Romantic Things to Do in New Orleans
The last time I traveled to New Orleans, I had just begun dating my fiancé. We’d known each other a few weeks and I invited him to travel with me to New Orleans for a trade show. We flew separately and met up at the Pontchartrain Hotel in the Garden District. Two years later and engaged, we both knew what to expect on our second trip to New Orleans as a couple.
We arrived in March when the weather was sunny and cool (though still very vulnerable to hurricanes) and the crawfish were in season. After checking in and having dinner at the hotel, we were ready to enjoy our Friday night, but I wanted to avoid Bourbon Street (having had enough of it on my two or three previous trips). Here are a few romantic things to do in New Orleans.
Kiss on a Streetcar
Take a streetcar and let it take you across the city. Some of them run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A single rides costs $1.25 and a single-day pass costs $3.
The historic St. Charles Streetcar is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world, running in 1835. There was no air conditioning in the trolleys, but the open windows made for a nice a breeze. A ride takes about 45 minutes each way and passes through the Central Business District, Audubon Park, and Tulane.
Dance to Music on Frenchman Street
Frenchman Street is a small road in Faubourg Marigny, a neighborhood adjacent to the French Quarter. It is known as one of the best spots for jazz music among locals. My fiancé and I strolled up and down the short blocks, checking out the local artist exhibitions in ally. There was not a lot to eat. Among a half-dozen musical options, we decided that D.B.A was the best for music. This was a good choice because it was exactly the sort of modern New Orleans jazz I was hoping for. Though reservations were required, we managed to gain entrance by arriving before the crowds.
Enjoy Breakfast at Windsor Court
Windsor Court is one of the most luxurious independently owned hotels in New Orleans. A harp plays at tea hour in the entrance of the hotel, which is inspired by Regent aesthetic. My fiancé and I have a tradition of booking a table for breakfast at Grill Room, where I order the crawfish and andouille omelet, a seasonal specialty.
Stroll through the Garden District
At the Washington & St. Charles stop, we dropped by the noteworthy Garden District Bookshop , which closes at 6, and looked through the gates of Lafayette Cemetery No 2. Around the corner, Hot Tin at the Pontchartrain Hotel has one of the best rooftops in the city. Brunch at Commanders Palace and a night at Columns Hotel are also highly recommended.
Go Shopping on Magazine Street
The following day, we scheduled an appointment at Mignon Faget, a New Orleans jeweler with gorgeous metalwork and feminine designs. Next, we had an appointment with a black-owned spa called NOLA Organic Spa. After our appointment, we visited the antique shops and strolled past independent boutiques along Magazine Street.
The next time I visit Magazine Street, I have to book reservations for dinner at Coquette, a 15-year old restaurant in a 150-year-old structure that offers contemporary southern cuisine with an emphasis on locally sourced product and international inspiration. They were booked weeks before my trip!
Sample Tastings at the Sazerac House
From Windsor Court, we walked to The Sazerac House and took a tour of the museum, which offered no shortage of tastings, exhibits, seminars and demonstrations dedicated to the 200 year old company’s array of famous alcohol products. I had no idea that Myer’s Rum was made by the same company as Southern Comfort. And I wasn’t aware that Peychad’s Bitters had such a mysterious ingredient deck. Despite the comprehensive exhibition, I did not enjoy the taste of a sazerac.
