Things to Do in New Orleans This February
Photo by David Fary
Mardi Gras comes on March 4, 2025, and there is a steady stream of events and entertainment leading up to it. February is not only packed with Carnival-related festivities though — let’s not forget the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day — plus there are a few low-key local annual events you might enjoy. Here are some upcoming highlights to make the most of this short but event-packed month.
Attend the Super Bowl
New Orleans is proud to host the 2025 Super Bowl, which will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Caesars Superdome, home of the Saints. The NFL, Roc Nation and Apple Music announced that 17-time Grammy award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar will be this year’s halftime performer (maybe with special guests?). Even if you don’t attend the game itself, expect to find yourself part of one huge, citywide party.
Go See the Mardi Gras Parades
One of the best parties in the world is here! The Carnival season kicked off on January 6, known as Twelfth Night, or the Epiphany, with three parades, and will culminate as usual on Mardi Gras Day. A ton of parades will roll in February in the French Quarter, Marigny, Bywater, and Uptown. Do consider venturing outside the city too, if you can, as parts of the metro New Orleans, like Metairie, Covington, Slidell, and the West Bank have some of the most fascinating, fun parades of the Carnival season. You can’t catch them all, but you can try! See the full parade schedule here and read our Mardi Gras weekend guide to get the rundown of the Carnival festivities.
Eat King Cake
For those who aren’t aware, King Cake is a traditional cake typically served during Mardi Gras festivities. It’s socially acceptable to stuff your face with it anytime between January 6, when the Carnival season starts, and until Ash Wednesday. Also, per tradition, whoever finds a plastic baby in their slice has to throw the next party, or at least buy the next King Cake.
King Cake comes with many fillings although the traditionalists insist on the old-school rendition without any. It also comes in the Carnival colors of purple, gold and green, but then again you might see the “Who Dat?” versions in black and gold during the football season, honoring the Saints.
King Cake is a beloved Mardi Gras staple, and New Orleanians tend to have strong opinions about who makes the best King Cake in the city. One thing is for sure: Everywhere you go during Mardi Gras, from a grocery store to a parade party to a dive bar, King Cake will be there for the eating.
Take in the Art at First Saturdays
Head downtown to the Arts District to discover some of the city’s best galleries during this free event. First Saturday Gallery Openings are held every first Saturday of the month, down and around Julia Street, 6 to 9 p.m.
Celebrate Vietnamese New Year at Tet Fest
Tet Fest is held over the weekend at the Mary Queen of Vietnam Church at 14011 Dwyer Blvd. in New Orleans East. It’s a free celebration of Vietnamese New Year with live music, traditional dance performances, fireworks, kid-friendly activities, and an amazing variety of authentic Vietnamese food. The date changes annually, falling anywhere between mid-January and late February.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day in One of the Most Romantic Cities
To be fair, this is a worldwide holiday. But Valentine’s Day (Friday, February 14, 2025) in New Orleans — with her wrought-iron balconies, historical buildings, and the possibility of music on every corner — is a special kind of unique. Check out our guide to “How to Spend Valentine’s Day in the French Quarter” for some ideas.
Celebrate Black History Month
Every year, citywide events of all kinds, including performances, are happening during February in celebration of Black History Month. Check the local listing as February approaches.
Explore the French Quarter
Whether you’re here with your sweetheart to celebrate Valentine’s Day or visiting with family or friends (or alone) for any other reason, Carnival season is one of the best times to explore the French Quarter. The spirit of revelry permeates the streets, and there are parades and block parties to stumble upon. Not to mention that many of the French Quarter’s facades, porches and balconies are decked in dazzling decorations, sporting purple, green and gold.
Plus, the winter temps are usually mild here, and pleasant enough to stroll down Royal Street to visit the galleries and the antique shops, for example. You can also take in a brass band performance at Jackson Square; visit the French Market to get a po-boy and some oysters; or scarf down some beignets at Cafe Du Monde. Take a tour, or just walk around and stare.
Are you planning to visit New Orleans this winter? We’ve got a fabulous lineup of events that celebrate the Crescent City’s unique culture. Visit FrenchQuarter.com/hotels to find your perfect historic French Quarter hotel that will put you right in the center of all of the action and within walking distance of many of New Orleans’ bars, restaurants and entertainment spots.
Happy February! Happy Mardi Gras!
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New Orleans Pralines, Sweet Southern Confections
Photo courtesy of Southern Candymakers on Facebook
When the historic St. Charles Avenue streetcar comes to its rattling, end-of-the-line halt at the edge of the French Quarter, visitors step out of one city icon and immediately encounter another — New Orleans pralines, those intensely sweet disks of sugar, butter and pecans.
The streetcar stop at Canal and Carondelet streets has for many years been the territory of praline street vendor George Lee Clark. A tall man in his 50s, his face perpetually shaded by the brim of a white Panama hat, Mr. Clark sells his homemade pralines from a plastic bakery crate slung from his neck.
“Number one praline, one dollar,” he calls as visitors in t-shirts and commuters in restaurant and hotel uniforms hop down from the idling streetcar. “Melt in your mouth good. Big pralines here.”
Mr. Clark has been selling pralines on the city’s streets for more than 30 years — a long career but nonetheless a mere blip in the history of this distinctive Southern candy that stretches back to New Orleans’ colonial origins. Indeed, the praline — like New Orleans itself — started out with aristocratic French roots but grew into something quite its own here in the South.
From France to the Banks of the Mississippi River: The Origins of the New Orleans Praline
There are many variations on the story of how the praline came to be, but most of them revolve around the manor house of the 17th-century French diplomat Cesar du Plessis Praslin — a name that later morphed into the term for the candy. A chef in the kitchen here developed a technique for coating almonds in cooked sugar which, competing stories hold, were used by his courtly employer either as a digestive aid or as gifts to the ladies he visited. In France and elsewhere, the word praline is still used as a generic term for any sort of candy made with nuts.
These early confections traveled with Frenchmen to their new colony on the banks of the Mississippi, a land where both sugar cane and nuts were cultivated in abundance. In local kitchens, Louisiana pecans were substituted for the more exotic almonds, cream was added, giving the candy more body, and a Southern tradition was born.
The candy’s winning flavor has led to worldwide popularity, and, as such things go, varying pronunciations and hybrid recipes. For the record, the local and proper pronunciation is “prah-lean,” while the nut most commonly used in it is pronounced “peck-on.” Just remember that, in New Orleans, a word pronounced “pray-lean” means nothing except, perhaps, a posture the supplicant faithful assume while petitioning God.
Even before the Civil War and Emancipation, pralines were an early entrepreneurial vehicle for free women of color in New Orleans. In 1901, The Daily Picayune described in nostalgic terms the “pralinieres,” or older Black women, who sold pralines “about the streets of the Old French Quarter.”
They were often found patrolling Canal Street near Bourbon and Royal streets and around Jackson Square in the shade of the alleys flanking St. Louis Cathedral. And in the 1930s, the Louisiana folklorist Lyle Saxon, writing in the book “Gumbo Ya-Ya,” documented praline sellers “garbed in gingham and starched white aprons and tignons,” or head wraps, fanning their candies with palmetto leaves against the heat and bellowing the sales pitch — “Belles pralines!” — to passersby.
Photo courtesy of Aunt Sally’s Pralines on Facebook
Finding Pralines in the French Quarter
Today, pralines can be found in most convenience stores and supermarkets around New Orleans, as well as in a great many gift shops. More memorable for the visitor, however, is a trip to one of the many praline specialty shops in the French Quarter. Some of these businesses are quite old, tracing their roots back to the beginning of the previous century, such as Laura’s Candies (331 Chartres St.), established in 1913, or the even older Evans Creole Candy Factory (848 Decatur St.), started in 1900.
