18 Best New Orleans Neighborhoods in 2023 (A Local’s Picks)

From the Mississippi River to gorgeous St. Charles Avenue to bustling Bourbon Street in downtown New Orleans, there’s no shortage of magical New Orleans neighborhoods.

As a local to the city, I can guide you to the most popular areas to stay in New Orleans, as well as some often overlooked hidden gems.

In this article, I will tell you more about neighborhoods in New Orleans, including the pros and cons of each.

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Best Neighborhoods in New Orleans

French Quarter

The old-world heart and soul of New Orleans with a European aesthetic mixed with the unique flair of the Crescent City.

📍 Google Maps | Neighborhood Website | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Hotel Monteleone

The French Quarter is quintessential New Orleans: what we all think of when we imagine the Crescent City. It’s perfect for the romantic, the artist, and the party animal. You’ll be surrounded by wrought iron balconies and Second Line parades down the street. 

Any location in the Quarter is just minutes away from historic buildings and centuries-old establishments like Antoine’s and the Hotel Monteleone. 

The French Quarter is home to some of the best attractions in New Orleans. The neighborhood contains many of the city’s most famous sites, such as Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. Visitors should definitely consider a walking tour to get the most out of the French Quarter. 

The French Quarter is one of the most popular neighborhoods in the whole city. Many would say that the French Quarter is best suited for visitors and not for long-term living. However, I’ve known locals who have rented apartments in the French Quarter. You just need to be prepared for crowds, noise, and a party scene that never dies down.

Pros of the French Quarter:

• Historic architecture
• Bustling nightlife scene
• Quintessential New Orleans feel

Cons of the French Quarter:

• Predominantly caters to tourists
• Can be a targeted location for pickpockets
• Parking is extremely difficult

Marigny

A colorful, spirited residential community next to the Quarter, known for its popular Frenchmen Street.

📍 Google Maps | Neighborhood Website | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Hotel Peter and Paul

The Marigny might be for you if you’d like to be as close as possible to the excitement of the French Quarter while (slightly) tucked away in a residential enclave. The Marigny is still vibrantly New Orleans in its aesthetic, though you’ll see fewer wrought iron balustrades and more Mardi Gras beads hanging from porch railings.

The Marigny allows you to get to the French Quarter at a moment’s notice: for a parade, for a drink, or to catch some live music. Be sure to check out my guide to when to visit New Orleans to find out the best times to be in the city for its music festivals and other celebrations.

Pros of the Marigny:

• Beautiful architecture and bright houses
• Walking distance to the French Quarter and Bywater
• Contains Frenchmen Street with amazing music venues

Cons of the Marigny:

• Close enough to the Quarter to be crowded with tourists
• Can be a targeted location for pickpockets

Bywater

A funky, community-centric bastion of counterculture that’s a favorite among artists.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Hotel Peter and Paul

The Bywater, though often grouped in with the Marigny as one neighborhood, is more like the Marigny’s funky cousin. The Bywater has a high concentration of artists and free spirits. It has a community feel, though not everyone would agree on whether that community is family-friendly or not. The Bywater has an edgy vibe and lots of cool places to eat, drink, and hang out.

Pros of the Bywater:

• Unique and diverse community
• Progressive, artsy, and community-oriented
• Very cool establishments to eat, drink, and hang out

Cons of the Bywater:

• Moderately high crime rate for New Orleans

Central Business District

The down-to-earth center of commerce, within walking distance of the Quarter.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: The Roosevelt

The Central Business District, or CBD, is the professional heart of the city. It’s a great place to stay while visiting because it provides easy access to the French Quarter with quieter surroundings. The CBD has some of the nicest, upscale hotels in New Orleans. It has a few lovely eateries like Bésame. 

The CBD would also be a great place to live if you work nearby and would like to mingle with and meet young professionals. 

Pros of the CBD:

• Walking distance from the French Quarter
• Generally quieter and more professional than the nearby Quarter
• Upscale condo and apartment complexes targeting business professionals
• Easier to find street parking than in the Quarter
• The Canal Street streetcar line runs through the CBD

Cons of the CBD:

• Has a professional, business vibe
• Moderate crime rate compared to the rest of New Orleans

Warehouse District

An artistic neighborhood full of museums, hip restaurants,  and renovated industrial spaces. 

