Best Bread Pudding in the French Quarter and Nearby

Double chocolate bread pudding at Red Fish Grill. Image courtesy of Red Fish Grill on Facebook

Although bread pudding is not a New Orleans (or even American) invention, it’s offered at many restaurants in the French Quarter and nearby, both the fine-dining and casual establishments. With a steady supply of French bread and no shortage of creativity, the New Orleans chefs have been concocting variations of the dessert ranging from traditional to new interpretations.

Most local chefs keep the bread pudding bread-based and sweet. Others may add their own twists to the sauce. You may also come across the savory versions, with cheese, chicken or Andouille sausage. One interpretation served in restaurants like Muriel’s and NOLA is pain perdu (the “lost bread”), a Creole cross between French toast and traditional bread pudding.

Since there’s no “right” way to make bread pudding, New Orleans’ own unique versions are worth exploring. Here are our recommendations for the best bread pudding in the French Quarter and nearby.

The Traditionals

Gumbo Shop

This French Quarter casual eatery offers lots of other Cajun staples beyond its three types of gumbo and has a lovely courtyard. The bread pudding here is the traditional version, served warm, with whiskey sauce. Try it a la carte, or as part of the prix fixe Creole dinner.

Mother’s Restaurant

This legendary eatery is located outside the French Quarter on Poydras Street in CBD. Mother’s has a casual, cafeteria-style approach and had been around since 1938, becoming a famous hangout for the working crowd. The “Ferdi Special,” a baked ham and roast beef po-boy, was named after a loyal patron, and the Creole-style “Jerry’s Jambalaya” belongs to chef Jerry Amato, who had ruled Mother’s in the late 80s. The bread pudding is the traditional version, with brandy sauce.

Oceana Grill

The casual French Quarter eatery at the corner of Bourbon and Conti Streets is a solid choice for Creole and Louisiana fare like crab cakes, po-boys and gumbo. It’s open late and has a lovely courtyard. Oceana’s traditional bread pudding is served with the restaurant’s own praline and rum sauce and a whirl of whipped cream on top.

The Original Pierre Maspero’s

With its huge, always-open windows, this casual Cajun restaurant on the corner of St. Louis and Chartres Streets is a prime spot for people-watching. The building that houses the restaurant is one of the oldest in the French Quarter, dating back to 1788. Legend has it Andrew Jackson met with the Lafitte brothers here when it was a coffee house, to figure out the plan for the Battle of New Orleans. The traditional bread pudding here consistently gets rave reviews.

Tujague’s

The iconic gem on Decatur Street hardly needs an introduction. The second oldest restaurant in the city, it was founded in 1856 and has since been offering traditional, fixed-price Creole menus to many a president and celebrity. Its famous bar takes credit for inventing the Grasshopper cocktail, and the restaurant may or may not take credit for creating brunch. Tujague’s white chocolate bread pudding is served with Maker’s Mark caramel sauce.

The Decadents

Red Fish Grill

Ralph Brennan’s Red Fish Grill has been around for more than 20 years, offering a child-friendly respite in the middle of the Bourbon Street chaos. It’s known for its seafood-heavy menu and good happy hour deals on the drinks and the oysters. The well-reviewed double chocolate bread pudding is made with dark and white chocolate ganache (sauce) and chocolate almond bark. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare but it’s worth the wait.

A Category of Its Own

Antoine’s

The Pudding de Pain de Noix de Pecan is as timeless and classic as the restaurant that serves it. This French-Creole fine-dining establishment probably needs no introduction. Let’s just describe the pudding: It’s Leidenheimer French bread mixed with cinnamon, golden raisins, and pecan — topped with warm butter rum sauce. It’s also on Antoine’s famous Sunday jazz brunch menu.

Brennan’s

You probably know Brennan’s world-famous Bananas Foster dessert, but the bread pudding is something special too: It’s Leidenheimer French bread mixed with rum-soaked raisins that comes with hard sauce and buttermilk ice cream.

Muriel’s Jackson Square

The pain perdu version at Muriel’s comes with candied pecans and rum sauce (here’s the recipe). Enjoy it a la carte or as part of the prix fixe pre-theater dinner menu. Muriel’s is elegance personified and won’t steer you wrong if you want contemporary Creole cuisine. The restaurant opens up onto Jackson Square, so you can enjoy people-watching in the heart of the French Quarter.

Palace Cafe

This Brennan family-owned restaurant on the busy block of Canal Street is known for its upscale Creole bistro menu and ample sidewalk seating. The restaurant’s original white chocolate bread pudding is as unique as it is popular. The chunks of white chocolate are baked inside the bread, and the whole thing is covered with warm white chocolate ganache and shaved dark chocolate.

All of these restaurants are close to the hotel, some only blocks away from French Market Inn. Book a stay at our historic French Quarter boutique hotel, right in the epicenter of all of the action!

Exploring the 19th-Century Architecture of the French Quarter

french quarter fall

Few cities in the U.S. are brimming with as much well-preserved, irresistible architecture as New Orleans. Think about it: There are 20 historic districts on the National Register in this city! We have French doors, Caribbean colors, high ceilings, wrought-iron fences, stucco exteriors, wooden shutters, hardwood floors, antique mantels, and lush tropical courtyards.

