Louisiana: New Orleans – The Museum of Death

November 18, 2019
Louisiana
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💀 The Museum of Death, New Orleans — Where Cheery Goes to Die

Having already spent a chunk of the morning being cheerfully shepherded around the St Louis No. 1 Cemetery — one of New Orleans’ famous above-ground burial grounds, where the dead have been stacked in wall vaults since the late 18th century largely because the water table makes putting anyone underground a somewhat optimistic enterprise — we decided to press on with the morbid theme. Why not? When in New Orleans.

So, off we trotted to the Museum of Death on Dauphine Street, tucked into the French Quarter like a slightly unwelcome guest at a garden party. This compact little museum — three or four rooms at most — doesn’t mess about. It offers a remarkably uncompromising and wide-ranging look at a subject most people would rather not think about until they absolutely have to.

🏚️ First Impressions — Nothing to See Here (Deliberately)

The frontage is, to put it charitably, understated. There’s no enormous neon skull above the door, no gothic iron gates. It blends into the street with the kind of quiet modesty you might expect from a provincial accountant’s office, which means you could quite easily walk straight past it without a second glance. We nearly did.

You enter through the gift shop — naturally — and from the moment you step in, the whole place has a dim, slightly grungy atmosphere that feels entirely appropriate. It reminded me, and I say this from personal experience, so there’s no point pretending otherwise, of the slightly sordid feeling you get walking into a sex shop. Yes, I have visited adult stores before. We’re all adults here. Moving on.

There is, incidentally, absolutely no photography allowed anywhere in the museum itself, with the sole exception of the gift shop. The museum holds a great number of exhibits on loan, and it simply doesn’t have the image rights to allow visitors to snap away. So you will have to make do with my descriptions, which I appreciate is a poor substitute, but there we are.

🦴 Room One — Easing You In Gently (Sort Of)

The first room you enter is populated with skeletons. Animal skeletons, mostly. It’s the sort of thing you’d have seen on a school trip to the Natural History Museum at the age of nine — a reassuringly familiar introduction before the whole business gets considerably less comfortable. Think of it as the museum politely clearing its throat before telling you something you really didn’t want to hear.

🔪 Serial Killers, Gas Chambers and Other Light Entertainment

It doesn’t take long before things warm up considerably. A substantial portion of the museum is dedicated to serial killers and violent criminals, presented with a graphic thoroughness that pulls no punches whatsoever. Case files, crime scene photographs, witness statements, video footage — all of it laid out in forensic detail. Even though most of us who have spent any time reading true crime books or watching documentary series will recognise many of these names — Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, the Zodiac Killer and their grim company — it was, I have to say, somewhat reassuring to find that I still had enough functioning humanity left in me to find the material genuinely shocking. Small mercies.

Then, of course, comes the punishment. In the United States, for many of the cases on display, that meant the electric chair or the gas chamber. The museum provides written accounts of specific executions, along with photographs in some cases — before and after. I am not, personally, a supporter of capital punishment, even for the most monstrous of crimes. I find the whole business deeply troubling, and I won’t pretend otherwise. This section left me feeling distinctly uncomfortable, which was probably rather the point.

🫙 Shrunken Heads, War and Other Curiosities

The museum continues on its relentless tour. There are exhibits documenting doctors who actively supported assisted dying — a genuinely complex moral territory that the museum presents without editorialising. There are shrunken heads, which have a long history among certain Amazonian peoples — the Shuar of Ecuador and Peru being among the most documented practitioners — and were historically created as part of a ritual process intended to trap the spirit of a defeated enemy. Fascinating, in a deeply unsettling way.

There are exhibits on the casualties of war, presented in stark, unadorned terms, alongside — and this is where the museum really commits to its brief — accounts of people who died whilst practising autoerotic asphyxiation. Each to his own, as I believe the saying goes.

🎬 The Cinema — Best Avoided on a Full Stomach

Without any doubt whatsoever, the most disturbing corner of the Museum of Death is its small movie theatre. A continuous reel of footage plays — real footage, not dramatised — covering death and bodily mutilation in a manner that makes most horror films look like a Pixar production.