Some sport open kitchens so visitors can watch the simple, but nonetheless fascinating, process by which sugar, cream, butter, and nuts are united and transformed into pralines. From metal vats, dollops of the gooey pralines-to-be are spooned onto marble slabs to cool.
The air inside these shops can be dangerously sweet at times, swimming with the warm smells of commingled sugars and butter. Dieters are advised to watch through the shop windows from the relative safety of the sidewalk, or even avert their eyes altogether.
Photo courtesy of Leah’s Pralines on Facebook
Popular French Quarter Praline Shops
- Aunt Sally’s Pralines, 810 Decatur Street
- Evans Creole Candy Factory, 848 Decatur Street
- Laura’s Candies, 331 Chartres Street
- Leah’s Pralines, 714 St. Louis Street
- Loretta’s Authentic Pralines, 1100 N. Peters Street in the French Market (Stall #9)
- Magnolia Praline Company, 839 Decatur Street
- Southern Candymakers, 334 and 1010 Decatur Street
From Traditional to Rum-Flavored, Each Maker Adds Their Own Twist
A basic praline recipe calls for brown sugar, granulated sugar, cream, butter, and pecans. Naturally, many other variations have cropped up, including pralines flavored with shredded coconut, rum, vanilla, chocolate, and peanut butter.
But with even the traditional recipe, no two praline makers seem to produce the same candy. Pralines from Aunt Sally’s, for instance, are flat and thin with a multitude of chopped-up pecan bits, while those from Southern Candymakers just down the street are fatter globs with larger, halved nuts embedded in the sugar.
Below is a simple recipe for trying your hand at this traditional New Orleans specialty.
You can’t call them New Orleans Pralines without this very essential ingredient
New Orleans Praline Recipe
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light cream
- 1 ½ cups pecans, halved
- 2 tablespoons butter
Combine the sugars and cream in a heavy two-quart saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until the mixture forms a thick syrup. Add pecans and butter and continue to cook over medium heat, stirring frequently.
Remove the saucepan to a heatproof surface (such as a wire rack) and let cool for 10 minutes. Use a tablespoon to drop rounded balls of the mixture onto sheet wax paper or foil, leaving about three inches between each ball for pralines to spread. Allow to cool.
Makes about 12 candies. Good luck and enjoy!
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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Parking in the French Quarter
Photo by Ken Cooper
For the most part, parking on the streets of the French Quarter could be problematic for visitors and locals alike. Stringent parking control measures are in effect and meter limits are strictly enforced.
Tow trucks are always on the streets, even at night — especially at night — and many a visitor’s trip has been ruined by an expensive detour to the City Pound to retrieve a car illegally left in a no-parking zone, too close to a corner, or in a protected zone.
Here are a few tips to help you skip the fuss and find trouble-free parking in the French Quarter.
Photo by Theodore Lee
Navigate Parking Like the Locals
In the back of the Quarter, a residential parking program gives local registered parkers an advantage and a pass, but even registered parkers have to play a tricky game of hopscotch parking to stay ahead of street cleaning and time limits. Many residents arrange to park their vehicles in private lots or parking buildings nearby, at significant cost, we might add. Savvy Quarterites walk, bike, scoot, and generally take advantage of the historic district’s appealing scale.
Parking at Your Hotel
Visitors with reservations at French Quarter hotels can park their vehicles with the hotel but should be aware that it is an extra charge and can add up. Don’t even think of bringing an oversized vehicle onto the streets of the Quarter without some good and defensible reason, prior permissions and permits from the Police Department. Anything bigger than an SUV is likely to get jammed at the corners and stymied on the narrow streets that were originally laid out for horse-drawn vehicles.
Photo by Jason Paris
Parking Lots and Garages in the French Quarter
But don’t despair, there is ample and convenient parking available all along the riverfront side of the French Quarter. (Download a pdf of French Quarter Riverside Parking Lots.)
- Beginning at the Canal Street upriver border of the district near the Aquarium/Insectarium, Canal Place, and Custom House there is multi-story covered parking in the Canal Place Garage. The entrance is at the end of Iberville and the River.
- Moving downriver along North Peters there are large lighted lots at Iberville and North Peters, Conti and North Peters, and Toulouse and Decatur, all convenient to JAX Brewery, the French Market, and Jackson Square. These lots extend to the levee wall and streetcar tracks running along the riverfront and are much bigger than they appear from the street.
- At St. Peter and Decatur is the entrance to the French Market parking lot that is between the Market and the Moonwalk and extends all the way to Barracks Street and the Old U.S. Mint.
- Just at the downriver border of the Quarter is another French Market lot at the corner of Decatur and Elysian Fields. (See all parking options near the French Market.)
To reserve French Quarter parking in advance, click here.
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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Decatur Street, a Block-by-Block Guide
Decatur Street. Photo by Trevor Mark
Decatur Street runs parallel to the Mississippi River, starting on Canal and ending at St. Ferdinand Street in the Marigny. Decatur was previously known as Rue de la Levee (“Levee Street”) but was renamed in 1870 after Stephen Decatur, the American naval war hero and Commodore.
Basically a waterfront strip, the French Quarter part of Decatur Street has catered to sailors and hosted the kinds of businesses a big port would have. By the 80s, it still retained its port feel, especially in the Lower Decatur near Canal Street, but the part closer to Esplanade and Frenchmen Street became a bohemian haven with a vibrant goth and punk scene.
All that changed drastically in modern times, though some places remained, like Cafe Du Monde, Central Grocery & Deli, and Tujague’s. These days Decatur Street is as vibrant as ever, even though the punk clubs and dive bars have been replaced by restaurants that cater to visitors, and bars and clubs that have more traditional jazz bands. There seems to be a candy store on every other block, and the number of places that sell po-boys, daiquiris, and Mardi Gras masks is staggering.
There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. Decatur Street features a diverse selection of restaurants, a few funky bars, lots of shopping (from national chains like Sephora to unique local artist co-ops and vintage stores), and plenty of live music.
In just 14 short blocks for its French Quarter part, Decatur packs a few legendary, centuries-old institutions, historic landmarks, an amazing bookstore, and so many zydeco-blasting souvenir shops that all your hot sauce and mask needs could be addressed within one block.
Let’s start walking from Esplanade Avenue to Canal Street, noting the highlights. Two places stand out when you are on Esplanade and Decatur — the live music bar Checkpoint Charlie and the firehouse, at the beginning of Frenchmen Street. This is where the French Quarter ends and Faubourg Marigny begins.
On the corner of Esplanade and Decatur (1331 Decatur St.) is the Balcony Music Club (BMC), a bar with live music and pub grub. After a few in-between reincarnations, BMC has eventually replaced the beloved local haunt El Matador Lounge. It seems to have music spilling onto the street at all hours, from brass bands to rock to traditional jazz.
Across the street, the Old U.S. Mint (the New Orleans Jazz Museum) takes up a chunk of space on the block. Built in 1835, the Old U.S. Mint uniquely served as both a U.S. and a Confederate Mint. The building is now a museum (free to the public) and research facility. It also serves as a site for music festivals, like the French Quarter Festival and Satchmo SummerFest.
The permanent collection showcases coins and stamping presses. Upstairs, you’ll find the “New Orleans Jazz” exhibit featuring priceless pieces like Louis Armstrong’s first cornet and Fats Domino’s Steinway grand piano, plus historic recordings and rare film footage.
The next block is home to the always-busy Envie Espresso Bar & Cafe (1241) and Factory of Weird (1228). Envie 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 like hummus, panini, and burgers. Factory of Weird has two entrances, one on Decatur and another on the French Market side, and is filled with local art, customized fashion and jewelry, vintage, oddities, antiques, and more.