The French Quarter in particular is great for exploring as you’ll find lots of examples of Creole cottages and townhouses, plus the ubiquitous shotguns and camelbacks dating back to the 19th century. Then there are those seductive courtyards with gurgling fountains, bursting with flora, plus all the unique porches and lacy Victorian ironwork.

Below are our suggestions on how to best view the architecture of the French Quarter — either with a guided tour or by walking on your own — with a focus on historically significant 19th-century buildings. Whether you decide to go inside some of those or just admire the exterior, unveiling the city’s colorful past with these gems is as easy as taking a stroll.

Guided architecture tours

The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC) offers docent-led tours of buildings and courtyards with emphasis on their architectural styles and the history of their residents. THNOC also offers free, self-guided iPod and cell phone tours (check the website for instructions). Locations include the Merieult House (533 Royal St.), the Williams Residence (718 Toulouse St.), and the Louis Adam House (722 Toulouse St.).

Explore French and Spanish Colonial and Greek Revival styles by taking a walking tour with New Orleans Architecture Tours. You’ll get to see St. Louis Cathedral, Ursuline Convent, Napoleon House, and witness four types of Creole townhouses during this tour.

Preservation Resource Center also offers guided tours. They are seasonal and have specific themes, so please check the website for tour info.

19th-Century Historically Significant Buildings of the French Quarter

With fires in 1788 and 1794, and a post-Louisiana Purchase Victorian makeover on the Quarter, only a handful of “first-generation” Creole buildings in the original French colonial style has survived. Most buildings you see today are “second-generation” Creole and Greek Revival.

The 1820s were hailed as the most thriving decade in terms of adding to the structure of the French Quarter we’re seeing today, with elements of French and Spanish colonial, and Caribbean influences. During that time, the original Spanish architecture was gradually replaced. To prevent fires, strict building codes were enforced, and a lot of brick was introduced to replace the wood.

The 1850 House

523 St. Ann St., Lower Pontalba Bldg., Jackson Sq.

Built in the late 1840s by Baroness Micaela Almonester Pontalba, the Lower and Upper Pontalba Buildings flank the sides of Jackson Square. The Upper Pontalba buildings at 1008 N. Peters St. house residential apartments, but you can tour the 1850 House of the Lower Pontalba buildings to get a glimpse at how the upper middle class lived in prosperous antebellum New Orleans.

Old U.S. Mint

400 Esplanade St.

Built in 1835, the Old U.S. Mint served as both a U.S. and a Confederate Mint. Now a museum, research facility and site for music festivals and performances, the building houses several exhibits, including its permanent collection. You’ll find a display of coins and stamping presses, a jazz exhibit with Louis Armstrong’s first cornet, plus historic recordings and rare film footage. Current exhibits explore the life of Louis Armstrong, showcase Southern art, and display a collection of musical instruments, including Fats Domino’s Steinway grand piano. Free admission.

Beauregard-Keyes House and Garden

1113 Chartres St.

Built by Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard in 1826, the Beauregard-Keyes House stands opposite the old Ursuline Convent, boasting a splendid garden and lavish interior. The house changed hands many times and is now owned by the Keyes Foundation, which was established by the late resident, Frances Parkinson Keyes, who has restored the house.

Gallier House

1132 Royal St.

Tour the gilded Victorian splendor of Gallier House, designed by a prominent architect, James Gallier, more than 150 years ago. The house is full of antique children’s toys, chandeliers, and period art that reflect life in New Orleans at that time.

The tour touches upon the lives of enslaved people and domestic servants who made this luxurious lifestyle possible. For the summer, portions of the house are redecorated in the “Summer Dress” tradition of protecting the furnishings from the elements and insects, to show what life was like here during the hot months — before air conditioning, fans and screens.

Hermann Grima House

820 St. Louis St.

This restored Federal mansion was built in 1831 and features the only working open-hearth kitchen in New Orleans. The interior is furnished with period pieces and historically accurate reproductions of carpets and upholstery. Both the house, adjacent outbuildings and the courtyard tell a story of what life was like for wealthy Creole families in the 1830-1860s. November through April, open-hearth cooking demonstrations are offered in the outdoor kitchen, using traditional recipes and techniques of the 19th century.

And then there’s all that romantic ironwork

Always a hit with visitors and locals alike, the intricately decorated wrought-iron balconies, gates, doors, and fences of the French Quarter are a timeless treasure. To take it all in, try walking the length of Royal or Chartres streets from Esplanade to Jackson Square.

Cornstalk Hotel

915 Royal St.

Cornstalk Hotel is one such (stunning) example of ironwork. It was built in 1816 for the first Attorney General of Louisiana, Francois Xavier-Martin, and then bought in 1834 by Dr. Joseph Secondo Biamenti. The legend goes that his wife grew homesick, so the doctor had commissioned a decorative iron fence depicting corn, abundant in her native state of Iowa. The hotel has had its share of famous visitors, including Elvis Presley, who stayed there in 1958 while filming King Creole.

All of these attractions are located in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter, short blocks from French Market Inn. Book a stay at our historic French Quarter boutique hotel, right in the epicenter of all of the action!

Best Food on Bourbon Street

Photo by Jenny Hayut on Unsplash

The 13-block strip of Bourbon Street is not all neon hustle and gigantic drinks in souvenir cups. It’s actually home to some of the most vibrant restaurants in the city — high and low, round-the-clock, world-famous — and just interesting. Here’s a quick rundown of the best food you could find on this most-visited street in the French Quarter, starting with Upper Bourbon on Canal Street and walking towards Esplanade Avenue.