I’ll be honest: I couldn’t manage very long. I sat through a deeply unpleasant autopsy — the kind of thing that makes you rethink your lunch choices — and a film that appeared to date from several decades ago, showing the aftermath of what looked like a large-scale violent attack in an unidentified city. People were moving through the scene, checking for survivors. There weren’t many. It was the sort of footage that lodges itself somewhere in the back of your head and refuses to leave quietly.

🧠 An Honest Appraisal — Worth Going?

For all of its considerable discomfort, we found the Museum of Death genuinely fascinating. It doesn’t attempt to soften the subject, glamorise it, or offer you any comforting narrative about what might be waiting on the other side. It simply presents death — in all its forms, in all its messiness — in a graphic and entirely unsentimental way. Being of a non-religious and fairly analytical disposition, I found this approach rather refreshing. It’s rare to encounter something that makes no effort whatsoever to validate a particular point of view or steer you towards a predetermined conclusion. The museum just shows you things and leaves you to get on with it.

We’d recommend a visit, with two quite firm caveats. First, if you are at all squeamish about death — or indeed about human suffering in its more graphic forms — then this is not the place for you, and there is absolutely no shame in that. Second, this is emphatically not somewhere to bring young children. Older teenagers with a genuine interest in forensic science, history or criminology might find it worthwhile. Younger children would, in all likelihood, be deeply traumatised, and you’d be explaining things at bedtime for months.

Planning your visit to the Museum of Death

🏛️ History and Mission

The museum’s founders were motivated by what they saw as a profound lack of death education in the United States. Their mission was to create a space where the public could engage with the realities of death honestly, confronting subjects that mainstream society tends to avoid. The provocative approach has attracted considerable press attention over the decades and the museum has appeared in numerous television programmes and media outlets.

The building’s unusual acoustic properties — a legacy of its recording studio past — contribute to an immersive atmosphere throughout the exhibits.

⚠️ Visitor Guidelines

The museum operates a strict no-photography policy and prohibits mobile phone use throughout the exhibition. No food or drink is permitted inside. Visitors are advised to arrive no later than one hour before closing to allow sufficient time to see the full collection. The museum describes itself as being for mature audiences only and explicitly cautions against bringing children.

📍 Location

6363 Selma Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028, United States

🚗 Getting There

By Car: The museum is situated near the US-101 Freeway. Take the exit for Hollywood Blvd or Cahuenga Blvd and head towards Selma Avenue. There is no on-site parking, but several paid parking garages are available within walking distance.

By Metro: The nearest Metro Red Line station is Hollywood/Vine, approximately one and a half blocks to the east of the previous Hollywood Boulevard location. From the Hollywood/Highland station, the museum is reachable on foot or by a short bus or rideshare journey.

By Bus: Several bus lines serve the surrounding area, including lines running along Hollywood Boulevard. Metro Bus Line 212 stops near Selma Avenue and Cahuenga Boulevard.

By Rideshare: Uber and Lyft are a practical option, particularly to avoid parking challenges in the Hollywood area.

🌐 Website

www.museumofdeath.net

📞 Contact Phone Number

(323) 466-8011

📧 Email

No public email address is listed by the museum. Enquiries should be directed via telephone or through the museum’s official website.

🎟️ Entry Fees

$20 per person, plus a $1 transaction fee per card payment. The museum operates as a cashless business — only credit, debit, and contactless payments are accepted. Tickets are purchased in person only; no advance or online ticket sales are available.

🕐 Opening Times

Open seven days a week:

Monday to Sunday: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

Planning Your Visit to New Orleans

🗺️ Planning Your Visit to New Orleans

New Orleans — known affectionately as the Big Easy, or NOLA — is one of the most singular cities in the United States. Sitting on the banks of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, it is a place that defies easy description: part French colonial, part Spanish Baroque, part African, part Caribbean, entirely itself. The culture is rich, the food is extraordinary, the music is inescapable, and the sense of celebration is baked into the city’s very bones. Few places on earth feel quite like it.

📍 Location

New Orleans sits in south-eastern Louisiana, cradled in a crescent-shaped bend of the Mississippi River — hence its nickname, the Crescent City. The city lies below sea level in many areas, buffered by a network of levees, and is flanked by Lake Pontchartrain to the north and the Gulf of Mexico not far to the south. The surrounding region is a mosaic of bayous, wetlands, and cypress swamps that give Louisiana its unique ecological character. The city itself is relatively compact and largely flat, which makes it unusually easy to navigate on foot or by bicycle.

