New Orleans/Uptown

Uptown is a large portion of New Orleans settled in the 19th century after the Louisiana Purchase, upriver from the older parts of the city around the French Quarter and the Central Business District. It includes the Garden District, which is popular with visitors. At the upper end of Uptown is the Audubon & University District, and just beyond that the Carrollton neighborhood. The majority of this historic section of the city escaped the great flood of 2005.



Understand
Uptown New Orleans was developed during the 19th century boom when New Orleans was one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. The concentration and variety of intact 19th and early- 20th-century architecture make it a treat for those who enjoy the architecture of those eras, as well as a frequent setting for movie scenes.

Although predominantly residential, there is a wealth of local shops and restaurants -- many clustered along "neighborhood main streets", others scattered here and there.

The main streets of interest to visitors, stretching in gentle curves reflecting that of the Mississippi River from one end of Uptown to the other, are St. Charles Avenue with its famous streetcar line, and Magazine Street, a commercial hub with a bus line. Those visiting with a car or bicycle may also wish to check out Prytania Street, which parallels St. Charles a couple of blocks closer to the river, competing with St. Charles for beautiful architecture along with a smattering of local businesses.

The parts of Uptown "back of town" (furthest from the river) near Claiborne Avenue experienced some flooding in the Federal levee failure disaster during Hurricane Katrina. For the most part it is still less thriving and of less interest to visitors. A notable exception is a section of Freret Street between Jefferson Avenue and Napoleon Avenue. This circa 1900 neighborhood commercial street was in decline for a generation before it was flooded chest deep in 2005. By 2011, however it was one of the success stories of the New Orleans rebirth. While a few parts are still on the ragged side, the 8 block stretch of Freret is now hopping with new innovative local restaurants, shops, cafes, a comedy club, and a monthly market.

By car
While a busy section of town, car is still an effective means of getting around Uptown, unlike the CBD, French Quarter, or Marigny. Parking is seldom too hard to find, outside major events like Mardi Gras, although you may sometimes have to park around the corner from where you're going, since many of the old commercial buildings have little or no off street parking. Traffic is often slow on major streets, especially during rush hour.

By streetcar
The St Charles Streetcar is quite a convenient way to get around Uptown, running along the main street from the edge of the French Quarter through the CBD, all the way through Uptown to Tulane University and then on to the main section of Carrollton.

The streetcars are interesting to ride, though it is relatively loud inside (sounds like a somewhat muffled compressor is under the streetcar) and the streetcars travel slower than buses. There are only a few wheelchair accessible stops and most of the streetcars are not wheelchair accessible.

By bus
Bus 11 is the most useful public transport route (aside from the streetcar), coming from Canal St in the CBD and then running the length of Magazine St through the shopping corridor and on to the Audobon Zoo. Bus 16 runs along Claiborne from Canal and bus 10 along Tchoupitoulas.

Bus 27 is another useful route if you are near the shopping corridor. It runs along Louisiana and will take you to the most popular (and safest) cemeteries. The Cemeteries terminus also connects back up with the Canal Streetcar.

By taxi
Taxis are reasonably easy to hail off the street throughout Uptown, provided you are on one of the main roads.

See
The green Saint Charles streetcar line, with 1920s vintage trolleys, was restored post-Katrina by 2008.

Whether traveling on streetcars, driving or biking, St. Charles Avenue is well worth a look for the mansions of the city's 19th-century "millionaire row".


 * Garden District is a part of town known for the fine mansions. The official historical district is bounded by St. Charles Avenue, Jackson Avenue, Louisiana Avenue, and Magazine Street; historically some definitions have defined the boundaries otherwise, and more equally fine historic mansions can be found nearby outside these boundaries. The name "Garden District" came from early in the 19th century when this area was laid out with fine mansions of businessmen and plantation owners, building a couple of grand houses to the block surrounded by large gardens. In the late 19th century most of the land owners sold off most of the surrounding lots, on which wooden Victorian homes rich in architectural "gingerbread" were built. Thus, despite the name, the "Garden District" is now notable more for its architecture than for the gardens. Tours of the mansions of Uptown's Garden District are given by the Park Service and by private companies; there are walking and bus tours available. Walking tours typically cost about $25 per person (April 2018), and may sell out, so booking ahead is recommended. Many of the homes have plaques posted in front that describe the history of the house and its historical occupants.
 * Lafayette Cemetery #1, Prytania & Washington. Historic old cemetery.

Do

 * Private and group escorted mansion walking tours
 * Streetcar ride

Magazine Street
The six miles of Magazine Street offer a great variety of local businesses: antiques, art new and old, clothing, furniture, and curiosities, with local cafes and restaurants along the way. The greatest concentrations of interesting businesses are in the sections from around Felicity Street to Jackson Avenue, around the intersection of Louisiana Avenue, and from Napoleon Avenue to Nashville Street. However, other businesses are sprinkled along the route, in some places mixed with mostly residential blocks. There are shops for tastes from elegant to funky and for any price range.

A small sample of some of the more interesting unique shops includes the following.