Red Fish Grill

115 Bourbon St.

Ralph Brennan’s Red Fish Grill has been around for more than 20 years, offering a child-friendly respite in the middle of the Bourbon Street chaos. It’s known for its seafood-heavy menu and good happy hour deals on the drinks and the oysters. Signature dishes include BBQ oysters and double chocolate bread pudding.

Krystal

116 Bourbon St.

This longtime fast-food chain is a popular late-night stop. You should find it easily for its hulking retro facade and bright sign. Krystal serves kids’ meals, breakfast, and those popular square burgers on steamed buns 24/7.

Bourbon House

144 Bourbon St.

An old-school seafood restaurant run by the Brennan family with a raw oyster bar and Creole fare like New Orleans-style BBQ shrimp and pasta with pork belly and crawfish tails. “If it’s not in season, you won’t find it on the menu” is a promise delivered. The Fruits de Mer from the oyster bar is quite something — with oysters, shrimp, seafood salads, and marinated crab fingers. Bourbon House also lives up to its name with a selection of small-batch and single-barrel bourbons.

Galatoire’s

209 Bourbon St.

Galatoire’s should be on everyone’s New Orleans bucket list, and it’s likely to deliver an hours-long eating and drinking extravaganza you won’t forget. Founded in 1905, the restaurant has become a fine-dining institution beloved by generations of New Orleanians as much for its old-world upscale Creole fare as for the joie de vivre scene. The decadent classics like crabmeat maison, duck crepes, foie gras, and turtle soup has been served there for over a century, and the diners from all strata of society had been lining up to get in for all the good reasons. Jackets required.

Galatoire’s 33 Bar & Steak

215 Bourbon St.

Galatoire’s added a steakhouse to its family of restaurants in 2013, right next door to the original. Galatoire’s 33 is named after a post marker found inside the historic building during the renovation. It serves traditional steakhouse fare.

Desire Oyster Bar

300 Bourbon St. (inside Royal Sonesta)

Redesigned in 2015, the elegant hotel restaurant has a Broadway-style marquis sign, huge windows, a tin ceiling, and black-and-white checkered floors. Besides oysters, the menu emphasizes the Gulf seafood and features New Orleans favorites like shrimp and grits, gumbo, po-boys, and fried green tomatoes.

Crescent Pizza Works

407 Bourbon St.

A late-night pizzeria at Conti St., with pies that have telling names like the Big Cheesy and Chicken Bacon Krunch. The BBQ pork pizza will chase your hangover away with pulled pork, two types of cheese, and a generous serving of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce. The ever-popular Chizzaburger combines Angus beef, onions, mozzarella, pickles, ketchup, and mustard.

Pier 424 Seafood Market Restaurant

424 Bourbon St.

A seafood-focused casual eatery with balcony dining and a large oyster bar. Try the sauteed crab claws or bayou frog legs (battered, with buffalo sauce), or corn and crab bisque. The Taste of New Orleans sampler is crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice, gumbo, and jambalaya.

Cornet

700 Bourbon St.

Cornet, on the corner of St. Peter and Bourbon, serves traditional Cajun and Creole dishes like crab cakes, grilled gator sausage, po-boys, seafood platters, pasta, and staples like crawfish etouffee. Try the smothered shrimp and okra, or the Satchmo Sampler of jambalaya, gumbo, and red beans. Balcony seating is available.

Clover Grill

900 Bourbon St.

A retro-classic, 24-hour diner in a city that sorely lacks them, Clover Grill “loves to fry and it shows” (as the menu states). The food is a reliable greasy-spoon fare, but you’ll be coming in at 4 a.m. as much for the scrambled eggs as the vibrant mix of its French Quarter crowd. The restaurant’s interesting existence is reflected in its no-nonsense menu, which is peppered with requests like: “We don’t eat in your bed, so please don’t sleep at our table” and “Dancing in the aisles only, please keep off the tables.”

All of these restaurants are located in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter, short blocks from French Market Inn. Book a stay at our historic French Quarter boutique hotel, right in the epicenter of all of the action!

24 Hours in the French Quarter

french quarter church

New York is not the only City That Never Sleeps, which is especially evident if you’ve ever strolled the French Quarter in the wee hours. And the bars aren’t the only establishments that stay open 24 hours, so it’s pretty easy to lose yourself in a round-the-clock itinerary. Here are just a few suggestions.

Morning

Can’t sleep? Stroll to the Riverfront on the Mississippi River to catch the sunrise and watch the boats go by. Steamboats straight out of a Mark Twain novel idle on the water, and public art dots the promenade. If you feel like a longer walk or going for a run or a bike ride, head to Crescent Park, a 20-acre, 1.4-mile urban space nearby, with bike lanes and a dog run.

Next, grab a quick breakfast at the French Quarter Inn’s PJ’s Coffee shop, or savor it at any number of the French Quarter coffee shops and patisseries. We always recommend one of our favorites, Croissant d’Or.

Are you all fueled up? We hope you’re wearing comfortable shoes and ready to do some sightseeing!

There are numerous options, from free walking tours with one of the park rangers at the French Quarter Visitor Center to culinary tours and everything in between. Do you feel like squeezing in some exercise while you learn about the history of the French Quarter? Consider doing some sightseeing on the bike.