✈️ Getting There

The main gateway is Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), located in Kenner, approximately 15 miles west of the city centre. It receives direct flights from many major American cities, and increasingly from international destinations including Europe and South America. Those arriving from elsewhere in the country may also consider travelling by rail — Amtrak’s City of New Orleans and Sunset Limited services connect the city to Chicago and Los Angeles respectively, with the journey forming part of the experience for those inclined towards a more leisurely arrival.

From the airport into the city, options include the Airport Express bus (Route 202), which is the most economical choice and runs to Downtown New Orleans for a flat fare of $1.25. Taxis charge a standard flat rate of around $36 to the Central Business District and French Quarter. Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are widely used and convenient. Airport shuttle minibuses also run to major hotels and the French Quarter, though these require advance reservation for the return journey.

🚋 Getting Around

New Orleans does not require a car — in fact, hiring one is more of a burden than a help in most cases, given parking limitations and the city’s walkability. The most charming and practical way to move between neighbourhoods is aboard the historic streetcars, operated by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The St Charles Avenue line runs through Uptown and past the Garden District; the Canal Street line connects the Central Business District to Mid-City; and the Riverfront line traces the edge of the Mississippi. A single fare is just $1.25, and a 31-day unlimited pass costs $55. The streetcars themselves are a delight — some of the oldest continuously operating street railway cars in the world.

Buses supplement the streetcar network and reach parts of the city the trams do not, though frequency can be variable. The city is also extremely bikeable given its flatness, with over 100 miles of bike lanes; several hire companies operate across the city. Rideshare apps are ubiquitous and inexpensive for short hops, particularly useful after dark or when venturing beyond the main tourist neighbourhoods.

Walking remains the best way to explore individual neighbourhoods, particularly the French Quarter, Marigny, and the Garden District, which reward slow and unplanned strolling. The Canal Street/Algiers Ferry crosses the Mississippi every 30 minutes and is free for pedestrians, offering a scenic perspective of the city from the water.

🏘️ The Neighbourhoods

The French Quarter (Vieux Carré) is the oldest part of the city and its most famous neighbourhood. Despite the name, much of the architecture is actually Spanish Colonial in style — the result of two catastrophic fires in the late 18th century that razed the original French buildings. It is a dense grid of ornate ironwork balconies, courtyard fountains, jazz clubs, and restaurants. Bourbon Street is its most raucous artery, best experienced at night and ideally with a certain spirit of surrender. Royal Street and Chartres Street offer a more refined pace, lined with antique dealers, galleries, and some of the finest restaurants in the city. Jackson Square, with its iconic St Louis Cathedral, is the neighbourhood’s grand centrepiece.

Faubourg Marigny, immediately downriver from the French Quarter, offers a more authentic and less tourist-saturated experience of the city’s musical soul. Frenchmen Street is widely regarded as the best street in America for live jazz, with multiple clubs operating simultaneously every night of the week, and impromptu dancing frequently spilling onto the pavement. The neighbourhood is characterised by colourful Creole cottages and a bohemian, artsy energy.

The Garden District, reached most pleasantly by the St Charles streetcar, is a neighbourhood of extraordinary antebellum mansions shaded by ancient live oaks. Developed in the early 19th century by wealthy Anglo-American newcomers who wished to distinguish themselves from the Creole families of the French Quarter, it represents one of the best-preserved collections of historic architecture in the American South. Lafayette Cemetery, with its above-ground tombs, is a haunting and beautiful landmark within the neighbourhood. Magazine Street runs nearby, offering six miles of boutiques, cafés, antique shops, and restaurants.

The Warehouse District, adjacent to the Central Business District, has transformed in recent decades into an arts and cultural hub. It is home to the National WWII Museum — one of the finest museums in the country — and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, among others.

Tremé, just inland from the French Quarter, is widely regarded as the oldest African American neighbourhood in the United States and the cradle of jazz culture. It is home to Congo Square, a historically significant gathering place within Louis Armstrong Park where enslaved Africans once maintained their cultural traditions. Sunday second line parades frequently move through Tremé; WWOZ 90.7 FM publishes weekly schedules online each Thursday.

