Garden District
The Vibe
Southern elegance in its purest form—where Spanish moss drapes live oaks, and grand porches invite leisurely afternoons with mint juleps. The neighborhood moves at a slower pace than the French Quarter, attracting architecture lovers and celebrity mansion-spotters (Sandra Bullock, Beyoncé, and the late Anne Rice all own/owned homes here). Magazine Street offers casual boutique browsing with coffee breaks at Still Perkin' or French Truck. Wedding parties regularly pose under live oaks, and the streetcar's clang provides the soundtrack for this most genteel of American neighborhoods.
Description
New Orleans' most elegant residential neighborhood, developed by wealthy Americans after the Louisiana Purchase (1803) who built grand antebellum mansions to rival the French Creole aristocracy downtown. Tree-lined streets showcase stunning Greek Revival, Italianate, and Victorian homes surrounded by lush gardens with magnolias, live oaks, and jasmine. Magazine Street (6 miles of boutiques, galleries, and cafes) runs through the district, while the historic St. Charles Avenue streetcar (operating since 1835) connects to downtown. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (1833) with its above-ground tombs anchors the corner where Anne Rice set her Mayfair Witches novels.
Neighborhood Stats
Popular With
- Architecture Lovers
- Families
- Upscale Travelers
- Boutique Shoppers
Key Attributes
- Historic Mansions
- Elegant
- Magazine Street
- Streetcar
- Family-Friendly
Food Scene
Commander's Palace (1403 Washington Ave, since 1893) stands as New Orleans' culinary temple—7 James Beard Awards, legendary 25¢ martini lunches, jazz brunch with bread pudding soufflé, and famous alumni including Emeril Lagasse and Paul Prudhomme. Shaya (4213 Magazine St) serves James Beard Award-winning Israeli cuisine with wood-fired pita and lamb ragu hummus. Coquette (2800 Magazine St) delivers intimate tasting menus with local ingredients. Stein's Market (2207 Magazine St) offers Jewish deli classics and craft beer. Surrey's (4807 Magazine St) draws brunch lines for shrimp & grits and bananas foster French toast.