Where to Stay in New Orleans | Walk Everywhere
Are you planning a trip to New Orleans? If you don’t want to rent a car, and instead walk everywhere, I’m going to tell you exactly where to stay in New Orleans!
The vibe is amazing for music, fresh food, and entertainment at this outstanding destination in the Southern US! Read more below to find out what part of New Orleans my husband and I chose to stay in during our recent trip.
Is It Worth Visiting New Orleans?
Let me help you decide by giving you a taste of what this fabulous city has to offer.
New Orleans is a city full of vibrant culture, music, and amazing food. When you’re there, visiting the French Quarter is a MUST! It’s packed with history, unique shops, and live music on every corner.
Don’t miss a stroll down Bourbon Street, especially in the evening when it comes alive. For a more relaxed vibe, head to the Garden District to admire the beautiful, historic homes and take a leisurely walk through Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.
If you’re into museums, the National WWII Museum is a must-see and offers an in-depth look at the war’s impact.
Short on time? Grab my FREE 3-Day Itinerary for the ‘Big Easy Below!
When it comes to food, New Orleans is a paradise. Start your day with beignets and café au lait at Café du Monde – it’s a classic for a reason.
For lunch, try a po’ boy sandwich from Parkway Bakery and Tavern, they’ve been perfecting them for over 100 years. If you love seafood, make sure to have some charbroiled oysters at Drago’s. And you can’t leave without trying some gumbo or jambalaya – both packed with rich flavors.
For dinner, Commander’s Palace in the Garden District offers an upscale dining experience with fantastic Creole cuisine.
Whether you’re there for the sights or the eats, New Orleans will leave you wanting more. If you’re looking for a breakdown on The Best Tours to do in New Orleans, and Walk Everywhere check out my other post.
Why I Chose This Destination
On the more personal note, New Orleans has always been on my bucket list of destinations to try. For years my husband and I talked about going there. Finally an opportunity presented itself.
My husband inherited a small amount of money from his late Grandmother. He really wanted to take a trip with just the two of us since we had been traveling with our son since he was born 11 years ago.
We thought that it might be a nice way to celebrate his Grandma who loved life to it’s fullest, and always took the opportunity to appreciate the money she had.
Initially I was looking at the Palm Springs area including Joshua Tree. I’ve never really been to a desert location, and it intrigued me. It also seemed like a very handy 3 hour flight direct from my city.
New Orleans on the other hand was a bit of a milk run from Edmonton in Alberta… but let me tell you… WAS IT EVER WORTH IT!!!
Who Should Visit this City
We LOVED New Orleans! We saw SO much and had an absolute blast. I 100% recommend this destination to anyone looking to have a fun weekend away with their spouse or a fun girls/guys trip.
There are also a lot of things for kids to do; the history and culture is amazing to learn. I would although I recommend staying away from Bourbon St late in the evenings with young kids.
Food, drinks, music, sights! Everything was amazing.
Where to Stay in New Orleans to Walk Everywhere?
When we finally decided we were going to pull the trigger on this destination, I immediately started researching the best places to stay. We ended up choosing October as a shoulder season to travel; it is cooler there (around 20C everyday).
Obviously, everyone has heard of Bourbon St. Heck, we even have a Bourbon St in West Edmonton Mall. IT.DOES.NOT.COMPARE. I looked at properties to stay at through Airbnb on that bustling street, but after reading the reviews of all parties that lasted until the crack of dawn, I was a little wary.
We also wanted a place where we could enjoy a few libations and not worry about driving a car.
The more I researched, the more Frenchman St popped up in my searches. It sounded perfect. It was only a few minutes walk from the main part of Bourbon St and Royal St (antique shops), it had live music, great restaurants, and best of all – it was geared more towards LOCALS looking to get away from the drunk tourists on Bourbon.
We found a great Airbnb WITH a balcony. So even if we felt overstimulated from the noise and people of the nightlife, we could still enjoy a drink from high above and people watch. People watching is one of our favorite pastimes.
Staying on Frenchmen Street
We had this very spacious apartment to ourselves. We made breakfast every morning except 1, and spent most of the time on the balcony when we were there.
