Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Arabi

"The turquoise and white awning is the first sign of good taste at this flagship of the Brennan family, housed in a gorgeous Victorian mansion in the Garden District since 1880. Sporting a decor that combines whimsy with elegance, Commanders is a dressy spot, no shorts or t-shirts and jackets are preferred - but not required - for gents at dinner. The kitchen, where Emeril Lagasse and Paul Prudhomme started and chef Meg Bickford now presides, delivers Haute Creole specialties including oysters with absinthe and skillet seared gulf fish."

"Visitors to New Orleans in search of haute Creole cuisine will find their nirvana at Commander’s Place in the Garden District. This 1893 landmark restaurant has garnered significant recognition and won innumerable culinary awards, including six James Beard Foundation Awards. They pride themselves in sourcing local ingredients and, in fact, 90% of their ingredients come from within 100 miles of the restaurant."

"Garden District Not all classic New Orleans restaurants live in the French Quarter. Uptown in the Garden District, right across from Lafayette Cemetery No.1, is the famous Commander’s Palace. You might recognize the former head chef’s name: Emeril Lagasse, who helmed the Palace’s kitchen in the '80s, long before “Bam!"

"If you’re up for waking up early, Jackson Square, featuring the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral in the background, is about as Instagrammable as you can get. This area gets crowded later in the day though, so if you want the perfect shot with no people in it, you have to go early. Either way though, it’s a fantastic shot for your ‘gram."

"Jackson Square is the main square in the heart of the French Quarter, originally known as Place d'Armes. In the center of the square, surrounded by trees and greenery, is an equestrian statue (1856) of General Andrew Jackson. Standing prominently at one end of the square is the landmark St. Louis Cathedral, with its white façade and cone shaped spires."

"To explore one of New Orleans' most famous historic locations, visit Jackson Square at Experience New Orleans. See street performers and live music in the heart of the French Quarter!"

"Civil War Museum and Ogden Museum of Southern Art|© Richard Cummins / Alamy Stock Photo. Sitting adjacent to the National WWII Museum and the Contemporary Arts Center, this Smithsonian-affiliated museum celebrates the culture of Southern artists through folk art, painting, photography, sculpture and handcrafted heritage, as well as contemporary works from Southern artists and designers. With works dating back to 1733, there’s a permanent collection of more than 4,000 pieces from 15 states, making it the most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world."

"Mid-CityThe art museum that bears the name of the city is a grand one indeed (dating back to 1911), and its permanent collection of over 40,000 objects is definitely worth your time and money. Exhibitions range from classical to contemporary art, from traditional to avant garde, with of course an emphasis on local artists. If you’re a starving artist (and one who happens to be a Louisiana resident), you’ll be happy to know that you can visit NOMA for free every Wednesday."

"With works by Picasso, Renoir, Matisse, Monet, and Georgia O'Keeffe, NOMA is an oasis of fine art that can be appreciated by both parents and children alike. Kids will love story time, child-focused art workshops, and art classes."

"Drinking strong cocktails or a bottle of wine in the outdoor courtyard at Bacchanal is simply one of the best ways to spend a Sunday afternoon with your baby. But really anytime is fine to visit this Bywater classic on Poland Street just a stone's throw from the river. Pick up a bottle of wine at the shop out front and head outside where you can order an inspired cheese plate or just about anything from the kitchen's inventive menu (love the whole grilled fish with tomatillo salsa)."

"Bacchanal is the mecca of outdoor restaurants: a winery, a restaurant, and a live music venue, all in one. The focus of the cuisine is heavily situated around “Mediterranean minimalism” that compliments the diverse variety of wines offered by the bottle and the glass. Bacchanal dedicates wine options to smaller region producers, supporting the smaller and up-and-coming."

"Opened in 2015, this operation closed briefly in 2018 and reopened after being purchased by the Las Vegas-based HS Beverage. This Tchoupitoulas operation sources sweet potatoes from Avoyelles Parish for vodka, Louisiana molasses for rum, cold brew coffee from French Truck Coffee for the liqueur, and cayenne peppers grown in NOCCA’s Press Street Gardens. This is also the only local distillery that uses sweet potato as a grain source for vodka."

"The Crescent City’s eponymous distillery offers handcrafted spirits including vodka, bourbon, rum, gin and whiskey. The award-winning, silky-smooth Hierarchy Vodka is made in a mild style with an aroma of cereal with milk and a clean taste of fruit pastry, custard and minerals. Other spirits include NOLA Vodka and Pepper Vodka, Louisiana Tradition Whiskey, Louisiana Tradition Rye Whiskey and a special edition Mardi Gras NOLA Vodka."

"NOLA Distillery is the place to go for some of the best alcoholic beverages you can find in New Orleans. Featuring wonderfully handcrafted alcoholic spirits such as vodka, bourbon, rum, gin, whiskey and tequila; this distillery offers informative and tasteful tours, letting you learn about the process that goes behind the creation of your favourite drinks. Tasting opportunities are offered here as well."