Not into organized tours? Just take a stroll through Jackson Square and explore the St. Louis Cathedral, or admire the wrought-iron balconies while walking down Royal Street (and do some window-shopping as it packs many unique antique and vintage stores). Just walking around in this historic neighborhood is a history lesson in itself.

Afternoon

Are you hungry yet? Lunch at Galatoire’s  is a time-honored tradition in Crescent City. Many generations of New Orleanians packed its tiled dining room for some boisterous merriment, and you’re in for a treat. (Just make sure to follow the dress code.)

Not into fine dining? No problem. It’s easy to eat well in the French Quarter on a budget, and we also hope you take advantage of the abundance of spots that serve excellent seafood nearby.

After lunch, why not go shopping? There are two malls nearby, one outlet and another upscale, plus Jax Brewery with several stories worth of shops, and Chartres Street with all its boutiques and local gift shops. You can get all the souvenirs and gifts (edible and otherwise) to take home at the French Market or along the bustling Decatur Street.

Not in the mood for shopping? Hit a casino right across Canal Street from the Quarter, or one of the many museums within walking distance from the hotel. Both the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and the Insectarium are close by, and are a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Evening

Time for happy hour! The Bombay Club has a really good one, with many types of martinis and other classics, and a tasty bar menu. For dinner options, we don’t even know where to begin as there’s a myriad of options. For ideas, check out this dining guide, but, really, the world is your oyster when it comes to eating in the French Quarter. From the Creole grand dames to the James Beard luminaries to the cheap eats on the go, you’re in the right place.

Night

Want to cross Bourbon Street off your list? Don’t forget to grab a hurricane from Pat O’Brien’s while you do. As you make your way down Bourbon toward Esplanade Avenue, check out the historic Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. It’s the longest operating bar in America, and privateer Jean Lafitte was said to once have held court there.

How about some live music next? As you continue across Esplanade, you’re leaving the French Quarter and entering Faubourg Marigny, so keep going till you hit Frenchmen Street. Even if you don’t enter any bars or clubs there, we guarantee there will be decent music even just on the street corners (a brass band here, Dixieland there), but you should really check out what’s playing at the Blue Nile or Spotted Cat or the d.b.a.

Depending on how much energy you have left, you can hit the dance floor at Santos, which is open till 5 a.m., or have some beignets at Cafe du Monde (open 24/7). By then, you’ve truly had an epic 24 hours in the French Quarter and nearby!

Book a stay at our historic French Quarter boutique hotel, right in the epicenter of all of the action!

Best Edible Souvenirs Near French Market Inn

Image courtesy of Aunt Sally’s Pralines on Facebook

If you’re like most New Orleans visitors, you’ll spend a great deal of your time feasting on the bounty of local foods that originated here, a spicy blend of Creole, Cajun, French, Caribbean, and West African cuisines. The best part? You can take many of these distinctive flavors home with you. Before you leave town, go shopping for edible souvenirs near the French Market Inn and stock up on your favorites.

French Market Hot Sauces

Authentic Louisiana hot sauces top most visitors’ must-buy lists. You’ll find hundreds of variations in the shops that line the six-block French Market District, ranging from mildly spicy brews to nuclear-level mouth bombs. The 200-year-old market’s open-air bazaar also offers a wealth of unique non-edible mementos.

Cafe Du Monde Beignet Mix & Coffee (800 Decatur)

Many tourist shops sell this two-for-one souvenir package, but the best place to buy it is at the source. Stop by Cafe Du Monde for a final plate of sugar-dusted beignets, dipped in a cup of chicory-laced cafe au lait, and pick up a gift pack on your way out.

Aunt Sally’s Pralines (810 Decatur)

Proceed directly from Cafe Du Monde to Aunt Sally’s, where you can load up on the city’s most iconic sweet treat. Aunt Sally’s also boasts a host of other culinary souvenirs, from Cajun seasonings to muffuletta olive mix to Steen’s Cane Syrup.

Zapp’s Potato Chips

Bet you can’t eat just one — flavor, that is! Widely available at every corner grocery and drugstore, Zapp’s chips come in multiple variations, each of which has diehard fans. Hotter ‘N Hot Jalapenos, Spicy Cajun Crawtators, and Voodoo deliver the heat, Mesquite Bar-B-Que chips are deliciously smoky, while Cajun Dills are tanged with vinegar. And don’t overlook Regular Flavor — the thin, salty crunch that started it all.

All the places where you can get your edible souvenirs are located just a few short blocks from French Market Inn. Book a stay at our historic French Quarter boutique hotel, right in the epicenter of all of the action!

5 Dinner Dishes That Define New Orleans Cuisine

Image courtesy of Mr. B’s Bistro on Facebook

You can easily find delicious renditions of the New Orleans and southern staples that make the food-bucket lists for very good reasons in many restaurants in the French Quarter, from the ambitious newcomers to the old-world landmarks. Here are our five top picks of the dinner dishes that define New Orleans and where to try them in the French Quarter.

1. Crawfish Étouffée

This spicy seafood stew, made with shrimp or crawfish, is a traditional Creole/Cajun favorite (the French word étouffée, pronounced “eh-too-fey,” means “smothered”). The iconic Galatoire’s (209 Bourbon St.) serves a classic shrimp étouffée over rice as an entree and, like many other restaurants, also offers it as an add-on topping over fish. For a more casual dining option, head to Deanie’s Seafood (841 Bienville St.).

