Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival
Photo courtesy of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation on Facebook
New Orleans and her fans know that few combinations are more satisfying than gumbo, brass bands and cooler temps, and that’s what the annual Tremé Creole Gumbo festival serves up best, keeping it thematically simple but stellar in terms of its lineup of brass bands and food vendors.
The free festival returns to celebrate a decade of existence at Louis Armstrong Park (701 N. Rampart St.) on Saturday and Sunday, November 9-10, 2024. As in past years, the festival will show off New Orleans’ staple stew in all its savory varieties (sample-size portions will be available), from gumbo z’herbes and dark roux to vegan-friendly versions. Of course, there will be traditional gumbo — seafood, chicken and andouille, filé — and so on.
The Creole Gumbo Festival is touted as the “New Orleans’ Premier Brass Band Showcase” for a good reason. The world-famous, Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band along with the many of the local favorites, including the Hot 8, the Pinettes, and the Tremé brass bands, have all performed at the festival in the past. Also, as in the past years, there will be a kids’ area and an art market.
Armstrong Park is located along the RTA bus route 91 (Jackson-Esplanade), and the Rampart-St. Claude streetcar line, so using public transportation to get to the festival should be easy. If you’re driving to the fest, you can park in the parking lots of the Mahalia Jackson Theatre (enter via Basin Street). Additional parking is available in the lot across from Basin Street Station (501 Basin St.).
No pets and no recording are allowed, but you’re welcome to bring blankets and chairs. Check the festival’s website for updates on this year’s food and art vendor and music lineups.
Are You Eating Enough Gumbo?!
“First you make a roux…” Gumbo is synonymous with New Orleans, and everyone and their mama (especially their mama) will offer an opinion on how to make the best gumbo and who makes it best in the city (it’s usually the mama).
Luckily for us, many places in New Orleans make great gumbo. Anyone who lives here or visits can easily rattle off at least a few spots, high and low, where the gumbo is award-winning, and so special and delicious that trying it for the first time could go down forever as a life-changing experience.
Keeping in mind that every “Top Whatever Number of Best Gumbo in New Orleans” will always remain highly personal and incomplete, here are our current picks for best gumbo in the French Quarter.
Are you coming to New Orleans this fall? We’re jam-packed with festivals and celebrations, and the temps are perfectly mild! Browse our top recommendations for historic hotels in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels to find your perfect spot.
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Beignet Fest Returns in 2024
Almost any identifiably New Orleans menu item has a corresponding festival, but up until a few years ago, one of the city’s most iconic culinary treats was left without its own party. We’re referring to the beignet: little fried pockets of doughy goodness ideally dusted with alpine levels of powdered sugar.
Well, the beignet — the official state donut of Louisiana, if you were wondering — is no longer going without its own celebration thanks to the annual Beignet Festival, which returns on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
The daylong party will take place at the Festival Grounds in City Park (4 Friedrichs Ave.) and admission is $20 for adults and children under 12 with a paid adult are free. You can get tickets online, and there are also VIP and special pricing for krewe members. Feel free to bring (along with your appetite, of course) blankets and chairs, and don’t forget sunscreen and maybe a hat as the Festival Grounds doesn’t offer a lot of shade.
As you may expect, there’s going to be a whole lot of delicious sweetness going on (and a fair bit of savory too). The festival benefits the Beignet Fest Foundation, which funds programs and services for families impacted by autism. Beignet Festival founders Amy and Sherwood Collins created the foundation, and it uses the proceeds from the festival to create grants.
From traditional sweet treats swimming in powdered sugar to savory options bursting with seafood and cheese, Beignet Fest will feature dozens of beignet dishes from some of New Orleans’ best restaurants and food trucks. Like most New Orleans festivals, the festival also features live music, a kid’s village, and an artist’s market. There’s also a beer garden! This year, the fest features a robust music lineup, including Amanda Shaw, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, and more.
The fest offers more than just sweet donuts, of course. The past year’s favorite, The Ruby Slipper Cafe, for example, had been offering cochon beignets smothered in pork debris (gravy), and bananas Foster beignets along with Vietnamese coffee beignets.
Katie’s Restaurant has been doling out its delicious and generously sized crawfish beignets, while Loretta’s Authentic Pralines featured BBQ chicken beignets and crabmeat beignets stuffed with lump crab meat (voted the Best Overall Beignet in the past). Fear not, however, Loretta’s always brings its famous praline and chocolate praline beignets to the fest as well.
Oreo beignets from Luca Eats were the “Best Sweet Beignet” winners for two years in a row, while bacon and cheddar beignet from Howlin’ Wolf Den was one of the past winners in the “Best Savory Beignet” category.
There will be vegan and gluten-free beignets to accommodate every diet, and awards will be given in four categories once again: the “Best Sweet Beignet,” “Best Savory Beignet,” “Most Original Beignet,” and “Crowd Favorite Beignet.” Don’t forget to vote for your pick!
This year, expect 22 vendors and food trucks, from the returning favorites like Cafe Beignet, Loretta’s Authentic Pralines, and Ruby Slipper, to PJs Coffee and Valerie’s Snoballs.
