It’s no secret that New Orleans’s Central Business District is a fan-favorite amongst Tulane students and locals alike. From the delicious restaurants to the abundance of rooftop activities, there’s never a shortage of things to do in the CBD. But with all of the beloved, well-known spots in the area, it’s easy to miss some less-popular, but equally as amazing, destinations! Here is our list of restaurants, bars, and activities we know you will love.
If you love Monkey Board and the Ace Hotel, you will love: The Catahoula Hotel!
They have the fun cocktails. They have the scenic rooftop bar. They have the delicious bar food. But unlike these two popular destinations, the Catahoula offers a much more intimate, low-key rooftop bar experience. After walking through the beautiful hotel, which offers chic dining spots and a super cool three-story tall mural, you walk up a few flights of stairs to the bar area. There are plenty of couches, barstools, and tables to enjoy a light meal and one (or three) expertly concocted drinks. They even offer movie nights every Wednesday. So next time you’re planning birthday drinks or a girls night out, definitely consider the Catahoula.
If you Willa Jean, you will love: Seaworthy!
What if I told you that you could find INSANELY delicious brunch mere minutes away from Willa Jean, for a fraction of the price? Dreams do come true. Seaworthy has an impressive selection of sweet and savory brunch items to choose from, as well as a $30 pitcher of mimosas for the whole table to share! The restaurant has three beautiful floors, but ask to sit on the second floor to check out the super cool candlewax fireplace. Not to mention, it’s only a few doors down from the Ace, if you need a post brunch swim.
If you love Commander’s Palace, you will love: Cochon!
This is genuinely one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. The chef is a winner of the 2011 James Beard Southern Style award, and you can definitely tell. The boucheries are the perfect size to split a few for the table, and very well-priced. Not to mention, their smoked pork ribs are prettier than any person I know. I would recommend the rabbit & dumplings along with the oysters to share. Oh, and look out for Nicholas Cage—it’s his favorite restaurant in New Orleans (I would know, he sat next to me there once)!
If you love Stonefree boutique, you will love: Freda!
Freda is a cool ass spot in the CBD. It’s located in the Ace Hotel, and has some seriously awesome jewelry, tapestries, home goods, and even a line of apothecary remedies. While the price point is a bit higher, it’s definitely worth checking out because a lot of the pieces are locally made and have great backstories!
I hope you love all of these spots as much as I do, and remember to branch out from the normal Tulane favorites this year!
About Rachel Wine
Rachel Wine is our Editor in Chief and a lover of all things New Orleans! A few of her favorite things include film photography, traveling, and finding new restaurants to try.
Rachel Wine is our Editor in Chief and a lover of all things New Orleans! A few of her favorite things include film photography, traveling, and finding new restaurants to try.
