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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Sara Cauvin
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