Page 15 - Experience Magazine Fall 2023

convention center is Two Chicks Café, while a nearby
“hidden gem” is Vyoone’s (run by two dynamic local
women who mix French-Creole cuisine and beautiful
hospitality in a pretty setting).
Southwest of the Warehouse District is the sprawling
Uptown neighborhood featuring the renowned
Garden District. You can opt to take the St. Charles
Avenue streetcar to experience this part of town, whether
you just want to drink in the tree-lined streets and
stunning Classic Revival mansions, get some high-
end retail therapy along Magazine Street, explore the
GET TO KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOODS: FOOD Audubon Zoo or one of the fascinating above-ground
AND MORE cemeteries (like Lafayette Cemetery #1), or indulge
- - - It’s important to know that New Orleans is made up in a gin fizz and Creole cuisine at the venerable, award-
of an eclectic mix of neighborhoods, each with its own winning Commander’s Palace restaurant (shown
unique character. There’s something to suit every taste in below, center). Other great dining options in this part
each part of town, whether you’re looking for authentic of town include Coquette (offering gracious Southern
live music, historic and photogenic architecture, hospitality combined with inspired modern Southern
memorable meals or a vibrant nightlife scene. Navigating cuisine), San Lorenzo at the Hotel St. Vincent (a
the city and its downtown neighborhoods can be easily chic, Amalfi-inspired spot with house-made pastas)
achieved on foot, by taxi or ride-hailing service, or by and Mister Mao (featuring small plates drawing from
experiencing a ride on one of New Orleans’ historic Mexican, Indian, and Southeast Asian cuisines).
streetcars – particularly the St. Charles Avenue line Just a short distance northwest of the Warehouse District
(shown above). Running since 1835, it is the oldest is the Central Business District (CBD)/Downtown –
continuously operating streetcar line in the world. home to skyscrapers, rooftop bars, the Superdome and
The Barrett-Jackson auction site at the Ernest N. a number of upscale hotels and cocktail lounges. Here,
Morial Convention Center is in the Arts/Warehouse too, you’ll find several restored theaters – including the
District, a more contemporary, walkable area of Saenger, the Orpheum and the Joy – that host impressive
the city known for its trendy restaurants, industrial acts and Broadway shows. For pre- or post-theater nibbles,
renovated warehouses, and art galleries and museums try Bésame (serving tapas with a focus on fresh Gulf
(the National WWII Museum is outstanding for seafood, incorporating Latin and Caribbean flavors), while
history buffs; another great option is the Ogden tucked away in the Wyndham Garden Hotel is Namaste
Museum of Southern Art). Top dining spots here Nola, offering both Southern and Northern Indian dishes
include Compère Lapin (serving creative dishes that on its vast menu. Also nearby is Olive, a Mediterranean
blend Caribbean flavors with French technique), eatery that brings homestyle Israeli street food to the table.
Meril (Chef Emeril Lagasse’s lively contemporary Less than two miles north of the Convention Center is
American restaurant) and Pêche Seafood Grill for what many call the Crown Jewel of New Orleans – the
simply prepared, delicious coastal seafood. A great fabulous French Quarter. Founded in 1718, it is one
breakfast and lunch spot right across the street from the
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF NEW ORLEANS AND COMPANY

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