Decatur Street
Decatur Street
4.5
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The area
Neighborhood: French Quarter
A small and teeming network of laissez-faire living lounged out on the balmy banks of the Mighty Mississippi, the French Quarter has long been a port of call for folks in search of a good time and a great story. Perpetually inebriated Bourbon Street runs across its midriff like a strand of cheap ribbon tied around an otherwise rather pretty and impressively well-kept vintage dress. Throughout the rest of the Quarter, brightly colored Victorian homes and businesses, famously done up with wrought-iron features, provide a distinct and immediately recognizable backdrop for all varieties of fun. At any given moment in this historic riverside setting, some of America’s finest meals are being cooked, most potent cocktails are being mixed, and most engaging music is being performed.
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,510 within 3 miles
Attractions
631 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
30 reviews
Excellent
14
Very good
15
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
bryanmantezoni
Houston, TX2,774 contributions
Dec 2019
This is one of the most entertaining streets to walk around during the day or night. You can see parks, restaurants, shops, street actors and some real statues around this street. I got so distracted that I tripped and fell when I was walking around, please make sure you pay attention to the street and side walks.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geoff H
Sissinghurst, UK18,057 contributions
Oct 2022
Decatur Street is a great street to walk down. It seems to have as many restaurants and bars as the more famous Bourbon Street but it does not have the hordes of people. There are interesting shops, like Jazz Funeral, and the French Market but it also has Latrobe Park and historic sights like Bienville Place, with its staue of Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the Founder of New Orleans, and the statue of Joan of Arc, a gift from the people of France.
Written November 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The_Loup_Garou
Phoenix, AZ164,987 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
My wife and I both grew up in, or near New Orleans, with wife being a 3rd generation native. We lived in the City for 12 after marriage, but have been gone for almost 4 decades, though we visit 2-6 times per year.
For both of us, Decatur St holds many memories – going to either the Morning Call coffee stand (now moved to Metairie and City Park), or Café Du Monde with our parents, dining at many of the restaurants (many still there), or shopping in the various stores.
Decatur St is different from the rest of the streets in the French Quarter. It is mostly along the Mississippi River, though N Peters St does join it, near Canal, and then behind the French Market, to hug the River more closely. Because of its proximity to the River, it is wider, and still carries heavy traffic, for the French Quarter. Once, almost everything between Decatur and the River was a warehouse, with the exception of the JAX brewery, with the Public Belt RR and piers beyond. Most of those are long gone, replaced by a linear park, and several large parking lots. Once, a great deal of fresh produce was hauled up and down Decatur St, heading to the French Market. Some of the French Market is still there, but the vast majority has been replaced by shops and restaurants, and now, most of the produce traffic is coming to the French Quarter via Decatur St, but then entering the Quarter to make a delivery to one of the many restaurants.
Having known Decatur St so well, it is always interesting to observe the changes, and we noticed several during our December visit, that either we had missed in June, or that had become noticeable in those 6 mos.
On this visit, we were in town for my wife to speak at a medical symposium, and we were on our own for an afternoon. With a cool fog wrapping around the French Quarter and the Central Business District, we set out for the Café Du Monde, for their Café au lait, and walked along Decatur St. I have to admit that not much in the first few blocks, from Canal St, to where S Peters St intersects, had changed. The changes were most evident, on the riverside of the street, just downriver from the S Peters St junction. One of the last remaining warehouse sections is being converted into condos.
We walked past restaurants that we knew in our youth, plus many others, which had opened only fairly recently, such a Bubba Gump, New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood, and some we had never heard of. While some of the old stand-bys, such as Tujague's and Frank’s (it was just a tiny deli, when I first discovered it, but is now a full restaurant w/ an upstairs) are still there, along with Central Grocery, so much has been replaced – a brewpub here, a new t-shirt shop there. Gone is most of the French Market (and even Morning Call coffee stand). Gone is Progressive Grocery, which was a few doors from Central Grocery. Goldberg’s Men’s Wear is now a shop selling New Orleans related gifts.
We walked the full length of Decatur St in the French Quarter, from Canal St to the US Mint at Esplanade. Note: Decatur turns at Esplanade, passing Frenchmen St, and continues for about six blocks in the By-Water Area.
Because of its proximity to part of the Port of New Orleans, on the River, I had always found an “edge” to Decatur St. Basically, it was the edge of the Port, along the French Quarter, so it’s waterfront and shipping heritage, always came through. That just isn’t the case much any more. The docks and warehouses are mostly long gone, and there is now retail in the JAX Brewery building. We walked past another older building, which had been turned into retail space, as well, but I cannot remember what it once housed.
For the heavy traffic (for the French Quarter) that it carries, the little area around Jackson Sq is still fairly tranquil, with the Artillery Park on one side, and the Square on the other, plus the mule-drawn carriages lined up, that little area seems unchanged from when I was a child, sitting at the railing at the Café Du Monde, and staring across the Square at the spires of St Louis Cathedral. It was nice to be able to feel, as though I had gone back in time a bit, so we decided to stop into Café Du Monde, as the fog, and the hour seemed to have thinned out the other tourists.
For both of us, Decatur St holds many memories – going to either the Morning Call coffee stand (now moved to Metairie and City Park), or Café Du Monde with our parents, dining at many of the restaurants (many still there), or shopping in the various stores.
