Energetic and exciting, Frenchmen Street, with its distinct Creole architecture, has long attracted an eclectic mix of people. The street abuts the Mississippi River in the south, and it is here where you'll find a spirited social scene which is busy from dawn to dusk – first with cafés and shops, and then, when the sun goes down, the area's vibrant jazz clubs and late-night restaurants take over. Where nearby neon-lit Bourbon Street attracts the crowds, Frenchmen Street is more off the beaten track – and all the better for it.
The district's uniqueness is down to an eccentric Creole millionaire developer Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville. He built on land that had been his family plantation in the 19th century. This area, which had something of a louche reputation, was filled with beautiful pastel-coloured colonial homes where white Creole gentlemen set up households for their mistresses and second families. Now this area is known as Faubourg Marigny after its founder.
The neighbourhood slowly went into decline, and the area around Washington Square was considered one of the city's most dangerous areas. However, the neighbourhood has been cleaned up and has come back strongly – now Frenchmen Street is one of New Orleans' premier destinations for live music venues and restaurants. Jazz fans should plan on whiling away an evening at the Spotted Cat Music Club, one of the most famous jazz clubs in the world. Named after an owner's large African cat that was often mistaken for a small leopard, the club hosts both local and visiting jazz acts. Faubourg Marigny is also one of the centres for the New Orleans Mardi Gras, the city's world famous carnival.
Frenchmen Street is very walkable and steps away from the French Quarter. Late at night, it's advisable to catch a taxi.