You can park along perimeter streets and anywhere in the park that isn’t labeled “No Parking.” Blue Bikes will have a docking area located near the main entrance to the Festival Grounds if you’re considering biking. You can also hop on the Canal St. streetcar line. Get off at the end of Esplanade Ave. and Carrollton Ave., and follow the signage leading you to the entrance of the Festival Grounds. There will be additional pay-to-park options at Deutsches Haus (1700 Moss St.).
The festival is rain or shine, and no pets, please.
For more information, visit BeignetFest.com or Beignet Fest on Facebook and Instagram at @BeignetFest.
Need somewhere to stay during your visit? Book a stay at a historic French Quarter boutique hotel at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels!
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LUNA Fête Returns to the Arts District
Photo courtesy of Arts Council of New Orleans on Facebook
How would you like to add a free multi-block party that also happens to be a walkable art and technology experience to your fall roster of things to do? Not to mention, it’s interactive, kid-friendly, and full of light-based art.
LUNA Fête started as just one installation in 2014 on Lafayette Square (602 Camp St.) in downtown New Orleans. (It was a light and video projection illuminating Gallier Hall.) Since then, the celebration has spread from Gallier Hall to Piazza d’Italia. This year, the Fête will be held for four nights, on Thursday, November 14, through Sunday, November 17, 2024, from 6-10 p.m. nightly.
An annual presentation by the Arts Council of New Orleans, LUNA Fête marries art and technology in unprecedented ways, with emphasis on projection mapping, digital sculpture and light installations. LUNA Fête was originally envisioned as a five-year initiative intended to culminate in New Orleans’ 2018 tricentennial, but it continued, now in its 11th year. Each year the Arts Council grew the scope of its international partnerships with video-mapping artists and expanded the number of installations it commissioned and produced in New Orleans.
The idea of LUNA Fête hails from Europe. Take a visit to Lyon, France, in the winter, and you may see buildings crumble before your eyes, and then reassemble. What you are witnessing is a trick of art and illusion born partly from a digital process called “image mapping” at the Fete des Lumieres, an annual illumination festival that lights up Lyon each winter.
The process is different from just projecting an image onto a building. Instead, a 3D model of the building is used to create an optical illusion that gives the impression the building is moving and changing.
Projection mapping, as an art form, and as part of the free public festival, has been around in Europe but is relatively new to the U.S. It’s becoming more popular though, especially because it’s interactive, kid-friendly, and pretty incredible to see in person.
But projection mapping isn’t the entirety of LUNA Fête. Past installations include huge snow globes that transformed light into a paintbrush. The spheres were sensitive to light, so the audience could interact with them creating shapes and even their own portraits on the surface using flashlights, glow sticks, smartphones, or any other light-emitting device.
Other previously showcased pieces included audio and video installations with sonic lollipops, robot cave drawings, and a giant whale spouting techno music. As you might guess, all of the above goes over great with children, as do the stands on the street selling hot chocolate.
This year, the event’s artworks will explore the themes of Melody and Mythology with LED lights, lasers, and projected artworks. The campus includes a new premier projection mapping installation on Gallier Hall, an opportunity to host a private party in a LUNA VIP Suite, and a sponsor-branded block party along Lafayette Street leading into a unique light and music experience at the Piazza d’Italia.
LUNA Fête is especially popular with young children and families, inspiring the addition of the new Little LUNA Kids Corner. This kid-centered art space will feature a special art installation and encourage young children to dance and play in the light.
Finally, LUNA Fête’s 11th Edition will feature LUNA Lounge presented by the Downtown Development District, a VIP oasis nestled in the festival grounds. Tickets will include complimentary bites, drink tickets, dedicated restrooms, and exclusive art installations. They will be available on the event’s site starting on October 1, 2024.
Come see how Luna Fête brings technology, film and contemporary art together while using local iconic architecture in a unique, contemporary way!
Coming to New Orleans in the fall? Be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels!
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How to Do Top Taco NOLA
Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash
The annual culinary extravaganza will be held at Lafreniere Park (3000 Downs Blvd., Metairie) on Thursday, October 24, 2024, starting at 7 p.m. (the VIP and First Tasting tickets will allow a 6 p.m. entry). Top Taco NOLA features dozens of restaurants and spirit and beverage companies serving and competing in a variety of categories, including Top Creative Taco, Top Traditional Taco, Top Vegetarian Taco, and Top Creative Cocktail.
Past winners included some of New Orleans’ best restaurants — Cochon Butcher, Sobou, Atchafalaya, Juan’s Flying Burrito, and Rum House. (You can check out the list of 2023 winners here.) The event also features live music, burlesque, a costume contest, lucha libre (wrestling), and a VIP area.
Attendees will get to sample unlimited gourmet tacos and signature cocktails from some of the top chefs and mixologists in New Orleans. Tickets are all-inclusive and include unlimited food, cocktails, beer, spirit tastings, and live entertainment. General admission starts at $85. The First Tasting tickets will allow an earlier entry ($105), and the VIP tickets ($135) grant access to premium spirit tastings, private bars and bathrooms, gourmet desserts, and more.
