my wife wants us to go to new orleans this weekend

we have never been there, so what would you recommend for hotels, activities, restaurants?

 

It's been a while for me- But I enjoyed the W French Quarter hotel!

 

I graduated from Loyola in New Orleans and know the city well.
For the vintage, VERY NICE old New Orleans hotel stay at the Monteleone.
A great B&B style, the Corn Stalk Inn, can't be beat.
Four star, stay at the Ritz.

Don't miss the Gumbo Shop. My favorite Louisana cooking restaurant.

Two art galleries that are a must visit; Rodrique (the Blue dog artist). He passed away 2 years ago. The family owns the gallery.
Craig Tracy. He is one of the judges on the tv show Skin Wars. Probably the only two real artists galleries in the quarter.

 

good answers guys. thanks.
how about antique stores?

 

Just walk around in the French Quarter and you'll find some. But I bet there are others outside of the city as well.

I always liked Commander's Palace for brunch.

Do the Garden District.

Just have fun, hard not too.

Lots of historical stuff in the general area.

 

Ross, you will find 80% of the antique shops in the Quarter on Royal St. Another option would be Magazine Street which is a few miles from downtown. Just depends on what you are searching for.

 

so far, the restaurant list i am getting from you guys and others is:
- commander's palace
- emeril's
- the pelican club
- brennan's
- revolution
- mr. b's
- casemonte for oysters
- acme oysters
- cafe du monde for coffee and beignets

any opinions?

more places than i can manage in 2 nights/3 days, but i will try.

 

+1 to the Gumbo Shop for brunch, cool funky, patio dining...

+1 to Rodrique, although I much prefer his traditional period, before Blue Dog! LOL!
I am okay with Blue Dog though...pays the bills.

 

I stayed there about a year ago. I'm not even sure it's a W anymore. The Monteleone suggestion is an excellent one...T

 

Just walk along Royal St in the Quarter. Tons of places...T

 

Cafe du Monde - classic. Do it. Don't inhale while trying to eat a beignet!

Commander's Palace - they have 50 cent martinis at lunch. Ask to sit upstairs in the garden room.

Emerils is best of his restaurants in NO LA.

SoBou is nice funky joint.

La Boulangerie - great for a midday espresso and pastry to fortify you for the night's excesses.

Domlises - best po boys. Icy cold beer!

Cafe Adelaide - get the white chocolate, biscuit bread pudding.

Bayona - OMG!! Get the duck-onion-cashew butter sandwich. One of the ten best things I've ever eaten.

Central Grocery for muffaletta. Best anywhere. Hands down. Get the large. It's enough for two or three meals...T

 

did he come back???

 

It's New Orleans and a long holiday weekend! How's the song go? "...Busted, down on Bourbon Street, Set up, like a bowlin' pin. Knocked down, it get's to wearin' thin. They just won't let you be, oh no.."

T

 

just got home.
i have to say that new orleans was great !! we had a fantastic time - too good since i am now feeling the effects and it will take me all week to recover!

went to some of the restaurants recommended and some that werent.
commander's palace - meh so-so. the food was good, the service was good, but the place is obviously a favorite for birthdays and anniversaries etc, and not the atmosphere i was looking for. but we enjoyed it and have ticked it off the list.

emril's - far better than i imagined it would be. it was genuinely great food, good decor and ambience and great service.
tried to get into mr b's but could never get in. next time.
tried to get into acme oyster and it was just too crowded so we went across the street to the bourbon street oyster bar (i think) and it was great.
lunch at praline connection for soul food - it was ok, but had to be done !
breakfast at ruby slipper was excellent and great service.
the carousel bar in monteleone is great - went twice.

bourbon street.....well just not my style, but fun to watch. i can imagine that part might be more fun with a bunch of guys.

royal street - some antique and art stores were exceptional - world class. nicer bars.

cafe du monde - beignets good, coffee bad. never need to go again.
the tourist office near jackson square was immensely helpful - highly recommended for newbies.
the cathedral was impressive.
we only managed to get a room at the intercontinental since it somehow turned into a busy weekend with all the tributes to bowie and mlk stuff going on. not the best hotel, not the worst. next time staying at monteleone, but they were full.

then we went to see tulane - impressive.
then we drove out to oak alley. very nice tour and beautiful grounds. loved it.

so overall a really fun weekend and i plan to go back to new orleans - once i rest up a bit.

 

next time add

Couchon's
Cochon Restaurant | New Orleans Dining | Cajun Southern Cooking

The Rum House on Magazine
: : The Rum House : :

There are some good bars around magazine as it is locals/ tulane etc. also Frenchman area is cool.

I live in Mandeville,LA across the lake. That is a nice area to explore- Madisonville etc. I've had some nice rooms at the Harrah's hotel, Marriott. I generally liked the hotel in the canal st shops. Now a Marriott. Lobby has a beautiful view of the river. easy to park- walk into the quarter or across from Harrah's both of which are easy and quick to get back to the room.

Glad you had a good trip.

 

Glad you had a good time. Just found this thread. Another hotel to strongly consider would be the Roosevelt. We have stayed there and the Monteleone, both very nice but I liked the Roosevelt just a bit more I think. Great rooms, and if you go over Christmas the lobby is spectacular.
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The hotel for the FFQC.....Windsor Court.
I was trying to recall it!

Across the street from Harrah's, it was very old School and they took VERY good care of a parking garage FULL of Ferraris!

Try that one next time.

 

Damn, that IS spectacular!!

 

Wow, that is a lot for one weekend! Sounds like you had a great time. And, the great thing about New Orleans, you can go back multiple times and always discover something new...T

 

My girlfriend and i were there two years ago. If you do not stay there, it is worth a visit if you are there during Christmas. (Sorry about not being able to rotate the picture.)
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The thing to remember about NO hotels is that you should seriously consider one where you want to spend most of your time. Sounds elementary, I know. But if you want to eat, listen to music, antique shop, etc in the French Quarter then you should stay there. While VERY close to the FQ, the Windsor Court, Roosevelt, Sheraton and some others are across Canal Street, and I would say there are some undesirable characters on the way there. The bolstered police presence in the FQ ends at Canal Street. By no means should you get isolated late at night.
If going to House of Blues, Carousel Bar, Preservation Hall, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, Palm Court Jazz Cafe', etc are on your agenda then I would stay in the FQ. I echo others suggestions about Royal Orleans, Monteleone, etc and would add the Royal Sonesta (on Bourbon St, unfortunately, but they do have a great on-site music club called Irvin Mayfield's), or Hotel St. Marie for a nice but cheaper alternative.

 

What a bummer, just saw this thread!

 

Well, you know I would have sought you and Gretchen out, had it been me, but I know you are busy with the new family, so didn't want to volunteer on your behalf!

I think he liked it so he'll be back, once his cars arrive from Europe we will come to the FFQC!

Good observation on Canal Street, I gave ross the "stern instructions" (via text) on wandering on foot, at night!!!

 

hey john, sorry about not telling you i was coming to nola - it was kind of a spur of the moment thing. next time - and there will definitely be a next time - i will give you a heads up and maybe we can go out to dinner.

 

Pat O'Brien's bar - Bourbon St.

The piano bar ^^. (I don't drink much) - sure was fun.



Antoine's restaurant.