Elsewhere Uptown
The Rink 2200 block of Prytania at the corner of Washington Avenue. A small shopping center in a building that used to house a 19th-century skating rink. Notable shops include:

Budget

 * Cafe Luna, 802 Nashville at Magazine. Coffee & tea, sandwiches & pastries.
 * Dat Dog≤, 5030 Freret (2½ blocks up from Jefferson Avenue; they moved across the street to larger space in 2012) +1 504 899-6883. Hot dog stand bammed up a notch, New Orleans-style. A variety of quality wieners and sausages, including Louisiana Hot Sausage and Alligator Sausage for the adventurous. Lunch & early dinner, Tu-Su, open late Sa night. Cash.
 * Domilise's Po-Boys, 5240 Annunciation. Good neighborhood po-boy place has been here for generations.
 * Guy's Po-Boy, 5259 Magazine, 891-5025. Small traditional po-boy place. M-Sa 11AM-4PM
 * Joey K's, 3001 Magazine, 891-0997. Neighborhood po-boys, catfish, and fresh caught fish specials.
 * Taqueria Corona, 5932 Magazine: cheap good Mexican. Closed for siesta from 2PM to about 5:30PM in the afternoons.
 * Guy's Po-Boy, 5259 Magazine, 891-5025. Small traditional po-boy place. M-Sa 11AM-4PM
 * Joey K's, 3001 Magazine, 891-0997. Neighborhood po-boys, catfish, and fresh caught fish specials.
 * Taqueria Corona, 5932 Magazine: cheap good Mexican. Closed for siesta from 2PM to about 5:30PM in the afternoons.
 * Taqueria Corona, 5932 Magazine: cheap good Mexican. Closed for siesta from 2PM to about 5:30PM in the afternoons.
 * Taqueria Corona, 5932 Magazine: cheap good Mexican. Closed for siesta from 2PM to about 5:30PM in the afternoons.
 * Taqueria Corona, 5932 Magazine: cheap good Mexican. Closed for siesta from 2PM to about 5:30PM in the afternoons.
 * Taqueria Corona, 5932 Magazine: cheap good Mexican. Closed for siesta from 2PM to about 5:30PM in the afternoons.
 * Taqueria Corona, 5932 Magazine: cheap good Mexican. Closed for siesta from 2PM to about 5:30PM in the afternoons.
 * Taqueria Corona, 5932 Magazine: cheap good Mexican. Closed for siesta from 2PM to about 5:30PM in the afternoons.
 * Taqueria Corona, 5932 Magazine: cheap good Mexican. Closed for siesta from 2PM to about 5:30PM in the afternoons.
 * Taqueria Corona, 5932 Magazine: cheap good Mexican. Closed for siesta from 2PM to about 5:30PM in the afternoons.
 * Taqueria Corona, 5932 Magazine: cheap good Mexican. Closed for siesta from 2PM to about 5:30PM in the afternoons.
 * Taqueria Corona, 5932 Magazine: cheap good Mexican. Closed for siesta from 2PM to about 5:30PM in the afternoons.

Snacks

 * SnoWizard, 4001 Magazine (at Constantinople) Another excellent sno-ball place, a short walk down from Napoleon. Open during hot weather Su-F noon - 8PM; Sa noon - 7PM.
 * SnoWizard, 4001 Magazine (at Constantinople) Another excellent sno-ball place, a short walk down from Napoleon. Open during hot weather Su-F noon - 8PM; Sa noon - 7PM.
 * SnoWizard, 4001 Magazine (at Constantinople) Another excellent sno-ball place, a short walk down from Napoleon. Open during hot weather Su-F noon - 8PM; Sa noon - 7PM.
 * SnoWizard, 4001 Magazine (at Constantinople) Another excellent sno-ball place, a short walk down from Napoleon. Open during hot weather Su-F noon - 8PM; Sa noon - 7PM.

Coffee houses
Some local places for a good cup of coffee, some light eats, and pleasant locations with people-watching.


 * CC's, 900 Jefferson (at Magazine Street), has other locations too. Wi-fi.
 * Cafe Luna, 802 Nashville at Magazine: Coffee & tea, sandwiches & pastries. Locals loved it even more when it was the first coffee shop Uptown to reopen after Katrina. Wi-fi
 * Fuel, Magazine just up from Bourdeau Street. Wi-fi
 * Mojo coffee house , 1500 Magazine Street (corner of Race Street). M-F 6:30AM-midnight, Sa Su 7AM-midnight. Great coffee! lots of teas, sandwiches, soups, bubble tea and free Wi-fi. Mojo also features organic fair trade coffee.
 * PJ's, 5432 Magazine (just up from Jefferson Avenue). Small local chain also has location in Carrollton and others around the metro area. Wi-fi

Mid-range

 * La Thai 4938 Prytania (at Robert), tel: +1 504 899-8886. Thai
 * La Thai 4938 Prytania (at Robert), tel: +1 504 899-8886. Thai
 * La Thai 4938 Prytania (at Robert), tel: +1 504 899-8886. Thai
 * La Thai 4938 Prytania (at Robert), tel: +1 504 899-8886. Thai
 * La Thai 4938 Prytania (at Robert), tel: +1 504 899-8886. Thai
 * La Thai 4938 Prytania (at Robert), tel: +1 504 899-8886. Thai
 * La Thai 4938 Prytania (at Robert), tel: +1 504 899-8886. Thai
 * La Thai 4938 Prytania (at Robert), tel: +1 504 899-8886. Thai
 * La Thai 4938 Prytania (at Robert), tel: +1 504 899-8886. Thai



Connect
An hour of internet time at New Orleans Public Library branches:
 * Latter Branch, 5120 St. Charles Avenue.
 * Napoleon Branch/ Children's Resource Center, 913 Napoleon Av., just back from Magazine Street.

Wi-fi offered at several of the coffee houses listed above.

Stay safe
Uptown is a large section of the city. Being a relatively high-end area, it is one of the safest in New Orleans. The parts of most interest to visitors are generally some of the safer in the area, but neighborhood conditions can change dramatically within a few blocks. Be aware of where you're going if you venture away from major streets like St. Charles, Prytania, and Magazine. Parts of the Garden District are bordered by housing projects and unsafe neighborhoods. Be cautious if parking on dimly lit side streets at night. If you're unsure of an area ask in advance or play it safe and take a cab.