one of the oldest community theaters in the country. Originally organized in 1916 as the New Orleans Chapter of the Drama League of America, the company began performing in this space in 1922. In 2012 and 2013, the theater underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation that added Tableau, a Dickie Brennan restaurant specializing in Louisiana Creole fare.
Continue walking on Chartres straight into Jackson Square, the highlight of which is the triple-spired St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in North America and easily the city’s most recognizable landmark. The church features a Rococo-style gilded altar along with magnificent stained-glass windows and paintings. In the rear of the cathedral is the St. Anthony Garden, where a statue of Jesus stands with arms upraised. Stop in for Mass or a tour; the cathedral is open daily after the 7:30 a.m. Mass until 4 p.m., and self-guided tours are available for a $1 donation.The cathedral is flanked by the Cabildo and the Presbytère, two of several museums under the Louisiana State Museum umbrella. Facing the cathedral, the Cabildo is to your left. Built in the late 18th century, the Cabildo served as the seat of government in New Orleans during the Spanish Colonial period and is where the Louisiana Purchase—which nearly doubled the size of the United States—was signed in 1803. To your right is the Presbytère, a one-time courthouse that now houses an exquisite collection of Mardi Gras artifacts and memorabilia. Through an interactive exhibit titled “Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana,” visitors can learn the history of Mardi Gras, from its 19th-century beginnings to the modern-day celebration that attracts millions of tourists every year.Take your time strolling around the square and enjoy the vibrancy of the artists, musicians, and other street performers at work. The redbrick buildings on either side of the square are the Lower and Upper Pontalba Buildings, the oldest apartments in the United States. The apartments take up the top three stories, while shops and restaurants occupy the first. One of the best is Stanley, at the corner of St. Ann and Chartres, a casual eatery known for its all-day breakfast fare. Another restaurant worth checking out is Muriel’s Jackson Square, just across St. Ann from Stanley. Muriel’s serves contemporary Creole fare and boasts one of the best dining balconies in town.If you have a few extra minutes to spare, walk through the square, named in honor of General Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans. Known in the 18th century as the Place d’Armes, the historic park is a popular site for television broadcasts and music festivals, including the French Quarter Festival and Caroling in the Square.
Continue walking around the square along Decatur Street, across from Café Du Monde, the famous coffee-and-beignets stand. This block of Decatur is an assembly spot for horse-drawn-carriage tours.
Walk to St. Peter Street, turn right, and head one more block back to Chartres Street. The tour ends here, but be sure to check out the Back of the Quarter and the French Market/Riverfront area, each covered in the next two walks.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Acme Oyster House acmeoyster.com, 724 Iberville St., 504-522-5973
Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com, 716 Iberville St., 504-522-2467
Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar felixs.com, 739 Iberville St., 504-522-4440
Bourbon House bourbonhouse.com, 144 Bourbon St., 504-522-0111
Galatoire’s galatoires.com, 209 Bourbon St., 504-525-2021
Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House ruebourbon.com/oldabsinthehouse, 240 Bourbon St., 504-523-3181
Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans sonesta.com/royalneworleans, 300 Bourbon St., 504-586-0300
Restaurant R’evolution revolutionnola.com, 777 Bienville St., 504-553-2277
Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse irvinmayfield.com, 300 Bourbon St., 504-553-2299
Famous Door 339 Bourbon St., 504-598-4334
Chris Owens Club chrisowensclub.net, 500 Bourbon St., 504-523-6400
Tropical Isle tropicalisle.com, 600 Bourbon St., 504-529-1702
Saints and Sinners saintsandsinnersnola.com, 627 Bourbon St., 504-528-9307
Preservation Hall preservationhall.com, 726 St. Peter St., 504-522-2841
Pat O’Brien’s patobriens.com, 718 St. Peter St., 504-525-4823
Historic New Orleans Collection hnoc.org, 522 Royal St., 504-523-4662
Louisiana Supreme Court lasc.org, 400 Royal St., 504-310-2300
Brennan’s brennansneworleans.com, 417 Royal St., 504-525-9711
New Orleans Police Department, Eighth District nola.gov/nopd, 334 Royal St., 504-658-6080
Vintage 329 vintage329.com, 329 Royal St., 504-525-2262
Carousel Bar & Lounge, Hotel Monteleone hotelmonteleone.com, 214 Royal St., 504-523-3341
SoBou sobounola.com, 310 Chartres St., 504-552-4095
Kingfish cocktailbarneworleans.com, 337 Chartres St., 504-598-5005
K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen chefpaul.com/kpaul, 416 Chartres St., 504-596-2530
Napoleon House napoleonhouse.com, 500 Chartres St., 504-524-9752
Pharmacy Museum pharmacymuseum.org, 514 Chartres St., 504-565-8027
Doris Metropolitan dorismetropolitan.com, 620 Chartres St., 504-267-3500
Sylvain sylvainnola.com, 625 Chartres St., 504-265-8123
Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré lepetittheatre.com, 616 St. Peter St., 504-522-2081
Tableau tableaufrenchquarter.com, 616 St. Peter St., 504-934-3463