Bywater and the Lower Ninth Ward sit further downriver and offer a more local, lived-in feel, with vibrantly painted shotgun houses and Crescent Park running along the riverfront. This is a neighbourhood for wandering without a checklist.

Best time to visit New Orleans

🌸 Spring (March – May)

Spring is the most vibrant and celebrated time to visit New Orleans. The city bursts to life with some of its most iconic events, including Mardi Gras (late February to early March), the French Quarter Festival in April, and the legendary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival spanning the last two weekends of April and first weekend of May. Temperatures are warm and pleasant, typically ranging from 18°C to 27°C, making it ideal for exploring the French Quarter on foot, strolling along Magazine Street, or lingering on the many outdoor terraces. The air is perfumed with magnolia and jasmine, and the city’s legendary hospitality feels especially alive during this festive period.

The downside is that Spring brings the highest crowds and hotel prices of the year. Book accommodation and festival tickets well in advance — sometimes six months or more ahead — particularly if your visit coincides with Jazz Fest. Rainfall is moderate, with the occasional shower, so a compact umbrella or light rain jacket is wise. Despite the costs and congestion, for those who want to experience the full soul of New Orleans, Spring is unmatched.

What to pack: Light, breathable layers for warm days and cool evenings, a packable rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes (cobblestones are hard on feet), sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and a small crossbody bag for festival days.

☀️ Summer (June – August)

Summer in New Orleans is not for the faint-hearted. The heat is intense and relentless, with temperatures regularly hitting 32–35°C and humidity making it feel even hotter. Afternoon thunderstorms roll in frequently, providing brief — if dramatic — relief. June officially begins the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through to November, though major storms affecting the city are relatively rare.

That said, Summer has its rewards. Crowds thin considerably compared to Spring, and hotels and flights drop in price noticeably. The city’s famous culinary scene continues unabated, and many of the best live music venues — from Frenchmen Street to the Spotted Cat — operate year-round regardless of the mercury. Outdoor sightseeing is best tackled in the morning before the heat builds, with afternoons reserved for air-conditioned museums, galleries, and restaurants. The Essence Festival, one of the largest African American music and culture events in the world, takes place over the Fourth of July weekend and draws enormous crowds.

What to pack: Ultra-lightweight and moisture-wicking fabrics, a hat with a brim, high-factor sunscreen, insect repellent (mosquitoes are fierce in the heat), a reusable water bottle, sandals with support for daytime, and a light layer for heavily air-conditioned restaurants and venues.

🍂 Autumn (September – November)

Autumn is widely regarded as one of the sweetest times to visit New Orleans. The suffocating summer heat begins to ease from late September onwards, with temperatures settling into a far more agreeable 18–27°C range by October and November. The humidity drops, the skies clear, and the city takes on a golden, languid quality that suits its character perfectly. Rainfall is lower than in summer, though early September can still see the occasional tropical storm passing through.

Crowds are moderate — noticeably lighter than Spring — which means shorter queues at popular restaurants, better availability at hotels, and a more relaxed atmosphere overall. October brings the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, a major three-day festival held in City Park, as well as the city’s enthusiastic celebration of Hallowe’en, which in New Orleans becomes a week-long affair of costume parties, ghost tours, and theatrical revelry. November is particularly peaceful, with the added bonus of Thanksgiving week bringing some festive warmth before the holiday rush sets in.

What to pack: Light layers that can be added or removed throughout the day, a light jacket or cardigan for evenings, comfortable walking shoes, a small umbrella for early-season visits, and smart-casual attire if you plan to dine at the city’s finer restaurants.

❄️ Winter (December – February)

Winter is New Orleans’ quietest and most affordable season, with the exception of the Christmas period and New Year’s Eve, when the city celebrates with characteristic excess. Temperatures range from around 10°C to 18°C — rarely freezing, but cool enough to require a proper jacket in the evenings. Rain is infrequent, and the winter light gives the historic architecture of the Garden District and French Quarter a beautiful, clean quality.

Outside of the festive holidays, January is arguably the most peaceful month in the entire calendar. Hotel rates drop to their annual lows, restaurants are easier to book, and the city — though never truly quiet — has a more local, unhurried feel. It is an excellent time for food lovers, history enthusiasts, and jazz devotees who want to explore the city at a slower pace without fighting festival crowds. The Sugar Bowl American football game takes place on New Year’s Day and brings a significant influx of visitors. Mardi Gras season technically begins on Twelfth Night (6th January), so late January and February sees the city gradually rev up again with parades and celebrations building toward the main event.

