortable sidewalk seating, popular with the locals. It has a full bar and a big breakfast menu, plus small plates and excellent coffee.
Croissant D’Or, will make you feel like a kid in a candy store. The tiled old-world gem that is Croissant D’Or is a must for breakfast as well as a chill spot for a cafe au lait.
And if you want an only-in-New-Orleans experience (and beignets), head to Cafe Du Monde or Cafe Beignet (with four locations in the Quarter). Cafe du Monde is probably too hectic to linger at, but its beignets and cafe au lait are legendary. The Royal Street Cafe Beignet location is especially airy and roomy, with a lovely courtyard.
Business Lunch
There are so many excellent restaurants to choose from as your business lunch destination, at every price point, but few stand out for the quality of their food, a historic setting, great prix fixe lunch specials, and the ability to accommodate large groups. At the casual Cafe Maspero, the always-open enormous windows provide a great view of the busy corner, and the heaping seafood platters won’t break the bank.
How about an upscale lunch with cocktails? You’re in New Orleans! Brennan’s has the New Orleans classics like shrimp remoulade and seafood gumbo, plus specialty cocktails. Another storied Brennan establishment, Mr. B’s Bistro, is the weekday business lunch destination, and its New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp is to die for (you’ll also get to wear a bib). Mr. B’s pours $1.50 martinis (and bloody Marys) during weekday lunch; there’s no limit on how many you can order.
And the grand dame of elevated Creole cuisine, Antoine’s, offers prix fixe lunch deals at prices that, for this type of unique New Orleans experience, should be considered a steal. Lunch also comes with bottomless wine and sparkling if you buy an entree.
Happy Hour
Whether you’re hitting a happy hour in the French Quarter solo or with a bunch of co-workers, the possibilities are virtually endless. We don’t even know where to begin, but if you want a classic cocktail with high-shelf spirits in an iconic New Orleans setting, check out the award-winning French 75. The bar (located at Arnaud’s) also serves delicious small plates nightly, starting at 5:30 p.m. If you like martinis, The Bombay Club has the largest selection in town, plus an inventive and varied bar menu.
Happy hour starts at 3 p.m. at the bar of the Vacherie Restaurant, accompanied by a Cajun-flavored bar menu of boudin balls and Cajun mac and cheese (diced andouille is the Cajun part). The $6 draft beer flights and wine specials can certainly accommodate a thirsty traveler.
For a casual hang, try Bar Tonique (with daily specials like whiskey flights Tuesdays and caipirinha Thursdays). It feels more like a neighborhood bar with specials chalked on the board (no food, no live music), but provides like a serious cocktail lounge, with a drink menu divided on the bar’s website into a staggering eight categories.
If you’re into tiki, Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 features loads of island-themed exotic cocktails. From a Mai Tai to a long list of cocktails with names like Missionary’s Downfall and Pontchartrain Pearl Diver, expect a lot of rum and pineapple. You can also bond with your co-workers over small plates like chickpea curry and sambal shrimp and grits.
Finally, both Brennan’s and Effervescence feature champagne-centric happy hours, accompanied by high-end small plates.
Dinner
For the reliably excellent New Orleans must-try dishes head to the Red Fish Grill or Palace Cafe. Chef Susan Spicer’s flagship restaurant Bayona serves high-end Louisiana food with a few modern twists in a gorgeous setting — we recommend everything on the menu.
Same goes for the prix-fixe Creole classics at Tujague’s, the second oldest restaurant in the city that hosted many a president and celebrity. And if you’re lucky to score a reservation at the jackets-required, 112-year-old Galatoire’s, you’re in for an unforgettable experience that’s as boisterous and old-school New Orleans as they come.
If you want a local brew and a quick burger, we recommend the popular Crescent City Brewhouse. See you if can get a table on the balcony that overlooks Decatur Street — there’s people-watching for miles.
We hope you enjoy your visit to Crescent City while you get some work done! And If you’re planning a stay in the French Quarter, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
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What to Do on a Rainy Day in the French Quarter
Photo by Vince Huang on Flickr
Rain, rain, go away? Not necessarily. It can rain buckets in New Orleans, seemingly suddenly, and especially during the long, steamy summer season in Louisiana. If you’re been caught in a daylong downpour or even a brief afternoon shower while visiting, do not worry — it’s easy to enjoy a few hours in the air-conditioned indoors in the French Quarter — just bring patience, your sense of adventure and appetite, and an umbrella (rain boots are also a good idea as the streets can flood). Here are our suggestions to keep you entertained until the sun comes out again.
