Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Garyville

"The Garden District mansion that houses Commander’s Palace is an odd-looking, bright aqua affair; some jokingly call the style of architecture "Victorian Cuckoo." Inside though, the food is more traditional fine dining, with a genteel, buttoned-down clientele and an enforced dress code (collared shirts, close-toed shoes). Staples here include upscale regional classics: the turtle soup, gumbo du jour, and pecan-crusted gulf fish. By far, the restaurant’s most popular tipples are the 25-cent martinis, which practically fly out of the bar during weekday lunch."

"A lot of people think the “three-martini lunch” is part of a bygone era, but in New Orleans it’s still alive and well. In fact, you can complete your boozy trifecta for less than a dollar at the swanky Commander’s Palace (1403 Washington Ave.). Order one of the delicious lunch entrees and you can choose from 3 different martinis that will only set you back $0.25 each!"

"American , French ,  Cajun"

"A prominent landmark on Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral (officially the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis King of France) stands tall and proud, beckoning French Quarter visitors to take a little time out from drinking and dancing to admire the oldest continuously used cathedral in the United States. The seat of the city's Roman Catholic Archdiocese, the cathedral was built in 1789 and rebuilt in 1850, and today, its all-white, Spanish Colonial façade with three black spires is one of the most instantly recognizable landmarks in the South. The inside is just as beautiful.More"

"The longest continually active Roman Catholic church in the United States stands proud on the city side of Jackson Square. Dedicated to Louis IX of France (1214-1270), St. Louis Cathedral dates from 1789, although there was a church at this spot as early as 1718. The current cream-coloured Spanish Colonial building was reconstructed in 1850, and most of the architecture is from that time."

"What looks like a castle in the French Quarter is actually the oldest cathedral in North America. This alone makes it one of the best things to do in New Orleans, especially when you head inside. You see, St. Louis Cathedral was founded as a Catholic Parish in 1720 and includes both Renaissance and Spanish Colonial architecture that is totally gorgeous."

"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."

"In the heart of the French Quarter lies Jackson Square, one of New Orleans’ most famous locations. A National Historic Landmark, it is home to St. Louis Cathedral and is often filled with locals and tourists who come to stroll the paths, catch the buskers and street performers in action, or just sit in the shade and watch the world go by.More"

"The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is Smithsonian-affiliated and, as its name suggests, celebrates the culture and aesthetic of Southern artists. The permanent collection showcases more than 4,000 pieces from 15 states; in fact, with works dating back to 1733, the institution boasts the most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world. Exhibits feature paintings, photography, sculpture, and handicrafts, and place historical works alongside contemporary artists working in the South."

"Set smack dab in City Park among the Spanish moss-draped oaks complete with Greco-Roman columns and a charming sculpture garden, the grounds alone warrant a visit to this NOLA institution that’s oozing with grandeur. It’s the city’s oldest fine arts institution and boasts a permanent collection of nearly 40,000 pieces. Not only that, but it’s one of the most impressive and revered fine art collections in the whole of the south."

"In the south part of City Park is the New Orleans Museum of Art, one of the finest of its kind in the South. The museum features an excellent collection of French and American art, as well as African and Japanese pieces. On site and another of the institutions highlights is the outdoor Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, with more than 60 sculptures, as well as walking paths, lagoons, and mature live oak trees."

"Sitting in the back courtyard at Bacchanal feels quite a lot like being invited to a friend’s private party if your friends had live jazz bands in their backyards and an extensive wine list and delightful small plates. The atmosphere is convivial and neighborhood-y, and the location on the far downriver end of the Bywater neighborhood means that tourists are few and far between. The jazz on hand is mostly hot jazz, string jazz, and bebop or hard bop, so heads up, hard-core jazz aficionados.600 Poland Ave. (Bywater) / (504) 948-9111"

"Buy a bottle of something red or white from one of the clerks in the Bywater wine shop. Then stroll out back to what amounts to a block party beneath a canopy of trees strung with lights and live music to accompany the sipping."

"Lilette is a decadent French restaurant situated on Magazine Street. Stellar cuisine and a hip cocktail bar make this a sexy destination for a varied crowd of locals and couples on date night. Tempting bites â€" like eggplant crisps with skordalia, oven-dried roma tomatoes, basil and oil cured olive line the menu. The grilled veal paillard comes served with broccoli raab, almonds, homemade ricotta toast and garlic parsley butter. The one-pound seared Kobe rib eye is a decadent beefy indulgence worth sharing. The wine list includes more than 50 wines, with 11 varieties available by the glass. Sit in the garden if the weather permits."

"At this small, Uptown French-Italian bistro, you can get cozy in a booth and enjoy sharable menu items like burrata with hazelnut-basil pesto and Alaskan crab claws with passionfruit butter (a personal favorite). Enjoy a pre or post-dinner glass of wine or cocktail at the upscale Bouligny Tavern next door. 3637 Magazine St., (504) 895.1636"

"From the tasteful tile work and snuggle-friendly booths to the by turns delicate and swaggering French (and sometimes Italian and/or Asian) cooking, this Uptown stalwart has date night written all over it. One of the city’s most consistent restaurants is also one of its loveliest."