The 1100 block is a heavy hitter with a couple of legendary bars and the popular Cane & Table (1113), a sleek foodie haven. Cane & Table describes its menu of small plates like ropa vieja and seviche as “rustic colonial cuisine” with the ambiance of Old Havana. The cocktail menu showcases seriously crafted concoctions, many of which are rum-based, imaginative updates of the classics.
If you can settle for less than a craft cocktail, the 24-hour dive next door, The Abbey (1123), and Molly’s at the Market (1107) are two classic, laid-back, and welcoming bars of the French Quarter you should definitely check out. Molly’s is home to an excellent jukebox, a back bar courtyard, and frozen Irish coffee. The bar was (and, to an extent, still is) a favorite of local musicians, journalists, and service industry workers since late founder Jim Monaghan opened it in 1974.
One of the French Quarter’s bright stars and mainstays is the always-bustling Coop’s Place (1109 Decatur St.). Coop’s is a no-frills bar and restaurant with an extensive and excellent menu that goes way beyond bar food grub. The hands-down standouts are the seafood gumbo and rabbit and sausage jambalaya (the “supreme” version also has shrimp and tasso). Cajun fried chicken won’t steer you wrong either.
Popular with the locals and visitors, Coop’s can get busy and loud. Please also note that it’s 21 and older only, even in the restaurant’s seating area, because of the video poker machines on the premises.
Moving on past the park with the gazebo, on the next block, the 1000th, you can’t miss the striped awning of The Original French Market Restaurant & Bar (1001). Open since 1803, the restaurant specializes in Cajun/Creole cuisine and seafood in particular. Across the street, two adjacent restaurants also serve Cajun/Creole fare, but the biggest draw of The Market Cafe (1000 Decatur St.) and Gazebo Cafe (1018) are their patios and the constant stream of live music.
The Market Cafe has been around since the early 80s, occupying the building that dates back to 1823, and was part of the French Market (check out the original cypress ceiling and columns). Bloody Marys and baked muffuletta are the restaurant’s specialties. Gazebo Cafe‘s covered patio and courtyard are often packed, the bands mostly play jazz, and the ice cream daiquiris are delicious.
Check out the historic Dutch Alley nearby on N. Peters and French Market’s Shops at the Colonnade. The strip of shops, some with Decatur and some with N. Peters addresses, is worth a visit if you’re shopping for souvenirs or local specialties like pralines. A Christmas store, Merry Christmas & All That Jazz, has lots of cool ornaments with local flair.
Moving past the gold statue of Joan of Arc, we come to yet another New Orleans landmark — and home of the muffuletta — Central Grocery & Deli (923 Decatur St.). This sprawling old-fashioned Italian grocery store is still run by the family of its founder, a Sicilian immigrant named Salvatore Lupo. He was credited for creating the famous sandwich, which ships worldwide, along with Central Grocery’s famous olive salad by the jar. You can eat your made-to-order muffuletta at one of the few tables in the back or take it to go. Also on the block is a novelty store Pop City (940 Decatur St.), which sells collectibles, toys, and clothes.
As we approach the Dumaine Street intersection, you’ll go by the French Quarter Visitor Center (419 Decatur St.) and Magnolia Praline Co. (839 Decatur St.). Next, we come to two city institutions, Cafe Du Monde (800 Decatur St.). The grand dame of cafe au lait and beignets needs no introduction ever since it opened in 1862, so let’s just say no visit to New Orleans would be complete without getting powdered sugar all over yourself. Hectic yet charming, Cafe Du Monde is open round the clock and is busy at all hours.
Now you’ve reached Jackson Square! Here, you can have a beer and a po-boy at Monty’s on the Square, whose French doors offer a view of the square (casual southern with modern twists, and local craft beer). This is where you’ll also come to grab a mule-drawn carriage tour, by the park’s gate on the Decatur side.
Then, past The Shops at JAX Brewery (a multi-story historic landmark that holds retail stores, cafes, restaurants, and a small museum dedicated to the brewery), The Fudgery and Walgreens, you’ll come to the corner of Toulouse Street, the home of Cafe Maspero (601 Decatur St.). The always-open enormous windows provide a great view of the busy corner, and you might like its heaping seafood platters. The 609 Decatur St. space is now occupied by Pepper Palace, a chain that sells salsa, seasonings, rubs, hot sauce, and so on.
The next two blocks are light on restaurants, represented by the Crescent City Brewhouse (527 Decatur St.). The Brewhouse is a two-story, 17-barrel microbrewery with balcony and courtyard seating, an oyster bar, and lots of live jazz. Get the crab cakes or a pulled pork sandwich, and enjoy the bistro ambiance.
Then there’s Tujague’s new home (429), sharing the block with Big Easy Daiquiris (409). Tujague’s hardly needs an introduction. The second oldest restaurant in the city, it was founded in 1856 and has since been offering traditional, fixed-price Creole menus to many a president and celebrity. Its iconic bar takes credit for inventing the Grasshopper cocktail, and the restaurant may or may not take credit for creating brunch.
Across the street, you’ll find the sprawling H&M, Urban Outfitters, Vans, and the most recent addition, Sephora, next to one another. Past the souvenir shops blasting zydeco, French Market Inn, and PJ’s coffee shop, you’ll come to a historic landmark — the monument to the city’s founder, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville.
Past Conti Street, Decatur Street becomes quieter, with the exception of the House of Blues which takes up most of the 200th block with its concert venue and the restaurant/bar. The block livens up on most afternoons, with the trucks unloading band gear and people lining up to see the shows. The dimly lit, laid-back Kerry Irish Pub (331 Decatur St.), also features live music, but on a much smaller scale.
Across the street from the House of Blues between Bienville and Iberville, you’ll find one of the best bookstores in the city, the bi-level Beckham’s Bookshop (228 Decatur St.). It 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.
On the same block, at number 216, is a funky retro-inspired boutique not unlike Trashy Diva, called Dollz & Dames. It has a sister store in Seattle and 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.
Two restaurants close the journey up to Canal Street. Coterie Restaurant & Oyster Bar at 135 Decatur St. has all the New Orleans classics, from seafood platters to gumbo. Creole House Restaurant & Oyster Bar, located in a historic building on the corner at 509 Canal St., rounds up the tour of Decatur Street with its “casual Creole” menu.
There you have it — lots to see, eat, drink, and buy on the historic yet young-at-heart Decatur Street!
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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What to Do in the French Quarter When You’re Under 21
Photo by Trevor Mark
Yes, New Orleans is a drinking city with a thriving bar scene, but its allure goes way beyond the wild partying on Bourbon Street. It’s still easy to take in all the city has to offer — while completely foregoing the drinking aspect. Plus, the vibrant culture and over 300 years of existence ensure that New Orleans appeals to all ages, on any budget.
Just like you can do it the kid-friendly way, there are as many attractions and adventures that you can experience if you’re a senior. And the same goes for exploring the French Quarter if you’re under 21. Here’s what we recommend for young people below the legal drinking age, including teens and college students.
Walk Around
Just taking in the many sights and attractions of the French Quarter on foot is enough to make even the most jaded traveler swoon — the Creole cottages, luscious courtyards, all that wrought iron — tend to have that effect.
So hop off Bourbon Street onto the much quieter Royal Street, and take in all the architecture and shopping it has to offer. From browsing its many antique stores to checking out the street performances in the pedestrian mall between St. Louis and St. Ann streets that are closed off to traffic — Royal Street is fun, trust us.
Similarly, you can catch some great live music and just soak up the vibe on Frenchmen Street — without having to enter any of the clubs and bars. It’s best to hit Frenchmen in the evening, and there’s usually a great brass band playing on the corner of Chartres Street. And the enormous Louisiana Music Factory is your one-stop shop for all things related to the state’s considerable musical heritage.
