Photo by Derek Bridges

One of the most anticipated spring events in the always-stellar lineup of the festival season in New Orleans, the Freret Street Festival stands out as the biggest neighborhood festival in the city. This free festival is typically held in late March or early April (the 2024 fest is on Saturday, March 30, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) on the six-block stretch of Freret Street from Napoleon to Valmont. It’s only a five-minute walk from the Alder Hotel!

As in previous years, the festival featured about 200 vendors, including many food vendors and popups, Big Easy Rollergirls, a kids’ area, and pet adoptions from Zeus Place, the fellow Freret Street neighbor. The three stages host a great lineup of live, local music (past acts included Where Y’Acht, Little Freddie King, and Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers), dance demos, and much more.

The festival has been growing since the mid-1990s as a vital part of the renaissance Freret Street is currently experiencing. The eight blocks stretching from Downtown to Uptown New Orleans parallel to St. Charles Avenue are known as a popular destination for food, shopping and entertainment. The street hosts many restaurants, specialty shops, art galleries, bars, coffee shops, and more.

This time of year, the weather will most likely be glorious, so dress light, but don’t forget the sunscreen, as you’ll be likely to spend a day in the sun. The Freret Street Festival is located near the University District, which contains the Tulane and Loyola campuses. The area is easy to navigate and get to from the French Quarter and other areas by car and public transportation. There’s off-street parking in the lot at the corner of Cadiz and Magnolia Streets, and plenty of street parking on adjacent streets.

Are you visiting New Orleans this spring? Take advantage of Alder Hotel specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous cuisine and enjoying everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today! Also, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

Happy spring!

In a city that’s decidedly not lacking in the art and farm markets, merch pop-ups, and food trucks, Freret Market stands out for its sheer size and the fact that it combines all those components — art, flea, food/farm, and live music. This open-air market is located at Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue and is held on the first Saturday of every month (except June-August) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Freret Market was started in September 2007 to revitalize the Freret business corridor. Since then, it’s grown to become a popular destination with special events and healthy attendance numbers. Besides the weekly food, art and flea vendors, the market regularly hosts local restaurant and catering business pop-ups and food carts. There are usually about 70 vendors total, plus live music, an area for kids; and pet adoptions available from Zeus Place, the market’s fellow Freret Street neighbor.

Today’s Freret Market is a vital part of the renaissance that Freret Street has been experiencing. The eight blocks stretching from Downtown to Uptown New Orleans parallel to St. Charles Avenue are known as a popular destination for food, shopping, and entertainment. The street hosts many restaurants, specialty shops, art galleries, bars, coffee shops, and more. It’s also home to the annual Freret Street Festival, held on the first Saturday in the spring (March and April). The festival has been growing since the mid-1990s, with over 100 vendors participating in the past.

The weekly sampling of food vendors at the Freret Market includes Iacovone Kitchen with a fresh, chef-driven menu of panini, pulled pork and whatever is in season, Jazzy Keto, a low-carb catering company that specializes in cauliflower-mash bowls of blackened chicken, vegan veggie and Cajun shrimp, and Not Cho Average Nachos (gourmet nachos, that’s right).

There are many opportunities to indulge your sweet tooth (check out Keyala’s Pralines) and get some locally made soap, candles, jerky, or pepper jelly. There are also plenty of art, flea and vintage vendors, farm stalls, and local merchants selling furniture, clothing, jewelry, and more.

Freret Market is located near the University District, which contains the Tulane and Loyola campuses. The area is easy to navigate and get to from the French Quarter and other areas by car and public transportation. There’s off-street parking in the lot at the corner of Cadiz and Magnolia Streets, and plenty of street parking on adjacent streets.

And, please note: The Alder Hotel offers free self-parking in the parking lot directly across the street. It’s relatively rare to find this amenity in New Orleans, so we hope you take advantage of it!

Stay in touch and save on rates and more at the Alder Hotel by signing up for our email list at https://alderhotel.com/email-offers/. If you find a lower rate on your Alder Hotel rooms at the time of booking, call 1.888.626.5861 to let us know, and we will match that rate!

The Freret neighborhood, where the Alder Hotel is located, is full of historic destinations, architectural landmarks, lush greenery, delicious culinary adventures, and fun shopping. There’s plenty to see, do, eat, and drink around here. Here are our top 12 reasons to stay at the Alder Hotel in the historic Freret neighborhood.

1. Free Parking

The Alder Hotel offers free self-parking in the parking lot directly across the street. It’s relatively rare to find this amenity in New Orleans, so grab this opportunity pronto! There’s also street parking available near the hotel, but it might be limited depending on the time of day and year.

2. You Can Bring Your Pet

We are a pet-friendly New Orleans hotel. We welcome dogs and cats, and look forward to hosting you and your pets when you stay in Uptown New Orleans. You can review our pet policy here. If you are traveling with large dogs (over 50 pounds) or need supervision for your dog while you sightsee, we recommend Zeus’ Place (4601 Freret St.).

