Everyone wants to know- “What’s so special about the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana?”
“The French Quarter has been lived in and died in; human energy has been manifested continuously and freely for 250 years. They may have disappeared along with their proprietors, but they’ve left behind an aura that infuses the atmosphere.“
–Andy Peter Antippas
The French Quarter is a feeling, a way of being, more than anything else.
Once ruled by the Spanish, the French, and Native Americans, no other neighborhood in the entire world is quite the same (or as haunted) as the melting pot that is the French Quarter.
Here is your Guide to The French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana:
When to Visit the French Quarter
The best weather in New Orleans is from February to May. March first is, of course, Mardi Gras (see below). If you’re going on a road trip to NOLA, this is the time to do it.
If you want to take advantage of the slow season, December or January is best.
My personal favorite time to visit New Orleans is Halloween/ Samhain. The entire town celebrates-haunting and cemetery tours galore, seasonal drinks and food and parades are in abundance, and the veil is thin.
Where to Stay in the French Quarter
Best Luxury Stays in New Orleans French Quarter
- Hotel Monteleone: The word ‘Decadence’ describes this hotel quite nicely. The Monteleone was a favorite of William Faulkner and many other interesting guests since its opening in 1886. Bonus: Monteleone is one of the most haunted hotels in New Orleans.
- Hotel St. Marie: This is a great option if you want to stay in a historic building complete with a romantic courtyard but with modernized rooms.
Budget-Friendly Options in New Orleans’ French Quarter
- Hi New Orleans: The Hi New Orleans is a hostel beloved by budget travelers.
- Hotel Provincial: This is a beautiful boutique hotel in a very IG-friendly mansion.
Parking in New Orleans French Quarter
If you can avoid parking in the Quarter, absolutely do that.
Here’s why you don’t want to park in the French Quarter:
They’re out to get you: The parking rules are stringent, confusing, and enforced. Tow trucks are always on the prowl, even at night – especially at night – and many a visitor’s trips have been dampened by a detour to the city impound (mine included).
How to avoid parking in the French Quarter: Book a hotel in the Quarter. You won’t need a car for anything, even tours outside the city will likely include transportation from your hotel.
You can also walk to the quarter from the business district or take the trolley from the Garden District, should you choose to stay in those areas.
If you aren’t able to stay in the Quarter, consider parking at your hotel and ride-sharing.
Nicknames for the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana
The French Quarter and New Orleans herself go by many names. Here’s a breakdown of the few you’ll definitely hear-
- Crescent City: The town of New Orleans was built in a sharp carve around the Mississippi River. New Orleans looks like a crescent when viewed on a map.
- Vieux Carre: These are the French words for Old Square.
- The Big Easy: No one is 100% sure where this one came from, but one of the most popular theories says that the name was adopted from the Big Easy Hall, a popular dance spot in Gretna.
Can’t Miss Places In The French Quarter
The French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana, has so many iconic stops and hidden gems, and it was really hard to select only a few. Read this if you’re struggling to navigate and pronounce the rues.
Here are some NOLA essentials-
The World Famous Bourbon Street in New Orleans
The first thing you need to know about Bourbon Street-it’s not named after booze. Bourbon Street was named for the French ruling family of the time, the House of Bourbon.
Today, Bourbon is the site of a 24/7 party that must be seen to be believed. The street is lit by neon lights, roaring with music, and decorated by beads, balconies, and performers of all sorts. People all around are wearing their brightest clothes and smiles and clutching massive souvenir cups brimming with alcohol.
The motto of the city is ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ (Laissez les bon temps rouler in French), and nowhere is this more obvious than Bourbon Street.
My favorite places to party on Bourbon Street
- Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar (built around 1722, the oldest structure used as a bar in the US and haunted AF).
- The Famous Door for dancing and drink specials.
- My Bar at 635 for easy Bourbon Street balcony access.
Avoiding Scams on Bourbon Street
- Nothing is ‘free’ on Bourbon Street – Some people will try to put beads on you or give you something and expect a donation in return. If you really want beads, bring your own.
- Though Bourbon Street can feel like its own little lawless world, it’s not. All of the standard safety rules apply- don’t leave your drink unattended, don’t carry valuables in your back pocket, etc.