While we recommend walking all over the French Quarter because it’s so worth exploring, Decatur Street is another highlight. Not only will it take you to Jackson Square and the Riverfront across the street but it’s great for people-watching, souvenir-shopping, and enjoying some live music in a family-friendly restaurant with outdoor seating, like The Market Cafe or Gazebo Cafe.
Hit a Cafe
Unwind and lounge the day away in one of the French Quarter’s excellent cafes. Many sport outdoor seating — always great for people-watching — and delicious food.
The grand dame of cafe au lait and beignets needs no introduction since it opened in 1862, so let’s just say no visit to New Orleans would be complete without getting powdered sugar all over yourself. Hectic yet charming, Cafe Du Monde is open round the clock and is busy at all hours.
Almost everyone coming to New Orleans has heard of Cafe Du Monde, but Cafe Beignet (with three locations in the Quarter and one on Canal Street) seems to fly under a lot of radars. We especially recommend the Royal Street location, on a quiet, pretty block where the main company is begging pigeons and sparrows.
We also recommend the Envie Espresso Bar & Cafe (1241 Decatur St.), 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 please don’t miss the Croissant D’Or Patisserie, tucked away between Royal and Chartres streets on Ursulines. Steeped in old-world charm, this Parisian-style patisserie has some of the best baked goods in the city. The sweet and savory croissants, and everything else you’ll find displayed in the gleaming glass case — the tarts and the tortes and the quiches — is delicious and served fresh daily from the bakery.
Dine on the Budget
If you want a quick, inexpensive meal any time of day or night, with some local color thrown in, some spots are just unbeatable. If it’s late at night and you “need” a po-boy, head on down to Verti Marte, a tiny 24-hour takeout-only deli on Royal Street with a loyal following.
There’s plenty to love on the menu of this bastion of calories, but you can’t go wrong with the epic specialty sandwiches like the vegetarian Green Giant and the mountainous All That Jazz — with grilled ham, turkey and shrimp, plus two kinds of cheese, grilled veggies, and the special “wow” sauce.
Another takeout/delivery 24-hour institution is the Quartermaster Deli. Quartermaster’s menu is full of burgers, overstuffed po-boys, house-made salads, and other New Orleans-style Southern fare like BBQ chicken and ribs. There are also hearty breakfast and late-night menus.
Central Grocery, a sprawling old-fashioned grocery store on a buzzing block of Decatur Street, is not called “Home of the Original Muffuletta” for nothing. Its founder, a Sicilian immigrant named Salvatore Lupo, is credited for creating the famous sandwich. The store is still lovingly run by the same family, and is packed full of imported Italian delicacies, including the famous olive salad by the jar.
Central Grocery is worth a look for that reason alone, but it’s the made-to-order muffulettas that have the visitors and the locals flocking there since 1906. You can eat at one of the few tables in the back, or take your muffuletta to go.
At the small and cozy Bennachin, you can sample flavorful African dishes with origins from Gambia and Cameroon. The restaurant was also one of the first places in New Orleans to feature vegan items on its menu. Right next to Bennachin is another comfy, cozy spot, the Mona Lisa, decked in the namesake’s-centric art floor to ceiling, and serving some of the best (and most inexpensive) pizza in the Quarter.
Going back to Frenchmen Street, we recommend Dat Dog. Not only Dat Dog’s dogs and sausages are pretty amazing but there’s balcony seating overlooking Frenchmen, and the second floor is filled with decorations culled from the Krewe of Chewbacchus (the city’s science fiction/fantasy-themed Mardi Gras krewe).
Try New Orleans Staples
Everyone comes to New Orleans with their own bucket list, and trying some culinary classics is a must. If you’re in that number, the Quarter is teeming with great restaurants, from casual holes in the wall to the chandeliered legends, where you can try some of the best, most iconic New Orleans fare like jambalaya, gumbo, and muffulettas.
Many New Orleans restaurants serve jambalaya, but these French Quarter standouts take it to another level. The New Orleans Creole Cookery serves up both Creole seafood and the meaty Gumbo Ya-Ya versions. And, at the storied Napoleon House, the spicy jambalaya is a specialty that could be ordered as either an appetizer or a side.
Most restaurants include at least two versions of gumbo on the menu — the meat and the seafood. You can get a cup alone, or a cup with half of a po-boy, if you don’t want to commit to a bowl. You would want to, though, if you happen upon the gumbo served up at classic Creole restaurants like Antoine’s or Arnaud’s.
For the more casual yet no less delicious takes head to the Gumbo Shop (the name says it all) or Acme Oyster House. Acme also offers gumbo as part of the New Orleans Medley Sampler or in half-of-po-boy/cup of gumbo combos.
Take a Tour
There are so many ways to explore the Quarter — on foot or bike; aboard a big red double-decker bus, mule-drawn carriage, rickshaw, or segway. If you’re looking for a self-powered, self-guided adventure throughout the ancient streets, 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!
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? And, if you want to get off land for a few hours, there’s no better way to see the mighty Mississippi than on a cruise on the Creole Queen.
Visit 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 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 Presbytere contains several permanent and temporary exhibits. 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, its aftermath, and the ongoing recovery with interactive displays and artifacts.
Enjoy Live Music for All Ages
Some of the city’s most popular clubs and music venues allow visitors ages 18 and older, like, for example, the House of Blues. For more traditional live-jazz entertainment for all ages, check out Three Muses, Snug Harbor, or the legendary Preservation Hall.
Another way to experience the lively sounds of New Orleans jazz is to partake in the delicious weekend tradition of brunch. Many local restaurants serve hearty Creole and Cajun menus alongside live jazz.
If you’re planning a stay in New Orleans, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
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A Dog-Friendly Guide to the New Orleans French Quarter and the Arts District
New Orleans is a city that loves dogs, so you don’t have to leave your precious four-legged friend behind when you visit. There are a few hotels and bed-and-breakfasts that can accommodate your pet (most would ask for a pet deposit), and there are dog-friendly parks and runs throughout the city.
Many local eating and drinking establishments also welcome pets with open arms and a bowl of water — just please ask first to make sure it’s OK to bring your pet inside. There’s a dog-and-beer-centric fundraiser festival in New Orleans, typically held in March in Lafreniere Park in Metairie, and there’s even a Mardi Gras parade for dogs (more on that later).
Here’s a list of places in the French Quarter and the Arts District (and immediately nearby) that your pet can tag along to, to help you two share the best moments of your trip and create some memories.
Restaurants and Cafes – French Quarter
Cafe Amelie
900 Royal St.
The lovely Cafe Amelie is a great choice for gourmet sandwiches (cochon de lait is a specialty), gumbo, seasonal salads, and other locally sourced fare. It has one of the most beautiful courtyards in the French Quarter, which is saying a lot.
Cafe Beignet
311 Bourbon St., the Musical Legends Park
While we don’t recommend taking your dog for a stroll on Bourbon Street after dark (it’s just too chaotic and crowded), the Musical Legends Park has plenty of tables and space, where you and your dog should be comfortable. Enjoy live jazz, have an order or two of the famous French doughnut, and take some pics with the nearly-life-size bronze statues of New Orleans’ own musical legends like Fats Domino, Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, Allen Toussaint, and Irma Thomas.
Cafe Du Monde
800 Decatur St.
We doubt this iconic 24/7 establishment needs an introduction, but did you know you can experience this New Orleans rite of passage without leaving your dog at the hotel? Although dogs are not allowed in the covered seating area, there are tables where you can sit with your pup along the side, just outside the fence. While the crowds and the line can be a bit overwhelming, the chicory coffee and beignets are consistently excellent, the service is efficient, and you will find yourself surrounded by live music.
Cafe Envie & Espresso Bar
1241 Decatur St.
This airy coffeehouse has comfortable sidewalk seating with excellent people-watching opportunities. Popular with the locals, it features a full bar and a big breakfast menu, plus small plates and excellent coffee.
