Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in French Quarter

"While you’re in the Garden District or shopping on Magazine Street, you have to stop by Commander’s Palace. The place has been around since 1880, and it’s one of the most famous restaurants in New Orleans for a reason. Their famous teal and white striped exterior is what landed them on this list, but definitely check them out for fine Creole dining and their jazz brunch too."

"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!"

"You can’t miss the grand turquoise Victorian restaurant Commander’s Palace when you’re strolling through the Garden District and it shouldn’t be skipped!. Enjoy a fine Creole dining experience that makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time."

"St. Louis Cathedral is an iconic landmark of the French Quarter, located in front of the Jackson Square. It is the oldest cathedral in the United States. It has Renaissance and Spanish Colonial type architecture."

"Sprinkled with lazing loungers, surrounded by sketch artists, fortune tellers and traveling performers, and watched over by cathedrals, offices and shops plucked from a Parisian fantasy, Jackson Sq is one of America’s great town greens and the heart of the Quarter. The identical, block-long Pontalba Buildings overlook the scene, and the nearly identical Cabildo and Presbytère structures flank the impressive St Louis Cathedral, which fronts the square."

"The city’s oldest art museum boasts over 40,000 artworks and objects from across the globe and the ages. But if you’re in town for Mardi Gras, make a point to see their current exhibition on 19th-century Swedish artist Bror Anders Wikstrom, who immigrated to NoLa in 1883 and helped shape the carnival experience into what it is today with his elaborate float designs. Afterwards, take a stroll through the museum’s enchanting five-acre sculpture park."

"Located adjacent to the CAC and The National WWII Museum is the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, a must-see for all art lovers. The museum showcases folk art and the handcrafted heritage of the Southern region as well as contemporary works from Southern artists and designers. Much like the CAC, the Ogden hosts local entertainment each Thursday evening for their Ogden After Hours event."

"The New Orleans Museum of Art is known to be the oldest fine arts museum in the city of New Orleans which is perfect for anyone looking for a cheap but immersive experience."

"Dinner at Bacchanal Wine Bar This is located in the Bywater which I’ve been calling “hipster” because that’s the vibe but it’s also kind of gentrified. This area is having a tough time where locals can’t afford their homes as the city grows out – something that I guess happens everywhere. The Bywater area is the “cool place to be” right now and Bacchanal is the coolest place in Bywater."

"Located in the Bywater neighborhood, Bacchanal offers a fun night out with a full service menu and live music in their backyard. It also has a BYOB policy — bring your own booze or buy something at their in-house wine shop. Keep in mind that no reservations are allowed and this establishment is only for those 21 and older."

"While temporarily closed during the pandemic, Manning’s Sports Bar and Grill is the quintessential place to watch the game in NOLA. It’s home to more than 30 flat-screen TVs, two 13-foot mega-screens, a sports anchor desk, a recliner dining section and unique memorabilia from Louisiana’s first football family. The pub grub of sandwiches, burgers and wraps takes on a Creole flair, and there are 24 beers on tap (plus plenty of brews in a bottle)."

"519 Fulton St., (504) 593-8072; www.facebook.com/manningsnola. An Archie burger is an Angus beef patty topped with bacon-onion jam and pimiento cheese and is served with fries. Reservations accepted."

"St. Augustine Catholic Church is the oldest African-American Catholic parish in the nation. It is located on Saint Claude Avenue near the French Quarter on the site of the old Claude Tremé plantation. The church is the location of the annual Jazz Mass that is held in conjunction with the Satchmo Festival, which pays homage to Louis Armstrong."

"Burger Benedict features a potato latke, a house-ground burger patty, poached eggs, hollandaise, crumbled bacon and green onions. Reservations recommended. Brunch and lunch Wed.-Sun."

"Congo Square is located within Louis Armstrong Park, just north of the French District. It is a location steeped in history as the the enslaved of New Orleans would gather here on their day off to set up a market, sing, dance, and play music. There isn’t much here now, but the tiles and tress make for an interesting composition steeped in untold history."

