Honeymoon in NOLA
 

I am headed to NO for my honeymoon over Christmas. We are NOT renting a car, staying at the JW Marriott and things I plan to do/eat are Cemetary Tour, DDay Museum, Aquarium, Saints Game, Preservation Hall, Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse, Comanders Palace, Brennans for breakfast and possibly midnight mass at St Louis Cathedral. Can anyone suggest ROMANTIC additions to this? I would love to go to City Park to see the Oaks all lit up for xmas but we have no car. I can't seem to find another way to see it. Any suggestions? Reviews for the above?

Here's a suggestion of something NOT to do: eat breakfast at Brennan's. Decades ago it was a very "in" thing to do, but now it's just a highly over-rated (and expensive) tourist trap. NO is full of wonderful restaurants...try another one! P.S., don't try the Court of Two Sisters...it's just as bad :)

That is the kind of info I am looking for!!! I had heard Court was bad. Surprising about Brennans...what is your suggestion for breakfast/brunch?

Congrats!

If you really like WWII stuff, allow a few hours to take in all of the DDay Museum. We got in right near closing time and had to rush thru it.

After the Saints game, we like to either walk over the bridge to the att. mall and take in the post game festivites at the sports bar at the Hyatt and watch the other football games until it's time to crawl back to the FQ for a few "final-finals".

Is the DDay Musuem and a Saints game "romantic". If so, you got a sister? ;)

Petunia's for B'fast would be very interesting for you. We liked the place. And the courtyard at Bayonna's, weather permitting, would be romantic.

Carriage ride, too.
Mahalo,
Kal

This place is touristy too but I like it for brunch...Mr. T's. Had my first mimosa there many years ago.

I like the Bon Ton Cafe for New Orleans ambiance and FOOD! The D Day Museum is fabulous too, and the aquarium. You might consider renting a car one day and seeing one of the plantations near New Orleans. They are wonderful.
J

We spent our honeymoon in NO and it was terrific.

In addition to the things you have mentioned, I would recommend a carriage ride through the french quarter or garden district. We did a carriage ride through the FQ in the evenning and it was really nice.

Another romantic thing to do - ride the St Charles streetcar through the garden district, get off and wander through the streets past the magnificent homes.

We were going to go to City Park while we were in NO, but we didn't get to it. I seem to remember a bus that passed along the outskirts of the quarter and went up to City Park, possibly along Esplanade. Of course, you could always take a cab.

Don't miss Cafe Du Monde for beignets and coffee (or hot chocolate if you don't care for chickory).

Wandering the streets of the FQ is very romantic - I actually found walks first thing in the morning to be wonderful, just as the neighborhood is waking up. Everything was quiet. It was May when we went, and in the mornings the shop keepers washed down the sidewalks and people watered their hanging plants, so the whole place was cool and misty.

We had lunch at a little place on Royal and St Ann I believe it was called Pere Antoines - the diningroom was great, with big windows overlooking the street - nice for people watching. We had catfish that was done to perfection.

We also enjoyed our meal at the Redfish Grill on Bourbon St - it's a busy place, kind of loud, but good service and good food.

For something on the quiet and romantic side, the Marginy Brassiere on Royal and Frenchman was terrific.

If you want to take a trip outside of town, a plantation tour is great. We took a half day tour with Spinato tours and saw 2 plantations - Laura and Oak Alley. It was a lot of fun and allowed us to see some of the countryside and learn some of the history of the area.

Check out frenchquarterfestivals.com for info on Christmas in NOLA. The site usually lists special Christmas events along with dates and times. My husband and I went a couple of years ago for Christmas and if I am remembering correctly we took a Grayline tour to see the lights in City Park.
Have a wonderful time!

I agree that a plantation tour would be a good idea. Some of them might be decorated for the holidays.

One restaurant I always liked for food and ambiance was Brigsten's. On their website it explains how to get there on the street car from the quarter.
http://www.brigtsens.com/location.html

BTW, anything you want to do that needs a car...there's always a cab.

Here's another recommendation for skipping Brennan's. Try Petunia's.

For romantic dining, Broussard's, Bistro at Hotel Maison de Ville, Bayona (especially the courtyard of any of these). Better, take the Charles St. Streetcar (while it's still light out to enjoy the gorgeous homes all along the way) to Brigtsen's.

The Palace Cafe, right across the street from the JW Marriott is fabulous.

Romantic for cocktails and jazz is the Lobby Lounge at the Ritz. Also Napoleon House.

Great minds think alike?

My daughter went to Brennan's for brunch at Easter & said it wasn't good. I know it is traditional but sometimes like fruitcake, traditions lose their charm. Court of 2 Sisters is on the edge too but if you must have a jazz brunch go for it.

The lights in City Park (Celebration in the Oaks) can be a driving tour or walking tour. Here is the site with info.
www.neworleanscitypark.com/cito.php
I believe that Grayline Tours did a deal there last year. You might check that.