Head to a Museum
The Quarter boasts quite a few museums, which tend to focus on the city’s past and the history of Louisiana. Some, like the New Orleans Jazz Museum, are free; others you can visit for a nominal fee. For example, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is a reasonable $10 and features a permanent collection of 19th-century surgical instruments, books, patent medicines, and locally excavated bottles. The museum occupies a two-story historic building, the site of the apothecary shop of Louis Joseph Dufilho, Jr., who was America’s first licensed pharmacist. The museum’s second floor features a sick room and physician’s study, and there’s a small yet lovely courtyard.
Hermann-Grima House and Gallier Historic Houses are two historic homes that are considered some of the best-preserved historic structures in the French Quarter. You can tour both and learn about what life was like in New Orleans in the 19th century for the Creole gentry as well as their enslaved servants.
The Historic New Orleans Collection is spread over 10 historic buildings in the French Quarter. The Royal Street location (533 Royal St.) houses the main museum with a permanent exhibit on state history, plus rotating exhibits on history and art. Admission is free.
Consider heading to Jackson Square for two museums and a historic cathedral. Catch a mass or free concert (or just admire the interior during the quiet hours) at the St. Louis Cathedral. It’s flanked by The Cabildo and The Presbytère, which are run by the Louisiana State Museum and house a number of excellent exhibits. You’ll find many precious pieces of Louisiana history at the Cabildo, like a rare Napoleon death mask and a painting of Marie Laveau by Frank Schneider.
There are two excellent permanent exhibits at the Presbytère. You could get lost for hours in the “Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana” exhibit which details the history of Carnival traditions in Louisiana, including Cajun Courir de Mardi Gras, Zulu coconut throws, Rex floats, and spectacular costumes throughout the centuries. The “Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond” exhibit documents the natural disaster and ongoing recovery.
Go shopping
The Riverwalk Outlets and Canal Place are a short walk away from each other. Both are self-contained, multi-storied indoor malls that could keep you shopping and eating for as long as your stamina holds up. The Riverwalk mall is an outlet with more than 75 retailers and restaurants, including Nordstrom Rack and Cafe Du Monde. Canal Place is home to Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany and Co., Anthropologie, and dozens of other upscale retailers. There’s a small food court upstairs.
Another option is The Shops at JAX Brewery on the busy stretch of Decatur Street, a multi-story historic landmark that holds retail stores, cafes, restaurants, and a small museum dedicated to the brewery. Nearby, the historic French Market is a treasure trove of souvenirs, crafts, Louisiana spices and hot sauces, and more.
While you’re there, check out the Shops at the Colonnade. The strip of shops, some with Decatur and some with N. Peters St. addresses, is worth a visit if you’re shopping for souvenirs or local specialties like pralines. The whole stretch of the French Market is covered, from the flea market to the food vendor section, and you can easily duck in and out of the Shops at the Collonade even in the most inclement weather.
Relax with a book
New Orleans proudly boasts a number of impressively stocked independent bookstores, and some of the best ones are located in the Quarter. A former home of William Faulkner located in the historic and picturesque Pirate Alley, just off Jackson Square and behind the Cabildo, Faulkner House Books mostly offers local-interest books and the classics, including rare editions, and, of course, the works of William Faulkner.
Another beloved independent bookstore, and decidedly one of the best bookstores in New Orleans, the bi-level Beckham’s Bookshop specializes in used, antiquarian, and rare books, as well as CDs and vinyl. A gem of a place, Beckham’s has been around since 1979 at this location. It’s crammed floor to ceiling, and is beer- and dog-friendly. You’ll find it right across the street from the House of Blues.
The charming Dauphine Street Books and Crescent City Books are both great spots if you want to browse an eclectic, well-curated selection of both new and used books, including maps and out-of-print editions.
See a movie
The Prytania Theatre is located inside Canal Place. It’s the longest-operating movie theater in the South, and this location is its latest.
Visit the Aquarium or the Insectarium
The Audubon Aquarium is a sprawling compound on the Riverfront that will keep you and your family enthralled for hours. It was renovated in 2023, reopening in the early summer, after the Audubon Insectarium had moved in. Both are packed with state-of-the-art exhibits, some brand new.
Take in a show
With the beautifully renovated Saenger and Joy theaters, Canal Street shines once again as a performing arts destination. See a Broadway show at the palatial Saenger, built in 1927 and restored in 2013 after staying vacant post-Katrina. Or catch a live music show or a national standup comedy act at the Joy Theater. This 1946 landmark started off as a movie theater and was gorgeously restored to its art deco glory.
