A Day in the French Quarter

Welcome to the French Quarter! A magical place where you feel like you’ve stepped back in time with beautiful French-inspired architecture, jazz music playing in the streets, and some of the best food around the world. The French Quarter is so quaint, and the perfect place to spend a day.

Being a regular in the French Quarter, I put together a whole day worth of activities that I feel are must-sees in this little historic corner of New Orleans.  

Beignets at Cafe Du Monde

The best way to start your morning in the French Quarter is at Cafe Du Monde with a few beignets and a Cafe Au Lait. For those of you who do not know what a beignet is, it is basically a puffed pastry donut, that is covered in a mountain of powdered sugar. Cafe Au Lait is coffee with milk. A little tip from the pros (well Mitchell and I), we take some of the excess powdered sugar from our beignets and shake it off into our Cafe Au Lait to add a little added sweetness.

Now folks, there might be a line a mile long outside Cafe Du Monde – DO NOT STAND IN IT. I repeat, do not stand in it. One thing that tourists do not know that Cafe Du Monde is seat yourself. If there is an open table, even if they haven’t had a chance to clean it, sit there. Someone will be with you within the first 2 minutes after you sit down. Do not be that tourist that waits in line 45 minutes for beignets. Also Cafe Du Monde is cash only, so make sure to stop at an ATM if need be.

Shopping in the French Market

After your belly is full of beignets, make your way to the French Market. It is approximately a 5 minute walk from Cafe Du Monde, and would be the second stop of my day. The French Market stretches along 6 blocks and has been around in its current form since 1791. It actually goes back even further in time as the site was once used as a Native American trading post. You can find anything from New Orleans souvenirs, to authentic crafts and trinkets, to just about anything in the French Market.

There is also a plethora of food vendors inside the French Market. People selling fresh fruit smoothies, gator bites, fresh oysters, crawfish pies, and of course drinks are throughout the whole market.

Snap a picture at the LaBranche House

Might be one of the most instagrammable spots in all of New Orleans. On the corner of Royal and St Peter, is the LaBranche House. If you’re looking for those iconic French Quarter homes with Spanish lace cast iron grillwork and hanging ferns, there are quite a few in the French Quarter, however LaBranche House is the most famous.

A little hint to get a good shot, wait until there are no cars coming (look all four directions), dart into the middle of the street and strike a pose.

Stroll down Royal Street

Royal Street is home to the majority of the art galleries, antique shops, and fun little stores. Take some time to pop into some and you never know what you may find. Also Royal Street is extremely beautiful with French architecture on almost every building down the street. Don’t be surprised if you hear some local jazz bands playing on the side of the street. Royal Street is where a lot of the culture of the French Quarter lives.

Lunch at Mother’s

So by now, you are probably starting to get a little hungry as you are strolling around the French Quarter. Now this lunch spot is a little hike, and not necessarily in the French Quarter, just right outside, and is home to some of the best po’ boys in New Orleans. A po’ boy is a sandwich with either meat or fried seafood on a French baguette. Louisiana is famous for them- and your girl loves a good shrimp po’ boy.

When you first arrive at the corner of Poydras and Tchoupitoulas, you will notice the long line of people waiting outside to get in to order. That line will only get longer, so make sure to line up as early as possible. Don’t worry, the line goes by very quickly, in fact from the moment we stood in line until we paid our bill took just under one hour. The folks working at Mother’s really know how to feed a large crowd in the quickest, most efficient way possible.

Once you get up to the counter, make sure you know what to order because the process goes quickly. Order your food. Pay for it. Get a ticket. Find a seat. They will bring your food to you. It is so yummy, and the perfect lunch spot in New Orleans.

Exploring Jackson Square

Jackson Square is the central hub of the French Quarter. With the St. Louis Cathedral towering over the square, it is one of the most recognized views in all of New Orleans. Jackson Square is full of character. With local artists surrounding the outer gates of the square, you can find some of the most unique and authentic art in New Orleans. Psychic readers, tarot card readers, musicians, and street performers all congregate outside of the cathedral’s doors to provide entertainment to people passing through.

Happy Hour at Pat O’Brien’s

Pat O’Brien’s is the home of the famous Hurricane cocktail. If you find yourself in New Orleans, you will probably find yourself drinking one. Pat O’Brien’s is one of New Orlean’s most known bar. With an indoor bar, and a massive outdoor patio, Pat O’Brien’s is the place for happy hour. Grab a table outside and enjoy some sun, or sit inside and enjoy the air conditioning. There is also a dueling piano bar inside Pat O’Brien’s every night for added fun. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday it begins at 2pm and Monday-Thursday it starts at 6pm.

Dinner at Irene’s

Now onto dinner. New Orleans is home to some of the best cuisine in the world. To be honest with you, Mitch and I rarely eat dinner in the French Quarter because a lot of places tend to be more touristy, and we like the authentic places. However, Irene’s is one exception. Irene’s is in the heart of the French Quarter on Bienville street. It was once a French Quarter secret, where not a lot of people knew of this hidden gem. But soon the smells of garlic and the line waiting outside the door to get a reservation soon gave Irene’s away to the public. Irene’s is an upscale Italian seafood restaurant. It is fine dining, so gentleman don’t forget your jacket and no jeans or shorts allowed. Each dish is presented beautifully, you can tell it’s made from the freshest ingredients, and it is just overall an amazing dining experience. You will need to make reservations beforehand though.

Nighttime Ghost Tour

To end a very eventful and jam-packed day in the French Quarter, a nighttime ghost tour is the perfect way. New Orleans is known as one of the most haunted cities in America, so why not learn a little about why on a ghost tour. The only tour company I use in New Orleans, and all over the world is Free Tours By Foot. This company is amazing. All of their tours are free, and you tip your guide as you please or what you think the tour was worth. They tend to be more intimate, you learn so much, and they are fun and enjoyable. I have taken the New Orleans ghost tour twice, and each time did not disappoint. The guides tend to tell more historical stories and ghost tales. Unlike some ghost tour companies that try to scare you, dress up in silly costumes, Free Tours By Foot is classier and did I mention free?!

If after the ghost tour you are still ready for more and not about to collapse on your hotel bed, then of course hit up Bourbon Street for a wild time.

The French Quarter is unlike any part of New Orleans. There is so much history, culture, and something in every corner. Sometimes just wandering around and enjoying the architecture and the pastel buildings or sitting on a balcony enjoying a nice meal and people watching is always fun.

Cheers y’all!

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