Neighborhood Spotlight - Frenchmen Street - Bienville House Hotel

Looking for an authentic New Orleans adventure? You’ll find it on Frenchmen Street. Right where the historic French Quarter meets the quirky Marigny neighborhood, Frenchmen has all the ingredients for an amazing experience: good music, great food, and a vibrant crowd that fills the street every night.

Known as the ‘local’s Bourbon Street,’ a stroll on the Frenchmen strip is essential for a true taste of New Orleans. And it’s just a few minutes from Bienville House Hotel. Here’s all the highlights that you can’t afford to miss on Frenchmen!

Shop on Frenchmen Street

New Orleans has a style all its own. And the local shops and vendors along Frenchmen street let you take some of that spirit home with you. Within the first block of Frenchmen you’ll find the Louisiana Music Factory, the city’s favorite independent record store and a longtime mecca for music lovers.

New Orleans Spotlight Frenchmen Street - Louisiana Music Factory

For a deep dive into New Orleans music, head to the Louisiana Music Factory (photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans via Flickr)

The business is more than just a great place to find your favorite albums. It is an archive of New Orleans’ musical history. The store has a huge selection specializing in music connected with the city. If an artist, album, or song can be traced back to New Orleans, you can find it at the Louisiana Music Factory.

The Frenchmen Street Art Garden is another one-stop shop that has firm roots in New Orleans culture. Held in a breathtaking space at the end of the Frenchmen strip, this open-air market is magical. The garden is decorated with string lights, creatively repurposed furniture, and dozens of booths where local artists display their work.

Neighborhood Spotlight Frenchmen Street -Frenchmen Street Art Garden

Explore a wide range of local art at the Frenchmen Street Art Garden (Photo by Maggie Andresen via nola.com)

It’s a quiet spot where you can peruse, admire, and meet local creatives as they display their art. Be sure to take a second and see it all before jumping back out into the buzz of Frenchmen street.

Music on Frenchmen Street

More than anything, Frenchmen is known for incredible live music. Some of the city’s most famous venues call the street home. And the performances are as diverse as the stages that host them. Whether you see an intimate solo performance or a full band on a lively dance floor, you’re sure to enjoy the show on Frenchmen.

Blue Nile is one of the strip’s most iconic music clubs that locals and visitors flock to night after night. Housed in a centuries-old building, this musical landmark has two-stories, each with their own stage.

Neighborhood Spotlight Frenchmen Street - Blue Nile

Blue Nile regularly hosts New Orleans music legends like Kermit Ruffins (photo by @rebeccaan_photos via Instagram)

Jaw-dropping performances are the nightly norm at Blue Nile. And beloved local musicians like Kermit Ruffins and Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews regularly step onstage.

For a cozier setting, Apple Barrel is the perfect corner bar where blues is always crooning. Known as Frenchmen street’s best-kept secret, the small but charming space is the ideal setting for seeing blues and jazz bands work their magic.

Food on Frenchmen Street

Music and a meal go hand in hand in New Orleans, and there are great spots to enjoy dinner and a show on Frenchmen street.

Neighborhood Spotlight Frenchmen Street - Snug Harbor

Enjoy a jazz serenade with a meal at Snug Harbor (photo by Rusty Costanza via nola.com)

Snug Harbor is one of the city’s premier jazz clubs. The venue also serves some of the best Creole fare in a classic, sit-down atmosphere. Their twice-nightly concerts regularly host the biggest names in jazz.

Or you can reserve a table at Three Muses. The chic restaurant has authentic food and live musical serenades that give your night an unforgettable New Orleans vibe.

If you want to grab a bite and keep swinging and swaying, head to Café Negril. This dance hall features an eclectic mix of energetic bands, and their taco stand provides all the fuel you need to hit the dance floor.

Or you can eat at Marigny Brasserie, a cornerstone restaurant of Frenchmen’s nightlife. You’ll love this neighborhood hot spot’s huge French doors that open right onto the street. And there’s plenty of sidewalk dining where you can taste great Cajun fare and listen to the street performers on the block.

Find It All on Frenchmen Street

Frenchmen street is one of New Orleans’ genuine treasures. There’s so much fun to be had on this two-block stretch that you can keep coming back for a one-of-a-kind experience. And when you book your stay at Bienville House, your unforgettable adventure on Frenchmen street is only minutes away.