Must See Sights and Landmarks in Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans French Quarter/CBD Area

"Most tourists recognize the St. Louis Cathedral's triple spires as the main symbol of the French Quarter. Many have taken photos of the gleaming white facade against a clear blue sky, from across picturesque Jackson Square. Relatively few, though, have stepped inside the Cathedral – the oldest continuously active one in the US – to view its surprising interior; the stained glass windows depicting the saintly life of France's King Louis IX, the glorious murals and statuary beckoning the visitor back nearly 300 years to its founding."

"On the north side of Jackson Square is the St. Louis Cathedral, a landmark structure in New Orleans. It was built in 1794 on the site of two earlier churches and is known for being the United States' oldest cathedral in continuous use. Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral in 1987."

"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."

"The square is a National Historic Landmark and a natural gathering spot. The palm tree-lined square, named after Andrew Jackson, has a statue of him riding a horse in honor of his victory in the Battle of New Orleans against the British."

"If you’re daunted by the multitude of jazz joints in the French Quarter, Preservation Hall is a traditional jazz venue with a house band drawing from more than 100 musicians. You can come for intimate concerts at 20:00, 21:00 and 22:00 Monday to Wednesday and extra performances at 17:00 and 18:00 from Thursday to Sunday. The shows are great of course, but Preservation Hall accepts audiences of all ages, which makes it a rare nightlife option for families."

"If traditional New Orleans jazz is what you seek, you can’t do any better than Preservation Hall. This legendary French Quarter establishment has been hosting the city’s finest traditional musicians nightly for decades. Reserve tickets in advance for one of the three intimate and highly interactive nightly shows (45 minutes each, starting at 8, 9, and 10 pm) or take your chances waiting in line the night of the show."

"You might be wondering why I haven’t mentioned the iconic French Quarter jazz venue, Preservation Hall. It’s absolutely possible to see a show here (40ish minutes) and then head to Frenchmen Street. Depending on the night of the week, prepare to wait in line for up to an hour and remember with no food, drink (BYOB), or AC and the likelihood of standing during the performance, this venue isn’t right for everyone."

"The oldest and most storied of New Orleans’ many cemeteries, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is a Roman Catholic burial place a block west of the French Quarter. It opened in 1789 during the city’s redesign following the Great Fire of 1788. In a city partially below water level, cemeteries need to be above ground using decorative vaults."

"Now, this might sound pretty macabre but give me a moment to explore. The New Orleans cemeteries have become something of a place to see whilst in the city, especially as they house some voodoo remnants from the people that rest there. You see, since New Orleans is actually built on a swamp."

"The French Quarter’s central attraction isBourbon Street. Quiet during the day but especially rowdy at night, Bourbon Street channels some serious spring break frat party vibes: not cute when you aren’t in college anymore. So while it’s worth spending a little time on Bourbon Street to get a feel for it, you’re better off going elsewhere for a more low-key night out."

"Over in the French Quarter, check out A Gallery For Fine Photography, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 15 reviews on Yelp. Treat yourself at the art gallery by heading over to 241 Chartres St. As to what the business is known for, "Founded at a time when photography was only beginning to secure a foothold both in museum collections and in the art market at large, A Gallery for Fine Photography is a living landmark in the history of photography," it states on Yelp in the section highlighting specialties."

"Start the day with a bike tour of Marigny and Bywater The two neighborhoods this tour goes on is Marigny and Bywater. These are “coming up” areas, kind of a little hipster and definitely not the standard places to visit. You’ll go to the bike shop in the French Quarter to meet the tour instructor then ride off!"

"After lunch take at least 15 minutes to explore the next few blocks of colorful homes in Marigny. There isn’t much else to do other take great photos and enjoy the neighborhood that has alot of character before heading back to the French Quarter."

"From Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, walk towards the Mississippi River and cross Decatur Street for an elevated perch to capture the Instagram-worthy view overlooking the square! At this point, you’ll have surely smelled the powdered sugar sweetness floating through the air around the Square and Cathedral. Cafe du Monde and their famous beignets are just a few steps away, on the same side as the river."

"Stroll along Decatur Street & the French Market. Decatur Street is, in many ways, one of the main drags of the French Quarter, and is home to some of New Orleans’ most popular restaurants (don’t worry, we’ll get to those in the food section below)."

"I am officially, 100% percent ripping that off,” Fieri told Avery’s owners Christy and Justin Pitard after devouring their kicked-up Fried Potato Salad. That’s just one of their twists on local classics. Another featured was the couple’s riff on Oysters Rockefeller in—you guessed it!"

"This locally owned bakery and cafe has multiple locations around town, all good go-tos for baked goods, breads, breakfast and lunch goodies. Last year they added doughnuts into the mix, all made inhouse, from fillings to dough to toppings - no mixes here. A few to try include spiced sugar twist, honey cornmeal and classic blueberry glazed."

"Cold-drip iced coffee and the “Kermit” Cruffin (a hybrid of a croissant and muffin) prove that Gracious Bakery has its heart in New Orleans. Savory lunch offerings and cakes are available, and of course, cookies. Every day, you’ll find flavors like oatmeal, sugar, peanut butter, ginger snap, and chocolate chip."

"Butternut Squash Sandwich, Gracious Bakery & Cafe|© Bart Everson/Flickr. Gracious Bakery is foremost a bakery dedicated to using locally sourced ingredients to produce the most delicious breads and sweets. They specialize in bread, and this includes their massive list of sandwiches."

"With an elegant approach to classic Southern food, Willa Jean takes that same “elegant fusion” approach to their breakfast food, which includes a griddled banana bread, an artichok..."

"Bakers Dozen serves some of the best donuts in New Orleans, from the traditional classics to more creative creations such as a salty caramel pretzel donut. Everything here is bursting with flavour and some of the finest, most inventive ingredients around. Apple fritters and honeybuns are particularly delicious here, but you should definitely sample one of their seasonal specialty donuts while you’re at it, too."

"You have to get here early to get your fix, since they’re only open until 11 am (and closed Mondays and Tuesdays), but this straightforward spot is a favorite of local epicures and chefs for a reason. They make great basics, like the glazed twist, and do them brilliantly. But they also have a little more fun with themed specials, like during Carnival season when they make a mind-blowing donut king cake."

"Baker's Dozen in Jefferson has set itself apart with creatively themed doughnuts — munch on your favorite super hero for $1.50 — as well as delicious combinations like its sweet and salty caramel pretzel doughnut (pictured). All up, a nice neighborhood spot with lots of regulars."