Hidden gems in New Orleans
Skip the tourist circuit. These New Orleans spots are the ones locals actually send their out-of-town friends to.
Top spots in New Orleans
French Quarter
CultureVieux Carré
Wrought-iron balconies, Jackson Square artists and bourbon-soaked nights.
Garden District Walk
OutdoorsGarden District
Antebellum mansions, Lafayette Cemetery and the St. Charles streetcar.
City Park
OutdoorsMid-City
1,300 acres bigger than Central Park — sculpture garden + storyland.
St. Louis Cathedral
CultureJackson Square
The country's oldest continuously active cathedral, the city's signature steeple.
Where to eat
Commander's Palace
$$$$Creole · Garden District
Turquoise institution since 1893 — 25¢ martini lunch.
Cochon
$$$Cajun · Warehouse District
Donald Link's whole-hog Cajun — book ahead.
Café du Monde
$Café / Beignets · French Quarter
Open 24/7 since 1862 — beignets and café au lait, cash only.
Willie Mae's Scotch House
$$Southern · Treme
James Beard 'America's Classic' fried chicken — go for lunch.
Compère Lapin
$$$Caribbean-Creole · Warehouse District
Nina Compton's curried goat and rum-forward room.
Frequently asked
- Locals' under-the-radar picks include French Quarter, Garden District Walk, City Park. These are the places that don't show up on the first page of mainstream travel guides.