Just off Jackson Square, Le Petit Theatre has called its St. Peter Street location home since 1922. See what’s playing this season at the famed playhouse here.
Eat and drink, of course
When it comes to those two activities in the French Quarter, the world is your oyster and the options are overwhelmingly, deliciously numerous. Whether you’re on a quest to sample the New Orleans staples, or want to experience some classic fare on the budget, you’ll find that some of the best bars and restaurants in the city (and the country, if not the world) could be found in the French Quarter, steps away from your hotel.
And what could be better than holing up with a drink and watching the rain? All year round the Quarter offers incredible happy hour deals you won’t want to miss. Just to name a couple, Vacherie’s happy hour (3-6 p.m. every day) $6 bar menu draft beer flights and mixed drinks, plus $8 small plates like the slider of the day Tuesdays through Saturdays. And The Bombay Club inside Prince Conti Hotel specializes in martinis and has more than 50 specialty cocktails on the menu.
Rain or shine, happy exploring! And if you’re planning a stay in New Orleans, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
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Guide to the French Quarter for Seniors
Creole Queen photo by Brian Norwood on Flickr
A city that celebrated its tricentennial back in 2018 will always have much to offer, and, like any multicultural place steeped in history and tradition, the French Quarter, in particular, has a non-wild side worth exploring. It may be tempting to get seduced by the hand-grenade-soaked party vibes of Bourbon Street, or be swept away in the throngs of rowdy day drinkers karaoke-ing the afternoon away. There’s much to be said, however, for a quiet walk to take in the wrought-iron details of the balconies of Royal Street, or a grownup jazz brunch in an upscale restaurant.
The “easy sightseeing” options abound. The Quarter isn’t that big, and it’s also flat, like the rest of New Orleans, so it’s a breeze to navigate on foot, by carriage or bus. Below, we recommend what to eat, see, and do if you’re looking for shorter experiences, quieter restaurants, and smaller tours.
In other words, these are the “easy sightseeing” options for anyone who wants to get a full taste of the French Quarter without walking the walk or getting into some hard partying. Whether you’re an empty nester or a senior, or just someone who prefers to explore without breaking a sweat, the French Quarter belongs to you!
Breakfast and brunch
Start off your day at Vacherie Restaurant & Bar located inside Hotel St. Marie. Named after the small town of Vacherie, Louisiana, focuses on simple breakfast items like a classic breakfast sandwich and housemade grits.
The quiches, the strudels, and the tarts are all delicious at Croissant D’Or Patisserie, a Parisian-style patisserie steeped in old-world charm. Made daily and served fresh from the bakery, the croissants are stuffed with things like chocolate and ham and cheese, and the made-to-order sandwiches come with housemade Bechamel sauce.
For a Dixieland jazz brunch, Arnaud’s can’t be beat. The four-course “prix fixe” Sunday brunch menu, served from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., is mouth-watering. Try the traditional Creole breakfast starter, Creole Cream Cheese Evangeline, or shrimp bisque. Eggs Fauteaux, poached eggs with smoked pompano from the Gulf, are also popular. The restaurant’s signature dish, Shrimp Arnaud, is Gulf shrimp marinated in a housemade Creole remoulade. The ambiance is old-world elegant, yet exuberant, and a business casual dress code is observed.
A more casual Sunday jazz brunch choice is Buffa’s Lounge & Restaurant on Esplanade Avenue, where the French Quarter meets the Marigny. It’s popular with the locals, the Bloody Marys are excellent, and the diner-style menu is long and inexpensive. Brunch is served till 2 p.m. (well, the band plays till then). Specials include Eggs Benedict, housemade biscuit and sausage gravy), bratwurst jambalaya, and Buffa’s original B.O.B. (“breakfast on bread”). The B.O.B. offers up bacon, egg and hash browns between the bread of your choice. Dressed with lettuce and tomato, it becomes “brunch on bread.”
Lunch and dinner
If you like to dress up and want something traditional yet sophisticated, we recommend Muriel’s Jackson Square for some excellent Creole cuisine and an unbeatable location (as the name suggests, it’s right on a corner of Jackson Square). Bayona won’t let you down with anything you eat or drink there, and it’s one of the most elegant and quiet restaurants we can think of in the French Quarter. Finally, the one and only Galatoire’s needs no explanation or additional incentive to visit.