"When District landed on Magazine Street, its easily Instagrammable donuts were an instant hit. But don’t let that fool you: The perfect sliders and coffee are also worth the stop, so it’s easy to make a full meal out of your trip no matter what time you stop. They’re best known for their rotating cast of 200+ fanciful flavor combinations, with options like a maple-bacon-Sriracha donut topped with candied thyme, king cake and even cannoli."

"District provides an ever-changing selection of innovative, creative, and most importantly, delicious doughnuts to its adoring public. They look as great as they taste, and that's saying something. The locally owned biz now has four locations in New Orleans and one in Baton Rouge."

"District Doughnuts Breakfast is known to be the the most important meal of the day. However, I call it sugary beginnings. At @districtdonuts you can pick..."

"In Louis Armstrong Park, Congo Square was a Sunday gathering spot for enslaved Africans under the French Code Noir. For one day of the week, they could sing the songs and practice the cultural traditions of their ancestral home. This was the groundwork of a uniquely New Orleanian link to the continent of Africa, and much of the city's most iconic food, music and culture has been built on that foundation."

"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..."

"Louisiana is a state that is famous for its waterways and bayous, and New Orleans is no exception to the rule. Fronting the French Quarter is one of the best riverside parks in the city – Woldenberg Park. Originally the location of warehouses and wharves on the east bank of the Mississippi, the site was retooled in the 1980s and 1990s into a park."

"For a day of exploring in the French Quarter, Woldenberg Park is an essential stop. Located right where the Quarter meets the mighty Mississippi, the park begins at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and runs along the water to St. Philip Street. Picnic spots, gazebos, and waterfront benches provide some of the city’s best views of the river."

"For example, at the Woldenberg Riverfront Park is a 16-acre park in front of downtown near everything. Woldenberg Riverfront Park is a wonderful place to go jogging or picnic. You’ll find people playing their music in the park."

"This spectacular oasis in the middle of NOLA’s uptown area features multiple picnic spots, playgrounds, a jogging trail, riding stables, a golf course, and more. It stretches from St. Charles Avenue (making it an easy trip on the streetcar) to Magazine Street, and right across Magazine, you’ll find the impressive Audubon Zoo."

"Previously called Upper City Park, Audubon Park is located across from Tulane University. Audubon dates to the 1800’s. Audubon was originally part of the Bore Family Plantation."

"It’s a stretch of road spanning three blocks located in the famous Faubourg Marigny in New Orleans. It has a reputation for being a must-do for music lovers thanks to its unofficial status as the greatest location in the city for live music. As you stroll through the street, you’ll be treated to the sight of delightfully cultural shops, charming old-fashioned cottages of a Creole style, and all the fun of a standard tourist location without the crowded state of Bourbon Street."

"Jazz at Jazz Playhouse & Explore Frenchman Street If you want that jazz club experience, then check out the Jazz Playhouse inside the Royal Sonesta Hotel around 8 PM. From here you can either hang out on Bourbon Street but if you really want to see where the locals go, hop into an Uber and go up to Frenchman Street late into the night. These bars are the place to be: Snug Harbor, d.b.a., The Spotted Cat, Apple Barrel, The Blue Nile and Maison."

"Finally, head to Crescent Park for a beautiful sunset view of the city, and after the sun goes down venture over to Frenchmen Street for some live jazz and blues. While tourists tend to visit Bourbon Street, you’ll see more locals on Frenchmen. For tonight’s live music, check out this listing by the local radio station."

"(400 Dauphine St.) This 24-hour full-service restaurant and bar in the French Quarter is always available and ready to accommodate. You will find a wide variety of options on the menu ranging from traditional New Orleans fare to downhome comfort food, all under $20. Deja Vu serves breakfast, lunch and dinner all day long and is available for dine-in, carry out or delivery."

"The original building, constructed in the 1850′s at the corner of of Conti and Dauphine Streets, was in the area known formerly as the red light district of New Orleans."

"Lakeview's diner institution, unlike a lot of greasy spoons on this list, seems mainly more catered to families and sober people. But don't let that fool you, the breakfast options are astounding from fried chicken and waffles to a slew of egg specialties. Try the Egg Saints #33 with a grilled biscuit, alligator sausage, grilled tomatoes, poached eggs, and homemade country gravy, and save room for the housemade pies."

"A post shared by ~Sara's Photography~ (@saraphotography_05) on Dec 31, 2018 at 9:00am PST. Russell’s Marina Grill opened its doors in 1985 and has been a favourite of locals ever since. Kids will love that this eatery is on the waterfront."

"8555 Pontchartrain Blvd., (504) 282-9980; www.russellsmarinagrill.net. Lemon Dijon-glazed grilled salmon is served atop red quinoa with brown rice, edamame and mixed vegetables."