Where is the best area to stay in New Orleans?
By Sara Cauvin. March 05, 2022
New Orleans is a bustling city on the Mississippi River in Louisiana, famous for its party atmosphere, live music, vibrant culture, and Creole and Cajun cuisine. It is home of the famous Mardi Gras celebration with its huge parades that last for two weeks and culminate on Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent. The Jazz Fest is another great reason to visit this lively city, as well as its many music festivals and live performances. New Orleans also has a fabulous food scene with some of the best restaurants to try Oysters Rockefeller, shrimp gumbo, jambalaya, po-boys or its Monday tradition of red beans and rice.
The best area to stay in New Orleans is the French Quarter with its lively atmosphere and many attractions. Considered a national landmark, it’s the heart of the city and where it’s happening when the party gets started, particularly on its nocturnal Bourbon Street that stretches thirteen blocks of bars and clubs. Sitting right on the waterfront, this area is thriving with live music, excellent restaurants and festivals year round to keep you busy. The French Quarter is simply charming with its characteristic Spanish architecture (the French architecture suffered in two major fires and was rebuilt by the Spanish), its bright Caribbean colors, and its many typical balconies and galleries.On the map, which shows the most convenient area to stay in New Orleans, you can see a selection of some of the best located hotels.
If you are interested in where to stay in New Orleans, you may also be interested in where to stay in Miami, where to stay in Houston, where to stay in Atlanta and where to stay in Nashville.
French Quarter, the best area to stay in New Orleans
The French Quarter is the best place to stay in New Orleans for its nightlife and entertainment, with its raucous Bourbon Street pulsating with energy. With its lively festivals, parties and music events, there’s always something to do or see in this area. Don’t be surprised if you find jazz bands parading down the street, local artists selling their wares and street performers waiting to entertain you.
There are plenty of things to do and see in the French Quarter. If you’re interested in museums, visit the Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes and Culture where you can have a tour and even dress up in some of the spectacular costumes. The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum is a great place to learn about the legends and mysteries of voodoo of which NOLA is so famous for. They also give haunted cemetery tours.
Be sure to try a few of the great restaurants and bars that serve up typical NOLA foods. For French Creole cuisine, stop in for a bite at the historic Brousssards, a restaurant that has been around for over 100 years. For fine dining, book a reservation at GW Fins and enjoy delicious lobster dumpling appetizers while waiting for your meal. For cheaper deli food and great sandwiches, try Alberto’s Cheese and Wine Bistro for a delicious Caprese or turkey sub sandwich.
Other areas to stay in New Orleans
CBD/Downtown
The Central Business District (CBD) and Downtown area of New Orleans lies just south of the French Quarter and borders the Mississippi River. It’s the best place to stay for its large selection of accommodations and for its proximity to the French Quarter. In this area you will find the Hyatt, Hilton, Marriot and Windsor hotels, as well as some boutique hotels. You can also treat yourself to some upscale shopping in the South Market District. Here you will find high-end boutiques for anything from fashion to beauty products.
Amongst its high rises, the Downtown area offers a number of great options for dining that will meet any budget. There are a number of upscale restaurants, such as NOLA Caye, Restaurant R’evolution, and August for a special treat. Chophouse New Orleans is a popular steakhouse. For cheaper eats, try the Daisy Dukes Express where they serve up some of the best burgers and hearty breakfast plates, along with the Cajun and Creole cuisine.
For entertainment, the Orpheum is an historic world-class theater for performing arts. The Saenger Theater happens to be on the National Register of Historic Places and holds Broadway shows, comedians, concerts and more. If you’re traveling with children, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas might be of interest.
Arts/Warehouse District
The Arts/Warehouse District is located in the south of the Central Business District. It’s the best place for visiting museums and galleries, as its full of art culture. For large art museums, be sure to visit the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, which has the largest collection of Southern art in the world. There are plenty of smaller galleries to choose from as well. The Callan Contemporary Gallery, George Schmidt Gallery, and Gallery ESTELLA all have excellent reviews. For those war history enthusiasts, don’t miss the National WWII Museum with its many artifacts, photographs and educational films. There’s also a Confederate Memorial Hall Museum with the largest collection of Confederate memorabilia.
Take a walk down Fulton Street with its busy pedestrian mall and square. It’s also a great destination for its outdoor entertainment space that hosts parties, concerts and other events.
The Arts District serves up some delicious cuisine when you’re tired from visiting the many galleries. For high-end dining, try Restaurant Rebirth along the port for Cajun and Creole dishes, as well as seafood. For a quick, healthy bite to eat, try the Daily Beet, a cafe that offers vegetarian and gluten-free options, smoothies and grain bowls.
