The French Quarter
Our beloved French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans and still the heart of the city—a place where you can start the morning with café au lait, spend the afternoon wandering galleries and antique shops, stop for oysters somewhere that’s been serving them for generations, and hear live music spilling out of a doorway on your way back to the hotel.
The best way to experience the Quarter is on foot. Walk along Royal Street and look up at the iron balconies. Cut through Jackson Square and take in the view of St. Louis Cathedral. Wander down Pirate’s Alley. Follow Decatur Street toward the French Market and the river. And whenever a courtyard gate happens to be open, take a peek inside. Some of the best parts of the French Quarter are the ones you weren’t looking for.
Yes, Bourbon Street is here, and everybody should see it at least once. But the French Quarter is so much more than nightlife. It’s historic restaurants, neighborhood bars, hidden courtyards, artists around Jackson Square, centuries-old architecture, live music, museums, shops and some of the best people-watching anywhere.
You can visit the French Quarter a hundred times and still find something you’ve never noticed before.
Jackson Square
If the French Quarter has a front porch, this is it. Jackson Square is where artists hang their work along the fence, street performers gather, carriage rides line up and locals and visitors alike stop to admire one of the best views in New Orleans: St. Louis Cathedral rising behind the square. Cross Decatur Street and you’re just steps from the Mississippi River. Learn more.
Bourbon Street
You already know about Bourbon Street. It’s loud, colorful, crowded and completely unapologetic. But there’s more here than frozen drinks and neon signs. You’ll also find historic bars, live music, restaurants and a few places that have been part of the French Quarter for generations. Come see it for yourself—then make sure you explore the streets around it, too. Learn more.
Pirate’s Alley
Tucked alongside St. Louis Cathedral, Pirate’s Alley is only a block long, but it packs in plenty of French Quarter atmosphere. The narrow passageway has inspired stories about pirates, writers and ghosts for generations. Whether all of those stories are true hardly matters. It’s still one of our favorite little corners of the Quarter. Learn more.
French Market
The French Market has been part of New Orleans life for centuries, and it’s still one of the best places to wander. Stretching from near Jackson Square toward Esplanade Avenue, the market area brings together food, shopping, local vendors and plenty of history—all just steps from the river.