Here’s what you need to know about getting there, plus our tips on how to get the most out of attending:
- The event is 21 and older, so no kids and please bring your ID.
- No pets, please.
- Have a designated driver because tequila will be involved, and lots of it. We highly suggest taking a Lyft or an Uber.
- Top Taco is rain or shine, so bring a rain jacket or an umbrella.
- Eat a light breakfast and lunch — you’ll want to try as many tacos as possible.
- Bring people you like, as the lines get long, and you’ll want to make sure you have someone to chat with and someone who can stand in other lines — so that you all can try ALL OF THE TACOS.
- Be comfy: Wear loose-fitting clothes — it may be hot and you’ll be stuffed. You’ll want to have some stretch in your pants/waistband. Also, reconsider heels as the park is grassy and the terrain is uneven.
- Go VIP — you’ll get to enter an hour earlier than everyone else, have access to better restrooms, and enjoy other special perks.
- Fully charge your phone to share your experience on social media. Do a before and after photo of yourself.
- No large bags or backpacks are allowed (15″ or smaller are OK). You don’t want to be carrying a lot of extra stuff anyway. You want to have your hand free to try all of the tacos and cocktails!
- Chairs aren’t allowed, so you might want to bring a beach towel or pashmina to lay on the ground or steps if you need to sit.
- No outside food or drink including water (it’s free at the event’s water stations).
For event updates and details on the after-party, check out Top Taco on Facebook and X.
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“Throw Me Something, Monsta!”: Krewe of Boo
Photo courtesy of Krewe of Boo on Facebook
Krewe of Boo kicks off the holiday and parade season on Saturday, October 24, 2026, with its annual Halloween parade. This lively affair became the “official Halloween Parade” in New Orleans in 2007 and has been going strong since, only growing in popularity.
Krewe of Boo is brought to you by Kern Studios. In 2017, it honored Blaine Kern’s 90th birthday, and the late “Mr. Mardi Gras” himself rode as the King.
With Krewe of Boo, expect the usual 3-D fiberglass and papier-mache extravaganza with all of your favorite spooky characters. This popular parade draws both locals and visitors but is not so crowded that you won’t be able to get close at any point on its route. The parade-goers have been known to don their favorite, family-friendly Halloween gear as well, and you’re encouraged to do the same.
Krewe of Boo is very child-friendly; we can’t stress that enough. Everyone is welcome to join the spooky festivities, which makes this parade one of the best and most family-friendly ways to celebrate Halloween in one of the most haunted cities in America. You’ll see werewolves, ghosts, vampires, and other Halloween-themed monsters, but all the monsters on the floats are PG-13 and not too scary even for the youngest parade-goers.
There’ll be plenty of plush toy throws for the little ones too. In an ongoing effort to minimize waste, Krewe of Boo has been instead handing out eco-friendly cups and food items made by local companies that are sponsoring the event.
Look out for Aunt Sally’s pralinettes, Chee Wees from Elmer’s Fine Foods, and little coffee packs from PJ’s Coffee. You can catch other collectibles and consumables like candy, light-up medallion beads, and doubloons. Past years’ throws also included Krewe of Boo! limited-edition t-shirts.
Once again, the pre-parade fun starts early in the morning and lasts all day. First up is the New Orleans Zombie Run. This two-mile race starts at 9 a.m. and ends at noon, both at Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant (701 Tchoupitoulas St.) in the Warehouse District.
Participants are encouraged to come dressed as zombies and monsters. Registration for the race begins at 7:30 a.m. You can pre-register online, and tickets are $25 ($35 cash, $40 credit on the day of the race).
The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Decatur St. and Elysian Fields Ave. in the Marigny, rolling through the French Quarter. It will first go down Elysian Fields to N. Peters St., then to Decatur, passing by Jackson Square. Then the parade will go down Canal, up to Burgundy St., making a U-turn and eventually reaching Tchoupitoulas St.
You can watch the parade at one of the official viewing parties on the balcony of Crescent City Brewhouse (527 Decatur St.) in the French Quarter, or at The Sheraton (500 Canal St.), but you might want to get your tickets soon, as they will most likely sell out (includes open bar and balcony access). Other viewing-party venues include Lucy’s Retired Surfer’s Bar and Willie’s Boil House (336 Decatur St.).
The parade ends at Generations Hall (311 Andrew Higgins Dr.) in the Warehouse District for the Monster Mash party. This ticketed costume party starts at 8 p.m. (until); ages 18 and up to enter.
Monster Mash features live music, a costume contest, drink specials, and a big dance party. You can buy tickets online or at the door.
On Friday, October 23, 2026, there’s also an annual Royal Luncheon at Galatoire’s (209 Bourbon St.) from 11:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., immediately followed by a second line to Pat O’Brien’s (718 St. Peter St.) Tickets are $150.
For more information and updates, please visit the Krewe of Boo website, Facebook page, or @KreweofBoo.
Need somewhere to stay while you enjoy all the fall fun New Orleans has to offer, including the always-fabulous Halloween celebrations? Book a stay at a historic French Quarter boutique hotel at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels.
