New Orleans has always been a place with an extraordinary energy. The culture of the city is persuasive. Its adventure is ever changing. I have always enjoyed New Orleans on my many visits over the years, but none has been so special as this recent trip to the Crescent City. Dominated by art and the city’s dynamic evolution, I was sure that this visit was going to move the needle on my love affair with all the sights and sounds that New Orleans has to offer.
Having a home away from home when traveling is optimal and Loews New Orleans offers both respite and luxury. From my initial greeting by the hotel staff through to the exceptional service I received while dining or simply having a drink at the bar; Loews exceeded my every expectation. Poydras & Peters, an American brasserie, is the hotel’s fine dining restaurant. Named for the iconic New Orleans intersection on which the hotel is built, the restaurant offers a glimpse into the history, relevance, and cultural diversity of this great American city.
Not to be missed while visiting this city that boasts over 2,643 dining establishments is Chef Donald Link’s Herbsaint Bar and Restaurant. Accolade laden, Herbsaint, is one of the best restaurants in the country and is helping to define dining in America. Also, check out The Chloe, a boutique uptown 14-room hotel housed in a renovated and refurbished mansion that invokes the spirit and glamour of New Orleans. The café is fun and filled with everything that you’d expect in a New Orleans eatery, where the local flavor is not only in the food. It’s everywhere.
Café Du Monde, the original French market coffee stand, invites all who visit to enjoy the classic beignets and chicory café au lait, complete with all the French Quarter has to offer. Street performers, buskers, and musicians all add to the soundtrack. Just steps away is the French Market, an original Native American trading post turned indoor market for souvenirs and themed tchotchkes. My advice is to follow your nose. The city will certainly wake up all the senses as you stroll along the streets in this historic, ever-changing, eclectic city.
Just a little out of the normal, lunch at The Country Club is not to be missed. Just remember the contemporary creole cuisine isn’t the only spicy thing on the menu. There is quite a lot that this neighborhood has to offer. Located in the artistic Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods of New Orleans, the art galleries, cafes, and funky live music venues all add to the mix. It is a refreshing sojourn from The French Quarter.
Art is alive and well in New Orleans and it continues to move and shape the future of this incredible city. From the technologically advanced Vue Orleans, located 34 stories above the hustle and bustle of daily life, to JAMNOLA, an immersive, funhouse style, exhibit that celebrates the iconic art, music, food, and theatrics of this city’s more than colorful past. Art is also helping to script the speed and trajectory of New Orleans' future.
Not to be missed on any art tour of New Orleans is The Ogden Museum of Southern Art whose mission is simply “to broaden the knowledge, understanding, interpretation, and appreciation of the visual arts and culture of the American South.” Located in the Warehouse Arts District, The Ogden boasts the largest collection of Southern art and is a poignant salute to all things that make the South such an integral part of our nation’s heritage. The museum's hyper-personalized approach to collecting art and its carefully curated arts program adds to the understanding of fine art for all ages.
Whether you have been before or are lovers of the city, everyone who visits needs to take in an evening of jazz music at Preservation Hall and a tour of one of the city’s many historical cemeteries. There is so much to do when you are in town, plan wisely and remember to laissez les bons temps rouler.
From my initial greeting by the hotel staff ... Loews exceeded my every expectation.