Hotels in the Arts/Warehouse District
Canal Street
Canal Street is a long, wide road that is right in the heart of downtown and runs about one block away from the upriver edge of the French Quarter. It is one of the most famous streets in New Orleans because of its history and is one of the main locations for parades to travel through. This is an ideal area to stay if you are visiting New Orleans to experience the Mardi Gras Parades! There are many major department stores to browse, great hotels to stay in, and numerous Cajun restaurants covering Canal Street.
If you ever get lost, Canal Street can be used as a focal point to get back to your destination, as this street divides the northern from the southern designations in the city. You can find the starting point of Bourbon Street on Canal along with many other popular site-seeing locations parallel to Bourbon Street. Another great thing about Canal Street is that it is known for having some of the oldest theaters in the country, and you can find many of these theaters hosting famous shows and performers any day of the week.
Faubourg Marigny
The Faubourg Marigny is a popular neighborhood known for its charming creole cottages and live oak trees that line the streets. It is a trendy area where you will find great music clubs, hip shops, and lively bars. The “Marigny” (as locals call it) is also known for being the starting place for the famous Krewe du Vieux to begin marching during the Mardi Gras parade. Though the French Quarter is about 6 minutes away, if you are looking for a quaint bed-and-breakfast experience or local art galleries, the Faubourg Marigny is the best area to stay.
The long-time residents and bohemian vibes will give you a hometown feel as you explore New Orleans. It mixes bright, colorful homes with unique, vibrant New Orleans art. If you are coming to see a specific local artist or to hear local musicians, find a place to stay on Faubourg Marigny!
Garden District
The Garden District is a crowd favorite. Visitors from all overcome to New Orleans eager to see the Garden District and in popular opinion, your trip is not complete without it! This is an area within Uptown known for its lively and dazzling mansions as well as petite cottages. Whether you are traveling alone or with family, this iconic area for anyone to stay. The famous Stein’s Deli is in this area where you can enjoy a legendary po’boy sandwich, made to perfection. Or if you would like to experience a chic contemporary style hotel then the Henry Howard Hotel, which is located on the east side of the Garden District, is a classic choice as well.
This neighborhood will truly make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time from walking through the oak tree-lined street to learning about the neighborhood’s fascinating history.
Central City
The word “central” in Central City describes this neighborhood perfectly in New Orleans. It entails a map of several popular areas, such as the Central Business District and the Garden District. This area includes the famous O.C. Haley Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and is about 10 minutes west of the Superdome. If you would like to experience even more of what this vibrant city has to offer outside of the Mardi Gras festivities, it is a great place to stay. In November, Central City holds a festival highlighting the cultural district centered around O.C. Haley Boulevard with live music, arts and crafts, and amazing cooking demonstrations.
You will also find the Southern Food Museum, Elms Mansion, and Magazine Street located in Central City. Though there are countless restaurants, shops, and bars all around Central City, if you would like to stay close to the French Quarter in this area, make sure to book a hotel in the Central Business District, which is 2 blocks away from the French Quarter.
Treme
Experience some of the most significant culture and history of New Orleans in the Treme area. This part of the city has numerous museums, theaters, outdoor parks, and historical churches. If you come to New Orleans to feel the authentic jazz and blues music, Treme (pronounced “Trim-Aye”) is the perfect place to stay. As one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, you will have various educational touring options within walking distance to explore such as the Backstreet Cultural Museum, the St. Augustine Catholic Church and the Treme’s Petit Jazz Museum.
This area is also popular for having many free tours on foot. There is a daily tour of St. Louis Cemetery, which runs every 15 minutes as well as the Jazz, Rock, Roll and Bounce music. Between the cultural exhibits, jazz music, and smooth walk-in-and-out museums, Treme is a must-see area when visiting New Orleans.
Mid-City
Mid-City is a residential area, just north of Jackson Square. It offers an urban feel with lots of bars, coffee shops, restaurants, and parks. In the City Park of this New Orleans neighborhood, you can rent a paddleboat or a bike for easy transportation. There are many neighborhoods made up of charming bungalows with this urban suburban mix of young professionals and generational households dating back to the 1800s.
Since Mid-City is generally made of locals, and fewer tourist destinations than other parts of the city, many visitors do not tend to stay in this area as compared to other areas in the city. But it has a great local flavor to it if you looking to experience New Orleans as a local rather than a tourist. You will find some of the best restaurants for crawfish and interesting enough, many popular Italian bakeries as the Sicilian influence is still abundant in the neighborhood’s food scene today.
Our recommended hotels in New Orleans
Use the interactive map to navigate through our recommended hotels in New OrleansNote: Hotel prices can change daily due to promotions, seasons, and demand. Our $ - $$$$ scale shows the overall cost range rather than exact prices.