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The New Orleans Film Festival
Photo courtesy of The New Orleans Film Festival/Craig Mulcahy
The New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF) has been constantly evolving since its inception in 1989. As the movies and the technology behind them have become more advanced, so too has this local event, which promotes and fosters the cinematic arts for audiences and filmmakers in the Crescent City.
To date, the New Orleans Film Festival is one of the largest film festivals in the South and is the longest-running festival of its kind in the state. The festival has grown to the point of attracting thousands of attendees and industry insiders, plus more than 400 filmmakers and over 200 films annually.
This year, the in-person festival kicks off on Wednesday, October 16, and runs through Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at multiple venues across the city. The virtual version starts at the same time, but runs till Sunday, October 27, 2024.
The event is facilitated by the New Orleans Film Society, which is a nonprofit, year-round organization made up of full-time staff, volunteers, local cinephiles, and donors. The Film Society screens movies in the greater New Orleans area throughout the year, but there is no cinematic event in the city’s busy calendar quite like the NOFF.
Now in its 35th year, the Film Festival has grown into a massive undertaking. It’s one of the few film festivals in the nation that showcases Oscar-qualifying films drawn from all three Academy-accredited categories: Narrative Short, Documentary Short, and Animated Short. The festival is a subject of considerable media attention too.
As befits a city that has a long history of involvement in social justice and civil rights movements, the festival has a stated commitment to diversity. As such, over 50% of the featured films are created by women and gender non-conforming filmmakers, and the same goes for productions created by filmmakers of color. The festival also works hard at creating networking events for the filmmakers to connect with the industry presence, and meet the distributors and the media. You can see the film lineup here.
In addition to film screenings, there will be panels, workshops, and artist talks. Back this year is the South Pitch, which is a program that selects up to 12 film teams to pitch their works-in-progress to a distinguished panel of funders, broadcasters, distributors, and producers. Each pitch lasts 5 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of feedback.
South Pitch features two tracks: South Pitch Narrative and South Pitch Documentary. The winning pitch in each track will receive a $10,000 award, and all pitchers will receive a minimum of a $1,000 award, in addition to a travel stipend and pass to attend the New Orleans Film Festival. Winners are announced during the Festival Awards Brunch.
Last but not least, let’s not forget to mention all the parties, receptions, and a VIP lounge experience. For more information on the panels, parties, special guests, and a schedule of events, visit the New Orleans Film Society website or the festival’s Facebook page.
Want to attend the NOFF? There are several different ticket packages available for attendees, including individual screenings and all-access passes. You can buy all-access passes online ($350). New Orleans Film Society members get a discount on the passes.
Fall in New Orleans is packed with festivals and other celebrations of art, music, food, and culture. Looking for a place to stay when you’re visiting? There’s no place better than a historic French Quarter hotel! Visit FrenchQuarter.com/hotels to see our top picks.
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Nola Funk Fest 2024: Celebrating Louisiana’s Rich Musical Heritage
Are you ready for a three-day musical extravaganza that celebrates the rich heritage of Louisiana’s music scene? Look no further than the second annual Nola Funk Fest, taking place from Friday-Sunday, October 18 to October 20, 2024, at the iconic New Orleans Jazz Museum, located at 400 Esplanade Avenue right between the French Quarter and the Marigny. This festival promises to be a grand celebration of funk music and a glimpse into the future with The Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience. Let’s take a closer look at what Nola Funk Fest has to offer.
The Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience
The inaugural Nola Funk Fest in 2023 served as the grand unveiling for The Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience, an ambitious project that aims to create a 120,000-square-foot museum, set to be built across from the New Orleans Convention Center, dedicated to the preservation of Louisiana’s rich musical history. This museum, with a projected opening in 2027, will tell the captivating story of music in Louisiana, from its roots in Congo Square to the contemporary sounds of today. What sets this museum apart is its commitment to interactivity and live music performances. It’s not just about looking at artifacts; it’s about experiencing the music in a new way.
Live Music Lineup
The heart of Nola Funk Fest is its outstanding lineup of musical performances. With more than 30 of the city’s best local funk acts gracing two stages, this festival promises to be a non-stop party for music lovers. The star-studded lineup includes the Russel Batiste Memorial second line featuring The Original Pinettes and the Baby Dolls, New Orleans Nightcrawlers, The Soul Rebels, Bucktown Allstars, Marcia Ball, Tank and the Bangas, and many more.
Tickets and Other Information
- Tickets range from $20 for students to $900 for Super VIP. General admission is $40 for one day (if you buy online in advance). Children under $10 can attend for free. Children 11-15, accompanied by a parent or guardian, may purchase a $5.00 cash ticket at the door.
- There will be bag checks at the entrance.
- No outside chairs, coolers and ice chests, and no food and drink.
- Also, no pets.
- Getting to the festival is easy, but parking is challenging. Arrive early to park in these lots located in the heart of the festival: French Market, 500 Decatur Street, 300 North Peters Street, 211 Conti Street, Canal Place, and various locations within walking distance.
