part of a franchise owned by Saints quarterback Drew Brees. The newcomer to the block is Johnny Sánchez, a taqueria co-owned by John Besh and Mexican American chef Aarón Sánchez, a regular judge on Chopped on the Food Network. The restaurant opened in the fall of 2014.It’s not included in this tour because of ongoing construction, but the South Market District, a redevelopment project two blocks off Poydras between Baronne Street and Loyola Avenue, promises to transform a barren part of the Central Business District into a spectacular complex of luxury apartments, entertainment venues, restaurants, and shops.
Walk six blocks to Camp Street. The Hale Boggs Federal Building and Courthouse takes up the block between Camp and Magazine. New Orleans has long been known as a hotbed of political corruption, and this is where many elected officials, including former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards, met their fates.Three blocks from the Courthouse, between Tchoupitoulas and St. Peter Streets, is the Piazza d’Italia, built in the late 1970s as a monument to the city’s Italian American community. At the Loews New Orleans Hotel, in the same block, is one of the Brennan family’s top-rated restaurants, Café Adelaide. The eatery is named for the late Adelaide Brennan, a hat-loving, larger-than-life Auntie Mame type. On Saturdays and Sundays, “Brunch with Hat-itude” includes three free martinis (or “hat”-tinis) for those who don hats. (Baseball caps don’t count.)
Walk another block to Fulton Street. Closed to traffic, Fulton is an entertainment mall featuring such restaurants as Grand Isle and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, along with the upscale bowling alley—yes, upscale—Fulton Alley. Every winter, Harrah’s New Orleans Casino presents “Miracle on Fulton Street,” converting the walkway into a wonderland of lights, decorations, and snowfall.
Walk another block to Convention Center Boulevard and back to the Hilton. If you’re hungry, grab a bite at Drago’s Seafood, an iconic restaurant famous for its succulent chargrilled oysters.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Harrah’s New Orleans harrahsneworleans.com, 228 Poydras St., 800-427-7247
Mother’s Restaurant mothersrestaurant.net, 401 Poydras St., 504-523-9656
Happy’s Irish Pub happysirishpub.com, 1009 Poydras St., 504-304-9236
Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar walk-ons.com, 1009 Poydras St., 504-309-6530
Little Gem Saloon littlegemsaloon.com, 445 S. Rampart St., 504-267-4863
Mercedes-Benz Superdome superdome.com, 1500 Sugar Bowl Drive, 504-587-3663
Borgne borgnerestaurant.com, 601 Loyola Ave., 504-613-3860
Johnny Sánchez New Orleans johnnysanchezrestaurant.com, 930 Poydras St., 504-304-6615
Café Adelaide cafeadelaide.com, 300 Poydras St., 504-595-3305
Grand Isle Restaurant grandislerestaurant.com, 575 Convention Center Blvd., 504-520-8540
Ruth’s Chris Steak House ruthschris.com, 525 Fulton St., 504-587-7099
Fulton Alley fultonalley.com, 600 Fulton St., 504-208-5569
Drago’s Seafood Restaurant dragosrestaurant.com, 2 Poydras St., 504-584-3911
ROUTE SUMMARY
1 Begin walk at the Hilton Riverside hotel.
2 Cross Poydras Street and turn left.
3 Walk 16 blocks down Poydras to South Robertson Street.
4 Turn left to cross Poydras.
5 Walk 16 blocks back down Poydras to the Hilton Riverside.
Jazz musicians Kermit Ruffins and Shamarr Allen are among the regular performers gracing the stage at the Little Gem Saloon.
4 FRENCH QUARTER: WHERE HISTORY MEETS FUN
BOUNDARIES: Iberville St., Bourbon St., St. Ann St., Decatur St.
DISTANCE: 1.66 miles
PARKING: Several garages and lots along N. Peters St.
PUBLIC TRANSIT: Riverfront Streetcar, St. Charles Ave. Streetcar
To much of the outside world, the French Quarter is synonymous with Bourbon Street, that often sleazy yet strangely magical playground where you can let loose with a Hurricane or a Hand Grenade, go crazy for a pair of beads, or party so hard that when you wake up the next day, you just might wonder who you are and where you’ve been.
But the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré, as it’s known in French, is a hotbed of fascinating history, culinary artistry, and mesmerizing music. It’s the antiques shops of Royal Street, the artists of Jackson Square, and the jazz musicians of Preservation Hall. It’s Friday lunch at Galatoire’s or late-night drinks at the Napoleon House.
The French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, developed after the city’s founding in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. Most of the historic buildings in the Quarter were built in the late 18th century, after two devastating fires destroyed most of the old French Colonial architecture. At the time, New Orleans was under Spanish rule, so much of what you’ll see—from wrought-iron balconies to common-wall brick houses—reflects that period.
There’s so much to do and see in the Quarter that just one walking tour wouldn’t do it justice. Therefore, we offer three separate walks: this one, along with the Back of the Quarter (Walk 5) and French Market/Riverfront (Walk 6).
Begin at North Peters and Iberville Streets. Walk four blocks down Iberville. In the fourth block, you’ll pass two classic seafood eateries: Acme Oyster House to your left and Felix’s to your right. Both places have bars where you can take in the art of oyster shucking. Also on this block are the higher-end Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse and Bourbon House, both run by restaurateur Dickie Brennan, who with other members of the Brennan family owns some of the city’s top restaurants.
Turn right on Bourbon and brace yourself for the adult-themed playground that lies ahead. Ironically, one of the city’s most critically acclaimed restaurants, the legendary Galatoire’s, is among the first places you’ll pass. Galatoire’s dates back to 1905, when Jean Galatoire brought his culinary talents to New Orleans from the village of Pardies, France. Known