2. Gumbo

One of Louisiana’s most famous dishes, excellent gumbo is easy to find anywhere in New Orleans, it just depends on whether you like your gumbo with darker or lighter roux, and with meat or seafood (or both).

Appropriately, the French Quarter restaurant that includes the dish in its name is a great place to try several of its varieties. Gumbo Shop (630 St. Peter St.) serves seafood and okra gumbo that is thick with shrimp and crabmeat, a smoky chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, and even gumbo z’herbes, a rarely-seen vegetarian gumbo made with greens.

Gumbo Ya-Ya, a house specialty at Mr. B’s Bistro (201 Royal St), is a Cajun country-style gumbo made with a dark roux, lots of Creole spices, chicken, and Andouille sausage.

3. Jambalaya

This flavorful one-pot, rice-based dish is right up there with gumbo when it comes to well-deserved international fame. This staple traditionally incorporates stock, meat, seafood, long-grain rice, and vegetables (like the “holy trinity” also used in gumbo — bell pepper, onion and celery). The main distinction is that the Creole version has tomatoes and the Cajun recipe does not.

You can find one of the best versions of jambalaya at the casual Coop’s Place (1109 Decatur St.). Coop’s rabbit and sausage jambalaya can be upgraded to “supreme” by adding shrimp and tasso, a spicy Cajun ham smoked on premises.

If you just want a taste, the spicy jambalaya at Napoleon House (500 Chartres St.) comes with chicken and sausage and could be ordered as an appetizer or as a side. And the New Orleans Creole Cookery (508 Toulouse St.) has a vegetarian version, not something many restaurants offer.

4. Po-Boys

A po-boy is a sandwich (just please don’t call it that) that comes in as many versions as there are ingredients to stuff inside a loaf of French bread. Some of the classics are fried seafood, like oysters or shrimp, but the ingredients vary all the way up to French fries. Ask for your po-boy “dressed,” so it will come with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayonnaise.

Johnny’s Po-Boys (511 St. Louis St.) has been dishing them out since 1950, and Killer Poboys (219 Dauphine St.) plays around with the non-traditional ingredients.

5. Red Beans and Rice

In the past, Monday was traditionally laundry day in New Orleans, and also the day for having red beans and rice. Our laundry schedules aren’t that rigid anymore, but you can still find a delicious plate of beans and rice around town, usually accompanied by a hunk of smoked sausage.

While many restaurants still feature it as a Monday special, you can still find beans and rice on many menus on any day of the week. A particularly delicious version is served daily at Original Pierre Maspero’s (440 Chartres St.), located in a historic 1788 building: slow-cooked red beans served with white rice and topped with Andouille and alligator sausage. (You can also get it as part of the sampler.)

All of these restaurants are in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter, short blocks from French Market Inn. Book a stay at our historic French Quarter boutique hotel, right in the epicenter of all of the action!

Best Muffulettas in the French Quarter and Nearby

Image courtesy Jasoneats via Central Grocery on Facebook

One of New Orleans’ most celebrated creations is a tall, bready Sicilian-Cajun invention that reflects the city’s diverse cultural and culinary heritage. The muffuletta goes back to the 19th century, when the French Quarter was sometimes referred to as “Little Palermo,” and its Sicilian working-class population consisted of laborers, dockworkers, fishermen, and farmers. A few of the immigrants opened grocery stores and bakeries and catered to the Sicilians who lived and worked in the Quarter and parts of Treme.

What’s in a muffuletta?

“Muffuletta” (pronounced “muffuLOTta” and sometimes also spelled as “muffaletta”) comes from the bread known in Sicily under that name. Traditionally, the sandwich is made with the sesame-crusted wheel of bread, Italian salami and ham, cheese (usually provolone and Swiss), and olive salad. Known as giardiniera, the olive salad consists of finely chopped green and black olives, celery, cauliflower, carrots, sweet peppers, pepperoncini, onions, capers, vinegar, and garlic. Spices and herbs are also added (parsley, oregano, etc.).

Where does the muffuletta come from?

The invention of this oversized sandwich is credited to Salvatore Lupo, the proprietor of Central Grocery on Decatur Street in the French Quarter. The “Home of the Original Muffuletta” opened in 1906 and has been selling the sandwich for over a century. Legend has it that the Italian farmers and laborers would buy what became the ingredients for the muffuletta for lunch from Lupo’s store (and other vendors in the French Quarter), and eat them separately. Lupo decided to assemble them into a sandwich, tweaked a few components — and muffuletta was born.

The variations outside tradition

Like with most signature New Orleans creations, opinions run strong when it comes to any deviation from the tradition. Some maintain that muffuletta is a cold-cut sandwich, period. Others had been serving it warm straight out of the oven, like the James Beard Award-winning chef Donald Link, owner of Cochon Butcher. Yet others offer it hot AND cold (Verti Marte). And Creole House Restaurant & Oyster Bar on Canal Street serves its fine muffuletta pressed to melt the cheese.

Liuzza’s Restaurant & Bar in Mid-City also popularized the “Frenchuletta,” a muffuletta version served on French bread. PIZZA domenica, the Uptown spin-off of Domenica’s downtown location, has muffuletta pizza with provolone, cured meats, pickled vegetables, olives, and garlic aioli.

