Char Thian of the Ritz-Carlton in beautiful New Orleans, LA offers her favorite secret spots around NOLA. Of course she’s a bit biased about the hotel, but then again…it’s the Ritz-Carlton so she has reason to be.
The Maison Orleans (Club Level) wing of The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is a find. This exclusive private key access hotel-within-a-hotel features 75 rooms and is appointed in a residential style. Club Level Concierges assist guests with requests large and small while the Recovery Concierge helps those who imbibed too much on nearby (one block away) Bourbon Street. This upscale B&B style property is a haven from the revelry just outside its doors.
RESTAURANTS:
Breakfast:
- Camellia Grill (fantastic experience; helpful when it comes to a hangover; order a chili cheese omelet)
- Stanley (on Jackson Square; not a greasy spoon diner; really great food; order the Stanley)
- Ruby Slipper (consistently ranked as one of the top breakfast spots)
Lunch:
- Camellia Grill (see above)
- Johnny’s Po-Boys (shrimp po-boy)
- Domenica (one block from the hotel; great pizzas that you can share)
- Deanie’s (seafood po-boy and cold draft beer) http://www.deanies.com/
- Napoleon (order a Pimm’s cup and a muffaletta)
Brunch:
- Sylvain (best new restaurant in New Orleans. Period.)
- Café Amelie (you’ll need reservations via opentable.com; fantastic brunch on Royal Street)
Dinner:
- 3 Muses (on Frenchmen; great food and music)
- Sylvain (best new restaurant in New Orleans. Period)
- Ste. Marie (another great new restaurant)
After Hours:
- Hermes Bar (located inside New Orleans’ oldest restaurant, Antoine’s; live music on weekends; best kept secret in NOLA)
- Frenchmen Street (great music scene; Blue Nile, DBA, Apple Barrel, Snug Harbor, etc.)
- Irvin Mayfield’s (nice music club on Bourbon Street)
- Café du Monde
SHOPPING:
- Royal Street (spend an afternoon enjoying this retail area)
- Magazine Street (spend a day enjoying this retail and restaurant 6 mile stretch)
MUSEUMS:
- National World War II Museum
Best Resource for Nightlife, etc.: www.bestofneworleans.com