- You can also bike, bike parking is available. Another option is to use public transportation.
Don’t miss the chance to be a part of this incredible celebration of Louisiana’s musical heritage and to support the development of The Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience museum. Early bird tickets are available on the Nola Funk Fest website. Make sure to mark your calendar for October 18-20, 2024, and get ready to groove to the rhythm of Louisiana’s soulful music at Nola Funk Fest!
For more information and ticket details, visit the official Nola Funk Fest website: https://www.nolafunkfest.com/. Follow the updates on Instagram and Facebook.
Need a hotel? 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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Frenchmen Street, a Block-by-Block Guide
Frenchmen Street. Photo by Stephen McCarthy via Flickr
To this day, tour guides tell you that Frenchmen Street is an off-the-beaten gem, a “local’s Bourbon Street” where real New Orleanians gather to listen to live music and grab a drink.
Excuse a bit of an eye roll on our part; that “locals-majority” term may have rung true at the beginning of the twenty-teens, and to a degree, it’s an accurate description of Frenchmen throughout the 90s and much of the noughties. But the street really achieved a critical mass of popularity post-Katrina, and in the past few years, Frenchmen is tourist-central come evening, especially on weekends.
But so what? It’s still a blast. On Frenchmen Street, certain things are just guaranteed: proximity to good music, good food, interesting culture, and an unbeatable street scene. Of course, this street is popular — who wouldn’t be lured in by those considerable qualities?
Here’s our block-by-block breakdown of what to look for on Frenchmen Street, starting from the Decatur-Esplanade intersection and moving “down” towards St. Claude Avenue. Keep in mind that music sets usually pop off between 6 and 11 p.m., although there is always room for variation.
Note that we only cover the “music strip” of Frenchmen Street in this article; there are other parts of the street that include both residential, parkland, and commercial blocks.
Check Point Charlie by Infrogmation of New Orleans on Flickr
Esplanade & Decatur
Of course, the weirdness gets a start right at the beginning of iconic Frenchmen. Heck, it gets a start before you even get on Frenchmen — there’s usually a jumble of tourists, locals having a night out, and tribes of youths in the neutral ground (median) that runs through Esplanade Avenue out here.
Be on the lookout for Check Point Charlie (501 Esplanade Ave). This may look like a rough punk music bar (and it still is, in a lot of ways) from the outside, but management attracts a pretty wide range of clientele. Check Point Charlie feels pretty divey, but once inside, the music is almost always wonderful. An added bonus: Check Point sells amazing cheeseburgers throughout the evening. A nicely charred patty on a bun is a great means of regaining energy during late Frenchmen Street nights.
LA Music Factory. Photo by Infrogmation New Orleans on Flickr
Esplanade & Decatur, Part 2
The city streets do a weird geography trick, forming a “v” around the Faubourg Marigny fire station. Frenchmen Street exists on both sides of that “v.”
Just around the corner (and technically not on Frenchmen, but worth noting) is the Dragon’s Den (435 Esplanade Avenue), one of the city’s standout music clubs. You won’t get any PreHall-style Dixieland jazz here — the Den, which has been featured in TV shows like True Detective, is all about an eclectic range of music, from DJ nights to reggae to Latin dance parties.
Also at the edge of this block is the enormous Louisiana Music Factory (421 Frenchmen Street), your one-stop shop for all things related to the state’s considerable musical heritage. Seriously, if someone cut an album and has a connection to the state of Louisiana, chances are the staff here can get that music into your hands.
Beyond the above, be on the lookout for pop-up art galleries and similar businesses in this stretch of Frenchmen.
The Blue Nile on Frenchmen Street. Photo by Stephen McCarthy via Flickr
Between Decatur & Chartres
Now the street is getting hot.
First up: The still-vacant space at 504 Frenchmen Street, which used to be home to the mainstay Mona’s, replaced post-pandemic by the now-defunct Torshi. We’re hoping the space won’t stay vacant for long. Just across the street, a little ways off of Frenchmen, is the Brieux Carré Brewing Co. (2115 Decatur Street), a microbrewery with a dozen taps, snacks, and an outdoor seating area.
Moving on. This is Frenchmen Street, so music is in the cards. The Maison (508 Frenchmen Street) is a relatively new bar compared to some of its neighbors on this street, yet it is one of the major centers of gravity for local live music. Jazz acts take over the large front area, where you can order excellent imbued spirits from behind the bar. This spot, plus the nearby Bamboula’s (516 Frenchmen Street), seems to attract a younger crowd on the weekends, although to be fair, you can get any kind of crowd anywhere depending on the time of the year.
Further down the street, we come across the Blue Nile (532 Frenchmen), one of the city’s great jazz clubs. There’s never really an off night here, although you can get acts ranging from raucous brass band dance parties to soulful crooners; make sure to check the online schedule before you pop in.
Nearby, the Three Muses (536 Frenchmen) is one of the great dinner-and-a-show venues in town, seeing as it combines those two elements on any night you please. It can get crowded, so you want to make a table reservation (good for 90 minutes, after which you can go to the bar.) The rule makes sense, else everyone would sit through the nightly shows and no tables would ever open up.