There are seafood versions, like the one sold at Parran’s Po-Boys & Restaurant, which has locations in Metairie and Kenner. Parran’s “Original Seafood Muffuletta” comes with fried oysters, shrimp and catfish, and is dressed with housemade Cajun mayo.

Who makes the best muffuletta?

Central Grocery

The original cold-cut version.

Central Grocery’s made-to-order muffulettas have the visitors and the locals lining up ever since Salvatore Lupo stuffed his first sandwich. Today’s muffuletta at Central Grocery keeps it traditional: Genoa salami, Holland ham, mortadella (bologna), the secret-recipe olive salad, and Swiss and provolone cheese — served on an 8-inch round bread.

The sprawling, old-fashioned grocery store is still run by the same Lupo family, selling imported Italian delicacies and the housemade olive salad by the jar. You can eat in at the counter, or take your muffuletta to go (Woldenberg Park by the river is a great spot for a picnic). The visitors of the city have been known to pack their muffulettas for a flight or a drive home, but you don’t have to — Central Grocery now ships nationwide.

Cochon Butcher

Melted cheese, the meats are cured in-house

Another New Orleans joint that serves its muffulettas hot (unless you request yours cold) is Cochon Butcher in the Warehouse District, chef Donald Link’s companion to Cochon. The much-praised Cochon muffuletta comes on a Sicilian roll, with housemade giardiniera. All the meats are cured in-house.

Frank’s Restaurant

Baked, with melted cheese and toasted bread

“The home of the other muffuletta,” Frank’s has been around for over 50 years, serving a different kind of muffuletta to scores of its loyal fans just down the block from Central Grocery. The crucial difference is that Frank’s “World Famous Original Muffuletta” is baked and served with toasted bread and melted cheese. Frank’s is also known for its po-boys and classic Italian fare. The downstairs looks like a deli with a to-go counter, but the second-floor dining room is spacious and has balcony seating if you want to dine in with a view of the French Quarter.

Napoleon House

Big enough to share, house specialty

Muffuletta is one of the specialties at Napoleon House, which is housed in a historic landmark on Chartres Street that dates back to the 1700s and has the unique ambiance of old-world New Orleans. The traditional muffuletta is served warm and is big enough for two people (you can also get it in half and quarter sizes). Wash it down with the restaurant’s signature drink, the Pimm’s Cup.

Verti Marte

Overstuffed, generous on meat, served cold or hot

The tiny, beloved Verti Marte on Royal Street is open 24/7 for takeout or delivery (cash only). Verti Marte gets a lot of love for its long breakfast menu and epic po-boys, but don’t discount the “Mighty Muffuletta.” It’s overstuffed with ham, salami and cheese, but — here’s the catch — it could be served hot or cold. So if you’re not from the cold-cut purist camp and won’t mind your cheese melty and your meat warm, this is one of the best places to try the hot version.

All of these muffuletta destinations are located either in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter or nearby, blocks from French Market Inn. Book a stay at our historic French Quarter boutique hotel, right in the epicenter of all of the action!

5 Desserts Nearby

Bananas Foster at Brennan’s Restaurant. Image courtesy of Brennan’s Restaurant on Facebook

Is there a better place to indulge your sweet tooth than New Orleans? We think not. With its French (and Spanish) roots and its rich Creole and Cajun cuisines the Crescent City is not the place to count calories. From pralines to Doberge cake to beignets to Bananas Foster there is an abundance of confections that will satisfy even the most discerning dessert lover. Here are our five picks for the best dessert and where to get it in the French Quarter.

1. Bananas Foster

Bananas Foster was made famous by way of New Orleans. Today, this decadent dessert remains a staple, impressively served flambéed tableside as it was intended, or in many delicious variations (as a pie, ice cream, or French toast) in some of the best restaurants in the city.

Its creation in 1951 is credited to Paul Blangé, a Brennan’s Restaurant chef. Chef Blangé came up with sautéing the bananas in butter, sugar and cinnamon, and then adding rum and igniting the concoction. The dessert was named after Richard Foster, a friend of Owen Brennan and the chairman of the New Orleans Crime Commission.

To this day, the original-recipe Bananas Foster at Brennan’s Restaurant (417 Royal St.) is its most-ordered item. The restaurant reportedly flames 35,000 pounds of bananas for the famous dessert.

2. Beignets

Those little deep-fried pockets of doughy goodness dusted with powdered sugar are one of the city’s most iconic culinary treats. The beignet is honored with its own festival and is beloved unconditionally. Getting an order of beignets with a cup of café au lait at the 24/7 Café du Monde (800 Decatur St.) is one of the most classic New Orleans experiences you can have, as is getting that pesky powdered sugar all over yourself.

3. Bread Pudding

A mainstay finale at many a storied Creole restaurant in the city, the bread pudding rules here. Its roots go back centuries and way beyond stale bread. The Southern-style bread pudding is typically made with French bread and served warm, usually covered in rich, boozy sauce and topped with pecans, walnuts or raisins.

You can get variations of the dessert ranging from traditional to new interpretations all over the French Quarter, but we especially recommend Antoine’s pecan bread pudding (713 St. Louis St.). The oldest continuing operating family-owned restaurant in New Orleans, Antoine’s Restaurant has been setting standards for elevated Creole cuisine. Antoine’s bread pudding is a delicious concoction of Leidenheimer French bread laced with cinnamon, golden raisins, and slathered with a hot buttered rum sauce.

