A sunny street view in the French Quarter of New Orleans shows parked cars, historic buildings with wrought-iron balconies, and a yellow flag waving above the sidewalk. People are sitting on a balcony overlooking the street.

A Guide to Famous French Quarter Streets in New Orleans

ByNatalie Rushing

I’ve spent a lot of time in the New Orleans French Quarter–I lived in the middle of it for 6 months and lived another 6 months in the Marigny, which is right on the border. Each of the French Quarter streets has its own personality: some are perfect for walking, some are best for nightlife, and some you can skip entirely.

In this guide, I’m breaking down the main French Quarter streets to visit, such as Royal, Bourbon, Decatur, and Chartres, plus a few underrated ones, so you’ll know exactly which streets match your travel style and which ones aren’t worth your while.

For context, the French Quarter is bordered by Rampart Street, Elysian Fields, Canal Street, and the Mississippi River. Inside those borders is its own tiny universe. Let’s explore it street by street.

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Where to STay in the French Quarter

If you’re going to be there awhile, say, as a digital nomad, I’d stay in the Upper Quarter (Burgundy/Dauphine) or somewhere close to Esplanade. That way you’re within walking distance of all the action, but will be sleeping/working somewhere quieter.

If you’re just going to be visiting for a few nights, you may want to stay in the middle of all the action.

Hotels I would recommend:

Hotel St. Pierre: cute, affordable Upper Quarter hotel (so it’s quiet!) with lots of charm, a pool, plus a parking lot.
OMNI Royal Orleans: a great hotel where you’ll be right in the center of it all.

Map of where to stay in the French Quarter:

A woman in a blue dress walks across a wet street in front of a historic brick building with ornate ironwork balconies and hanging plants in New Orleans.
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Royal Street

Let’s start with my favorite, Royal Street, most famously known for its live music, art galleries, and bubbles. Expect to hear live jazz that draws a crowd and will get you dancing, or at least bopping your head. There are always bubbles coming from balconies for some reason, which just adds to the fun (and it’s fun to play in bubbles when alcohol is involved).

And speaking of the balconies, the most beautiful French Quarter balconies are on this street. For example, the super famous one in my photo above at Royal and St. Peter.

You’ll see lots of art galleries and cute shops on Royal, which is a perfect way to spend an afternoon with no plans. Some of them are dog-friendly (you’ll know by the dog bowls outside).

A woman in a blue dress with colorful prints stands smiling against a pink wall with gold cursive text reading Brennans. A plant is on her left and a dark drainpipe runs down the right side of the wall.

Where to Eat on Royal

It wouldn’t be a New Orleans post if I didn’t at least mention food. Here are some delicious options for you:

Brennan’s: This is where Bananas Foster was invented, and you’ll want to try it–they come to your table and prepare it for you, fire and all!

The Court of Two Sisters: Famous for jazz brunch and a gorgeous courtyard.

woman smiling and holding yellow drink in the middle of a huge crowd at Mardi Gras

Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras. It’s not always this crazy, I promise.

Bourbon Street

Bourbon needs no introduction, but I’ll give you one anyway. If you want to party, this is where you go. Think bars, music, and people drinking in the streets (perfectly legal in New Orleans). If you’ve never been, you’ll love it your first time. And maybe your second…but it will start to wear off, and if you go enough times, you become like a local and lose all interest. You have to experience it at least once.

Where to Eat on Bourbon

Mambo’s: Mambos’ has the only rooftop bar in the Quarter, and they serve delicious Creole comfort food – try the étouffée, you won’t be disappointed. I’ll never forget Mambo’s saving my ass on Mardi Gras weekend – I had just arrived in town at around 10 p.m. on Saturday and was starving. I was staying a little far away from all the action, so I decided to order in. However, most places on the delivery apps were too overwhelmed with all the Mardi Gras crowds and nonsense, and I was having a hard time finding a place willing to deliver to me, but Mambo’s came in clutch with a delicious dinner of etouffee, gumbo, and red beans and rice. I’ve since returned many times, and it will always be a favorite.

Cafe Beignet: There are a few locations around, but the Bourbon Street one is the best, IMO. They have a cute balcony, and live music is often playing. Plus, they have a bar. Chocolate beer with chocolate beignets, anyone?

Decatur Street

Oh boy. If there was ever a mixed bag of a street, it’s Decatur.

Decatur can be a fun, less crowded alternative to Bourbon Street – think dive bar after dive bar, many of them open 24 hours and with better prices than Bourbon (5 bucks for a beer and a shot). If that sounds up your alley, enjoy. Be advised, though, many of the bars are cash only.

