Hey guys,
I thought it would be beneficial to start a separate thread where members can easily find hotel, restaurant, activity recommendations while visiting Tulane. This thread will be solely for the purpose of obtaining information about where to eat, where to stay, and what to do.
Feel free to post any recommendations, or ask for recommendations! I will start off the thread by copying my original list.
Hotels:
Park View Guest House (uptown)- Bed & Breakfast directly across the street from Tulane. More of an old time feel and more inexpensive that your average hotel downtown.
Hotel Indigo (uptown)- Less than 3 miles from Tulane, located directly on the St. Charles streetcar line. Modern hotel (very popular for families to stay at due to proximity to campus) with fair prices.
Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery (downtown: arts district)- More of a large boutique hotel. 3 blocks from french quarter. Not the nicest boutique hotel, but affordable and great location, next to great coffee shop (Revelator Coffee) and food (St. James Cheese Co.).
Windsor Court (downtown: central business district)- One of the nicer hotels in New Orleans. 3 minute walk to Canal St. (popular street). Higher end hotel with ‘high tea’ and good location. Further away from the ‘hustle/bustle’ of downtown.
Ritz Carlton (downtown)- Pretty hotel but located directly on Canal St. which can get loud/crowded. Rooms are big and very close to Bourbon St.
Ace Hotel (downtown: arts district)- Amazing location (near South Market District). I recommend staying there! It is a younger crowd, but has an amazing lobby, rooftop bar (and pool), and music venue. Amazing restaurants inside and very popular hotel.
Hotel Summary:
Hotel Indigo if you want to be close to campus.
Ace Hotel if you want a newer hotel in a great location.
Windsor Court if you want a higher end NOLA hotel located downtown.
Food:
Brunch:
Atchafalaya is located near Tulane’s campus and is one of my favorite brunch spots. They have an amazing Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict along with a famous ‘make your own bloody mary bar.’ This is a favorite of Tulane students and is actually owned by a former Tulanian. They have outside seating and it is located right off of the St. Charles Streetcar line.
Lunch Option 1:
Satsuma Cafe is a favorite of Tulane students. It is located on Maple St. which is a very popular street for Tulane students to spend their time at. Satsuma has all fresh squeezed juices, soups, salads, sandwiches. If you get there early enough, you will not have to wait in the long line that occurs around brunch. It is further down Maple St. so you will be able to see all of the great places that are on Maple St. (Favori, Bruno’s, Maple St. Patisserie, Waffles on Maple, Starbucks, etc.).
Lunch Option 2:
Steins Deli is very popular. This ‘dive’ of a deli is located on Magazine St. next to District Donuts (go there for a quick dessert one day). Amazing pastrami sandwich.
Lunch Option 3:
Parkway Bakery & Tavern is in Mid-City and also my favorite Po-Boy spot in NOLA. I recommend getting their early for lunch (the line gets long). Order the surf & turf po boy.
Dinner Option 1:
Peche is one of my favorite restaurants in NOLA. It has won a James Beard award and Restaurant of the Year. They have a great mix of seafood, and southern food. This is a nice introduction to the flavors of the south without going too extreme with crawfish and gumbo. Peche is located on lower Magazine St. right on Julia St. which is where all of the art galleries are. Julia St. is an amazing area to walk around, and is where all of the art galleries are. I recommend ordering the whole fish, fried bread, tuna tartar, and oysters.
Dinner Option 2:
Shaya is also located on Magazine St. and serves Isreali food. It won ‘Restaurant of the Year’ in 2015 and is truly a ‘must try’ place. The atmosphere and interior of Shaya is amazing, with a very large courtyard to enjoy the weather. No need to order the entrees, the small plates and appetizers are plenty! I recommend the Cauliflower Hummus and Avocado Toast.
Dinner Option 3:
Cochon is the most ‘southern’ of the 3 restaurants. It is great NOLA food for a fair price. It is a casual restaurant located right next to Cochon Butcher, which is an amazing sandwich shop.
Dinner Option 4:
Boucherie is located near Tulane’s campus (uptown) and has some amazing dishes. I highly recommend getting the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding and also order the short ribs.
Dinner Option 5:
Domenica- Located in the Roosevelt Hotel: was voted ‘Top 10 Best Italian in the Country. I highly recommend getting the Roasted Cauliflower.
Dinner Option 6:
Willa Jean is located in the South Market District. Although they have an amazing breakfast, brunch and dessert menu, dinner is an amazing option. I highly recommend getting the Milk & Cookies. They also have an amazing brunch with tartines and a ‘biscuit bar.’
Things to Do:
Audubon Park- take a walk through an amazing park, right next to campus. Keep walking until you hit The Fly. This is where you will find many students hanging out by the water (Mississippi River) with friends, music, and crawfish.
Plum St. Snoballs- order a small pint of nectar cream with condensed milk and see how NOLA locals stay cool on hot days. Very close to campus and featured on Travel Channel.
City Park- located in Mid-City, this park is over 2x the size of Central Park in NY. Take a walk through the sculpture garden (free).
Cafe Du Monde- located right across from Jackson Square, this is an institution that serves nothing but Beignets. Just walk in, seat yourself, and enjoy this famous dessert. Cafe Du Monde never closes!
Frenchman St.- while tourists love Bourbon St. locals love Frenchman St. Walk down Frenchman St. and listen to live music at over 20 different bars. The entire street is composed of live music! Also stop by the Frenchman Art Market located on Frenchman St.
@TulaneMaddie22 @TulaneBarry
Can either of you recommend some Jazz places? If that’s not your jam, that’s fine, but if you know any places, I’d love to know about them.
@UofMorMSU Preservation Hall for sure! Also Snug Harbor, and Palm Court Jazz Cafe.
Jeremy Davenport has a standing gig at the Davenport Lounge at the Ritz.
The Apple Barrel and Spotted Cat on Frenchman.
Irvin Mayfields Jazz Playhouse (Although he has recently disassociated with them so I don’t knwo the fate of that club- its in the Royal Sonesta.
Maison Bourbon Jazz Club.
Check Offbeat and Gambit Weekly for music recommendations when you visit. They update weekly.
@UofMorMSU - My favorite place for music is Frenchmen St.I prefer Frenchmen because some of the best live music can be heard just by walking up and down the street. Every bar/club on that street has live music, and most do not have a cover charge. Vaso is one of my favorite places on Frenchmen St. to listen to some amazing NOLA music. Rebirth Brass Band is a very famous group in New Orleans, and they tend to play at the Maple Leaf Bar, which is actually just a quick Streetcar ride from Tulane. If you can see the Hot 8 Brass Band at the Howlin’ Wolf, I would! Howlin’ Wolf is a great place to see live music, without spending too much money. Of course, Preservation Hall is a New Orleans institution located in the French Quarter. It is over 40 years old, but still features some of the best Jazz/NOLA music you will hear.
@dolphnlvr6 has provided some great recommendations as well. Spotted Cat and Blue Nile are 2 great music venues on Frenchmen St.
@TulaneBarry Yep, Rebirth plays at the Maple Leaf every Tuesday.