Croissant D’Or Patisserie
617 Ursulines St.
Tucked away between Royal and Chartres on Ursulines and steeped in old-world charm, this Parisian-style patisserie has some of the best baked goods in the city. Made daily and served fresh from the bakery, Croissant D’Or’s croissants come plain, sweet and savory, stuffed with things like chocolate and ham and cheese. Everything you’ll find displayed in the gleaming glass case is a must-try, from tiramisu to the tarts and the tortes. The owners welcome pets in their sunny courtyard.
Restaurants and Cafes – The Arts District
Carmo
527 Julia St.
The “tropical” enclave of Carmo, nestled among the galleries of Julia Street in the Warehouse District, features vegan beans and rice among its mainstays, along with the daily curry, seviche, poke, and a plethora of interesting salads (many dishes are vegan). If it’s not too busy your pup will be welcome for sure.
Herbsaint
701 St. Charles Ave.
You’re in for a treat in Chef Donald Link’s flagship restaurant, which serves some of the best Creole and Cajun food in the city. Herbsaint also has plentiful sidewalk seating sheltered by the balcony overhang, so you can fine-dine with your dog even in inclement weather. Just please make sure to request a table outdoors when you make a reservation.
Bars – French Quarter
Black Penny
700 N. Rampart St.
You’ll find this bar at the edge of the Quarter, right across from Armstrong Park. The space is both weathered and welcoming, featuring a refurbished bar, exposed brick and beams, and long booths. Friendly service, good prices, several pages’ worth of craft beer on the menu (most come in a can), and the all-inclusivity (that means dogs, too) make this dive a popular spot.
Cosimo’s
1201 Burgundy St.
This neighborhood bar is beloved for its pet-welcoming policy (the place is often teeming with dogs, both inside and out), a lovely back room with the pool table and comfy seating, and seriously delicious bar snacks (Cosimo’s boudin balls are the best, we promise). The bar also hosts live-music nights, and crawfish boils when the mudbugs are in season.
Erin Rose
811 Conti St.
This quintessential Irish pub welcomes dogs, so stop by for an excellent Irish coffee, Guinness on tap, and soul-warming po-boys (offered in the back of the bar by Killer Poboys).
Harry’s Corner
900 Chartres St.
This no-frills dive with inexpensive drinks is an excellent spot to while the afternoon away if you’re day-drinking. It also happens to be a haven for all kinds of well-behaved dogs.
The Jimani
141 Chartres St.
This late-night haunt (open till 4 a.m. every night) has been a popular sports bar since the early 70s. The bar menu is a medley of New Orleans fare like po-boys, and the all-American nachos, pizza, and Chicago-style hot dogs. It’s also supposedly one of the most haunted places in the Quarter. Dogs are welcome.
Three Legged Dog
400 Burgundy St.
The 24-hour dive is dog-friendly and has weekly crawfish boils when in season (sometimes as late as midnight) plus classic pub grub.
Bars – The Arts District
Lucy’s Retired Surfer’s Bar & Restaurant
701 Tchoupitoulas St.
The Warehouse District’s surfer chain, Lucy’s welcomes dogs, inside, outside, and on the patio. Just how welcoming is Lucy’s? It has its own “sur-fur” dog menu that comes with a bowl of crushed-ice water. It’s also a late-night haunt with great drinks and tacos, and is on the route of many Mardi Gras parades.
The Rusty Nail
1100 Constance St.
Another Warehouse District dog-friendly spot, The Rusty Nail has massive outdoor space that can accommodate your dog, plus a vast selection of scotch, live music, a popular happy hour, and trivia nights.
W.I.N.O.
610 Tchoupitoulas St.
This is a cutting-edge, self-service bar with over a hundred wines on tap (the name stands for the Wine Institute of New Orleans), where you can drink by bottle, glass, or choose a flight. Small plates like hummus and cheese plates complement the wine, and, yes, you can bring your dog.
Shops
Chiwawagaga
511 Dumaine St.
Self-described as a “Small Store for Dinky Dogs” Chi-wa-wa Ga-ga targets small pets specifically. The focus is on clothing, accessories and costumes in particular, and there’s a chance that the fanciest costumes the smaller pooches are strutting around in at the Barkus parade came from this store.
Southern Paws
633 Toulouse St.
This should be your pit stop if you’re looking for the New Orleans-inspired toys and treats, and Mardi Gras costumes.
Parks and Activities
The Algiers Point-Canal Street Ferry
Board at the terminal at the foot of Canal St. by the Audubon Aquarium/Insectarium
The Mississippi River cruises don’t allow dogs, but you can still enjoy some time on the river and take in the scenery by riding a no-frills Canal Street commuter ferry, which takes passengers across the Mississippi to Algiers Point. The ferry runs every 15 minutes and will set you back $2. Dogs don’t need to be in a carrier, just on the leash.
Crescent Park
Mandeville St. Wharf
Part of the French Market District, Crescent Park is a 1.4-mile, 20-acre urban park that also features a dog run and bike paths. Just take the Moonwalk eastward till the end, then N. Peter St. until you cross into the Marigny, and take the staircase or the elevator to access the park. The dog run is at the opposite end of the entrance.
Jackson Square
701 Decatur St.
This timeless landmark is located in the heart of the French Quarter. Known since the 18th century as Place d’Armes, it was renamed in honor of Andrew Jackson following the 1815 Battle of New Orleans. Jackson’s bronze statue is the focal point of the square, surrounded by lavish flora and facing the Mississippi River. Jackson Square is also a host to the open-air artist market and performance space, with local art displayed along the fence. You can have your sketch done, dance to a brass band, or have your fortune told. No dogs are allowed inside the gated area, but the outer part is all yours and your dog’s.
Louis Armstrong Park
701 N. Rampart St.
Located just north of the French Quarter, this historic park is a quiet sanctuary when it’s not hosting a festival. Walk the grassy slopes, feed the ducks, watch the birds and the turtles, and enjoy this welcoming green space with your dog.
The Riverfront
Along the Mississippi River in the French Quarter
The almost four-mile stretch along the Mississippi River features public art, scenic views of the boats, excellent people-watching, street performers, and the dog-friendly Woldenberg Park.
Walking Tours
Throughout the French Quarter
Many walking tours (history, ghost, culinary, music, etc.) that cover the French Quarter and the adjacent Marigny and Tremé would allow dogs to tag along, just ask for permission when you book.
Two Annual Events That Are All About Dogs
Krewe of Barkus
Starts and ends in Armstrong Park; rolls in the French Quarter
New Orleans’ only parade dedicated to dogs, this Mardi Gras walking parade features a massive procession of costume-clad dogs accompanied by their human friends. Parade throws include dog treats, themes change every year, and the king and queen are always canine.
NOLA on Tap
Lafreniere Park, Metairie
This is the largest fundraiser for the Louisiana SPCA and the largest beer fest in the area, with more than 400 beer offerings from local and national breweries and homebrewers. Dogs and kids are welcome.
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! We hope you and your dog enjoy your visit!
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Best Kept Secrets for Eating Cheap and Eating Well in the French Quarter
New Orleans is known for its food, and the French Quarter, in particular, has long been home to many of the city’s finest and most high-end eateries. You can experience quintessential New Orleans fare at places like Antoine’s, Brennan’s, Galatoire’s and others, and every trip to the city should include visits to these emporiums of great dining.
But when you just want a quick, inexpensive meal — maybe one with a little local color thrown in — ask the locals and follow the Quarter workers, the service industry folks, the bartenders, and the servers, to places where good eating can be cheap eating.
Some spots are open 24 hours, some deliver. Some are at their best in the middle of the night. For our purposes, “cheap” is defined as breakfast under $20, and lunch or dinner for around $30 per person, more or less.