Decatur St is different from the rest of the streets in the French Quarter. It is mostly along the Mississippi River, though N Peters St does join it, near Canal, and then behind the French Market, to hug the River more closely. Because of its proximity to the River, it is wider, and still carries heavy traffic, for the French Quarter. Once, almost everything between Decatur and the River was a warehouse, with the exception of the JAX brewery, with the Public Belt RR and piers beyond. Most of those are long gone, replaced by a linear park, and several large parking lots. Once, a great deal of fresh produce was hauled up and down Decatur St, heading to the French Market. Some of the French Market is still there, but the vast majority has been replaced by shops and restaurants, and now, most of the produce traffic is coming to the French Quarter via Decatur St, but then entering the Quarter to make a delivery to one of the many restaurants.
Having known Decatur St so well, it is always interesting to observe the changes, and we noticed several during our December visit, that either we had missed in June, or that had become noticeable in those 6 mos.
On this visit, we were in town for my wife to speak at a medical symposium, and we were on our own for an afternoon. With a cool fog wrapping around the French Quarter and the Central Business District, we set out for the Café Du Monde, for their Café au lait, and walked along Decatur St. I have to admit that not much in the first few blocks, from Canal St, to where S Peters St intersects, had changed. The changes were most evident, on the riverside of the street, just downriver from the S Peters St junction. One of the last remaining warehouse sections is being converted into condos.
We walked past restaurants that we knew in our youth, plus many others, which had opened only fairly recently, such a Bubba Gump, New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood, and some we had never heard of. While some of the old stand-bys, such as Tujague's and Frank’s (it was just a tiny deli, when I first discovered it, but is now a full restaurant w/ an upstairs) are still there, along with Central Grocery, so much has been replaced – a brewpub here, a new t-shirt shop there. Gone is most of the French Market (and even Morning Call coffee stand). Gone is Progressive Grocery, which was a few doors from Central Grocery. Goldberg’s Men’s Wear is now a shop selling New Orleans related gifts.
We walked the full length of Decatur St in the French Quarter, from Canal St to the US Mint at Esplanade. Note: Decatur turns at Esplanade, passing Frenchmen St, and continues for about six blocks in the By-Water Area.
Because of its proximity to part of the Port of New Orleans, on the River, I had always found an “edge” to Decatur St. Basically, it was the edge of the Port, along the French Quarter, so it’s waterfront and shipping heritage, always came through. That just isn’t the case much any more. The docks and warehouses are mostly long gone, and there is now retail in the JAX Brewery building. We walked past another older building, which had been turned into retail space, as well, but I cannot remember what it once housed.
For the heavy traffic (for the French Quarter) that it carries, the little area around Jackson Sq is still fairly tranquil, with the Artillery Park on one side, and the Square on the other, plus the mule-drawn carriages lined up, that little area seems unchanged from when I was a child, sitting at the railing at the Café Du Monde, and staring across the Square at the spires of St Louis Cathedral. It was nice to be able to feel, as though I had gone back in time a bit, so we decided to stop into Café Du Monde, as the fog, and the hour seemed to have thinned out the other tourists.
Written January 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CabinFeverNY
Canandaigua, NY150 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Decatur St. is an interesting street to walk and shop. You can find about anything you need. Lots of neat little shops to explore. Also, a lot of homeless begging for money though.
Written June 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tula K
Munster, IN139 contributions
May 2019
This is the main tourist venue through the French Quarter. The stretch from Jackson Square through the French Market can keep you busy for hours. Go to Jackson Square and see the artists and then visit St. Charles Cathedral. Return to Decatur Street to see the famous Cafe Du Monde and pop into some of the many shops. For the better souvenir bargains (and some cheap eats) continue up Decatur to the French Market .
Written May 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cdhcch
Cedar Rapids, IA570 contributions
Jan 2018 • Friends
The heart of the French Quarter along the river. It takes you next to the French Market, Jackson Square, near the Jazz Museum, shopping, restaurants, and the old US Mint. Easy to walk. A gateway to see and experience the heart of New Orleans.
Written January 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StephenCross
Dublin, Ireland31,611 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
Decatur street is packed with shops, bars and restaurants and it’s a tad calmer than Bourbon Street which tends to be mad.
Written February 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MKB1701
New York639 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
For my second trip to NOLA, I found myself on Decatur Street far more than I did in the innards of the French Quarter. For starters, it's a prime tourist strip, with access to tours, museums, good restaurants, shopping and bars without much of the sleaze that permeates Bourbon Street. Secondly, it's right on the river and adjacent to Jackson Square and the French Market, so there's a ton of beautiful natural scenery that makes it an attraction all on its own.
With several fine hotels close by or on the street itself, Decatur Street makes for a fine homebase for travellers of all stripes. Definitely worth a walk early in the morning or as the sun sets as well.
With several fine hotels close by or on the street itself, Decatur Street makes for a fine homebase for travellers of all stripes. Definitely worth a walk early in the morning or as the sun sets as well.
Written August 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark G
Catonsville, MD3,495 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Decatur Street rivals Bourbon Street as the busiest street in the French Quarter, but it is a different kind of busy. From top to bottom, Decatur is loaded with shops, restaurants, bars, museums and historic sights and historic hotels. There are beautiful little parks,statues and squares as well as the ultimate, Jackson Square where you pick up the horse drawn carriages.There is the Jax Brewery complex,Cafe Du Monde and the French and Farmers Markets were you can get some great Alligator sausage. We spendt a lot of time on Decatur Street and felt safe at all times,day or night.
Written July 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sashakeena
Vancouver, Canada11,942 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
This street is a "must see" street during your time in the French District. Lot's of interesting shops and restaurants to choose from, allows you access on to the water front walkway or tram cars!
Written April 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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