The building oozes charm and is a historic part of the Marigny neighborhood. I loved the beautiful vintage wood ceilings, floors and doors. The windows were floor to ceiling and they all opened up onto the wrap around balcony. The bathroom was on the smaller side but very serviceable with hot water.
This property is located on the corner of Frenchmen and Decatur, only minutes from the tram line and a 8 minute walk from Royal and Bourbon St. Below is a tattoo shop if the mood strikes you. I’ll post a link to the property at the bottom of this post.
What Activities are Nearby Frenchmen
There is so much to do within walking distance of this apartment! When we picked this location to stay in New Orleans, we wanted to concentrate on being able to walk to nearby amenities.
Across the street looking down Frenchmen are some great Jazz clubs including Maison, Bamboula’s, & the Spotted Cat (always a line up to get in).
There are also plenty of places to eat, including a great fried chicken place: Willie’s Chicken Shack. Across the street from Willie’s is the first LGBTQ+ friendly bookstore in New Orleans.
If you’re looking for true southern style food at reasonable prices; I recommend trying Verti Marte. It is a TINY convenience store that serves great home style cooking in the back. This was easily some of the best food we had while in New Orleans, and there are lots of places to try. It’s only a 7 minute walk from this Airbnb.
If you’re looking for a quiet relaxing vacation – New Orleans is not your place, friend. There is entertainment going on at what seems like all times of day.
From our balcony, the music blasted from the clubs all down the street until 1am midweek and 3am on Friday night. It far from bothered us; it was actually really wild! It was a such fun, unique experience and really far apart from anything we’d ever done before!! You just gotta embrace it!
FAQ
What Can You Do in NOLA Besides Party
There are SO many things to do, see and eat in NOLA. During the day, and all night you’ll find ghost & voodoo tours, sporting events, open air markets, antique shopping, great restaurants… the list goes on and on. You’d need to visit the city a few times to see and do it all!
The Famous Frenchmen Market got it’s name from the street of course, so staying on Frenchmen St will get you convenient access to the market! Lots of locals selling their wares, plenty of street food to try and an overall buzz in the atmosphere. There is also a plethora of really great art in the city.
Is New Orleans safe
When we picked a place to stay in New Orleans, we wanted to consider our safety. We felt safe walking together at night. We kept to well-lit areas, and didn’t drink too much so we didn’t know what we were doing. Like any city, it’s so important to keep an eye on your surroundings.
And although the houseless population is quite large here in New Orleans, and we heard that there can be a some crime of opportunity, we ran into no trouble at all.
Squeamish people need not apply; we noticed one homeless lady full on squatting against a doorway to relieve herself while on a ghost tour.
The houseless all seem to have dogs with them as well, just as a heads up. None of them ever bothered us, and we tried to keep to the well lit street of Decatur when walking back to Frenchmen Street late at night.
How many days in New Orleans
Our feet may have been sore from all the walking we did, but it was sure worth it!! I know if we hadn’t chose such an awesome place to stay in New Orleans (Frenchmen Street), they would have hurt so much more!
I would recommend anywhere from 3-7 days to really get a good feel for the city and culture.
If you’d like a copy of my 3-Day Itinerary for the very best things to do, see and eat in NOLA, download the free printable guide below!
Conclusion
Exploring the vibrant streets of New Orleans, particularly the eclectic charm of the Marigny district, was an unforgettable experience for my husband and I.
From the lively music scene to the rich cultural heritage, Frenchmen Street served as the perfect hub for our adventures. We thought this was the very best place to stay in New Orleans so that we could walk everywhere!
As I conclude this journey, I can’t help but reflect on the soulful melodies, the tantalizing flavors, and the warm hospitality that defines this city.
Whether you’re seeking a cozy boutique hotel or a charming Airbnb, I hope this guide has provided you with valuable insights for your own unforgettable stay in the Big Easy.
Until next time, ‘laissez les bons temps rouler’ – let the good times roll!
xoxo Tanya
If you’re looking for amazing tours to do while you’re walking around NOLA, check out The Best Tours to Do in New Orleans | Walk Everywhere
Below is a link to the Airbnb we stayed at.
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