Cafe Du Monde (http://www.cafedumonde.com) is my FAVORITE place in New Orleans! (It's NEVER too late for Cafe Au Lait and beignets!)
Like they say...a picture is worth a thousand words. Cafe du Monde's website has lots of photos. This old place has been open for over 100 years. I agree, you just can't say no to cafe au lait and beignets. Open 24/7, open air, fabulous.
They've got crystal chandeliers everywhere with old tapestries and fine furniture and sweet sweet sweet staff...just the finest.
Here's their famous carousel bar. The bartender's here make an art of starting your drink in just the right place on the revolving bar so that it ends up right in front of you when they finish.
After Cousin Carl left New Orleans on our last visit, I had a couple of days to myself. I didn't want to get the blues, you know, not in New Orleans...
...so I mozied on up to the Carousel bar, without Dramamine this time cause I was gettin' used to the motion, and ordered me a hurricane. Bartender timed it just right so that he was puttin' that shiny Hotel Monteleone swizzle stick in my drink right when it got to me. Impressive. I grabbed the drink and took off. Thought I'd visit every fancy hotel lobby in the Vieux Carre just to see if I was missing anything. Out through the garage and south down to Decatur where I visited my first hotel I'd been eyeballing for the last few trips, the Bienville House. 
After I went through the lovely lobby and gathered some literature, I exited only to have this most heavenly scent just lift me right up off my feet and lead my all driftified next door where the smell was coming from. I was sort of stunned anyway from my hurricane and the fact that I JUST CAN'T DRINK AT ALL, but there was something hot and chocolate in the air. I drifted on up the steps and into the door of Southern Candy Makers. http://www.southerncandymakers.com/StoreFront.bok
I asked the belle behind the counter to please tell me what it was I was smelling and she said, "Hon, it's just everything!" Well, I hated to disagree I'm sure but I had to know what it was so I told her that whatever it was I was sure it was being made right now. One of the candy makers came out and said, "Maam, your smellin' chocolate pralines. I'm making them right now. They're my favorite. Here, have one." And he just handed me one that was just set without asking for me to pay for it. I fell in love, with the candy, and him. He was tall and thin with long brown hair and lots of Celtic rings on his fingers plus a gentle smile. I bought 3 more and took them back to my room, thinking to take them home to give to the girlfriends. They never got out of the city, so I had to go back in a couple of days and buy some more. The Candy Man was there and I told him I had a small problem...how to get them home without eating them? He said, "No problem, darlin'" and promptly shrunk-wrapped a box. It worked.
If you go to their website you'll see that they are closed, but watch closely cause they are setting up business somewhere else and you can help them out by ordering your candy gifts from them. I promise, you won't be disappointed!
Perhaps the finest jewel in the royal hotels in the French Quarter, and definitely houses the finest furnishings in any hotel I've seen. Great location on Rue Royal!
Harriet Beecher Stowe was inspired to write "Uncle Tom's Cabin" while staying at this home, now a bed and breakfast, on Rue Royal.
Ginja Jar
611 Royal Street • New Orleans, LA 70116
504-523-7643
Eclectic collectable dolls, lighting and feminine accessories for home.
I can't find a website for these folks, but they do have the most fantastic doll collection, plus eclectic everything. A must do!
Jack Gallery
537 Royal Street • New Orleans, LA 70116
504-588-1777
Vintage print gallery featuring Toulouse-Lautrec and Mucha as well as classic movie posters.
This gallery is where I bought a fabulous piece by Grace Slick of Jerry Garcia. Very savy art sales personal here! Here's what I got:
I was there... and was a spoiled guest - never will forget!
Bourbon Orleans - A Wyndham Historic New Orleans Hotel - Louisiana LA
It's so nice to see so many other lovers of the big easy!
On our visit last November we stayed at the Hotel Provincial, very quiet for the French Quarter
http://www.hotelprovincial.com/index.html
Our visit year before was spent in the luxury of the Iberville Suites
This store had everything a girl could want: antiques, art deco, fine new things, and an owner who liked to bargain! A must visit!
Crystal Menagerie
315 Chartres Street • New Orleans, LA 70130
504-522-2797
A treasure box of unique home lighting: chandiliers, Tiffany lamps, sconces and other home accessories.
Melody,
You seem to love the feel of the town as much as I...
Hotel Monaco-I got this place for 79 the first night and 109 the second and third nights the weekend Katrina hit. Before then, I have been staying at The Columns in uptown. Used the contra flow evacuation route to leave the city and saw looters with shopping carts outside the Monaco on TV the next week. We got a free upgrade with jacuzzi and had a ball. The bed slep better than a Westin's. George Porter of the Meters was the house band Friday night while we were there.
Jacques-Imo's-I have eaten at this Oak street (off Carrolton) numerous times and have never been dissatisfied except with the wait for a table. Fortunately, when I first discovered this place, this was not the case. If you have no patience, Margaux's is right next door.
Snake and Jake's-This is a hole in the wall bar close to Tulane with ambience out the arse. It is also on Oak but opposite side of Carrolton Avenue from Jacques-Imo's. It has a definitive late night clientelle, and I wouldn't bother going till 2 in the morning.
The Dungeon-Bourbon street seediness at it's finest!! This place doesn't even open till midnight. If you want the ABSOLUTE feel for Bourbon street without the tourist non-sense find the Dungeon.
The Gumbo Shoppe-This place serves it right, but it's turtle soup is even more sensory.
I dont know what is going to happen to this wonderful city, but I have many memories of grate times within its limits. I hope they can keep its wondeful atmoshere intact on the rebuild.
peace,
theo
I've stayed at several hotels in the FQ, but this is without a doubt my favorite. It's very convenient, the courtyard is gorgeous and supposed to be the oldest in the city. It was a barracks and you can see that in some of the rooms, but other rooms look more typical. It's a great place!
I've also stayed at the Parkview Guest House on St. Charles. It's right next to Audubon Park and since it's on the trolley line there's no need for a car to the FQ. The guest house is on the historic landmark registry. Stayed there in April years ago and having breakfast next to an open window with a view of the park was great!
I also love Pat O'Brien's courtyard, Cafe du Monde and Patout's Cajun Cabin!
Dorothy, this looks like a really fine place. It looks really well maintained and quite lush. Thanks for the most excellent recommendation.
Hotel St. Marie • A Valentino New Orleans Hotel
827 Toulouse Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
Reservations: 1-800-366-2743
Local Phone: 504-561-8951
Reservations email: hotels@frenchquarter.com.
This was taken from our balcony with a view beyond the courtyard wall...
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