Cocktails
Keeping in mind the abundance of bars in the French Quarter, we recommend these outstanding classics for the quality of their offerings, their elegance and charm, and the great happy hour they throw. The Bombay Club inside the Prince Conti Hotel has more than 50 cocktails on the menu, with martinis being one of the specialties. Happy hour features $5 drink specials, $4 wine, $3 beer, and the $3-$5 small plates that are fresh takes on Cajun and European comfort food.
The iconic Arnaud’s French 75 serves classic cocktails like Sazerac behind its beautiful vintage bar. The bar food menu represents the Creole restaurant of the same name with Shrimp Arnaud’s and gougeres. The historic Napoleon House on the corner of Chartres and St. Louis streets is absolutely worth a peek inside for both its unique interior with the lush courtyard and its traditional Pimm’s Cup.
Antoine’s Hermes Bar, which is one of the eponymous restaurant’s dining rooms converted into a bar, also serves classic local cocktails. Try them with a cup of gumbo or oysters Rockefeller from the bar menu.
Brenann’s Roost Bar has a generous champagne-centric happy hour 9 a.m. -7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays with special prices on bottles and champagne cocktails. You can also sit in the courtyard and share Bananas Foster, a Brennan’s specialty.
Shopping
There are two indoor malls in the area, the upscale Canal Place and the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk. Both are air-conditioned, multi-storied havens with dozens of retailers and food courts. If you don’t mind walking, check out the clothing boutiques on Chartres Street (Hemline, John Fluevog Shoes) or the antique shops and galleries on Royal Street (M.S. Rau Antiques is a gem). For local art, souvenirs, and gifts the French Market and the rows of shops at the Pontalba buildings that flank Jackson Square can’t be beat.
Sightseeing
Cover the basics by taking a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour by City Sightseeing. The company’s open-top double-decker buses run every 30 minutes on a one-hour loop and have lots of stops throughout the French Quarter. The unlimited one-day pass is $46 for adults and $10 for kids under 12. The best deal is the unlimited three-day pass for $59, because it includes the guided walking tours of the French Quarter and the Garden District.
A one-way streetcar ride costs $1.25, or consider a one-day bus and streetcar pass ($3). You can buy passes online. The Canal Street/City Park/Museum line goes to the City Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art; the Riverfront line will take you to Harrah’s and the river; and the Canal Street/Cemeteries line ends at a cluster of cemeteries in Mid-City. The most recently added Rampart/St. Claude line will deliver you to a stretch of art galleries, bars, and restaurants on St. Claude Avenue.
You can also grab a mule-drawn carriage tour on Decatur Street right outside the Jackson Square gate. It’s first-come first-serve, 8 a.m. through midnight daily. These tours are a good alternative to walking tours if you want to stay off your feet for a couple of hours.
To explore the Mississippi River, you can take one of the Dinner jazz and daytime cruises on the steamboats Creole Queen. If you don’t want to commit to a cruise, consider taking a ferry across the river to Algiers Point for $2 ($1 for seniors).
Tours that accommodate large groups could be hard to keep up with, so the alternative is to consider a personalized tour with a smaller group. Tours by Isabelle specializes in just that and offers a private walking tour of the French Quarter. The walking New Orleans Music & Heritage Tours also accommodate small groups, concentrating on the musical history of the city.
A couple more ideas
Why not spend a few hours learning about the local cuisine? The New Orleans School of Cooking offers both demo and hands-on cooking classes using seasonal ingredients and taught by chefs.
One final idea: Visit Audubon Institute’s excellent Insectarium and/or Aquarium (there’s a discount for seniors)! It’s a perfect option for a rainy day, especially if you have grandchildren in tow.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Exploring the French Quarter With Kids
Photo courtesy of French QuarTour Kids on Facebook
While “child-friendly” or “family-friendly” may not automatically come to mind when, say, Bourbon Street is mentioned, New Orleans is packed with things you can do as a family, for kids of all ages. Here are our favorite family-friendly destinations and things to do in the French Quarter. You can cover these in a day, on foot (or in a carriage!), and with kids in tow.
Food
Start off with a relaxing breakfast at Vacherie Restaurant located inside Hotel St. Marie. There are kid-friendly items on the menu, such as a breakfast sandwich, house-made grits and muffins.
For an old-world French breakfast or lunch, head to the Croissant D’Or Patisserie. This intimate, Parisian-style patisserie tucked between Royal and Chartres on Ursulines Street will satisfy the whole family with its array of cakes, quiches, fruit tarts, and sweet and savory croissants. Everything is made daily and served fresh from the bakery. The cafe au lait and cappuccino are perfect, and there’s a magical little tiled courtyard.