- Cash is king – Carry and pay cash when you can. If you don’t have cash, expect most but not all places to use cards. Keep your cash and other valuables safe on the packed French Quarter Streets with a travel wallet.
Check out all of the Rules of the Rues.
Royal Street (Rue Royale)
Royal Street is heaven for arts and vintage lovers!
Opulence defines Royal Street, and it’s been called one of the most expensive places to shop in the world. Many of the antique finds are centuries old and come with a fascinating history.
Royal Street feels a world away from Bourbon Street, even though they are a few minutes apart.
Must-stops include antiquing at M.S. Rau and the slightly macabre Myth Gallery.
Jackson Square
Jackson Square has been a central part of the French Quarter since the 18th century. The square lies in the heart of the French Quarter facing the Mississippi River.
For over a half-century, there has been an open-air artist market at Jackson Square. Local artists who paint, draw, create portraits and caricatures, tell fortunes via palm and tarot readings, and display their work on the square’s iron fence.
Some creators have been there for generations. The artists have no set days or hours, and you can find the square bustling well into the early morning hours.
Other things to do in Jackson Square
Check out the historic St. Louis Cathedral and the oldest apartment buildings in the United States.
Armstrong Park
Louis Armstrong Park is a 32-acre park located in the Tremé neighborhood just across Rampart Street.
The Park was named after New Orleans-born Jazz phenomenon Louis Armstrong and contains a massive statue of the artist.
The History of Congo Square at Louis Armstrong Park
The area immediately in front of the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium is the site of Congo Square, legendary for its role in the history of African American music and spiritual practice and its relevance to New Orleans Voodoo.
Explore Louisiana Voodoo Culture in the French Quarter
Voodoo first came to Louisiana with enslaved Africans, who merged their religious rituals and practices with those of the local Catholic population.
New Orleans Voodoo is also known as Voodoo-Catholicism and is a religion connected to nature and ancestors.
Today gris-gris dolls, potions, priestess-blessed herbs, and talismans are commonplace in businesses and homes throughout the French Quarter – a reminder of the fascination that New Orleans (and all of Louisiana) has with magic.
Here are the Best Voodoo Shops in the French Quarter:
- My absolute favorite, hands down, is Voodoo Authentica.
- For souvenir shirts (and general instagram-ability), I like Marie Laveaus’ House of Voodoo.
- Get a quirky, vampire-heavy feel at Boutique Du Vampyre.
Other ways to check out The Quarter’s Voodoo culture include paying a visit to The Voodoo Museum or staying the night at the Inn on St. Ann, the home once owned by the Voodoo Queen herself.
I LOVE this book about NOLA’s voodoo history.
Eat Your Way Through the French Market
In 1791, there was a small Native American trading post along the Mississippi River.
The French and Spanish colonists opened the market up to ships and traders from all over the world, evolving the small post into the cultural and commercial hub for New Orleans.
Today, you’ll find delicious locally-made food, a fresh farmers market, and handmade crafts and art.
Visit a French Quarter Cemetery
Why are cemetery tours such a thing in the French Quarter?
The city is essentially a swamp, so the dead are buried above ground. New Orleans cemeteries are filled with crypts, ornate tombs, haunting beautiful sculptures, and romantic mausoleums.
Aside from the macabre beauty, the cemeteries are popular among visitors because they house some of NOLA’s most iconic (and infamous) characters.
The oldest cemetery is St. Louis No.1, which opened in 1789. This cemetery is huge and contains maze-like “streets.” Some of the city’s most notable dead are here, including Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau and Homer Plessy.
St. Louis No.1 is also home to the future tomb of actor Nicolas Cage, who purchased a 9-foot white pyramid tomb inscribed “Omnia Ab Uno” (‘Everything From One’).
Gaze at the Mississippi River
Just across the street from Jackson Square lies the mighty Mississippi River.
Snap some pics by the NOLA 300 sign (one of seven statues built to celebrate the city’s 300th birthday) and lock down your significant other at the Love Lock Bridge.
You can also have dinner on the historic Steamboat Natchez.
One thing you should not do is swim in the Mississippi River.
Chase The Green Fairy in The French Quarter
And that Green Fairy, well, it’s Absinthe.
What even is it? Absinthe is a high-proof spirit, flavored and colored both by three botanicals; sweet anise, fennel, and wormwood.