Had you thought about a night riverboat cruise? You won't see that much of the river sites but it is pretty at night & the Natchez (I believe) has a nighttime jazz cruise with or without a meal. The river is interesting during the day but not exactly pretty. At night it is more mysterious & fun.

Here's something we really enjoy: having a cocktail at the Top of the Mart at the World Trade Center. It's just at the end of Canal Street and revolves...the view of the city and river is absolutely spectacular.

I second kal's and djkbooks' recommendation for breakfast at Petunia's - my wife and I had a wonderful breakfast there last fall. Also, we stayed away from both Brennan's and Court of Two Sisters based on previous negative postings.
For dinner, we enjoyed Dante's Kitchen in the Riverbend area - take the St. Charles streetcar west and get off on the first stop as the streetcar turns north along Carrolton - it's a short walk west of the stop - very near the river. It's a small, intimate restaurant - wonderful, well-presented food - good romantic setting. You'll enjoy the streetcar ride and the beautiful historic residences as well. Have fun!

We had brunch at the Court of Two Sisters a couple years ago - it was ok, but nothing to write home about. The courtyard was pretty and had a nice ambiance with the band. The food was decent, but paled in comparison to just about everything else we ate while we were there. I did have some coconut cake that was pretty darn good though.

We had dinner at Brennans about 3 years ago and it was wonderful. Sad to hear its gone downhill. Take the free ferry to Algiers from the foot of Canal. Charming neighborhoods for strolling hand in hand - and there's the Mardi Gras Float museum but we didn't go - had coffee in a little Algiers coffeeshop instead.

You can now take the streetcar to City Park. Catch in anywhere along Canal Street, but make sure it's the one going to City Park (the line splits).

My favorite Christmas activity in New Orleans is caroling in Jackson Square. It normally happens a week or so before Christmas, and the whole square gets packed with lights and singing.

I second the carriage ride. Visit www.nola.com for more tourist information on New Orleans. A rental car would be good at all possible, so you can travel down river road, and view the antebellum plantations, tour them with all the Christmas decorations. There might be a tour bus that takes you to them.

I can't recommended Commander's Palace highly enough. We went in June and we ate in the Garden Room with a view of the cemetary (romantic??? Not sure!!). It was fabulous. The Garden District is absolutely beautiful to ride through on the way to the restaurant. Can only agree with the suggestion of riding St. Charles St. streetcar and seeing the beautiful houses along the route. We also had a stroll in Audubon park which was very worthwhile. If you're very lucky then you may get serenaded by Dr. Saxtrum near where the Natchez steamboat docks. I have my whole experience on VT! ha ha

Christmas Eve: try to get on a riverboat that takes you through the parrishes south of N.O. There are huge bombfires along the levee which light the way for Papa Noel. It's really a cool and unique sight.
I'm sure you could rent a car to see the City Park lights. Taking a cab would be very costly since the traffic moves very slowly through the park.
Restaurants: Lillette is a small French restaurant, Bayonna is great, Commander's is great. I love breakfast at the Bluebird on Prytania - it's a small local's place and there can be a short line (it isn't romantic, but it sums up N.O.). Napoleon House is good for lunch -be sure to have a Pimm's Cup. The Columns on St. Charles is good for drinks. Maybe check out the House on Bayou Road.
The Pharmacy Museum is interesting-they have a lovely courtyard. Evergreen Plantation has the original slave's quarters (rare!); you'll have to catch a tour from a company in the city.

I second Susan's suggestion of a drink at the Top of the Mart(the last time we were there they had great martinis). Go at sunset and watch the lights come on over the city and across the river as you make the full revolution.

Also, for real historic New Orleans ambience, go to Jean LaFitte's Blacksmith Shop (bar), on Bourbon but past the loud rowdy part.

Byrd

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

Definitively, you should consider having dinner at Bayona. 200 year old creole cottage with an intimate environment (inside & out) plus a remarkable menu. It is at 430 Dauphine, an easy walk from JW Marriott. Food rivals and often triumphs over Commander's and the service is adroitly attentive without being obtrusive or hovering!

Skip Cafe DuMonde (tourist mecca devoid of local charm) and visit Cafe Beignet (334 B, Royal Street location ONLY...other "Cafe Beignet" stores pale). This is a quick morning stroll from your hotel. Locals work here and munch here. Interior sports a charming bricked floor and the enclosed courtyard is perfection. Watch Royal St. wake up while you dine.

And on a patriotic finish, kudos on the D-Day museum selection. Allocate a minimum of 2 hours as this museum covers both the European and Pacific theaters. Keep an eye out for WWII veterans; on previous visits, I've met several Normandy and Pac-Rim veterans. Truly outstanding! If you are a fan of "Band of Brothers", re-read it before you go. Major Winters is well represented in European section.

Have great trip and spectacular marriage!