Of course, there is the classic local breakfast/snack option, the 24-hour Cafe Du Monde on Decatur Street. Since 1862, this iconic cafe has been serving a simple menu of coffee and beignets. The cafe is open-air, so there’s a lot of room in which to navigate, no reservations necessary. Your visit will probably be accompanied by live music coming from any number of the street entertainers performing nearby. For a sneak peek at how beignets are made to order, walk all the way back inside the cafe.
Entertainment
While some tours are decidedly not for little ears because they focus on vampires and ghosts, French Quartour Kids caters to kids ages 4 to 18 with six walking tours, all within a six-block radius. There’s the Ghost Hunt, a child-friendly version of the ghost tour. The teen tour (11-18) explores the history of French Creoles and the military and trade past of New Orleans. The tour for the very little ones (4-7) keeps it simple and fun with a pirate treasure hunt and dress-up.
Don’t feel like committing to a guided tour? The Cabildo and The Presbytere, two historic buildings flanking St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square, are part of the Louisiana State Museum. Each offers excellent exhibits. The Cabildo houses such precious artifacts as a painting of Marie Laveau by Frank Schneider and a rare death mask of Napoleon.
On the other side of the cathedral, The Presbytere houses several exhibits, including the two permanent ones we always recommend. The all-encompassing “Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana” tells the story of the Carnival traditions in Louisiana; the dazzling costumes alone are worth the visit. The “Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond” exhibit offers interactive displays and artifacts related to that disaster.
To give your feet a break, grab a mule-drawn carriage tour on Decatur Street right outside the Jackson Square gate. It’s first-come first-served, 8 a.m. through midnight daily. The French Quarter and More tour is a good alternative to a daytime walking tour and covers the French Quarter and the Marigny. It’s perfect for families with small kids because it’s one hour long and children under four ride free.
If you want a quick respite from the crowds, Louis Armstrong Park just across N. Rampart Street in Treme is a 32-acre expanse of green and is excellent for a quiet walk and turtle-spotting. Or head to the Riverfront and watch the boats go by. New Orleans is still a busy port, and you can spot freighters, cruise ships, barges, tugboats, and the uniquely Twainesque Steamboat Natchez. Bring a po-boy or a muffuletta for a bench picnic, and walk the stretch of the Riverfront dotted with public art and street performers.
If you have a few hours to spare, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, located on the Riverfront, will keep your kids enthralled with its walk-through tunnel, otters, penguins, sea turtles, a stingray touch-pool, and an expansive replica of an offshore oil rig submerged in 400,000 gallons of water. Right next door, the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium is packed with bug-centric interactive exhibits and features a dreamy butterfly garden.
Shopping
Your kids will probably get a kick out of the Maskarade, 630 St. Ann Street, which features a selection of fabulous creations by local artists as well as high-end handmade Italian masks done in the Venetian style. Or visit the Mask Factory, 515 Decatur Street, to get a souvenir to take home.
Also on Decatur, the Shops at JAX Brewery is a four-story mall full of gift shops, boutiques, kiosks, and restaurants. And, now there’s a store your kids might love. Santa’s Quarters is solely dedicated to Christmas year-round, so it’s Christmas all day, every day.
Further down is the French Market, perfect for browsing, with its six-block-long stretch of the farmer’s market, flea market and food stalls. Vendors come from all over the world, and whether you are looking for a bottle of Louisiana hot sauce to bring home or spices or a Zydeco CD — you’ll find it there — along with raw oysters, po-boys, gourmet cheese, and pralines.
Happy browsing and exploring, family-style! And If you’re planning a stay in New Orleans, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
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The Ultimate Guide for Women Traveling Solo in the French Quarter
Photo by Court Prather on Unsplash
If you are a woman who likes to travel solo, New Orleans is well-suited for experiencing on your own. Whether you’re traveling for leisure or work, there’s much to explore, and the well-honed tourism industry ensures that you feel welcome, safe and comfortable, and that your needs are met. It’s not just about catering to visitors, however. People here are friendly and warm in general, from the service industry folks to locals to fellow travelers. The place just has that effect on you.
This means that, for one, eating alone is not a problem. You can eat at the bar counter in lots of restaurants, which offer from bar snacks and small-plate happy hour specials to full meals (many have oyster bars as well). And you’ll probably be making friends everywhere you go. That said, we have our own recommendations for where to stay, eat and play, so read on to learn how to make the best of your solo trip to New Orleans.