"Inside, there are iconic sites like Congo Square, a historic meeting place for slaves in the 1800s. There are also sculptures, a duck pond and plenty of green space where you can relax after spending your morning walking around the city."

"When people talk about Frenchmen Street they normally mean the three-block stretch through Faubourg Marigny that has ascended the throne as the best place for live music in New Orleans. Traced by charming Creole cottages and hopping into the early hours, Frenchmen Street became a local cultural zone after Bourbon Street became a tourist honeypot in the 1980s. The Maison, d.b.a., the Blue Nile, the Spotted Cat and Snug Harbor are just a few of the venues here, interspersed with bars, restaurants, coffee shops and enticing stores."

"Frenchmen Street is one of the greatest New Orleans attractions. The most famous section of this street consists of three short blocks that pack in a lot of action of the musical variety. Who doesn't enjoy live music while out to eat or out for the evening?"

"The three-block stretch closest to the French Quarter is where it's at—complete with cafés, bars, and music clubs. The true magic…"

"Located in the heart of New Orleans’ vibrant French Quarter, the French Market is a grand bazaar that serves as much as a cultural meeting place as it does a market space. In addition to hosting stall after stall of vendors hawking handmade goods and artisanal foods, the market doubles as a venue for a daily flea market and a twice-weekly farmers market. The French Market boasts the superlative as the oldest continuously operating open-air market in the United States, making it a part of living Louisiana history.More"

"Up there with the United States’ great shopping and dining experiences, the French Market is in long iron-framed halls designed in the late-19th century by Joseph Abeilard, one of America’s first African American architects. As a place of commerce, this location goes back centuries to a Native American trading post by the Mississippi. The market runs for five blocks from Jackson Square and the famed Café du Monde to a flea market at the end of Esplanade Avenue."

"The CAC complex in historic downtown is a cultural leader, bridging the gap between the visual and performing arts by combining exhibitions, concerts, dance and plays. Past interactive events, such as Leverage by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes, had patrons delightedly playing on what resembled a giant see-saw. Upcoming exhibitions include 30 Americans, showcasing the last three decades of art by the most influential African-American artists, and Julian Sands in A Celebration of Harold Pinter, where the actor will share and provide insight into Pinter's little-known poetry."

"Right next door to The National WWII Museum is the Contemporary Arts Center, known to locals as the CAC. This artistic hub hosts a variety of exciting contemporary art exhibits and events. To open the 2018 season, the CAC is presenting “Constructing the Break,” their annual open call exhibition of 29 regional artists."

"The CAC has free admission for Louisiana residents on Sundays courtesy of the Helis Foundation. The museum focuses on multi-disciplinary programming and rotating exhibits."

"Pontchartrain Hotel, 2031 St. Charles Ave., (504) 323-1455; www.silverwhistlecafe.com. A pimiento cheese omelet is served with hash browns and hollandaise."

"If you fancy a more spiritual atmosphere while you eat, then the Elysian Bar might be perfect for you. Set in a tasteful and elegant renovation of a deconsecrated Catholic church, this excellent patio restaurant is part of the Hotel Peter and Paul, and offers a wonderful place to dine under the night sky. An innovative menu of small plates is complimented by a wonderful selection of cocktails, making this a fantastic choice for a sophisticated evening out."

"As part of the newish Hotel Peter and Paul, which is located in a nest of buildings associated with a former church, The Elysian Bar has a somewhat ecclesiastical entrance. Classic cocktails skew European, with Campari and gin featuring heavily alongside some nods to tiki. The wine list is short but solid, and the beer list deftly avoids cliches, and there's an aperitivo hour with $10 drinks (from 3pm-6pm daily)."

"Nothing says dreamy afternoon romance like Burgundy Street’s The Elysian Bar. Housed in an old rectory belonging to Hotel Peter & Paul, you’ll find unmatched hospitality, delicious cajun food and a charming setting. Clink a few glasses with your sweetheart at this pretty-as-a-picture eatery."

"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."