Walk downriver from the French Quarter and New Orleans changes almost without announcing it. Faubourg Marigny has colorful historic houses, neighborhood bars, restaurants and one of the city’s best-known live-music areas.
More than Frenchmen Street
Frenchmen Street is the obvious visitor magnet, but Marigny deserves more than a nighttime dash between music venues. Walk the residential streets during daylight and you will see another side of the neighborhood.
Brightly painted Creole cottages, porches and small architectural details make wandering worthwhile even when you have nowhere specific to go.
Come back after dark
In the evening, live music becomes a major reason to visit. Check current venue schedules if you have a particular performance in mind, but leave some room for spontaneity.
Respect the neighborhood
Marigny is not simply an entertainment district. People live here. Keep noise down on residential streets late at night and treat private homes as homes rather than photo sets.
Let the neighborhoods connect
I like combining the French Quarter, Marigny and nearby Bywater rather than thinking of them as isolated attractions.
Start walking and pay attention to when the architecture, crowds and rhythm begin to change. New Orleans makes much more sense when you experience the transitions between neighborhoods instead of jumping from landmark to landmark.