4. Grasshopper

This sweet liquid offering celebrated 100 years back in 2018. The one-time owner of the Tujague’s (823 Decatur St.) restaurant, Philibert Guichet, invented the drink for a 1918 cocktail competition in New York City. The combination of equal parts crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and cream known as the Grasshopper sports an unmistakable green color and packs a sugary punch. It became so popular it now holds a permanent spot on the restaurant’s cocktail menu. The Bombay Club (830 Conti St.) also makes a solid version, and you can sip to live jazz.

5. Pralines

This classic southern confection makes for a great edible souvenir to take home and is pretty easy to find in the French Quarter. Southern Candymakers (334 Decatur St.) makes small batches daily. You can also find fresh and delicious pralines at Loretta’s location at the French Market.

All of these restaurants are in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter, short blocks from French Market Inn. Book a stay at our historic French Quarter boutique hotel, right in the epicenter of all of the action!

Kid-Friendly Fun In and Around the Quarter

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

New Orleans has its share of X-rated attractions, most of them clustered on Bourbon St. But it’s also one of the kid-friendliest cities in the country. You’ll find a wealth of G-rated fun for the whole family in and around the Quarter during your stay at the French Market Inn. Here’s a guide to some of the best.

French Quarter Kids Tour (Book online in advance)

Get to know the neighborhood with teacher-led tours for kids. Younger kids can go ghost-hunting on the popular Spooky Tour, where mischievous spirits come out to play, while their bolder older siblings can take a chilling Twilight Tour or learn about old New Orleans on the Creole Kids Living History Tour. Group tours ($24 per person) include two designed for teens and run for 1.5 hours. Families can also book a customized private tour ($250 for up to 12 people).

Preservation Hall (726 St. Peters St.)

Dedicated to preserving traditional New Orleans jazz, Preservation Hall is no museum. It’s a lively all-ages venue where master New Orleans musicians make a joyful noise and raise the roof at several nightly shows, which start at 5 p.m. (There are earlier, afternoon shows on some days.) Come early to grab a good seat on the benches (though many kids prefer the floor). And be sure to feed your brood first; there’s no food or beverage service. ($25 general admission).

Jackson Square (Decatur St. in front of St. Louis Cathedral)

Sidewalk artists. Street performers. A passing parade of colorful characters. Jackson Square, in the heart of the Quarter, is a hub of only-in-New-Orleans sights and sounds. Directly across Decatur St., steps leading up to the Mississippi Riverwalk serve as an ad hoc stage for clowns, jugglers, acrobats, and other crowd-pleasing artists, whose antics are sure to delight the kids.

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen (Departs from Poydras Dock at Spanish Plaza)

All aboard! No trip to New Orleans is complete without a cruise on the Mississippi River, and it doesn’t get more authentic than the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen. Two daily Historic River Cruises in the morning and afternoon revisit New Orleans history with a stop at the Chalmette Battlefield, where the pirate Jean Lafitte helped defeat the British. Fare ($39/adults, $15/kids 6-12) includes a narrated cruise and land tour. Full Creole buffet available on board ($59/adults, $24/kids 6-12, $10 kids 0-5).

Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium

Kids love to bug out at the Insectarium, the largest museum in the country devoted to nature’s vast kingdom of insects. Walk through a flutter of iridescent wings in the enchanting butterfly garden, get to know the locals at Boudreaux’s bait shop, and crunch down on some tasty bugs in the cafeteria. Highlights include Awards Night, a hi-def film starring superstar bugs voiced by Jay Leno, Joan Rivers, and other celebs.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas (1 Canal St.)

Reach out and touch a sting ray (yikes!). Watch penguins and sea otters at play. Get up close and personal with magical jellyfish. These are just a few of the wonders that enthrall kids and grownups alike at the Audubon Aquarium, which boasts a massive 400,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico exhibit. Families can also try to Escape Extinction by predatory sharks in an interactive experience presented by Escape My Room.

(Please note that the Insectarium and the Aquarium are currently closed while the Insectarium is moving to the Aquarium site. Both are slated to reopen in the summer of 2023. We’ll update the admission prices then.)

Book a stay at our historic French Quarter boutique hotel, right in the epicenter of all of the action!

 

 

 

 

Late Night Eats in the French Quarter

 

The French Quarter knows no meaning of last call, being open for business 24/7, and that means that a few restaurants are also open late. Here are a few of our favorite spots where you can eat after 9 p.m. in the French Quarter.

Buffa’s

1001 Esplanade Ave.

Around since 1939, the iconic Buffa’s is perched just outside of the French Quarter on Esplanade Avenue. It’s beloved by locals, has live music in the back room seven days a week, and excellent burgers. You can also get your New Orleans staples on like red beans and rice and blackened Gulf fish. One of Buffa’s signature dishes is bratwurst jambalaya — beer-soaked bratwurst added to a “super secret award-winning jambalaya recipe.”

Open 11-4 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 11-2 a.m. Monday through Thursday.

Café du Monde

800 Decatur St. (French Market)

This mainstay needs no introduction and will eagerly satisfy your cravings with delicious beignets and a cup of cafe au lait, around the clock.

Open 24 hours.