A Note on Safety
When traveling alone, safety is one of the top concerns for women, not just in New Orleans, but everywhere. The best way to stay safe while you’re enjoying New Orleans is to use your common sense — just as you would anywhere else:
- Don’t walk alone in quiet and dark places. Stick to bright, populated areas with foot traffic. The French Quarter in particular is an enchanting place, and it’s tempting to explore its nooks and alleyways, but do it only when there are other people around.
- Consider exploring in ways that would allow you to be surrounded by people, such as attending a festival or a live music concert, or booking a tour.
- Don’t venture out at odd times of day or night alone, when the streets are likely to be deserted.
- Guard your belongings when you’re out.
- Leave your valuables in the hotel room (in a locked safe, if possible).
- Do make new friends, but trust your instincts and be careful not to trust strangers too quickly.
- Make sure your friends and/or family know where you are, and check in often.
- Don’t try to save on services and amenities that can compromise your safety, and opt for a hotel in a safer neighborhood, or take a cab instead of walking.
- New Orleans is a party destination with a strong drinking culture, and the French Quarter is packed with bars, not to mention you can drink on the street as long as it’s from a plastic container. Drinking excessively can leave anyone vulnerable, so watching your alcohol intake, being aware of your surroundings, and taking a cab or a rideshare back to your hotel instead of walking would add extra levels of protection when you’re out enjoying yourself. You can also join a culinary or a cocktail tour — that way, you can still eat and drink your way through the French Quarter, but you’ll be guided and with other people at all times.
Where to Stay
The safest and most practical way to enjoy the French Quarter to the fullest is to stay in one of the hotels located in the French Quarter or nearby. Most places of interest will be within walking distance, and the streets will be filled with people at all times of day and night. We recommend French Market Inn, Hotel St. Marie, Place D’Armes, and Prince Conti Hotel.
Not only are they charming but they’re all located within walking distance of many sights, bars and restaurants. French Market Inn, Place d’Armes Hotel and Hotel St. Marie all have saltwater pools tucked away in serene tropical courtyards, which are perfect for both lounging with a cocktail and working remotely undisturbed.
Where to Eat and Drink
Solo women travelers needn’t worry about dining alone in the French Quarter. Most businesses are used to travelers, alone or in groups of any size, and many restaurants also have roomy bars where you can get everything from a full meal to bar snacks (this includes sushi and oyster bars).
Some French Quarter restaurants are particularly well-suited for dining alone, including the vegetarian-friendly and cozy Bennachin or the charming, dimly lit Sylvain. For some old-world elegance in a relaxed setting head to Muriel’s Jackson Square, Tujague’s, or the Hermes Bar at Antoine’s. All three are great options for Creole cuisine and classic cocktails (and Tujague’s prix fixe menu is an excellent way to sample some staples).
The Red Fish Grill and Bourbon House of the Brennan family both have popular happy hours and long, comfy bars. Or grab a seat at the bar at Mr. B’s Bistro, which is popular among the business lunch crowd and the spot to try BBQ shrimp (do wear that bib).
If you find yourself hankering for a burger late at night, the front bar at Buffa’s (across the street from the Quarter on Esplanade Avenue) is open till 2 a.m. every night, and the place is always teeming with both locals and visitors alike and has nightly live music. And, for solo dining with a view, try Tableau, which opens up onto Jackson Square, or, for more casual fare, see if you can score a balcony seat at Crescent City Brewhouse. Finally, one of the best spots for people-watching is the lively sidewalk seating at Palace Cafe, located on a busy stretch of Canal Street.
Where to Work Out/Outdoor Activities
There are plenty of safe, comfortable places to stay fit if you’re a woman traveling solo in New Orleans. Your best bets in the French Quarter are below.
“For residents and travelers at all levels of practice,” Yoga at the Cabildo classes are held at the historic Cabildo on Jackson Square. History meets fitness in a sun-filled gallery inside a 1700s Spanish colonial building, which also houses an excellent museum. For all fitness levels.
Exercise surrounded by opulence at the New Orleans Athletic Club on N. Rampart Street on the edge of the Quarter. Established in 1872, the club has seen quite a few famous people, from Tennessee Williams and Huey Long to the contemporary Hollywood celebrities who film here. As one of the oldest athletic clubs in America, NOAC boasts a pool, sauna and steam room, a well-stocked library, spa, coffee stations, and even a bar.
Speaking of parks, there are three large outdoor public spaces in and near the French Quarter, excellent for walking and biking. Crescent Park connects Faubourg Marigny — located at the edge of the Quarter — to the Bywater neighborhood, all via a long, waterfront park that hugs the contours of the Mississippi.