Hallucinations: This drink was very popular in Paris (and, by extension, New Orleans) in the early 1900s. Drinkers of Absinthe would claim varying levels of hallucination, which unsurprisingly gained favor with artists and thinkers of the time.
Today, the best place in the French Quarter to drink Absinthe is The Original Old Absinthe House, which was once an actual speakeasy, also haunted and just has a cool vibe.
Some famous drinkers of Absinthe include Edward Degas, Ernest Hemingway, and Baudelaire.
Stroll Through The Nearby Garden District
A short streetcar ride from the French Quarter is a completely different world, one of grand mansions and narrow streets lined with centuries-old oaks.
The Garden District was once made up entirely of plantations. It was sold off in parcels to wealthy Americans who did not want to live in the French Quarter.
Originally the area was developed with only a couple of mansions per block, each surrounded by a large, extravagant garden, which is where the district got its name.
Top Attractions in the Garden District
- The Commanders Palace restaurant, where you’ll find both ghosts and good food.
- Once considered a hidden gem in New Orleans, the American Horror Story Coven House, pictured above (Buckner Mansion), is now a Garden District icon.
- The Rosegate House, once owned by author Anne Rice, served as the inspirational setting for most of her Mayfair series.
St. Louis Cathedral & Touch Down Jesus
The instantly recognized St. Louis Cathedral has watched over Jackson Square since 1789.
Being the most continually used cathedral in the US means you’ve seen some stuff.
It’s said to house numerous ghosts and withstood several hurricanes, including the mighty Katrina. Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau was a devout catholic who never missed a mass at St. Louis.
Touchdown Jesus at St. Louis Cathedral
In St. Anthony’s Garden behind the Cathedral, you’ll find the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue, depicting Jesus with outstretched hands.
Legend says the night before the 2010 Super Bowl, the then-Archbishop of New Orleans delivered a special prayer for the Saints. Once the Saints won the Super Bowl, the statue’s shadow was affectionately nicknamed “Touchdown Jesus.”
Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana
‘Why is this place so famous?’ is the number one question asked about Cafe Du Monde.
There are 3 answers:
- Coffee: During the Civil War, there was a coffee shortage. The New Orleans Creoles developed a chicory-blended coffee in response to the shortage, which has been served at Café Du Monde ever since.
- Beignets: These are essentially doughnuts with no hole in the middle, usually covered in a thick layer of powdered sugar. At Café du Monde, the beignets are sold in orders of 3.
- Vampires: Cafe Du Monde was made famous by Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicle novels. I remember reading them in high school, feeling like I was there because of the rich descriptions of Cafe Du Monde and other French Quarter staples.
The cafe has also appeared in novels by Adam Gnade, Poppy Z. Brite, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Nancy A. Collins, and many others.
Notes:
- The menu at Café Du Monde includes only dark-roasted coffee with chicory (served black or au lait/with milk), beignets, chocolate milk, hot chocolate, and OJ.
- Cafe Du Monde is cash-only.
- The cafe gets extremely busy, and seating is first come, first serve- avoid peak hours.
Top 3 Haunted Sites You Can’t Miss in the French Quarter
New Orleans has no shortage of haunted hot spots. Here are a few of my favorite haunted spots in the French Quarter-
LaLaurie Mansion
LaLaurie Mansion is one of the most brutally haunted homes in all of New Orleans.
In 1934, a fire at the LaLaurie mansion exposes a torture chamber where slaves were routinely brutalized by the ‘lady’ of the mansion, Delphine LaLaurie.
Today, you can walk by and respectfully take photos, but there are no photos allowed inside.
Muriel’s at Jackson Square
Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan restored this home and cherished it- until he lost it in a game of poker.
Desolate and depressed, he died by suicide on the second floor.
Today the second floor is known as the Seance Room (pictured above), and Jourdan is believed to lounge up there.
Guests and workers of Muriel’s have reported shattering glasses, objects moving, and hearing voices on the second floor, yet the spirits present in the building are considered friendly… and entertaining.
A table is reserved for the spirit of Mr. Jourdan every night, complete with an offering of wine and bread.
Note: This restaurant is a hidden gem in New Orleans. Although Muriel’s does not advertise the Seance Room, if you would like to visit, ask the very helpful door host. You can also dine with Jourdan at his table for a fee.