Cane & Table

1113 Decatur St.

Cane & Table made a name for itself with its potent rum-based cocktails and eclectic, Caribbean-influenced small and large plates in the elegant space that evokes Old Havana. Park yourself in the gorgeous courtyard while you try some small plates or braised ribs. (The menu changes depending on the season.)

Last seating at 10 p.m. Wednesday – Sunday (closed on Monday and Tuesday).

Clover Grill

900 Bourbon St.

The tile-and-chrome diner has been representing what’s weird and wonderful about the Quarter since 1939. The no-frills food comes under the motto, “We love to fry, and it shows,” but it’s the scene you might want to come for, both inside and outside the diner.

Open 24 hours.

Coop’s Place

1109 Decatur St.

If you want a quick, inexpensive meal, with some local color thrown in, Coop’s Place is unbeatable. Located on the always-busy stretch of Decatur Street, Coop’s is both a divey bar and restaurant with a surprisingly extensive menu. One of the standouts is the seafood gumbo. It comes with Coop’s own dark roux, okra, filé powder, shrimp, oysters, and crab claws. (You can ask for extra seafood.) Follow the gumbo with Coop’s excellent rabbit and sausage jambalaya. Note: No one under 21 is allowed.

Open on Monday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday – Sunday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Cosimo’s

1201 Burgundy St.

This cozy, dog-friendly neighborhood bar mixes up a huge mahogany bar, colorful locals, a pool table in the back room, darts, and seriously good bar food like boudin balls and pizza. There are also taco Tuesdays and crawfish when in season. Trust us, this one is a gem.

Open 4 p.m. – Monday through Thursday; 2 p.m. – 1 a.m. on Friday; 2 p.m. – 5 a.m. on Saturday, and 2 p.m. to midnight on Sunday.

Cuñada

833 Conti St.

Cuñada (“sister-in-law” in Spanish) is a tiny family-owned Mexican spot with tacos, carnitas, and other specialties plus agave-based margaritas, and a wide variety of Mexican beer.

Open till midnight seven days a week.

Déjà Vu Restaurant and Bar

400 Dauphine St.

Déjà Vu serves up New Orleans staples like biscuits and gravy, po-boys, burgers, and seafood plates. Breakfast is served all day, too, plus there are poker machines, a jukebox, big-screen TVs, and plenty of people-watching.

Open 9 a.m. till 11:30 p.m. daily.

Effervescence

1036 N. Rampart St.

Effervescence opened its tall doors on N. Rampart St. in March of 2017 and has become the destination for high-to-low sparkling wines from all over the world, champagnes, small plates, and live music. The setting is modern and polished, and there’s ample outdoor seating. There’s also a full bar, and dozens of still wines by the glass and bottle. The small plates are meant to be shared — like the Gulf seafood plate or crispy Brussels sprouts (the menu changes, this is just an example). Effervescence is also a good spot to try caviar, from the prized osetra to the local (and more affordable) bowfin.

Open 4-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Erin Rose 

811 Conti St.

Erin Rose is a low-key watering hole favored by the locals, located just a few doors away from Bourbon Street. Check the memorabilia galore and try the bar’s excellent frozen Irish coffee or a Bloody Mary (made with the house secret recipe). Of course, there’s Guinness on tap plus a selection of local brews. The bar is home to the popular Killer Poboys (look for the takeout window in the back). Everything on the small but mighty menu is delicious.

Open till 7 a.m. seven days a week.

Justine

225 Chartres St.

This stylish and popular brasserie is one of the latest additions to the French Quarter dining scene, opened by husband-and-wife team Justin and Mia Devillier. The high-end late-night menu changes, but typically includes French-centric delights like escargots and mussels, plus premium steak and pan-roasted fish.

Open 5-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; till 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Quarter Master Deli

1100 Bourbon St.

This takeout/delivery 24-hour institution is also known as the Nellie Deli. Quartermaster’s menu is full of burgers, overstuffed po-boys, house-made salads, and other New Orleans-style Southern fare like BBQ chicken and ribs. There are also hearty breakfast and late-night menus.

Open 24 hours.

Palm & Pine

308 N. Rampart St.

The late-night menu offers delicious cocktails like smoky paloma and caipirinha; the food menu offers elevated versions of things like burgers and chicken sandwiches.

Late-night menu is served on Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Bombay Club

830 Conti St.

Located in the elegant Prince Conti Hotel, the Bombay Club offers some of the most refined food you’ll find in the French Quarter after 9 p.m., served among polished wood and high-end cocktails. Small bites include such classics as meat pies and gumbo plus European nods like ploughman’s board. The sheer number of martinis on the menu alone will blow you away, and there’s live music too.

Bar is open till midnight Wednesday through Sunday.

Verti Marte

1201 Royal St.

If it’s late at night and you “need” a po-boy, head on down to this tiny 24-hour takeout-only deli on Royal St. with a loyal following. There’s plenty to love on the menu of this bastion of calories, but you can’t go wrong with the epic specialty sandwiches like the vegetarian Green Giant and the mountainous All That Jazz — with grilled ham, turkey and shrimp, plus two kinds of cheese, grilled veggies, and the special “wow” sauce on grilled French bread. Free delivery to the French Quarter, the Marigny, and the CBD; cash only.

Open 24 hours.

Book a stay at our historic French Quarter boutique hotel, right in the epicenter of all of the action!