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: The Ace Hotel

The Warehouse District is possibly my favorite New Orleans neighborhood. It has a cool repurposed industrial aesthetic. It’s home to the Arts District (check out all the galleries on Julia Street) as well as the world-famous National World War II Museum. There are many trendy restaurants in the area, including some of my favorites like Cochon and Peche.

Neighborhoods like the Warehouse District make New Orleans one of the best places to live in Louisiana.

Although it’s difficult to find affordable housing in the Warehouse District, it’s known for its industrial loft spaces within condo complexes and could be a great fit for someone without a large family who’d like to be in the heart of a hip part of town.

Pros of the Warehouse District:

• Interesting aesthetic, rejuvenated industrial neighborhood
• Some of the best restaurants and bars in the city
• Close to several museums
• Julia Street serves as a hub for the Arts District

Cons of the Warehouse District:

• Not everyone will love the grungy aesthetic
• Significant walk from the French Quarter
• Moderate crime rate compared to the rest of the city

Lower Garden District

A funky and artistic group of residential streets stemming off a section of Magazine Street with lots of eateries and shops.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: St. Charles Coach House

The Lower Garden District surrounds Magazine Street, a popular thoroughfare with some of the best restaurants and shops in the city. The neighborhood has an artistic and offbeat vibe to it. Some of the famous local restaurants include District Donuts, which specializes in all kinds of unique beignets, and French Truck Coffee. There are also cool bars like The Bulldog.

The Lower Garden District is a great place to visit or live. Families, couples, or folks living on their own could all find a lot to cherish in this neighborhood.

Pros of the Lower Garden District:

• Beautiful Southern architecture
• Great local restaurants

Cons of the Lower Garden District:

• Relatively far from the major parks like City Park and Audubon Park
• It can be expensive to find housing

Irish Channel

An up-and-coming strip of maritime commerce is now full of breweries and houses.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Marsh Hotel

Irish Channel is a predominantly residential neighborhood down by the Mississippi River. It is also known for its thriving brewery scene and as a corridor of maritime industry. If you are a visitor, it may be worth taking an Uber to brewery-hop on Tchoupitoulas Street for an afternoon. 

Irish Channel is unpretentious with neighborhood pubs and a community vibe making it a great area if you are looking for a place to live in New Orleans,. 

Pros of Irish Channel:

• Hotbed of great local breweries
• Not a touristy area
• Close to the river
• Wonderful location for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Cons of Irish Channel:

• Has a maritime industrial feel

Uptown/Carrollton

Charming neighborhood near Tulane University with live oaks, coffee shops, and live music. 

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: St. Charles Coach House

Uptown New Orleans is a beautiful, predominantly affluent neighborhood with traditional Southern architecture. Think rows of live oaks and wrap-around porches. St. Charles is the main thoroughfare, and it’s chock-full of jaw-dropping mansions. The streetcar ambles its way down St. Charles Avenue, really sealing the deal on the neighborhood’s Old South charm.

Although you’ll need an impressive budget to lay down roots in Uptown, it’s a safe and gorgeous place to live. Be sure to hop on the St. Charles streetcar and do some ogling at the opulence if you’re just visiting.

Pros of Uptown/Carrollton:

• Relatively low crime rate for New Orleans
• Beautiful Southern architecture and live oaks
• Close to Tulane University

Cons of Uptown/Carrollton:

• Relatively far from tourist attractions and nightlife of the downtown area
• Extremely expensive to buy property

Black Pearl

A sub-neighborhood of Carrollton which is famous for being the location of the House of the Rising Sun.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Park View Historic Hotel

Black Pearl is unique for being one of the only historically black and extremely diverse neighborhoods in Uptown. It is located on high ground and did not flood badly during Hurricane Katrina. The neighborhood was home to famous performer Mahalia Jackson.

It’s rumored that Black Pearl was once the host of the infamous “House of the Rising Sun” that was the inspiration for the song made popular by The Animals in the 1960s. 

Black Pearl is a fantastic choice for someone looking for a diverse neighborhood largely safe from crime and flooding with a family-friendly atmosphere.

