The French Quarter of New Orlean’s is the oldest neighbourhood in the entire city, and with over three hundred years of rich history tucked away in its walls, there’s no shortage of places to go and things to see.
If you’re looking for things to do in New Orleans French Quarter then watch on. In this video, we’re going to highlight some of our favorite locales and recommend a few places to grab a bite to eat served with that real Louisiana magic.
Cafe Du Monde
If you’re in the mood to eat at a famous tourist destination but don’t wan’t any frills, then the Cafe Du Monde might be right for you. Originally a coffee stand in 1862, the Cafe Du Monde is now a family-owned establishment specializing in beignets and coffee. While on the surface, some would call its offering minimal, we think its options speak for themselves.
Hubert Fernandez bought the stand in May 1942, and closed his wine cellar to focus completely on improving and modernizing the Cafe Du Monde, updating it over the years to add more items to the menu, such as the addition of iced coffee and soft drinks in 1988.
Renowned for its atmospheric open air seating and charmingly simple menu, the spot has made enough of an impression to be featured in songs such as Jimmy Buffett’s “The Wino and I Know” and in movies such as 2013’s “Now You See Me” and Jon Favreau’s comedy-drama “Chef”.
Perfect as a start to your day, Cafe du Monde can be squeezed into any itinerary with ease.
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
Now that you’ve had a nice lunch, how about an adventure to make use of all that coffee enhanced energy?
Operating for just over thirty years, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas can be found along the Mississippi River banks by Woldenberg Park.
Featuring exhibits based on the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean reef, and the Amazon, this destination will make for an incredible way to spend a fun, frenzied afternoon or a slow, methodical evening as you can spend up to three hours with catfish, stingrays, and even a tall tank of sharks. And yes, before you ask, they have an alligator too. Now you can entertain all your Louisiana stereotypes in peace.
In conjunction with the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program, many of the turtles are being prepared to be released back into the wild, so you can go wish them luck on their journey! Perfect for families, or just by yourself, you can never go wrong with an aquarium,
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The Presbytère
Alright so – you’ve done food, you’ve done entertainment, now it’s time to experience the history of the French Quarter.
The Presbytère was financed by Don Andres, a Spanish philanthropist and nobleman, and designed by Gilberto Guillemard in 1791. The building serves as a prime example of the French Quarter textured history, highlighting it’s time as both a hub for it’s Spanish and French colonists.
Finished in 1813, it was originally called the Casa Curial, which translates as Ecclesiastical House, named for the fact it was built on what was land formerly used as the residence of presbytery and Capuchin monks.
Serving as a courthouse until 1911, it now acts as a museum housing Mardi Gras memorabilia and artifacts as well as exhibits about the effects hurricane Katrina, an disastor close to the hearts of the citizens of New Orleans. It’s Mardi Gras connections trace back to emergence of New Orlean’s parades and balls in the 19th century. Make sure to stop by the gift shop for some Mardi Gras souvenirs and interact with the interactive exhibits for the full experience!
Coop’s Place
After taking in all that history, you’ll probably be hungry again. Founded in 1982, Coop’s Place has become the go-to place for great food and a cozy vibe.
With a menu specializing in cajun and creole, you’ve got hefty meals to down before you hit their pool tables for a few games. Big TVs also hang to keep the crowds entertained, all culminating in a place with a verifiable buzz.
Coop’s can meet your barbecue needs as well as supply you with their signature Creole Bloody Marys and Mint Juleps. All in all Coop’s has a tangible “homely feel” you won’t want to miss.
Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo
How about a very different flavor of the French Quarter’s history? Marie Catherine Laveau was a herbalist and midwife from New Orleans, who’s more well known for her connections to voodoo.
After her husband Jacques Paris died in 1820, the year after they married, Marie lived with French noblemen Christophe Dominick Duminy de Glapion until he too passed in 1855.
Marie was a practitioner of voodoo, who quickly became the queen of voodoo in the New Orleans area. People came from all around to ask her about financial issues, health problems, and family advice. Marie’s influence was so large that she went on to be portrayed by Angela Bassett in American Horror Story Coven and Apocalypse and in Neil Gaiman’s American Gods.
Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo is part museum, part shop, and part shrine. Opening in 1988, it offers spiritual readings and religious ceremonies every day. Surrounded by talismans and tribal masks, you’re sure to feel the palpable nature of this part of the French Quarter’s past.
A Ghost Tour
Let’s keep the creeps going! Perfect for any season, but especially Halloween, the French Quarter offers ghost tours aplenty. Spend an hour or two being guided through New Orlean’s more ghoulish locations and get immersed in a cavalcade of spooky sights.
Night tours of cursed spots such as May Bailey’s Brothel and Lalaurie Mansion are sure-fire ways to create unforgettable nights.
In a city like New Orleans, the dead outnumber the living and that reality isn’t felt more than when taking a cemetery tour. What better way to learn about the history of New Orleans than from outside a tomb? Lessons in burial customs, the yellow fever epidemic, and second-line parades provide the soundtrack to your ghastly trip through the Firemen’s Cemetery and beyond.
Ideal for any romantic couple where you intended to comfort your partner but you yourself catch that cat slink by in the cover of darkness and realise it’s your turn to be held.
Bourbon Street
I don’t know about you, but all that eerie imagery sure made me feel like a pick me up. That conveniently leads us to our next stop, Bourbon Street.
Are you looking for a party? Well. you’ve come to the right place! From the Red Fish Grill to the Desire Oyster Bar, whichever way you look, there’s plenty of authentic food to chow down on. But we can’t forget the plethora of bars on offer as well.
If you’re in the mood for an enthralling bar crawl, Bourbon Street supplies a myriad of options. Starting at The Carousel Bar and Lounge on 214 Royal Street, which is a rotating Merry-Go-Round, your booze-filled journey can lead you happily to 227 Bourbon Street’s Beach on Bourbon for a routine dance party pit stop, and from there you can head on over to 516 Bourbon Street at The Swamp, where you can spend your night in the company of a mechanical bull-gator known affectionately as “Swamp-Thang”.
On top of everything else Bourbon Street also contains heart-pumping live music, sure to get you into the spirit. French Quarter’s music scene is like no other, and you’ll do your trip a disservice if you don’t allow yourself to stay for just one more song. Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub should be your definitive last stop on your wild night. A Bourbon Street mainstay since 1969, music starts at 9pm and always features local and international talent on the ballot. Jazz is as tied to Louisiana’s identity as the good food, so you can’t indulge in one without the other. That would just be rude.
Let yourself be enveloped in an iconic nightlife extravaganza that we guarantee you’ll never forget.
Moonwalk
So you’ve done it all. The culture, the cuisine, the wild night. If you’ve got the time to kill before your trip home, and, assuming your hangover is bearable, why not end your time on a quaint little walk?
Moonwalk, named after former mayor Maurice “Moon” Landrieu, is a riverside stroll by the Mississippi, often full of families picnicking and street performers performing. It’s, in our opinion, the perfect lowkey conclusion to a fun-filled trip.
While you’re taking the scenic route by North America’s largest river, don’t forget to take advantage of the sight and take a photo or two to try and capture the moment. Just make sure you delete that photo you took of the phantom that haunted that graveyard otherwise it’ll hurt the tone a bit.
New Orleans has a long and storied history, and it’s past is still prevalent today in the wide variety of places and experiences one can partake in. With so many options, we think any of these choices make for a great use of your time.
So, what do you think? Do you agree with our picks? Are there other places you think definitely deserved a slot on our list? Give us your recommendations in the comments below!
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