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar
One of the oldest and most haunted buildings in the French Quarter is also the most unassuming- Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar.
Jean Lafitte was a French pirate from the 1800s, who (allegedly) built a dirty smuggling business. By 1810, their piracy and smuggling port was very successful; by 1812, Lafitte became a local legend during the War of 1812 by helping Andrew Jackson defend New Orleans from capture by the British.
Thousands of patrons and employees have reported seeing Lafitte over the years, and he is one of the most commonly experienced spirits of The Quarter.
Top LGBTQ-friendly places in the French Quarter
New Orleans, Louisiana, and The French Quarter, in particular, are extremely welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
The Magazine Street area leads the New Orleans gayborhood. Gay bars dot the French Quarter, but the most famous is on the “Lavender Line,” a stretch of St. Ann Street – including Cafe Lafitte’s in Exile, the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the United States.
Also, try The Friendly Bar, The OZ, and The Voodoo Lounge.
Museums in New Orleans, Louisiana, French Quarter to visit
- Hermann-Grima House Museum: These 2 homes and their attached slave quarters are some of the best-preserved historic structures in the French Quarter.
- Pharmacy Museum: Take a peek into the city’s history and the general medical oddities of the 19th century. Be ready to cringe.
- Jazz Museum: All about the history of Jazz and its relation to New Orleans.
- Museum of Death: Founded in 1995 to fill the void in death education in the USA, The Death Museum is a self-guided tour lasting an hour. Here you can see everything from body bags to human skulls to crime scene photos.
- Voodoo Museum: This museum is dedicated to the education and preservation of New Orleans Voodoo culture. See authentic Voodoo dolls, artifacts, and ritualistic remains.
- The Cabildo: Explore 3 floors of exhibits in the French Quarter on Louisiana state history. The main hall of the building was once a courtroom, where the landmark case Plessy vs. Ferguson was decided.
- The Backstreet Cultural Museum: Located in the Treme, just a few blocks out of the Quarter is the Backstreet Cultural Museum. Here, locals lead visitors through the history of the city’s black population.
Top 5 Festivals in New Orleans’ French Quarter
The people of New Orleans, Louisiana, need little excuse to throw a party or parade- the French Quarter has a ton of festivals! These are the biggest-
- Mardi Gras: Mardi Gras has European roots from the 17th century. The festival starts after the Christian Epiphany and lasts until Ash Wednesday, usually late February into March. Masked balls, performers, and massive parties gather around the parade of floats. This is the busiest time of year for the quarter.
- French Quarter Festival: A free annual music event held in early April in the French Quarter. The first French Quarter Festival was held in 1984, and the goal has always been to highlight New Orleans music and food made by locals.
- New Orleans Pride Parade: Every year in early June, New Orleans Pride celebrates the LGBTQ+ community in the Crescent City with a pride parade.
- Satchmo Summer Fest: The Satchmo Summer Fest honors Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. The 3-day event starts at the New Orleans Jazz Museum and covers all of the French Quarter in Jazz and blues. The festival is always the first Weekend of August (Armstrong was born on August 4th).
- Voodoo Fest hosted by Voodoo Authentica: This free festival is held every Halloween/Samhain and celebrates Voodoo traditions. Voodoo Fest is designed to educate the public about the poorly understood religion of Voodoo and to honor the ancestors. Enjoy crafts, speakers, delicious Creole food, and a group ritual.
French Quarter FAQ
The French Quarter is about 78 blocks, just over a mile. The Quarter is the original City of New Orleans, as it was known by the city’s founder Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, in 1718. Although the French Quarter isn’t very big, it packs a lot into that one mile!
Yes, the French Quarter of New Orleans is highly walkable, with many places to eat, shop, dance, party, and get weird. The walkability of the Quarter is one of many things that draw people here, and you won’t need a car to get around.
Since the French Quarter is heavily populated with tourists pretty much 24/7, it’s patrolled and is generally safe. Into the wee hours of the morning, stick to bright, busy streets in the Quarter like Decatur, Royal, Bourbon, Esplanade, and Canal St. However, note that the surrounding areas of New Orleans are not safe at night and should be avoided.
Check-in
Did you visit New Orleans, Louisiana, or the French Quarter? Do you have a question that wasn’t answered here?
Ask me in the comments below or tag me on social media and tell me how your trip went!
