Hidden Nola 2023

MARIGNY

A djacent to the French Quarter, the Faubourg Marigny is an offbeat residential area of the city with a host of funky bars and restaurants. Frenchmen Street is a mecca for live, local music both inside storied jazz clubs and in spontaneous renditions on street corners. Bounded by Esplanade Avenue, St. Claude Avenue, and Press Street, the Marigny has a French Quarter feel with many colorful Creole cottages and shotgun-style homes. Full-time residents support local bars and restaurants, art galleries, thrift stores, and neighborhood businesses along main thoroughfare Elysian Fields Avenue and hyper-local Franklin Street. On Mardi Gras day, the Marigny comes alive with elaborate costumes and handmade floats during the St. Anne Parade.

Eat + Drink

Paladar 511 is a neighborhood restaurant featuring house made pastas, pizza, gulf seafood, and seasonal local produce. Marigny Brasserie in the heart of Frenchmen Street serves up classic Creole dishes like gumbo and red beans and rice. For worldly flavors, Silk Road serves up a unique combination of Indian, Asian, and Creole food and Budsi's features Thai street food. For coffee head to Who Dat Coffee Café , an eclectic spot with sidewalk seats that also serves cocktails, and The Orange Couch , a modern coffeehouse. The St. Roch Market is chef-centric food hall with a thoughtfully-curated mix of local food and beverage talent. Storied local bars include no-frills Buffa’s , which has live music several nights a week, R Bar , and Hi-Ho Lounge , which draws indie bands and DJ sets. Allways Cabaret & Lounge is an alternative theater and bar that puts on plays, burlesque shows, and indie music concerts in funky digs. Along bustling Frenchmen Street, d.b.a., Spotted Cat Music Club , and Blue Nile host the city’s best jazz and local bands. One-of-a-kind dive bar, The John , has non-functioning commodes along one wall, which is how the bar got its name. For a higher-end drinking experience, The Elysian Bar inside Hotel Peter and Paul serves guests and locals in its "jewel box" bar.

The Elysian Bar Photo by Chris Granger

Shop | Play | Visit

Thrift your way through the Marigny at Vintage Voyage that sells unique clothing, handmade costumes, head dresses, and other curiosities and C’Mere that’s filled with colorful and fun local art, handmade goods, and vintage clothes. Frenchmen Art & Books is a funky independent bookstore offering a large selection of new and used titles, plus art prints and Louisiana Music Factory has your music collection covered with new and used records spanning all genres. Washington Square Park is an urban park with benches and towering oak trees.

Sleep

Mardi Gras Day in the Marigny Photo by David Grunfeld

Hotel Peter and Paul is a hip, stunning hotel set in a former church and school dating back to 1860. The Royal Street Inn above the R Bar consists of five rooms that range in size from humble pied-a-terre to “quasi palatial suite” with a wrap around second floor balcony.

HIDDEN NOLA

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