You won’t find haute cuisine or, for that matter, haute society either, at places like the Quartermaster Deli or Deja Vu. But you will find New Orleans culture out the wazoo, soulful and satisfying sustenance and a few more reasons, as if you needed any, to eat out in the Big Easy.
Bennachin
1212 Royal St.
At the small and cozy Bennachin, you can sample flavorful African dishes with origins from Gambia and Cameroon. The restaurant was also one of the first places in New Orleans to feature vegan items on its menu.
Cafe Maspero
601 Decatur St.
If it’s classic New Orleans fare you are looking for with a price that won’t blow your travel budget, this is the place for you. With a wide variety of seafood platters, crawfish (when in season), muffulettas, and traditional po-boys all tastes are sure to be satisfied. And did we mention its perfect location? Cafe Maspero is right in the middle of all of the French Quarter action, near the river and Jackson Square. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day in an open and friendly atmosphere.
Central Grocery & Deli
923 Decatur St.
A sprawling old-fashioned grocery store on a buzzing block of Decatur Street, Central Grocery is not called “Home of the Original Muffuletta” for nothing. Its founder, a Sicilian immigrant named Salvatore Lupo, is credited for creating the famous sandwich. The store is still lovingly run by the same family, and is packed full of imported Italian delicacies, including the famous olive salad by the jar. Central Grocery is worth a look for that reason alone, but it’s the made-to-order muffulettas that have the visitors and the locals flocking there since 1906. You can eat at one of the few tables in the back, or take your muffuletta to go.
Clover Grill
900 Bourbon St.
The Clover is one of our favorite 24-hour diners in New Orleans (on a side note, there aren’t a ton of 24-hour diners in this city, which is a shame). The food is great, but we really come for the atmosphere, which is a lively mix of drag queens, off-work servers, bartenders, hotel staff, tourists, and musicians all hunkering down for burgers and scrambled eggs at three in the morning. Clover Grill’s motto is “We Love to Fry and it Shows.”
Coop’s Place
1109 Decatur St.
Tourists wander into Coop’s but locals are the mainstay of this raucous bar/restaurant close to the French Market. Loud and lively, it’s the kind of place you’d probably expect to offer a limited menu, maybe fried cheese sticks and out-of-a-freezer-bag of buffalo wings, because it could get away with that. Instead, expect appetizers like the local crab claws and a delicious smoked duck quesadilla, a complex flavor surprise made even better with Coop’s outstanding house-made salsa.
Coop’s takes its food as seriously as its mixology. You’d be hard-pressed to find better fried chicken anywhere in town; served with the creamy, house-made coleslaw, it’s a plate of pure plump-you-up pleasure. Regulars rave about the rabbit and sausage jambalaya, especially when made “Supreme” with the addition of spicy tasso ham and shrimp. Alert: You must be 21 and over to enter only. Also, it could get crazy busy.
Croissant D’Or Patisserie
617 Ursulines St.
Please don’t miss this Parisian-style patisserie, tucked away between Royal and Chartres streets on Ursulines. Steeped in old-world charm, Croissant D’Or some of the best baked goods in the city. The sweet and savory croissants, and everything else you’ll find displayed in the gleaming glass case — the tarts and the tortes and the quiches — is delicious and served fresh daily from the bakery.
Deja Vu Restaurant & 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.
Envie Espresso Bar & Cafe
1241 Decatur St.
We also recommend this airy coffeehouse with comfortable sidewalk seating, popular with the locals. It has a full bar and a big breakfast menu, plus small plates — all of which will go easy on your budget.
Lucky Dog
Various street corners in the French Quarter
The popular hot dogs and iconic weenie-in-bun-shaped carts have been part of the late-night Quarter scene for years; the company website claims over 21 million hot dogs have been sold in the past half-century. Lucky Dog makes a pretty good weenie, perfect for slowing your roll when you’ve had one too many Hurricanes at Pat O’Brien’s. Look for the iconic cart on Bourbon Street and Jackson Square.
Mona Lisa
1212 Royal St.
Right next to Bennachin is another comfy, cozy spot, the Mona Lisa, decked in the namesake’s-centric art floor to ceiling, and serving some of the best (and most inexpensive) pizza in the Quarter.
Quartermaster Deli
1100 Bourbon St.
Also known as the Nellie Deli, this French Quarter institution is open 7 days a week, 24 hours. Space is cramped because so much is packed into a tiny footprint — groceries, liquor, sundries, and the focal point, the old-style deli case crammed with goodness — bowls and bowls of made-in-house sides, veggies and more. Don’t expect to eat there — there are no tables and there’s no room — but you can order at the deli case, or call your order in ahead of time for pickup. There’s free delivery, too. You don’t even have to leave your hotel room!
The Quarter Master cooks serve up breakfast, lunch and dinner, late-night munchies, and even offer two specials a day — which seem almost superfluous considering the comprehensive menu in this teensy space. Among the favorites: homemade mac-and-cheese, 1/2 pound choice burgers, overstuffed po-boys (especially the roast beef and the hot sausage), entrees like barbecue chicken, New Orleans meatloaf, and hamburger steak. Good food, friendly staff, local color, and great prices.
Verti Marte
1201 Royal St.
Verti Marte is open seven days a week from noon till midnight, and delivery is available. Like the Quartermaster Deli a couple of blocks away, it’s strictly a to-go operation, serving a heavily local clientele and offering a mind-bogglingly extensive menu of breakfast specialties, sandwiches and po-boys, entrees, and even desserts.
You’ll see the Quarter workers stopping in for fried shrimp po-boys, BLTs, and roast beef sandwiches. You also can’t go wrong with the other epic specialty sandwiches like the vegetarian Green Giant and the mountainous All That Jazz — with grilled ham, turkey and shrimp, plus two cheeses, grilled veggies, and the special “wow” sauce.
Lagniappe
In New Orleans, “lagniappe” (pronounced lan-yap) means “something extra,” and that’s what we’re giving you. Here are a couple more places to eat for less outside the Quarter (but close): Buffa’s, right outside the Quarter on Esplanade Avenue, and Dat Dog, located on the music club-heavy Frenchmen Street in the Marigny.
Not only Dat Dog’s dogs and sausages are pretty amazing but there’s balcony seating overlooking Frenchmen, and the second floor is filled with decorations culled from the Krewe of Chewbacchus (the city’s science fiction/fantasy-themed Mardi Gras krewe). Buffa’s has live music nightly in its dining room, and the extensive menu is a heady mix of New Orleans staples and all-time classics like burgers and wings.
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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Best Brunch in the French Quarter
Photo courtesy of Muriel’s Jackson Square on Facebook
First named in print in an 1895 newspaper, brunch is thought to have originated with English hunt meals. But although New Orleans didn’t invent brunch, it did invent two things that elevated the mid-morning extravaganza to its highest form: cocktails and jazz. What would brunch be without bloody Marys, mimosas and Irish coffee? And how much less festive would it feel without trumpet flares and piano riffs mingling with the sounds of laughter and clinking champagne flutes?
We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite spots to enjoy brunch, ranging from down-home hearty joints to refined, white-tablecloth versions.
Antoine’s
713 St. Louis St.
The country’s oldest family-run restaurant (since 1840), Antoine’s is a go-to for a lingering jazz brunch on Sunday. This Creole grand dame serves up its signature Oysters Rockefeller, rich omelets, decadent Creole mains, and dessert classics to the sounds of live jazz. This is fine dining at its best.
Arnaud’s
813 Bienville St.
For a Dixieland jazz brunch, Arnaud’s can’t be beat. The three-course prix fixe Sunday brunch menu 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 house-made Creole remoulade. The ambiance is old-world elegant, yet exuberant, and a business casual dress code is observed.
