Historic Sites in Arabi

"If you’re down in the CBD or headed toward the French Quarter, one small church lies hidden on Rampart Street. Peering through the doors, you see a rather simple sanctuary and some of the homeless asleep on the pews. The real beauty is to either side of the altar: the shrines to St. Jude and Our Lady of Guadalupe."

"Tours run twice every evening (5pm and 8pm) and include visits to the Lalaurie Mansion (where American Horror Story Coven was filmed), LaFitte’s Blacksmith Shop, and more. Our guide had plenty of creepy tales to share and clearly believed a lot of the ghost stories herself, which made it all the more fun. Our tour group was a little on the larger side, but otherwise, the experience was entertaining."

"Wander down to Governor Nicholls Street to see Lalaurie Mansion, once the home of actor Nicholas Cage, and one of the homes used for American Horror Story Coven. There are also other fancy homes like the New Orleans home of Angelina Jolie down this beautiful street."

"The Beauregard-Keyes House is significant and worth a tour for its Greek Revival architecture, lovely quaint garden, and for once having been the residence of Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, a New Orleans native who ordered the first shots of the Civil War and remained a hero in the South long after the war was lost. Ursuline nuns used the property from the early 1700s until the 1820s when the new house was designed to combine elements of a Creole cottage with Greek Revival features, including a Palladian facade, curved twin staircases, Tuscan portico, and generous dining room. In 1945, author Frances Parkinson Keyes was looking for a place to write and live in New Orleans."

"With a variety of crispy toasts for you to try (avocado’s our favorite), savory grain bowls, salads, cold-pressed juices, and smoothies, The Daily Beet’s tasty, fresh vegetarian creations can be found downtown on Girod or in a brightly lit stall in St. Roch Market. The only thing that’s more pleasing than the delish food is the collection of bright and beautiful photos on The Daily Beet’s Instagram. Stay in the neighborhood a while and try out another incredible restaurant for dinner."

"1000 Girod St., (504) 605-4413; St. Roch Market, 2381 St. Claude Ave.; www.thedailybeetnola.com. An Acai breakfast bowl includes acai, fruit, almond milk, granola, coconut flakes, goji berries and honey."

"At Bearcat Café Uptown, your mood determines just how healthy your meal will be. Are you a “good cat” or a “bad cat” today?. The former enjoys vegan tofu scrambles or house-made yogurt while the latter indulges in gluten-free chai pancakes smothered in candied pecans and folded in with pumpkin cream cheese."

"Bearcat is a nice, beautiful space: From the outside, it looks really modern, and inside there’s a lot of windows, so it’s bright and open, and you feel good. The restaurant attracts mostly a college-age crowd, and older—not a lot of kids. It’s got table service, and they do brunch every day."

"This sleek and minimalist daytime cafe is a light and airy space for delicious, plant-based comfort foods. They make favourites ranging from pancakes and biscuits to fruit bowls and eggs with sweet potato hash. The artisan coffees are a must too."

"500 9th St., Gretna, (504) 500-0997; www.bananablossom504.com. Larb gai is a salad with ground chicken, onion, cilantro, mint and toasted rice-lime dressing. Reservations accepted."

"A French Quarter landmark, Café Maspero opened its doors in 1971 and has been slinging Southern favorites ever since. The best way to enjoy a New Orleans classic dish is at a classic New Orleans restaurant. Who knew the simple combination of rice, Gulf shrimp, smoked sausage, chicken, and vegetables could be so tasty?"

"Cafe Maspero can be a bit of a tourist haven, but for good reason. The food is reliable and affordable, and there's something on the menu for a variety of palates, including both those that love Creole food and those that prefer something less exotic."

"A muffuletta features ham, salami, pastrami, melted Swiss cheese and olive salad on a seeded bun and is served with french fries. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily."

"Next on our list of the absolute best lunch spots in New Orleans: Pythian Market is more than just a food hall in downtown New Orleans. In the market, you’ll not only find local food, but also a craft bar and curated retail vendors. Pythian Market is a gathering place for food, community, and commemoration of New Orleans culture."

"This instantly recognizable food truck celebrates the simple deliciousness of butter, cheese, and fresh bread with grilled cheese treats that venture beyond classic. Try the spicy pimento or saucy craw-daddy, with a side of fried macaroni and cheese balls. Craving more cheap eats in New Orleans of the food truck variety?"

"Pythian Market, 234 Loyola Ave., (504) 481-9599; www.pythianmarket.com. A Nashville hot chicken sandwich features a fried chicken breast dunked in Nashville-style hot sauce on a toasted sesame bun with house-made pickles."

"Located inside the historic Roosevelt Hotel in downtown New Orleans, the Waldorf Astoria Spa is an oasis of uninterrupted tranquility. This luxury spa offers a full range of services, from facials, full-body massages and couples’ massages, to manicures and complete spa day experiences. If you want to go all out and make it a whole day to yourself (as you should), have a meal at Domenica afterwards (reservations recommended), and then mozy on over to the Sazerac, the hotel bar for a drink of your choice."

"One of the newest entries to the New Orleans spa scene is also one of the city’s most opulent. The award-winning Waldorf Astoria Spa, in the refined Roosevelt Hotel, offers 10 private treatment rooms and unparalleled personalized pampering. Custom therapies, combining local ingredients and contemporary techniques, are crafted to clients’ specific needs."

"Waldorf Astoria Spa New Orleans is a swank day spa in the Roosevelt Hotel on the edge of the CBD. Expect high-end treatments with an emphasis on European product lines. Local ingredients are also featured, like the official state fruit of Louisiana, the strawberry."