Tradition, opulence and beauty. We have it all here in New Orleans’ historic Garden District. The Grand Victorian sits among the best of 18th century mansions, delightful gardens and an abundance of old world charm in one of the country’s most lovely neighborhoods.
The Garden District was created after the Louisiana Purchase as a neighborhood for new American residents eager to display their wealth by building lavish homes on generous plots of land. Get a peaceful break from the more touristy areas of New Orleans in this neighborhood that is in bloom 12 months a year.
From the staff at the Grand Victorian, here is our Top 5 list of things to do in the Garden District:
1. Dine at Commander’s Palace
Always on our list and everyone else’s list is the classy upscale restaurant less than 2 blocks walk from the Grand Victorian. The secret is to go for lunch and 25 cent martinis or Jazz brunch on the weekends. Be sure to make your reservation early.
2. Tour the Historic Cemetery
Lafayette Cemetery #1 is one of the most well kept of the cemeteries open for tours in the city. It is across the street from Commander’s Palace. You can walk around on your own or take one of the free or paid tours from the local certified tour guides.
3. View the Neighborhood Architecture
Take a slow walking tour of the architecture and gardens of the beautiful and majestic homes. You can pick up a tour without a reservation mid-morning or early afternoon at the Garden District Bookshop or ask our staff to print the self-guided tour for you to go at your own pace.
4. Shop and Eat on Magazine Street
Featuring casual restaurants of every variety, antiques, dessert shops, jewelry stores, funky gifts shops, and anything you might want, Magazine Street is a six block walk from the Grand Victorian. This neighborhood shopping mecca runs for a few miles, so you may want to get a bus pass to hit everything on your list.
5. Take an Anne Rice-inspired walk
If you’re a fan of our native Gothic fiction writer, many of the places that inspired Anne Rice like the Keyhole Door at 1239 First Street as well as some of her previous homes can be found in the Garden District.
Don’t forget to sleep in the Garden District with your favorite New Orleans B&B, the Grand Victorian. A short streetcar ride away from the French Quarter, you’ll never want to stay anywhere else when you come to New Orleans. Check out our end of summer special deals today!