Café Amelie
900 Royal St.
How about an iconic culinary experience in one of the most gorgeous courtyards in the French Quarter (and that’s saying a lot, as the Quarter is full of tropical lushness)? Many items on the weekend menu would pair well with Amelie’s seasonally inspired cocktails, and the locally sourced ingredients speak for themselves, but the signature cochon de lait sandwich will render you speechless. Another beloved signature dish to try is shrimp and grits, served with corn and Andouille maque choux.
Café Conti
830 Conti St.
Looking for lighter fare? This hidden gem specializes in simple but beautifully executed French and Creole-tinged breakfast staples. There’s a parfait bowl brimming with fresh fruit and house-made granola, as toasts with plenty of healthy sides. For something more substantial, grab a loaded grits bowl or a breakfast sandwich. Order at the counter, take a seat in the intimate, chandelier-hung space, and savor the ambiance.
Croissant D’Or Patisserie
617 Ursulines St.
Tucked away between Royal and Chartres streets on Ursulines and steeped in old-world charm, this Parisian-style patisserie has some of the best baked goods in town — and the bar is high in New Orleans. Made daily and served fresh from the bakery, Croissant D’Or’s croissants come plain, sweet and savory, stuffed with things like chocolate and ham and cheese. Everything you’ll find displayed in the gleaming glass case is a must-try, from the quiches and tiramisu to the tarts and the tortes. The sandwiches and the omelets are also delicious. House specials include a bechamel croissant, crepes, and French onion soup. Please note that there’s no alcohol, and the place closes at 3 p.m. on the weekends and 1 p.m. on weekdays.
Muriel’s Jackson Square
801 Chartres St.
If there’s a better place to enjoy brunch than on Muriel’s balcony overlooking Jackson Square on a Saturday or Sunday morning or an early afternoon, we haven’t found it. Sit inside to enjoy a live jazz trio during the Sunday brunch. The menu is extensive and classic Creole elegance. It includes a three-course special if you would prefer not to order a la carte. Also, take note: Muriel’s turtle soup is legendary.
Ruby Slipper
204 Decatur St.
Launched from a lovely Mid-City cottage in 2008, Ruby Slipper has grown into a beloved family-owned chain with nearly 30 locations scattered from New Orleans to Florida, the Carolinas, and so on. It’s easy to see the appeal: local specialties like biscuits and gravy and shrimp and grits meet mainstays like classic buttermilk pancakes and Spanish omelets. And, of course, there are those mimosas and bloody Marys — because as the menu reminds diners, “You can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning.”
Stanley
547 St. Ann St.
Stanley has a lot going for it: The airy, sunny, inviting dining rooms; prime location (it overlooks Jackson Square); a nod to Tennessee Williams in its name; and all-day breakfast that emphasizes regional cooking and local ingredients. Owner and chef Scott Boswell serves classic New Orleans comfort food with an upscale twist. Yet it’s affordable and the portions are very generous. Try the signature Bananas Foster French toast, or Eggs Stanley: cornmeal-crusted oysters, poached eggs, Canadian bacon, and Creole hollandaise on a toasted English muffin. Eggs Benedict get a po-boy treatment by being served on toasted French bread. Or, if you can handle it, get them as part of a breakfast seafood platter, with soft-shell crab, oysters and shrimp. Wash it down with a Mega (double) Bloody Mary or a milkshake punch while you people-watch.
The Court of Two Sisters
613 Royal St.
The historic courtyard at this restaurant is so great they named the restaurant after it, and its Creole menu and the jazz brunch are staples of the local culinary scene. The brunch buffet’s selections change seasonally, but you can count on eggs any style, made-to-order omelets, Eggs Benedict, and turtle soup to be served. Also, take note: Court of Two Sisters made the traditional version of Bananas Foster part of its dinner and jazz brunch menus. The dessert fits right in with the restaurant’s luscious Creole and Cajun cuisine like jambalaya and gumbo, and is served with brandy and banana liquor over French vanilla ice cream.
Toast
1035 Decatur St.
From the owners of Tartine, this is the latest of the three New Orleans locations of a laid-back neighborhood bakery. You can both linger with an omelet sipping a cafe au lait or grab a latte and a pastry to go — either way, expect excellent, French-leaning food. All breads, jams, custards, and curds are made in-house daily. Fittingly, there are three French toast options on the menu, including the king cake version filled with cinnamon cream cheese, with Mardi Gras sprinkles on top. Another standout is Toast’s signature aebleskiver, a puffy Danish-style pancake ball, served with lemon curd, jam, maple syrup, and caramel (or other sauces) for dipping
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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Best Food on Bourbon Street
Photo courtesy of Galatoire’s 33 Bar & Steak on Facebook
The 13-block strip of Bourbon Street is not all neon hustle and gigantic drinks in souvenir cups. It’s actually home to some of the most vibrant restaurants in the city — high and low, round-the-clock, world-famous — and just interesting. Here’s a quick rundown of the best food you could find on this most-visited street in the French Quarter, starting with Upper Bourbon on Canal Street and walking towards Esplanade Avenue.
Red Fish Grill
115 Bourbon Street
Ralph Brennan’s Red Fish Grill has been around for more than 20 years, offering a child-friendly respite in the middle of the Bourbon Street chaos. It’s known for its seafood-heavy menu and good happy hour deals on the drinks and the oysters. Try some of the signature dishes like BBQ oysters and double-chocolate bread pudding.
Bourbon House
144 Bourbon Street
An old-school seafood restaurant run by the Brennan family with a raw oyster bar and Creole fare like blackened Gulf fish and bourbon shrimp and grits. Bourbon House also lives up to its name with a selection of small-batch and single-barrel bourbons.
Galatoire’s
209 Bourbon Street
Galatoire’s should be on everyone’s New Orleans bucket list, and it’s likely to deliver a day-long eating and drinking extravaganza you won’t soon forget. Founded in 1905, the restaurant has become a fine dining institution beloved by the generations of New Orleanians. The decadent classics like crab Maison, duck crepes, foie gras, and turtle soup have been served there for over a century. Jackets required.
Olde Nola Cookery
205 Bourbon Street
Colorful and friendly, this Bourbon Street spot is no tourist trap as its menu is full of reliably local, traditional Cajun and Creole fare like BBQ shrimp, gator tail bites, po-boys, gumbo, seafood platters, and more. A Taste of New Orleans sampler will get you gumbo, crawfish etouffee, and red beans and rice with smoked sausage. Two big advantages the restaurant has are that it’s open till 1 a.m. nightly and has a balcony.
Galatoire’s 33 Bar & Steak
215 Bourbon Street
Galatoire’s added a steakhouse to its family of restaurants in 2013, right next door to the original. Galatoire’s 33 is named after a post marker found inside the historic building during the renovation. It serves the Galatoire’s full menu in its dining room.
Desire Oyster Bar
300 Bourbon Street
The elegant hotel restaurant has a Broadway-style marquis sign, huge windows, a tin ceiling, and black-and-white checkered floors. Besides oysters, the menu emphasizes Gulf seafood and features New Orleans favorites like gumbo, po-boys, biscuits and gravy, shrimp remoulade, and more.
Crescent City Pizza Works
407 Bourbon Street
A late-night pizzeria at Conti Street, with pies that have telling names like the Big Cheesy and Chicken Bacon Krunch. The BBQ pork pizza will chase your hangover away with pulled pork, two types of cheese, and a generous serving of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce. The ever-popular Chizzaburger combines Angus beef, onions, mozzarella, pickles, ketchup, and mustard. The place is open till 2 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays and till 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Pier 424 Seafood Market Restaurant
424 Bourbon Street
A seafood-focused casual eatery with balcony dining and a large oyster bar. Try the sauteed crab claws or bayou frog legs (battered and served with buffalo sauce), or an alligator po-boy. The Taste of New Orleans platter is a local feast of crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice, chicken and Andouille jambalaya, and gumbo with chicken and Andouille (you can pick three out of four, or go for all four).