Pros of Black Pearl:

• Relative high ground–escaped the brunt of the flooding in Hurricane Katrina
• One of the most diverse neighborhoods in Uptown–historically black
• Upscale condo and apartment complexes targeting business professionals
• Easier to find street parking than in the Quarter

Cons of Black Pearl:

• Not a lot of restaurants
• Not close to many of the city’s excellent parks

Freret

Residential area is full of shotgun houses and an emerging arts scene with lots of options for families.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Alder Hotel

Freret is a small sub-neighborhood that’s part of the Uptown/Carrollton neighborhood. Freret is centered around the commercial corridor of Freret Street. You’ll find a number of amazing restaurants and businesses on Freret Street, including Midway Pizza and the High Hat Cafe.

Freret Neighborhood is great for visitors who would like to eat where the locals eat. It’s also a great place to live for families looking for a spot in Uptown that’s near an unpretentious but delicious commercial strip.

Pros of Freret:

• Close to the amazing restaurants and stores on Freret Street
• Monthly weekend arts market
• Home of the Freret Street Festival

Cons of Freret:

• Can be expensive to purchase a home in
• Relatively far from the downtown nightlife and tourism scene

Gentilly

A diverse neighborhood with multiple universities, surrounded by water on three sides.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Hotel Peter and Paul

Gentilly is a neighborhood on the eastern edge of New Orleans. Some might consider the Lower 9th Ward and New Orleans East part of Gentilly. The area has experienced a great deal of economic hardship, especially during Hurricane Katrina, and has rebounded with resilience and grit. 

One interesting subdivision in Gentilly is Pontchartrain Park, the oldest African American neighborhood in the city. 

Parts of Gentilly are located near the University of New Orleans and the Lakefront Airport, a stunning art deco airport frozen in time. The neighborhood has a diverse population and opportunities for affordable living.

Pros of Gentilly:

• Close to the University of New Orleans
• More affordable than some other neighborhoods in the city
• Diverse and multicultural

Cons of Gentilly:

• Moderately high crime rate relative to the rest of New Orleans
• Somewhat far from both the amenities of Downtown and Uptown

Audubon

The beautiful section of Uptown near Audubon Park and bustling Magazine Street.

📍 Google Maps |  Neighborhood Website | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: St. Charles Coach House

Audubon is a sub-neighborhood of Uptown that encircles Audubon Park. Audubon Park is one of the main attractions in the city. It has areas to hike, picnic, fish, and even ride horses. It is a safe and family-friendly neighborhood not far from bars and eateries. Be sure to explore all that Audubon Park has to offer if you are just visiting!

Audubon is a fantastic neighborhood to live in, but house prices tend to be very high on average.

Pros of Audubon:

• Close proximity to amazing Audubon Park
• One of the safest neighborhoods in New Orleans

Cons of Audubon:

• Can be expensive to purchase a home here
• Relatively far from the downtown nightlife and tourism scene

Bayou St. John

A quiet neighborhood near City Park great for access to nature. It’s both beautiful and has relatively affordable housing options.

📍 Google Maps |  Neighborhood Website | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Inn at the Old Jail

Bayou St. John is a laid-back residential neighborhood near City Park. City Park is a wonderful destination that contains mini-golf, several small amusement parks for kids, and even a Cafe du Monde beignet outpost. Living on the outskirts of City Park is a huge selling point for any neighborhood!

Bayou St. John is a picturesque neighborhood that could be an affordable location for families, couples, or single people to call home. Be sure to check out the amazing Creole mansions on Esplanade Avenue, which is somewhat analogous to St. Charles Avenue in Uptown New Orleans.

Pros of Bayou St. John:

• Close proximity to amazing City Park
• Near a picturesque waterway

Cons of Bayou St. John:

• Moderate crime rate for New Orleans

Mid-City

A down-to-earth area in the center of everything with some of the best local eateries in New Orleans.

📍 Google Maps |  Neighborhood Website | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Ashton’s Bed and Breakfast

Mid-City is a sprawling neighborhood in the center of everything! It’s an affordable part of the city with a lot of young people and new families. It is racially and economically diverse and offers easy access to lots of phenomenal eateries. Some of my favorites are Toups’ Meatery and Blue Oak Barbecue. 