"Saturn Bar's month to month Mod Dance Party offers visitors with enough 60's swagger to wind the night away. DJ Matty also DJ Kristen loan realness to the gathering's notch by adhering to a soundtrack involved exclusively of vinyl records from the period. Wearing Twiggy eye cosmetics, bouffants, cigarette pants, and realistic small scale dresses, the group accept the presence of the Mad Men fan tradition gone brilliantly astray."

"ClaudeWhat could possibly be the exact opposite of a place like Foundation Room?. Yup, Saturn Bar it is. Calling it a “dive bar” wouldn’t be adequate or accurate; this joint is a NOLA institution."

"A well-preserved townhouse, complete with a courtyard, provides rare public access beyond the storefronts to the interior of the Pontalba Buildings, designed for the wealthy Baroness de Pontalba, who had them built in 1849, when New Orleans was one of the largest cities in the US, riding on the wealth of its booming port. These buildings were the height of fashion among the prosperous middle class, particularly for the decorative iron balconies of the apartments, admired as much today as they were in antebellum times, when they considerably spurred the craze for ironwork. Run by the Louisiana State Museum, the three-story residence presents a demonstration of a well-to-do family's life in the 1850s, during the most prosperous period in Southern history."

"One of five Louisiana State Museum properties open to the public in the French Quarter, 1850 House offers a glimpse of upper-middle-class life in antebellum New Orleans – the most prosperous period in the city’s history. A must visit for history buffs, it displays antique art and decor true to the era, with our favorite space being the formal sitting room with neoclassical bookcases, rococo revival-style furniture and a neogothic clock on the mantel."

"Experience the lifestyle of mid-19th century prosperity and daily life in New Orleans. The 1850 House offers a glimpse of upper-middle-class life in pre-Civil War New Orleans, one of the most prosperous periods in its history."

"746 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 581-1103; www.tommyscuisine.com. Gulf fish Capri is served with local blue crabmeat, crawfish tails, artichokes and lemon-caper beurre blanc. Reservations recommended."

"Italian traditions merge with refined French Creole cooking at Tommy’s Cuisine in the Warehouse District. The cozy space includes a wine bar with live music as well as a dining roo..."

"Rock-n-Sake’s raucous interior energizes with loud music and and lots of colored panel-covered lights. There’s nothing minimalist about it, least of all the menu. In addition to precision-perfect classic sushi staples, the restaurant serves sushi deviled eggs (truffle and spicy sesame deviled eggs with topped with tuna tartar and black tobiko), tuna nachos, and creative special rolls like the salmon zest roll, zingy with ponzu and lemon zest."

"823 Fulton St., (504) 581-7253; 2913 Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 267-9761; www.rocknsake.com. Pork belly lettuce wraps include Granny Smith apple, carrots and hoisin-cilantro glaze."

"I ate at this place maybe a month ago with two of my girlfriends and had the best time!. So of course for my birthday I wanted to get my family and friend..."

"The place, in a former K & B drug store, is pretty in a 1990s sort of way with design wows like bright, multi-colored, Chihuly-esque blown glass chandeliers and bi-level white tablecloth dining (the top level is reserved for private parties). The sushi menu melds traditional Japanese dishes and New Orleans ingredients (see jazz roll, Uptown roll, and New Orleans roll on the menu) along with bento box lunch specials and a full bar including an extensive sake list and specialty cocktails. Happy hour happens daily from 3 p.m."

"Clearview Parkway, Suite A, Harahan, (504) 733-8879; Independence Mall, 4201 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite A4, Metairie, (504) 779-7253; www.sakecafela.com. A Clearview Roll features snow crab, avocado, crawfish, cream cheese, tempura-fried shrimp, smelt roe and eel sauce. Reservations accepted."

"A good meal was ruined by four obnoxious children running and stomping across the upper level and around the entire restaurant while two mothers sat drin..."

"3325 St. Claude Ave., (504) 459-4571; www.pollysbywatercafe.com. Corned beef hash is topped with two eggs and served with a biscuit."

"T & T Seafood, a Cajun/Creole and Chinese spot that offers seafood and more in St. Thomas, is another much-loved, budget-friendly go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 15 Yelp reviews. Head over to 548 Jackson Ave. to see for yourself. Yelper C.S D., who reviewed T & T Seafood on April 8, wrote, "I only tried the crawfish but they were delicious! It was definitely a hole in the wall joint, which is proving to be where the good food is."

"Esplanade Ave., Metairie, (504) 888-5533; www.mredsrestaurants.com/austins. Filet Austin features two 4-ounce beef medallions, caramelized onions, grilled asparagus and creamed spinach. Reservations recommended."

"1513 Saint Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130-4445Italian, American, PizzaLunch, Dinner, DrinksDelivery, Takeout, Seating, Street Parking, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Table Service, Reservations, Free Wifi[email protected]+1 504-525-7437http://www.slicepizzeria.com/st-charles/"

"1513 St. Charles Ave., (504) 525-7437; www.slicepizzeria.com. A Wicked Garden pie is a white pizza topped with sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions and roasted garlic."