Le Bayou Restaurant & Oyster Bar
503 Bourbon Street
You might like this place for its high ceilings, marble-topped bar, and balcony seating. Housed in a historic building, Le Bayou serves casual Creole and Cajun staples like oysters, gumbo, Gulf seafood, and all kinds of traditional specialties. Open till 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Cornet
700 Bourbon Street
Cornet, on the corner of St. Peter and Bourbon, serves traditional Cajun and Creole dishes like shrimp Creole, fried gator, po-boys, seafood platters, pasta, and staples like crawfish etouffee. Try the Satchmo sampler, a local trifecta of gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans. Balcony seating is available — a big draw if you want to people-watch. The restaurant was founded by the family who gave Louis Armstrong his first horn, a cornet — hence its name.
Clover Grill
900 Bourbon Street
A retro-classic, 24-hour diner in a city that sorely lacks them, Clover Grill “loves to fry and it shows” (as the menu states). The food is a reliable greasy-spoon fare, but you’ll be coming in at 4 a.m. as much for the scrambled eggs as the vibrant mix of its French Quarter crowd. The restaurant’s interesting existence is reflected in its no-nonsense menu, which is peppered with requests like: “We don’t eat in your bed, so please don’t sleep at our table” and “Dancing in the aisles only, please keep off the tables.”
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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Bourbon Street Bucket List
Bourbon Street tile by Cheryl Gerber
The 13-block of Bourbon Street stretches from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue and is packed with bars, clubs and restaurants. There’s more to the most visited street in the French Quarter than neon signs and brightly colored drinks in gigantic souvenir cups.
Bourbon Street is home to some of the oldest bars and best restaurants in New Orleans. And after the 2019 renovation of the eight blocks of the Upper Bourbon (from Canal St. to Dumaine St.), it is shinier and more walkable than ever. Whether you’re a visitor or a local, here are some suggestions for your bucket list.
Photo courtesy of Bourbon House on Facebook
EATING
Oysters and Other Gulf Seafood
Bourbon Street’s culinary offerings are a mix of high and low, with some local flair thrown in. The two seafood restaurants run by the Brennan family that are located on Bourbon Street would be solid choices for all things Gulf seafood and oysters in particular.
Red Fish Grill on the first block off Canal Street offers good happy hour deals and is child-friendly. Signature dishes include BBQ oysters, alligator sausage and seafood gumbo; and double chocolate bread pudding. Bourbon House (on the same block) has an oyster bar and a large selection of small-batch and single-barrel bourbons.
Want more oysters? The stylish Desire Oyster Bar inside The Royal Sonesta (300 Bourbon Street) has an oyster bar and the classic New Orleans menu of po-boys, gumbo, and fresh seafood from the Gulf.
24/7 Breakfast
For the pub grub and fast food, anything on the breakfast menu plus those famous little square burgers on steamed buns at the fast-food chain Krystal (116 Bourbon Street) would serve you well. The retro diner Clover Grill (900 Bourbon Street) has a huge breakfast menu and only-in-the-Quarter ambiance. Both are open 24/7.
French Quarter Balcony Dining
For balcony dining with a view of the French Quarter, head to Cornet (700 Bourbon Street) or Pier 424 Seafood Market Restaurant (424 Bourbon Street). Both restaurants serve traditional Cajun and Creole fare and have samplers that include gumbo, crawfish etouffee, and other local favorites.
Galatoire’s: Old-World Upscale Creole
If you’re going to try just one restaurant on Bourbon Street, make it Galatoire’s (209 Bourbon Street). This fine-dining institution should be on everyone’s New Orleans bucket list. Since its opening in 1905 generations of New Orleanians have been lining up for the Creole classics like crab Maison, duck crepes, foie gras, and turtle soup. Galatoire’s old-world, decadent ambiance is something to experience.
Tropical Isle by Cheryl Gerber
DRINKING
Absinthe
The Old Absinthe House (240 Bourbon Street) dates to 1807 and has hosted its share of famous patrons, including Oscar Wilde and Franklin Roosevelt. Sidle up to the classic copper bar and have one of the potent signature absinthe cocktails. Enjoy the old-fashioned yet quirky saloon ambiance.
Hurricane and Hand Grenade
Having one of those is pretty much a must if you’re hanging out on Bourbon Street, so do it right by going to the source. Sip your Hurricane in Pat O’Brien’s courtyard (624 Bourbon Street), and make sure your Hand Grenade comes from one of the Tropical Isle locations on Bourbon Street (435, 600, 610, 721, 727 Bourbon Street). The Bourbon & Orleans location has one of the largest balconies with a view of St. Louis Cathedral (you may have seen it on TV because it’s often used for live broadcasts).
One of the Oldest Bars in America
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop (941 Bourbon Street) is a must-stop, period. Housed in a Creole cottage on the corner of Bourbon and St. Philip streets, it was built between 1722 and 1732, making it one of the oldest structures used as a bar in the U.S. Legends swirled for centuries that this location was used by the infamous Lafitte Brothers, Jean and Pierre, as a base for their privateer operation in Barataria. The bar has a unique ambiance and is popular with locals and visitors alike. If you’re feeling brave, try the signature drink called Purple Drank, a frozen daiquiri concoction.
The Jazz Playhouse by Cheryl Gerber
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
Jazz
If you want straight-up jazz, The Jazz Playhouse at 300 Bourbon Street (inside The Royal Sonesta) is a reliable choice. Musical Legends Park (311 Bourbon Street) also hosts live music shows among its life-size bronze statues of local musical legends like Louis Prima, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Fats Domino, and others. While you’re at it, have some beignets and cafe au lait at the outside seating at Cafe Beignet inside the park.
Maison Bourbon (641 Bourbon Street) is an old-school jazz club “dedicated to the preservation of jazz” (the outdoor sign says). Take in the gleaming bar, the brick walls and beamed ceilings. It also has a courtyard and a big balcony.
Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub (733 Bourbon Street) is another great spot for live jazz and Dixieland. It’s been around since 1969, as reflected in the memorabilia and the black-and-white photos lining the walls. Seating is limited because the space is intimate, but there’s more seating outside in the back where you won’t be able to see the action but still hear it pretty well. Fritzel’s has both day and night shows. Day shows seem to be less packed.
The Bourbon Pub & Parade Disco by Cheryl Gerber
LGBTQIA+
Once you walk past St. Ann Street you’ll start seeing the rainbow flags. The LGBTQIA+ section of Bourbon Street has two popular dance clubs across from one another, Oz (800 Bourbon Street) and Bourbon Pub Parade (801 Bourbon Street). Both are open late, with several dance floors, drag shows, DJs, and wraparound balconies for people-watching. The Pub serves as the annual headquarters of Southern Decadence.
Just down the block, Lafitte’s (901 Bourbon Street) is open 24/7 and hosts disco parties and karaoke nights. It’s been around since the 50s, which makes it one of the oldest continuously operating gay bars in the country.
Cat’s Meow by Cheryl Gerber
Karaoke and Riding the Bull
Speaking of karaoke, The World Famous Cat’s Meow (701 Bourbon Street) is the karaoke spot to be if you must indulge and don’t mind the rowdy crowd. The party atmosphere is helped by drink specials. Riding the mechanical bull is another one of the favorite pastimes on Bourbon Street, and you can try your luck at Boot Scootin Rodeo (522 Bourbon Street). Need liquid courage? The signature drink, called Boot, is full of spiked sweet tea.
Psychic Readings
See what the stars have in store for you at Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo (628 Bourbon Street). Psychic and spiritual readings are available daily starting at noon.
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!