Dat Dog. Photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans
Between Chartres & Royal
Pro tip: Not only is the second floor of Dat Dog (601 Frenchmen) filled with decorations culled from the Krewe of Chewbacchus (the city’s science fiction/fantasy-themed Mardi Gras krewe), but the balcony is also a great spot for people-watching, especially the bands that often play at the intersection of Frenchmen & Chartres. The hot dogs are pretty amazing too.
Cafe Negril (606 Frenchmen) is one of our favorite spots for reggae and dancehall music in the city, not least because there’s an excellent taqueria slinging tacos in the back kitchen. Across the way, the Apple Barrel Bar (609 Frenchmen) is one of the smallest, most intimate venues in New Orleans; upstairs, you can treat your date to a romantic Italian dinner at Adolfo’s.
Afterward, head next door to the Art Garden & Floating Gallery (613 Frenchmen), an open-air venue that showcases local artwork, sculpture and crafts. Want a souvenir from New Orleans? Get one here, as you would be giving your money directly to local creators.
We continue this trip with three excellent jazz clubs: d.b.a. (618 Frenchmen), with its enormous beer and whiskey menu and consistent lineup of great acts; Snug Harbor (626 Frenchmen), the classiest jazz joint in the neighborhood, where you can enjoy a dinner with your show; and The Spotted Cat Music Club (623 Frenchmen), a club where you can groove to some of the most talented live acts in the city.
On the same block, you’ll find Frenchmen All Day (630 Frenchmen St.). Small and quaint, Frenchmen All Day is a cafe with indoor seating, as well as sidewalk cafe seating, a full bar, coffee, and brunch fare. The menu has breakfast quiches, Cuban sandwiches, and NOLA staples like crawfish etouffee. The last venue we’d like to highlight that lives on the block is Marigny Brasserie (640 Frenchmen St.). This casual, live music venue at the end of Frenchmen offers an elevated Cajun/Creole menu, hand-crafted cocktails, a good wine list, and local draft beer plus, of course, live music.
Between Royal & Dauphine
Across the street, on the 700 block of Frenchmen Street, you’ll find the tiny but popular Remedy Bar (The Royal Frenchmen Bar, 700 Frenchmen St.). Sharing the same address is Mr. Joe’s Island Grill & Seafood BBQ, where you can get ribs, jerk chicken and smoked brisket platters till 2 a.m. We end our journey at Washington Square, a charming, historic park where you can walk your dog, rest on the benches in the shade, picnic, fly a frisbee, or hit the small playground with your kid.
For more, check out our guide to the Famous Streets of the French Quarter.
Also, 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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Royal Street, a Block-by-Block Guide
Royal Street between St. Louis and Conti streets. Photo by Ken Lund
For a full 13 blocks stretching in the French Quarter, Royal Street runs parallel to Bourbon Street, yet this thoroughfare — one of the finest stretches of art galleries, antique stores, wrought-iron balconies, restaurants, and architecture in the USA — is sometimes almost completely missed by visitors. This is a real shame; beyond the qualities we’ve just described, Royal Street makes a nice counterbalance to the neon and noise of Bourbon. Well, you’ve read these words, so now you’ve been briefed: Royal Street is pretty cool. Here’s our block-by-block guide, running from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue.
Hotel Monteleone and the Carousel Bar & Lounge
214 Royal Street
The Monteleone is one of the grandest old-school New Orleans hotels and has a history of housing authors — from Ernest Hemingway to William Faulkner to the annual Tennessee Williams Literary Festival — and ghosts. We are not big on contacting other realms of existence here, but we have come close at the excellent Carousel Bar, where the constantly rotating main bar area conspires with the strong drinks to make you feel extra loopy.
Cafe Beignet
334 Royal Street
Almost everyone coming to New Orleans has heard of Cafe Du Monde, but Cafe Beignet seems to fly under a lot of radars. Without making a value judgment, we’d say the beignets at Du Monde are smaller and crisper; the ones at Cafe Beignet are larger and softer. One definitive judgment call: This is one of the most romantic outdoor dining destinations in the Quarter. You’re on a quiet, pretty stretch of Royal where the main company is begging pigeons and sparrows.
The 400 Block
The 400 block of Royal is distinctive because an entire side of the street is taken up by one building: the Louisiana Supreme Court. This massive, marble Beaux Arts building wouldn’t feel out of place in Washington, D.C., but for the palm trees and humid wind that always sways around the steps.
The structure was finished in 1910, vacated in 1958, neglected for decades, and eventually restored to its old glory in the 1990s. On the front steps, you’ll see a statue of Edward Douglass White Jr., 9th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme County, best known for upholding the right of states to segregate in Plessy vs. Ferguson and upholding the eight-hour workday after reviewing the Adamson Act.
Across the street is Brennan’s (417 Royal Street), one of the most important restaurants in the city. Back in the day, spots like Brennan’s led the revival of Creole cuisine that popularized New Orleans food across the country. Stop in for any meal, although we particularly love breakfast with a classic “eye-opener” (cocktail).
