This has become one of my favorite areas of New Orleans with boutique hotels, restaurants, galleries and more to explore.
Where to Eat
John Besh’s Restaurant August at Tchoupitoulas St., on the edge of the Warehouse Arts District, is known for fine dining and is set in a 19th century French-Creole building.
St. James Cheese: Their newest location in the Warehouse District, at 641 Tchoupitoulas St., has a wonderful selection of artisan cheeses, gourmet food items and cured meats. They also offer casual dining and feature an excellent selection of sandwiches, salads, mac and cheese plus cheese and charcuterie boards for eating in or take out. They have a second location in Uptown at 5004 Prytania St.
Revelator Coffee: Next door to St. James Cheese, is this sleek coffee shop serving great coffee at 637 Tchoupitoulas St.
Peche: This casual spot in the Warehouse Arts District at Magazine St. received the James Beard Award in the past for Best Chef South and Best New Restaurant. It features coastal seafood prepared on an open hearth over hardwood coals. I enjoyed a very good mahi mahi entree, a special for the day.
Emeril’s New Orleans: This is Emeril Lagasse’s flagship restaurant, located at 800 Tchoupitoulas St. I loved having a cocktail at the bar. Open for lunch and dinner it is known for its upscale New Orleans cuisine, since 1990.
Willa Jean, 611 O’Keefe St.: A contemporary southern bakery cafe with exposed brick walls, this is a great spot for breakfast. They have coffee and wonderful pastries, plus a full eat-in menu. I loved my biscuit with blue crab and hollandaise sauce. The chocolate chip/sea salt cookies were a perfect snack later in the day! This is part of the Besh Restaurant Group. They are also open for lunch and dinner. Pastry Chef Kelly Fields, won the James Beard Award in 2019 for Outstanding Pastry Chef.
For a casual breakfast spot with an old diner feel, check out Marjoria’s Commerce Restaurant at 300 Camp Street. They also serve lunch.
Cochon Butcher: This is a popular spot featuring sandwiches, bbq, small plates and sides plus house meats, sausages and house cured salami. Cochon, the well-known restaurant for Cajun and Southern cooking is located around the corner. Both have the address of 930 Tchoupitoulas St.
My brother and his family were in New Orleans in Mardi Gras and ate twice at Cochon Butcher and loved it.
Under the same ownership is Herbsaint Bar & Restaurant. Located at 701 St. Charles Ave, it is a very popular restaurant.
Other fun spots include the popular Congregation Coffee which took over the former Pulp and Grind location at 644 Camp St., and Ugly Dog Saloon & BBQ at 401 Andrew Higgins Dr. Bittersweet Confections at 725 Magazine St. is also very good. They have a second location in the newly opened St. Roch Market.
Turkey and the Wolf at 739 Jackson Ave. was named by Bon Appetit Magazine as the best new restaurant in the US in 2017. It has also been rated highly by Eater and Food & Wine Magazine. It is known for its inventive sandwiches and cocktails.
What to Do
The area has some great shopping, galleries and museums to explore. Make sure not to miss the:
Contemporary Art Center: This center features art installations, music, dance and theater performances plus workshops and other events. Make sure to check out the calendar on their website. There is also a small bookstore, gift shop and cafe. 900 Camp St.
Ogden Museum of Southern Art: This is a wonderful museum that should be added to your list of must-sees when in town. They have 5 floors of exhibition spaces including a rooftop gallery with sculptures and great views of the area. They feature temporary exhibitions as well as paintings, photography and crafts from their permanent collection. 925 Camp St.
National WWII Museum: Across from the Ogden Museum is the large museum dedicated to World War II with exhibitions, memorabilia and more. They also have films, a restaurant and other entertainment. 945 Magazine St.
There are more than 25 galleries in the neighborhood, particularly on Julia Street, as well as many shops.