Woldenberg Riverfront Park is the easiest means of accessing the Mississippi Riverfront for people-watching, admiring the ships going by, or a quiet walk along the river. And, right across N. Rampart St. where the Quarter meets Tremé, is the 32-acre Armstrong Park, the site of many festivals and the legendary Congo Square, and a great spot to watch the birds and the turtles.
Getting Around
There are so many ways to explore the Quarter — on foot or bike; aboard a big red double-decker bus, mule-drawn carriage, or rickshaw. If you’re looking for a self-guided adventure, many local companies will let you rent a bike for several hours and up to several days, and most of the time helmet, bike lock, maps, and “concierge support” are included in the rental fee. Though slowly, New Orleans is getting more bike-friendly with the recently repaved roads, new dedicated and shared bike lanes, and increased bike safety awareness. And, hey, no hills!
Taking a Tour
There are lots of tours you can take without leaving the French Quarter. The ones you should choose depend on your interests and the preferred means of transportation. The history of the French Quarter in particular is teeming with ghost stories, so what better way to learn about the city’s often turbulent and sordid past than taking a ghost tour? You can also take a culinary or cocktail tour, or a combination of both. And, if you want to get off land for a few hours, there’s no better way to see the mighty Mississippi than a cruise on the Creole Queen.
Visiting a Museum
Stay cool indoors and learn about local history at the same time at one of the numerous French Quarter museums, all within walking distance from one another. We especially recommend the New Orleans Jazz Museum and the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, housed in the former 19th-century apothecary shop and filled with cool surgical instruments and patent medicines.
Both The Cabildo and The Presbytère, which flank the St. Louis Cathedral, are run by the Louisiana State Museum. The Cabildo houses such precious artifacts as a painting of Marie Laveau by Frank Schneider and a rare Napoleon’s death mask.
A former courthouse, The Presbytère contains two permanent exhibits, among several others. The dazzling “Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana” tells the story of Carnival traditions in Louisiana, including Cajun Courir de Mardi Gras, Zulu coconut throws, Rex ball costumes, and much more. The “Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond” exhibit documents the natural disaster and the ongoing recovery.
Shopping
French Quarter is full of both national chains like H&M and Sephora, and quirky one-of-a-kind stores. From hats to locally made art to souvenirs, we got you covered.
Within walking distance of the French Quarter, the Canal Place mall houses Saks Fifth Avenue, Anthropologie, Michael Kors, and many more upscale retailers. For locally made goods, check out the daily flea market at the French Market and Dutch Alley Artist’s Co-Op.
United Apparel Liquidators (UAL) is unsurpassed for hunting name brands with deep discounts. Also on Chartres Street, Hemline is a popular boutique that carries a well-curated shoe and women’s fashion collection from local and national brands. Located next door, the Red Lantern offers a unique, funky selection of clothing.
You’ll find retro-inspired clothing, corsets, lingerie, and accessories at Trashy Diva. A funky retro-inspired boutique not unlike Trashy Diva, Dollz & Dames sells vintage-inspired clothing, shoes and accessories. (You can’t miss its eye candy of a storefront on an otherwise sleepy side of the block.) The same goes for Lost and Found, if you’re looking for some fun retro/pinup scores.
Since we’re a costuming city, we highly recommend Fifi Mahony’s. They’ll help you find a perfect wig, and makeup and accessories to go with it. If you’re looking for locally made jewelry with some NOLA-centric designs, check out Porter Lyons.
For a taste of esoteric New Orleans, the quiet Voodoo Authentica is well worth a visit for its handmade dolls, gris-gris bags, candles, oils, and Haitian and African spiritual arts and crafts, including the remarkable Haitian vodou drapeau (flags). The in-house practitioners also offer spiritual readings and consultations.
We hope you enjoy your stay in the French Quarter, and happy travels!
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Must-See French Quarter Courtyards
Photo courtesy of Hotel St. Marie
There’s no shortage of grand courtyards in the Quarter. Many of these are, obviously, located on private property, but some are open to the public. Le Monde Creole walking tour is an excellent introduction to New Orleans buildings, including some of the Quarter’s loveliest courtyards.
The following fantastic examples of indigenous New Orleans design should not be missed by travelers, especially those who are interested in art and architecture.