Also, word to the wise–take caution on lower Decatur (Dumaine to Esplanade). This is where the Quarter’s largest homeless population hangs out, a.k.a. the Lower Decatur Lifestyle crowd. That’s a whole other rabbit hole you could go down if you wanted, but essentially, many of these folks chose this as a lifestyle and congregate around lower Decatur. You’ll see them fight each other, smoke crack, and engage in all sorts of other interesting behavior. You may be asked (or hassled) for any leftovers you’re carrying. I feel bad for their dogs.

Where to Eat on Decatur

One More Pie: pizza by the slice. Deserves a shout because they saved my ass many a time when I lived right up the street, plus they have karaoke!

Café du Monde: beignets, obviously. And not just the beignets, but the experience!

Central Grocery: home of the OG muffuletta. If you want the real deal, come here

Turtle Bay: one of those dive bars I mentioned earlier, but they also serve good food!

People stand on a balcony overlooking a lively street scene with shops, market stalls, and a park. In the background, there is a tall church with spires and modern buildings under a clear blue sky.

The view from the balcony at Muriel’s

Chartres

Chartres is the introvert of the Quarter. If I’m walking with a purpose from one end of the FQ to the other, I’m taking Chartres. It’s less packed, not as many tourists, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a scammer on Chartres.

With that being said, Chartres, although quieter, has lots of charm and is absolutely worth exploring. It’s bisected by the St. Louis Cathedral, which you’ll want to see!

Victorian-style red velvet furniture with a round cushioned seat, a tall, tufted backrest, and a tasseled decorative pillow, set in a richly decorated room with red drapes and framed artwork.

From the Seance Lounge at Muriel’s

Where to Eat on Chartres

Muriel’s: One of the coolest restaurants, Muriel’s is known for its delicious Creole food, jazz brunch, Seance Lounge, and resident ghost–they even leave a table open for the ghost. The Seance Lounge is fun to wander around with a cocktail.

Napoleon House (Chartres/ St. Louis): affordable eats and drinks, featuring muffulettas and Pimm’s Cups.

Sylvain: delicious cocktails, great food, and lively atmosphere

A large, white, two-story building with gray shutters and a dark roof, seen on a sunny day. Several cars are parked in front, and two people walk along the sidewalk in the lower right corner.

Old Ursulines Convent

Ursulines

Ursulines is a quieter street with some noteworthy spots (I used to live on it!). Perhaps its most famous landmark is the Old Ursulines Convent. If you go on a ghost tour, you can expect to stop here. This is where the legendary “Casket Girls” lived. Depending on which version of the story your tour guide tells you, the casket girls were the city’s first vampires, or they were taken by vampires, or…something to do with vampires.

Where to Eat on Ursulines

Verti Mart (Ursulines & Royal): A little pricy IMO, but if you want a delicious poboy at all hours of the night, this is your spot. Try All That Jazz – it’s amazing!

Croissant D’or: What. A. Cute. Bakery! This bakery is one of my favorites in the entire city – not only do they have a case full of delicious treats plus a full breakfast menu, they also have a beautiful courtyard!

Rampart

This is one of the border French Quarter streets and is home to the gorgeous Louis Armstrong Park, which houses Congo Square. The park and Congo Square are must visits for their historical significance.

Where to eat and Drink on Rampart

Bar Tonique: This place has a large cocktail menu plus a cozy fireplace. The table seating could be better, but if you sit at the bar, you’ll be fine!

Treehouse: This place serves pizza and cocktails in a fun, tree-filled environment

Esplanade

Another border street, Esplanade is lined with live oak trees and beautiful houses and is always great for a stroll.

Where to Eat on Esplanade

Port of Call: The best burger and baked potato I’ve ever had, plus one of the strongest cocktails. The Monsoon, which I affectionately refer to as “Death Drink,” is perhaps the best bargain in the French Quarter. For the low low price of 14 bucks, you get a humongous cocktail you can sip on throughout the day and does it ever do the trick. ONE is plenty, trust me–you are SET for the day. Anytime I see someone wandering the Quarter with a Port of Call cup, I immediately think they know what’s up!

Canal Street

Unless you’re there to take the streetcar or to watch a Mardi Gras parade, I wouldn’t spend much time on Canal. It’s loud, busy, and pretty generic. Unless you’re really into malls, overpriced drinks, or souvenir shops, then have at it.

Final Thoughts on French Quarter Streets

Each of the French Quarter streets has a unique look and feel, and it’s good to know which ones suit your tastes best. If you have time, though, explore them all! You really can’t go wrong with any of them.

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