The Pedestrian Mall
The blocks of Royal between Bienville and Orleans streets become a pedestrian mall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Take advantage of that window and use your feet to explore this gorgeous stretch of the French Quarter.
Trashy Diva
537 Royal Street
Ladies looking to look good: It’s hard to beat this shop (even if by name alone), which sells 40s and 50s-inspired retro dresses, jewelry, lingerie, and all-out fabulousness. There’s an entire line of clothes for those who live rockabilly, plus some corsets and other fun finds if you’re feeling adventurous. (There’s another location, at 712 Royal street, dedicated to lingerie).
The Court of Two Sisters
613 Royal Street
Get a little dressed up and treat yourself to a classical Creole brunch, accompanied by jazz music, in the airy, lovely courtyard this restaurant is named for. Or take a date here in the evening; there are few restaurants in this city that can match the sheer romantic power of the Court.
Royal & St. Peter
While buskers can be found plying their trade all around the Royal Street pedestrian corridor, for some reason — maybe it’s the acoustics of the area — the quality of the live musicians who occupy this patch is generally quite high. Stop by, and try to soak up the shade and the sounds.
Royal & Orleans
While we would generally characterize Royal Street as the quiet alternative to Bourbon Street, this particular intersection, which sits at the back of the St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, is one of the busiest street scenes in the city. Artists hawk their paintings, street performers and puppeteers busk for the public, tourists mill about, and a general air of playful chaos extends onto the whole scene. This is one of our favorite intersections in the city.
Reverend Zombie’s House Of Voodoo
713 Royal Street
What do you need? Love potions? A psychic reading? A little gris-gris to make the day go by easier? A fetish doll for the nightstand? A mask from a continent far away? This store got you covered.
Gallery Burguieres
736 Royal Street
You should probably stop into every art gallery you encounter on Royal Street, but we have to cop to being particular fans of the works of Ally Burguieres, who is best known for her sketches and paintings of animals. Her work is characterized by bold color, flowing lines, and a general funky sensibility that’s easy to love.
ESOM ART
811 Royal Street
ESOM ART replaced the quirky and popular Tresor Gallery in this space, showcasing abstract art, mixed media, and jewelry made by Tony and Tracey Mose, both artists and owners of this gallery.
Cafe Amelie
900 Royal Street
Did you skip our suggestions about having a nice date night at The Court of Two Sisters? That’s fine — the elegant courtyard and delicious modern Louisiana fare at Cafe Amelie are all part of a package that is equally as romantic and heart-stopping.
Fifi Mahony’s
934 Royal Street
New Orleanians like to get dressed up — we’re not ones to say no to a costume party. And seeing as no costume is complete without a fabulous hairpiece or wig, we feel confident saying Fifi Mahony’s is vital to the very cultural heartbeat of the city. Seriously: The staff here knows how to put together some amazing head ornamentation or help you select the perfect wig for your dome. Don’t leave town without popping inside.
Gallier House
1132 Royal Street
One of the best-preserved historic homes in the city, the Gallier House was built over 150 years ago and reflected the then-cutting-edge interior design. The house is operated as a museum alongside the Hermann-Grima House; visitors can marvel at period furniture and architectural details, and learn about both the Gallier family and the slaves, and later domestic servants, who enabled their opulent lifestyle.
Verti Marte
1201 Royal Street
If it’s late at night and you need a po-boy in New Orleans, head on down to Verti Marte, which somehow packs the crowds in a store that feels like it has a total of 10 square feet of floor space. There’s plenty to love on the menu of this bastion of calories, but you can’t go wrong with All That Jazz — ham, turkey, shrimp, mushrooms, and melted cheese doused in a sinful sauce that we dream about in the wee hours. Verti Marte is open till midnight nightly.
Bennachin
1212 Royal Street
Not many visitors list West African cuisine as their number one reason for visiting New Orleans, even if much of the Creole food they enjoy has its roots in that part of the world (gumbo, for example, has clear links to West African stews). In any case, you can sample dishes like sauced piquant chicken served over jollof rice and wonderfully spiced greens, all served in a friendly, cozy dining room. Bennachin was one of the first places in New Orleans to feature vegan items on its menu.
Mona Lisa
1212 Royal Street
We know it’s weird that this spot seems to share an address with Bennachin (above), but they’re just adjacent to each other. Mona Lisa is what a lot of people imagine when they hear “Italian restaurant” — it’s not fancy, but there’s dim lighting coming from candles plunked in Chianti bottles, pictures of the old country, and some of the best pasta in the city. Bonus: It’s inexpensive, including the delicious red wine, and the place is covered in the Mona Lisa art of every iteration.
For more, check out our guide to the Famous Streets of the French Quarter.
Also, 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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North Rampart Street, a Block-by-Block Guide
Rampart-St. Claude streetcar by Cheryl Gerber
For people who like living on the edge — of the French Quarter, that is — North Rampart Street is where it’s at. This street serves as the northernmost boundary of the French Quarter, dividing it from Tremé. You’ll find less foot traffic on this bustling thoroughfare than in other places in the Quarter, but no shortage of photo-worthy destinations. Plus, thanks to the recently installed streetcar line, getting around Rampart Street is a snap. Here are a few must-visit destinations on the historic thoroughfare, starting by Canal Street and going toward Esplanade Avenue.
