Insiders' Favorites
Our local committee would like to give you the inside information on their favorite places to visit, and where to eat. Unless noted with *, listings are in walking distance (~1 mile) from the hotel.
Categories include (click on the link to navigate to these areas):
>Museums and Art
>Restaurants
>History and Culture
>Wildlife and Parks
>Shopping
>Nightlife
>Getting Around
> Museums and Art
The National WWII Museum
945 Magazine St
One easily can spend an entire day in the D-Day museum, which includes a wing for the war in Europe, a wing for the Pacific Rim, and a giant theatre.
Louisiana Children’s Museum
420 Julia St
Great hands-on fun for children of all ages
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
925 Camp St
Paintings, sculptures, photographs from 18th-21st centuries from southern U.S. states. Thursday evenings, music is provided by southern musicians
Art Galleries – Julia Street. Pretty much the entire street comprises little galleries
*New Orleans Museum of Art
1 Collins Diboll Circle in City Park
Gracing the entrance of City Park, NOMA has an impressive collection of art, and has housed special touring exhibits such as Degas and Monet. The weekend of the SPSSI convention will include African American exhibits from the Tulane Amistad Research Center and Native American exhibits from the Tulane Middle American Research Institute
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> Restaurants
Finding good food in New Orleans is easy, and people often find something to their own liking while wandering the French Quarter, Warehouse District, Fauberg Marigny, and Central Business District (all in walking distance from the hotel). The hotel concierge can help you with directions and reservations. A good on-line guide can be found at www.neworleansrestaurants.com/restaurants.html But here are some of our favorites, and we’ve designated several as vegetarian-friendly:
Business Casual (and reservations recommended)
Tommy’s Cuisine
746 Tchoupitoulas.
(504) 581-1103
Traditional French creole cuisine. The seafood, duck, steak, chicken, eggplant, and pasta all are superb.
Bayona
430 Dauphine
(504) 525-4455
Unique French and Mediterranean cuisine from award-winning chef Susan Spicer. Brilliantly accommodating of vegetarian requests, and to patrons with food allergies (V)
Emeril’s
800 Tchoupitoulas
(504) 528-9393
No introduction needed, except to say, it’s not just hype
Rambla
217 Camp
(504) 587-7720
Rambla serves tapas (little plates) with both French and Spanish flare. Go with someone who likes to share and taste lots of delicious bite-size foods. (V)
*Dante’s Kitchen
(504) 861-3121
If you made the trek to Audubon Zoo or Audubon Park, Dante’s Kitchen is a perfect example of a charming Victorian house-turned-restaurant near the river. Molasses-butter spoon-bread starts the meal.
*Jackimos
8324 Oak Street (504) 861-0886
Another good option if you went to Audubon Zoo, or plan to enjoy music later at The Maple Street Bar next door. Jackimos is actually quite casual, but is always packed with patrons enjoying the creole cuisine. Reservations only taken for parties of five or more.
Casual Dining
Mulate’s
201 Julia Street
(504) 522-1492
Mulate’s serves Cajun food (which contrary to popular belief is NOT native to New Orleans but to the central part of southern Louisiana. The food is good (but not to die for), but they have live Cajun music and dancing in the evenings that is worth the trip. Note they will add an entertainment tax to the bill, so go primarily if you want to see Cajun dancing.
Louisiana Pizza Kitchen
95 French Market Place (at Barracks)
(504) 522-9500
Across from the French Market, don’t let the name fool you into thinking its just another pizza place. The pasta and the calzones are great, and the pizzas are wonderfully varied. (V)
Praline Connection
542 Frenchmen
(504) 943-3934
Authentic creole soul food in the Fauberg Marigny, jambalaya, red beans, greens, and fried okra. Get a praline to go for a late dessert. (V)
Crescent City Brewhouse
527 Decatur
(504) 522-0571
Bavarian style beer is brewed on location, and there is jazz music in the evenings. Good burgers, pastas, and peel-and-eat shrimp.
Café Bamboo
435 Esplanade
(504) 940-5546
Eclectic. Thai, creole soul, Indian etc. (V)
Bennachin
1212 Royal
(504) 522-1230
Central African (V)
*Slim Goodies Diner
3322 Magazine St
(504) 891-3447
Menu
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> Coffee and Sweets
Croissant d’Or
617 Ursuline
(504) 524-4663
Super pastries, coffees, and pastries...less expensive than similar fare nearer to Jackson Square. If you wander to the Ursuline Convent, Beauregard-Keyes House, or French Market, Croissant d’Or is an ideal stop. Near the noon hour, there are soups and sandwiches…but they sell out fast.
La Divina
621 St. Peter Street (behind the Cabildo)
(504) 302-2692
Authentic gelato and sorbetto. Occasionally unusual and uniquely local flavors (Crème brulee; creole strawberry), and served in biodegradable cups made from corn. A stone’s throw from St. Louis Cathedral and Royal Street shopping. (Their main location is on Magazine Street amid quaint specialty and antique shops.)
Café du Monde
1039 Decatur Street
(800) 772-2927
Open 24-7 across from Jackson Square, café au lait and beignets are the quintessential New Orleans treat.