Want to take your furry friend with you wherever you go? No problem! The Freret neighborhood, like much of New Orleans, is very dog-friendly. You’ll find a few parks and dog runs nearby, and plenty of restaurants and cafes in the area that will welcome your dog and put out a water bowl.

3. Navigation Is Easy

You can explore much of the neighborhood on foot, but, the most popular way to do it is to ride the historic streetcar along St. Charles Avenue. You can ride for $1.25, exact change; or get a $3-day pass for unlimited rides (also, check out our preferred and therefore most recommended walking route from the hotel to catch the St. Charles Ave. streetcar).

Take the streetcar from the CBD/downtown all the way upriver, or anywhere in between, as the streetcar stops on almost every block along St. Charles Avenue. The Italianate, Victorian and Greek Revival architecture of Uptown is unique, and many of the original mid-19th-century mansions have been immaculately preserved and are surrounded by impressive gardens. Heading into Carrolton and toward the Mississippi River, the imposing facades and sprawling balconies become generously mixed with the more modest but still well-preserved shotguns and thriving local businesses, including some of the best bars and restaurants in the city.

4. Shopping and Entertainment on Freret Street

One of the main attractions in the neighborhood is Freret Street, named after an antebellum New Orleans mayor. The stately mansions mix with the historic shotguns, surrounding the thriving eight-block corridor of Freret Street between Napoleon and Jefferson avenues. Due to the robust recovery and development efforts led by the locally-owned small businesses, developers, and the city administration, the street got an injection of much-needed business and renovation and is showing no signs of slowing down. The neighborhood enjoys its own monthly market and an annual festival, both held along Freret Street’s commercial strip. It even has its own Carnival krewe, Krewe of Freret, which parades during Mardi Gras and hosts a summer stroll.

5. The Lively Commercial Corridor of Magazine Street

Magazine Street runs parallel to St. Charles Avenue, about 10 blocks apart. Just like Freret Street’s revitalized strip, the 13 blocks of Magazine Street are meant to be walked. It’s the main commercial artery that the Garden District and Uptown share, and it’s crammed with restaurants, bars, sidewalk cafes, and dozens of retail stores where you can buy local art, antiques, vintage clothing, funky costumes, and more.

6. Numerous Options for Eating and Drinking Your Way Through the Neighborhood

Just walking down the Freret Street or Magazine Street corridors will bring you to the top-notch (and some of the most diverse) shopping and entertainment destinations. Of course, there’s plenty to eat and drink there as well.

You can start your day with breakfast at The Camellia Grill, a landmark diner beloved by locals and visitors alike since 1946 and famous for its pecan pie, “freezes,” and generous omelets. For lunch, try alligator sausage at the affordable Dat Dog. Catfish is the star of the menu of the Louisiana-meets-the-Delta High Hat Cafe, and The Company Burger offers potent house cocktails along with its milkshakes and lamb burgers.

Is it happy hour yet? Have a craft cocktail at Cure or a glass of award-winning wine at Bar Frances. For another popular happy hour, head to Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar to take advantage of its full-service oyster bar and Superior’s signature frozen pomegranate mojito. Another option is The Avenue Pub, the iconic Lower Garden District pub that boasts fireplaces, tin ceilings, a balcony overlooking St. Charles Avenue, a pool table, and sidewalk and patio seating.

There are numerous options to have an unforgettable dinner Uptown, from high to low and casual to iconic. Where you head for dinner depends on whether you’re looking for something more casual and on the budget, want to cross off a few items from your New Orleans food bucket list, or want to fully immerse yourself in experiencing a night out somewhere busy and packed with nightlife and action. (See our dining guides below to help you pick a perfect dining destination.)

Two of our favorites won’t ever steer you wrong: The James Beard Award winner Chef Donald Link’s Herbsaint, the flagship of the Link Restaurant Group (which runs several businesses including Peche, Cochon and La Boulangerie), and Desi Vega’s Steakhouse, an elegant, high-ceilinged classic steakhouse with a few local touches, located inside the Lafayette Hotel, a French Regency-style 1916 landmark overlooking Lafayette Square.

7. The Historic Audubon Park and Zoo

The magnificent 19th-century, 350-acre Audubon Park that contains the Audubon Zoo is perfect for a stroll. Lined with hundreds of ancient live oaks, it features a 1.8-mile jogging path, playgrounds, picnic shelters, a lagoon, recreation areas, and much more. The Audubon Zoo is one of the top zoos in the country, full of lush vegetation and exotic animal exhibits. The Zoo features rare white alligators, sea lion shows, a carousel, and the award-winning Louisiana Swamp and Jaguar Jungle natural habitat areas.

