Best & Cool Bars in Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans French Quarter/CBD

"Not far from one of the streetcar stops isThe Commander’s Palace, an iconic New Orleans landmark that boasts award-winning cuisine. Here you can sample local eats such as turtle soup, crawfish, and fresh fish. The multi-course meal I had here was delicious, although I have to say that the turtle soup was a tad too salty for my liking. The Commander’s Palace does have a business attire / semi-formal dress code, so be sure to plan accordingly!"

"The restaurants on the pricier side are worth visiting for this one-of-a-kind appetizer. And, to reiterate: Commander's Palace's turtle soup is legendary. Go for lunch, order a series of 25-cent martinis (you read that right), and slurp from your glass and a bowl."

"This Mid-City po'boy purveyor has been a favorite for decades, featuring affordable drinks and some of the best po'boys around town. Proudly local and full of characters, the eatery was made extra-famous by a visit from then President Obama, and has been featured on a variety of TV shows. While waiting for your sandwich, peruse the memorabilia and pictures that adorn the walls."

"The Baskin-Robbins of local sandwich makers, this family-run watering hole in Mid-City offers 20 or so flavors of po' boys. “Surf and turf” packs gravy-splashed shrimp and roast beef in a sturdy roll, while “Caprese” is mindful of customers who don’t eat meat. A covered patio in back makes room for everyone, pets included."

"Parkway Bakery & Tavern, a spot to score sandwiches, seafood and desserts in Bayou St. John, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 1,731 Yelp reviews. Head over to 538 Hagan Ave. to see for yourself."

"If you’re anything like me, your Saturday evening will have ended up on Frenchmen Street…which paves the way nicely for another of New Orleans’ best food traditions: having Sunday Brunch the morning after the night before. The queues outside The Ruby Slipper Café had already put me onto the scent that this might be a good brunch place and after a bit of research, my suspicion was confirmed – this relaxed diner-style place was, indeed, award winning. One of the things that cemented my decision to try this café was the description they have about their name:"

"There are around ten locations for the Ruby Slipper Cafe now, with six of them in New Orleans. This is the place to go for a hearty Southern brunch!. Address: 200 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130"

"This place is popular, so much so that there is a wait as soon as it opens - I think it opens at 7 AM."

"Pastry chef James Kubie does beautifully plated and oh so tasty desserts at this Garden District stunner, including a black tea semifreddo, coconut cake with tamarind, cashew, and sesame, and more incredible wonders that compliment chef Mike Stoltzfus' intriguing Southern menu."

"Coquette mixes wine-bar ambience with friendly service and a bit of white linen; the result is a candlelit place where you don’t feel bad getting tipsy. Explore beyond the respectable wine menu, though – there’s... Tapas in Faubourg Marigny & Bywater"

"A falafel plate includes Spanish garlic and tahini sauce, couscous salad, greens, pickled cucumbers, cabbage, red onions, hummus and house-baked bread."

"3524 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 455-2266; www.riccobonospeppermill.com. Sauteed veal Josephine is topped with lump crabmeat and shrimp and served with brabant potatoes. Reservations accepted."

"500 St. Peter St., (504) 522-2999; www.corneroysterhousefrenchquarter.com. Char-broiled oysters are topped with Parmesan and herbs and served with French bread. Reservations accepted."

"A little more than a year old, Wishing Town Bakery Cafe took over the former Morning Call on Severn Avenue, neighbors to the complimentary Sharetea Nola. While also a bakery, Guangzhou-born couple Vivi and Kevin Zheng version of Chinese specialties are some of the best in town. An extensive array of dim sum and cold noodle salads round out a menu of beautiful cakes and pastries, perfect for a celebration."

"The quintessential museum of Louisiana, the permanent collection includes nearly 40,000 world-class works of regional, national and international art, such as Picasso, Braque, Dufy and Miró, and drawings by Degas, who worked just blocks from the museum when he visited maternal relatives in the early 1870s. Lectures, book clubs, film presentations, art classes and musical performances are all presented with aplomb – and you can even take yoga classes in the sublimely beautiful Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, where works of the 20th century's master sculptors reside in a sub-tropical sanctuary. 1 Collins C Diboll Circle, noma.org."

"New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, (504) 482-1264; www.cafenoma.com. An Americana grain bowl includes chicken breast over wild rice, sweet potatoes, cranberries and baby spinach with warm bacon vinaigrette."

"The Bearcat Cafe in Uptown lets you decide by indicating healthy or less healthy items on the menu. This modern sit-down cafe offers an array of fresh breakfast and lunch options. There are also selections of coffees from Equator Coffee Co, a wide variety of loose-leaf teas, and house-made bottled beverages."

"Named after a chess piece, you know it’s going to be nerdy!. ” Lynsay Fabio Mills pointed out. And that’s part the Freret Street shop’s charm."