What to pack: Warm layers including a wool or fleece mid-layer, a waterproof outer jacket, a scarf, comfortable closed-toe shoes, and smart-casual clothes for evenings out, as New Orleans’ restaurant culture skews dressier than many American cities.

🗓️ Overall Best Time to Visit

If pressed to name a single best time to visit New Orleans, late October to early November stands out as the sweet spot. The heat and humidity of summer have fully retreated, the hurricane season is winding down, crowds are manageable, and prices are reasonable without being rock-bottom. The city is alive with festivals and events, the outdoor dining terraces are open and comfortable, and the streets of the French Quarter and Garden District are at their most inviting. That said, those who want to witness New Orleans at its most theatrical and exuberant should aim for the days around Mardi Gras or Jazz Fest in spring — accepting the crowds and costs as part of the experience. New Orleans is a city that rewards visitors in every season; it simply offers different versions of itself throughout the year.

Vegan dining in New Orleans

New Orleans may be best known for its rich, indulgent Creole and Cajun cuisine, but the city has developed a thriving plant-based food scene that gives vegans every reason to celebrate. From veganised takes on gumbo and po’boys to Afro-vegan food trucks and beloved organic bakeries, NOLA’s vegan offerings are bold, flavourful, and deeply rooted in the city’s culinary soul.

🍃 I-tal Garden

I-tal Garden — as in vi-tal for the body — is a family-owned vegan institution in the Tremé neighbourhood, beloved for its plant-based spin on New Orleans soul cuisine. The menu features cauliflower “wings”, jackfruit BBQ ribs, coconut pasta, quinoa jambalaya, and vegan crab cakes, all crafted with organic ingredients. Just a short walk from the French Quarter through Louis Armstrong Park, it offers a calm, welcoming escape from the bustle of the tourist trail. A firm favourite with locals and visitors alike.

Location: 810 N Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116 (Tremé)
Website: italgardennola.com
Phone: (504) 515-7321
Opening Hours:
- Wednesday – Friday: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Saturday – Tuesday: Closed

🌱 Breads on Oak Café & Bakery

New Orleans’ first fully vegan café and bakery, Breads on Oak went entirely plant-based in 2018 and has never looked back. Named the Best Bakery in Louisiana by Yelp, it specialises in organic, Old World–style sourdough breads baked in a stone hearth oven. The menu spans breakfast and lunch — think stuffed brioche, cinnamon rolls, vegan quiches and tarts, cheesy grits, soups, and sandwiches — alongside organic, fair-trade coffees and espressos. VegNews named its Boston Cream Stuffed Brioche one of the 50 best vegan desserts in the United States.

Location: 8640 Oak St, New Orleans, LA 70118 (Uptown / River Bend)
Website: breadsonoak.com
Phone: (504) 324-8271
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Sunday: 7:30 am – 3:00 pm

🫘 Sweet Soulfood

Sweet Soulfood is a much-loved, all-vegan cafeteria-style restaurant serving hearty, organic Creole and soul food classics. The daily rotating menu includes okra gumbo, mac ‘n’ cheese, collard greens, dirty rice, sweet spicy cauliflower, BBQ cauliflower, loaded potatoes, jambalaya, and vegan bread pudding — all soy-free and dairy-free. Portions are famously generous, and the friendly staff and warm atmosphere make it a go-to for both dedicated vegans and curious omnivores. There is also an ice cream and smoothie bar on site.

Location: 1025 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119 (Mid-City)
Website: sweetvegansoulfood.com
Phone: (504) 821-2669
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Saturday: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: Closed

🌮 Meals from the Heart Café

Tucked inside the historic French Market, this beloved café has been serving vegan, gluten-free, and traditional versions of New Orleans classics since it opened. Chef Marilyn Doucette hand-selects nearly every ingredient herself, and the results speak for themselves: vegan gumbo, plant-based crab cakes (made with artichokes and chickpeas), gluten-free beignets, red beans and rice, po’boys, and Creole-spiced soups. Voted one of Travel & Leisure’s “25 Best Places to Eat Pancakes”, it’s a standout choice for breakfast or lunch in the Quarter.