I highly suggest visitors spend a night eating and drinking in Mid-City because it’s where a lot of the locals eat and drink! Mid-City might be the perfect neighborhood to take a look at if you’re looking to settle down in New Orleans.

Pros of Mid-City:

• Surrounded by amazing eateries and bars
• One of the more affordable areas to live in New Orleans

Cons of Mid-City:

• Crime rate varies significantly from block to block

📚 Related Reading: See our guide to Louisiana’s most interesting cities to find must-visit spots throughout the rest of the state.

Central City

An up-and-coming neighborhood with some of the best Mardi Gras celebrations.

📍 Google Maps  | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Pontchartrain Hotel

Central City is a diverse neighborhood with extremely rich history and culture. The area has some pockets of extreme poverty and crime but is up-and-coming. 

Central City was the home of the Civil Rights Movement in New Orleans and continues to be a crucial cultural touchpoint for the brass band scene in the city and as some of the main stomping grounds of the Mardi Gras Indians. It also borders the Lower Garden District.

Pros of Central City:

• Affordable housing
• Close proximity to excellent Mardi Gras celebrations

Cons of Central City:

• Can be expensive to purchase a home in
• Relatively far from the downtown nightlife and tourism scene

Algiers

A quiet, historic neighborhood on the West Bank of the Mississippi.

📍 Google Maps  | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Four Seasons New Orleans

Algiers is a neighborhood of New Orleans located across the Mississippi River (on the West Bank) and accessible by ferry. It is the second oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, and the ferry line is one of the oldest in the nation.

Algiers location makes it a little trickier to get to the rest of New Orleans, but the area is quaint, historical, and relatively quiet. House prices can be lower than other parts of New Orleans, and there are plenty of low-crime areas to choose from.

Pros of Algiers:

• Quiet, picturesque neighborhood
• Can be more affordable than other parts of New Orleans

Cons of Algiers:

• A ferry ride away from New Orleans proper (across the river)
• Can be subject to severe flooding

Treme

One of the fundamental neighborhoods that’s made New Orleans what it is- full of jazz and soul food. 

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Ashton’s Bed and Breakfast

Outside of the French Quarter, you can’t get more iconic than the Treme. It lies just past Louis Armstrong Park, which also contains the historic Congo Square where some say Jazz was born. It’s even got a TV show named after it. 

In the early days of the city, it was one of the places where free people of color could buy property, and it has remained a bastion of the black community in New Orleans since. 

The Treme is home to several amazing attractions to visit, including the Backstreet Cultural Museum and Dooky Chase restaurant. Dooky Chase’s famous chef, Leah Chase, was the inspiration for Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. Dooky Chase also served as a headquarters of sorts for Civil Rights meetings in the 1960s.

Pros of Treme:

• One of the most historic neighborhoods in New Orleans
• Excellent, historic eateries and bars
• Live music and authentic New Orleans spirit

Cons of Treme:

• The interstate runs above several streets

Lakeview

A family-friendly neighborhood with lots of areas to walk, bike, and eat.

📍 Google Maps | School Districts: New Orleans Public Schools | 👉 Best Hotel for Your Scouting Trip: Metairie Marriott Lakeway

Lakeview, as the name implies, borders Lake Pontchartrain. It has a reputation for outperforming the rest of the city in terms of both safety and livability. While some may find that it has a relatively suburban vibe compared to more urban and hopping parts of New Orleans, this area often appeals to families or anyone else looking for a quiet pocket.

Lake Shore and Lake Vista are two subdivisions of Lakeview that are particularly known for their high quality of life.

Pros of Lakeview:

• One of the safest neighborhoods in New Orleans
• Close proximity to Lake Pontchartrain with a nautical aesthetic
• Family-friendly

Cons of Lakeview:

• Can be expensive to purchase a home in
• Relatively far from the other parts of New Orleans

FAQs About New Orleans Neighborhoods

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From bustling Bourbon Street to jazzy Frenchmen Street to gorgeous Esplanade Avenue, all the New Orleans neighborhoods are different and interesting. Before you go, make sure to check out my guide to the best New Orleans restaurants!