Rampart-St. Claude Streetcar Line
Long ago, almost all of New Orleans was crisscrossed by streetcar tracks. In the mid-20th century, streetcars fell out of favor as buses became the norm, and many tracks were ripped up and repaved. Today, this charming, energy-efficient form of mass transportation keeps regaining popularity.
The newest streetcar line is the Rampart-St. Claude route, which travels from the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal to the intersection of St. Claude Avenue (Rampart changes to this name when it passes Esplanade Avenue) and Elysian Fields Avenue in the Marigny. Each ride costs only $1.25 (exact change required; or you can buy passes for up to one month online).
Saenger Theatre
1111 Canal Street
The beautiful, 4,000-seat theater opened in 1927 as a silent movie destination. Eventually renovated after years of neglect following Hurricane Katrina, it shines more brightly than ever. One hundred and fifty lights twinkle in the domed auditorium ceiling, evoking a starry nighttime sky, and the entire interior resembles a 15th-century Italian courtyard replete with columns, arched doorways and mosaics. Broadway shows, touring musicians and comedians all make stops at this theater — which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places — and you should, too.
New Orleans Athletic Club
222 N. Rampart Street
Established in 1872, this marble-clad, chandelier-hung gym boasts the Old World opulence you’d expect of a club where Tennessee Williams and Clark Gable once worked out. Modern exercise equipment meets luxurious amenities, including a saltwater lap pool, free parking, over 50 group exercise classes, and a full bar. Your hotel key, ID and $20 get you a day pass to this storied gym, and you truly can make a day of it. Start with free coffee and newspaper in the impressive library, move on to a yoga class in the ballroom, then sit in the sauna, shower, grab a cocktail, and finally head out on the town feeling refreshed.
Palm & Pine
308 N. Rampart Street
This relative newcomer (since 2019) is a relaxed, brick-lined restaurant serving local, Mexican & Caribbean cuisine, plus wine and craft cocktails. Think laid-back, casual-cool fine dining.
Black Penny
700 N. Rampart Street
This dive bar has several pages’ worth of craft beer on the menu (and most come in a can). The space is both weathered and welcoming, featuring a refurbished bar, exposed brick and beams, and long booths.
Louis Armstrong Park
701 N. Rampart Street
Inside this leafy, 31-acre park, a large statue of Satchmo himself presides over fountains, walking trails, lagoons, and the Mahalia Jackson Theater. Armstrong Park is also the location of Congo Square, where enslaved Africans and free people of color congregated on Sundays to socialize, dance, and sell goods in the 18th and early 19th centuries. This historic park is the birthplace of jazz, named for a jazz legend, and it’s definitely worth a visit. The park also hosts several annual festivals.
Rampart Treehouse
740 N. Rampart Street
Self-billed as a “slice bar,” Rampart Treehouse is a colorful, well, bar that serves pizza. There are at least 10 pizzas on the menu, including vegetarian and vegan options, and available both to go or in-house, whole or by the slice. There are also a couple of salads and sandwich options on the menu, plus a whole lot of booze one would expect from a full bar.
Bar Tonique
820 N. Rampart Street
For the destination revered for its perfectly crafted cocktails, there’s not an ounce of pretentiousness about Bar Tonique. It’s small, cozy, and even romantic (there are comfortable couches, nooks, and a fireplace). Overall it feels more like a neighborhood bar, with specials chalked on the board (no food, no live music), not a cocktail lounge. The ingredients, however, are often house-made, and the extensive menu is staggeringly categorized. There are daily specials (whiskey flights Tuesdays and caipirinha Thursdays, for example). Some are unique to the bar; others are modern twists on the classics, with welcome deviations and house-made syrups. Service industry folks enjoy a discount.
MaMou
942 N. Rampart Street
Opened in 2022 (replacing the longtime neighborhood fave, Meauxbar), MaMou is a modern French brasserie from Executive Chef Tom Branighan and Sommelier Molly Wismeier. The menu is European continental cuisine with Creole influences, using mostly Louisiana ingredients and prepared with French techniques. The airy, whimsical interior serves as a perfect backdrop.
Effervescence
1036 N. Rampart Street
The French Quarter has a champagne-centric bar to call its own. Effervescence opened its tall doors on N. Rampart St. in March of 2017 and has become the destination for high-to-low sparkling wines from all over the world, champagnes, small plates, and live music. The setting is modern and polished, and there’s ample outdoor seating. There’s also a full bar, and dozens of still wines by the glass and bottle, plus a limited beer selection — but it’s the bubbles you’d come for. Check out a variety of themed flights, or order half a glass, if you’d like to try a variety. The small plates are meant to be shared — like the Gulf seafood plate or crispy Brussels sprouts. Effervescence is also a good spot to try caviar, from the prized osetra to the local (and more affordable) bowfin.
For more, check out our guide to the Famous Streets of the French Quarter.
Also, 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!