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> History and Culture
Beauregard-Keyes House
1113 Chartres St
For a view of a plantation-style southeast Louisiana home, without the treck to the River Road plantations, this home is worth a visit.
Old Ursuline Convent
1100 Chartres St
Across the street from the Beauregard-Keyes house, the Convent has daily tours. The Ursuline sisters now reside uptown.
Jackson Square
With street performers, artists, and fortune-tellers on its perimeter, Jackson Square is a small park in the heart of the French Quarter. It is flanked by St. Louis Cathedral, the Pontalba Apartment buildings, and the Cabildo, and is the staging area for mule-drawn carriage tours of the Quarter.
The Pontalba Apartments
On Jackson Square, these buildings graced with classic iron grillwork now hold various shops.
St. Louis Cathedral
615 Pere Antoine Alley
On Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter, this recognizable landmark was built in 1720. Entry is free, though visitors are respectful during religious services.
The Cabildo
On Jackson Square, the Cabildo highlights the history of the many peoples of New Orleans over its long history.
Mardi Gras World
1380 Port of New Orleans Place (next to the New Orleans Convention Center)
Want to see how Carnival floats are made, and see some of the signature fiber optic floats up close?
Mississippi River Ferry
Foot of Canal St.
Free to pedestrians, the Ferry crosses the Mississippi River to Algiers Point on the Westbank, and provides a great view of the city and Mississippi River Bridge
*New Orleans African American Museum
1418 Governor Nicholls St
Housed in a beautiful Creole villa near Louis Armstrong Park, the collection includes African and African American beadwork, art, and masks. Call first (504.566.1136) because hours of operation are limited, and the grounds often are in use for weddings and receptions.
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> Wildlife and Parks
Audubon Insectarium
423 Canal St.
This award-winning science center focuses on insects (which includes a lovely Japanese butterfly garden)
Aquarium of the Americas
1 Canal St
At the foot of Canal St, the aquarium includes the usual fish and sharks, along with white alligators, sea rays that float over head, jellyfish, frogs, and sea dragons. Adjacent to an IMAX theatre.
*Audubon Zoo
6500 Magazine St
Arguably one of the five best zoos in the nation, the Audubon Zoo includes white tigers and white alligators, along with the usual array of primates, tropical birds, animals of the South American pampas. Instead of a cab, consider taking the St. Charles Street car ($1.25) through the historic Garden District to Audubon Park, then either take the free zoo shuttle or walk through the park to admire its Spanish-moss bedecked oak trees, gardens, and snowy egrets).
*Audubon Park
6501 St. Charles Avenue
Nestled between Tulane and Loyola Universities on St. Charles Avenue and the Audubon Zoo on Magazine St, Audubon Park boasts century-old Virginia-live oaks, gardens, snowy egrets, and a fine view of uptown New Orleans mansions.
*City Park
1 Palm Drive
This enormous metropolitan park includes moss-covered oaks, ponds, and botanical gardens. The portion of the park surrounding the New Orleans Museum of Art is fully restored and enormous, so wear your walking shoes.
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> Shopping
Royal Street
Upscale shops of art, perfume, collectibles, masks, and the like. On Sundays, the street is closed to vehicular traffic, and street musicians perform near the corners.
The French Market
On North Peters Street near the river, one portion of the French Market comprises fresh produce and Louisiana products (e.g. spices; hot sauces). Venders in the other portion specialize in inexpensive, trinkets, tee-shirts, CDs, and collectibles. If you need 5 inexpensive feather boas for your young nieces, the French Market is the place to go.
Decatur Street and Bourbon Street
Trinkets, collectibles, and tee-shirts.
The Riverwalk
Extending along the river near the Convention Center, this long indoor mall includes numerous small specialty shops as well as recognizable national companies.
Jackson Brewery
Across from Jackson Square, this indoor mall is a good option if it rains. If Hurricanes are to your liking, Pat O’Brien’s upstairs provides a good view of the river
Canal Place
At the foot of Canal Street, this mall includes upscale shops such as Saks Fifth Avenue and a movie theatre specializing in independent films.
*Magazine Street
Shoppers who love antiques and specialty shops will enjoy visiting Magazine St.
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> Nightlife
Check listings in Gambit, the free news and arts weekly, available all over town or on-line at http://bestofneworleans.com. Like any big city, there are areas of New Orleans that shouldn’t be ventured into alone. Use your common sense, and travel with a friend.
Snug Harbor
626 Frenchmen Street
Tipitina French Quarter
233 N. Peters Street
House of Blues
225 Decatur Street
DBA
618 Frenchmen Street
Chat Noir
715 St Charles Avenue
Preservation Hall
726 Saint Peter Street
Harrah’s Casino
228 Poydras Street
*Maple Leaf Bar
8316 Oak Street
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> Getting Around
Riverfront Streetcar
This streetcar extends from the Convention Center (Riverwalk, MardiGras World) to the French Market and the Fauberg Marigny
St. Charles Streetcar
If you want to see the Garden District or Audubon Zoo, this is a charming and inexpensive way to travel.
Taxis
Except on New Year’s Eve and at the peak of Carnival season, cabs are easy to hail in New Orleans. United Cab is one of the largest carriers in the city: (504) 522-9771
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