Beauregard-Keyes House
1113 Chartres Street
One of the most well-known historic homes in the Quarter, this 1826 Center Hall classic of the genre actually boasts two outdoor spaces, although only one is a proper French Quarter courtyard. The first space is a garden which is a popular wedding destination. Ensconced by brick walls (but visible from the street if you can boost yourself and peak over the top), the garden is surrounded by low hedges and brick pathways. In the back of the house, a more spacious courtyard is simply a lovely setting for many a special New Orleans event or celebration. The house can be visited on a formal tour.
Cane & Table
1113 Decatur Street
The backyard at this cocktail bar is a Quarter courtyard that pretty much screams “tropical indulgence.” To be fair, that characterization is aided and abetted by the Cane & Table menu, which includes a long list of tropical drinks that eschew sugar overload and instead present a slate of complex fruit concoctions. Order something with rum in it and find a spot to chill under the palms and on the pretty tiles that make up this wonderful hidden gem of New Orleans’ outdoor architecture.
French Market Inn
509 Decatur Street
Located about a 10-minute walk from the marketplace that gives this hotel its name, the French Market Inn’s courtyard is interesting, in that it gives off more of a brick-and-mortar sense of stately presence as opposed to a leafy green secret garden. It’s still an oasis from the street scene of the French Quarter — the muscular stone walls buttress the isolation that guests have from the noise outside, enhanced by the presence of a teal-blue pool.
Hermann-Grima House
820 St. Louis Street
The Hermann-Grima House is one of the most popular historic homes open to visitors to the French Quarter. At times a home for some of the city’s most prominent merchant families, today the House offers tours that provide insight into both the history and architecture of New Orleans and the French Quarter. The spacious courtyard is one of the most beautiful features of this historical home and has been the backdrop of many a New Orleans wedding.
Hotel St. Marie
827 Toulouse Street
Head just off Bourbon Street to find Hotel St. Marie, which encompasses an exemplary tropical courtyard that is romantic as all get out on sultry New Orleans evenings. Wrought-iron accents, a sunset-esque color scheme, and swaying palm fronds set off a courtyard pool that feels simultaneously adjacent to and removed from the busy Quarter dining and nightlife, which is a stone’s throw away. Guests can enjoy the setting from outdoor balconies that look down upon the pool and the surrounding courtyard space.
Pat O’Brien’s
718 St. Peter Street
Most visitors to New Orleans have at least heard about the (in)famous Pat O’Briens Hurricane, but this iconic bar doesn’t just sling neon-hued cocktails. It’s also anchored by a gorgeous courtyard that is widely regarded as one of the most attractive in the Quarter. The central fountain has been the photographic background of many a happy New Orleans memory. To be fair, Pat O’Brien’s gets pretty lively, so you may not be focused on the outdoor architecture, but try and take a moment to appreciate the space before you order that next Hurricane.
Place d’Armes Hotel
625 St. Ann Street
Head just off of Jackson Square, between Royal and Chartres streets, to find the Place d’Armes and its classic courtyard. The space is offset by brick walls and shade trees that catch the breeze, which is a nice spot to be in as you sit by the pool and enjoy life. Guests can look out onto the courtyard from the rows of outdoor balconies — a historical accent that allowed the occupants of these buildings to soak up the fresh air and cool breezes even in the midst of a New Orleans summer.
Prince Conti Hotel
830 Conti Street
Located between Bourbon and Dauphine Street, and across the way from iconic New Orleans restaurants like Arnaud’s and bars like French 75 and the Erin Rose, Prince Conti is a historic gem within the city’s hotel pantheon. The courtyard is lush and green, set off by classical statuary that adds to the old-school atmosphere. You can dine on Creole cuisine in the Cafe Conti, or enjoy a good drink in rarefied air in the impeccable Bombay Club.
The Court of Two Sisters
613 Royal Street
This courtyard is so great they named the restaurant after it. This is one of the more romantic dining destinations in the Quarter, swathed in leafy shade and elegant ambiance. Still, the Court doesn’t dine out, as it were, on its location alone — the Creole menu and the jazz brunch are staples of the local culinary scene. The location is steeped in history: In 1726, it was the original residence of Sieur Etienne de Perier, the second French governor of colonial Louisiana, and President Zachary Taylor once resided here.
The Historic New Orleans Collection
533 Royal Street
It should come as no surprise that one of the city’s top historical learning institutions is also the site of a courtyard that ranks among the Quarter’s best. This relatively thin courtyard connects many of the collection’s excellent exhibition halls, and is also the location for Concerts in the Courtyard, a concert series that regularly features some of the city’s best musicians.
If you’re planning a stay in New Orleans, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