Location: 1100 N Peters St, Suite 13, French Market, New Orleans, LA 70116 (French Quarter)
Website: mealsfromtheheartcafe.com
Phone: (504) 525-1953
Opening Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

🌍 Tanjariné Kitchen (Food Truck)

Tanjariné Kitchen is a pioneering Afro-vegan food truck inspired by culinary traditions from across the African continent — from the Horn of Africa to the Cape. The menu features dishes such as the signature Mandela Burger (soy-free, high-protein, made with organic beans), African-inspired herbed rice with fried plantains and seasoned tofu, savoury steamed bean pudding, vegan shawarma, coconut milk rice, spicy vegan jerky, and fresh salads with nutritional yeast dressing. The truck’s brick-and-mortar at 3801 Washington Ave is currently under renovation; in the meantime, follow their social media for current locations and event appearances.

Location: Food truck – locations vary; follow @tanjarinenola for updates. Future home: 3801 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70125 (Garden District)
Website: tanjarinekitchen.com
Phone: (504) 301-6954
Opening Hours:
- Variable – check social media (@tanjarinenola) for current schedule and locations

🥖 2 Phat Vegans

With two locations — one in the Algiers neighbourhood and one in the French Quarter — 2 Phat Vegans is a lively, all-vegan deli-style spot known for its bold flavours and generous portions. The menu centres on veganised New Orleans classics: hot sausage po’boys, jerk chick’n wraps, black bean burgers, mac ‘n’ cheese, gumbo, pizza, crabby patties, and tropical smoothies. The French Quarter outpost runs until 1:00 am, making it one of the rare vegan late-night options in the city. Board games, good vibes, and island-inspired décor complete the experience.

Location:
- 1303 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116 (French Quarter)
- 3613 General Meyer Ave, New Orleans, LA 70114 (Algiers)
Website: 2phatvegans.com
Phone: (504) 239-7801
Opening Hours (French Quarter):
- Monday – Sunday: 11:00 am – 1:00 am
Opening Hours (Algiers):
- Monday – Sunday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

Where to stay in New Orleans

1. Inn at the Old Jail

The Inn at the Old Jail sits in the Tremé neighbourhood of New Orleans, a short walk from the French Quarter. The building dates to 1902, when it was constructed as a Queen Anne-style police jail and patrol station for the NOPD. Over the following century it served as a library and community centre before falling into disrepair after Hurricane Katrina. Bought in 2013 and carefully restored, it now operates as a nine-room boutique guesthouse and event venue on the National Register of Historic Places. The rooms are furnished with local art, antiques, and reclaimed architectural pieces, and the property includes a rooftop terrace, a courtyard, a piano lounge, and a shared kitchen. It is run by brothers Todd and Nick Schwartz.

2. Oliver House Hotel

Located in the heart of the French Quarter and just one-minute away from lively Bourbon Street, Olivier House Hotel is a charming two-and-a-half-pearl, boutique-style property with 42 guest rooms. This old courtyard mansion has oodles of Old World charm. Guest rooms are arranged around two delightful inner courtyards filled with plants and trees; while the balconies provide views of the greenery and swimming pool below. Rooms and suites are decorated in an old-fashioned style with antique furniture, fireplaces, and oil paintings. Downsides include noise and lack of a restaurant or breakfast service. A similar historic property in the French Quarter worth considering as an alternative is the mid-range Hotel Provincial.

3. La Belle Esplanade

La Belle Esplanade is a bed and breakfast at 2216 Esplanade Avenue, sitting on one of New Orleans’ most handsome streets midway between the French Quarter and the New Orleans Museum of Art. The property occupies a classic Creole townhouse and offers a small number of individually styled suites, each with 12-foot ceilings, a private bathroom, and balcony access. Rooms are furnished with a mix of antiques and contemporary pieces, and original artwork is displayed throughout. Breakfast draws on local suppliers and changes regularly, featuring things like crawfish pie, buttermilk drops, and house-made preserves. Hosts Matthew and Melanie are well known for their knowledge of the city and their willingness to point guests towards places well off the standard tourist circuit. Bicycles are available for guests free of charge, and off-street parking is provided.