8. Loyola and Tulane Universities

Right across Audubon Park, you’ll find the campuses of Tulane and Loyola universities. Both boast an architectural mix of styles of the 19th century and modern, with the backdrop of large live oaks. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places, Tulane University’s campus occupies more than 110 acres and extends north to S. Claiborne Avenue through Freret and Willow streets. Note that the Newcomb Art Museum on Tulane University’s campus is free and open to the public. Past and present exhibitions have focused on contributions by women artists in the multi-disciplinary fields spanning art and design.

You can find Loyola’s sprawling main campus adjacent to Tulane and facing St. Charles Avenue and Audubon Park. It was established in 1904 on the land purchased by the New Orleans Jesuits in 1889. Marquette Hall is the oldest campus building and is the iconic image of the university you’ll probably recognize the most.

9. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1

Temporarily closed for maintenance and repairs as of 2022.

No Uptown architectural tour is complete without hitting the above-ground Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 on Washington Avenue, in the heart of the Garden District. It’s the oldest of the seven city-operated cemeteries in New Orleans, with some interesting society tombs (the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Home For Destitute Orphan Boys among them) and over a thousand family tombs. The iconic cemetery has served as a popular backdrop for many music videos and movies over the years. Right across the street is the incomparable Commander’s Palace, where you will find elevated Creole fare and a 25-cent martini lunch special.

10. Ochsner Baptist Medical Center

The hotel’s close proximity to the Ochsner Baptist sprawling medical campus means you get the advantage of dedicated security patrolling the area. It’s also one of the best, fully staffed medical centers in Louisiana, should you need any medical services during your stay.

11. Enjoying a Workout During Your Stay

Staying at the Alder Hotel means you’re within walking distance from Anytime Fitness (the 4600 Freret St. location), which offers state-of-the-art cardio machines, free weights and exercise classes. Ask the concierge for directions; it’s just a five-minute walk away.

12. Catching a Movie at the Longest Continually Operated Theater in the South

More than a century old, the family-run Prytania Theatre screens first-run features daily, and hosts screenings of classic movies every Wednesday and Saturday. Grab some buttered popcorn, or a gourmet treat from the espresso bar, and sit back and enjoy the show.

Want to dig deeper? Explore our up-to-date Uptown guides to help you get the most out of your stay:

Food and Drink
10 Dishes That Define New Orleans and Where to Try Them Uptown
New Orleans Food Bucket List, Uptown Edition
Where to Get Breakfast Near the Alder Hotel Uptown

Sightseeing
Guide: Navigating the Freret Neighborhood and Uptown New Orleans
Essential Stops and Sights Along the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar Route
Our Neighborhood — Most Popular Attractions Near the Alder Hotel
Architectural Landmarks — Uptown New Orleans
Things to Do on Loyola and Tulane Campuses – Alder Hotel Uptown New Orleans
Exploring Uptown New Orleans on a Budget

Shopping
Shopping Near Alder Hotel Uptown New Orleans
Shopping the Freret Market
Edible Souvenirs From New Orleans
Guide to the New Orleans Art Markets

Planning Your Itinerary
Your Itinerary: 24-Hours in Uptown New Orleans
Rainy Day Fun Near the Alder Hotel
Uptown New Orleans: A Family-Friendly Itinerary
Fun with Fido in Uptown New Orleans

St. Charles Avenue Streetcar by Sharon Mollerus on flickr

Essential Stops and Sights Along the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar Route

There’s a way to see New Orleans’ Uptown, Garden District, Carrollton, and Central Business District (CBD) neighborhoods that are historically accurate, affordable, and entertaining. It’s called the St. Charles Avenue streetcar, and a ride costs $1.25. Best of all, the streetcar stop is less than a mile away from the Alder Hotel — about a 15-minute walk. Here’s what to know before you go and which destinations are worth a visit, organized by street addresses as you head further from Uptown and then downtown.

Streetcar Facts

Stroll to the intersection of St. Charles Avenue and Cadiz streets, where the streetcar stops. If you want to head downtown, stand on the riverside (south) of St. Charles Avenue. If you are heading further Uptown, stand on the lakeside (north) of St. Charles Avenue. Have exact change — $1.25 for a one-way ride, or $3 for a Jazzy Pass, which gives you unlimited rides for the day.

Pay the driver and settle into a vintage mahogany bench. St. Charles Avenue streetcars are not air-conditioned and are not wheelchair accessible, although that will change soon (the city’s other lines using red, not green, streetcars are wheelchair accessible, by the way).

To make a stop, simply pull the horizontal cord running across your window to signal to the driver that you want to get off. Ideally, you should exit using the rear doors, but this recommendation is often ignored by locals and visitors alike.

Stop 1: Audubon Park (6500 Magazine St.)

Begin your streetcar adventure by heading further Uptown to Audubon Park. You should see the live oak trees, running paths, lakes, and playground equipment from the streetcar, but if not, just pull the cord when you hit Calhoun Street. Take a stroll through the 350-acre public park, where New Orleanians have come to relax since 1898. At the very rear of the park lies the Audubon Zoo. The elephants, tigers, white alligators, monkeys, and other animals make a visit to this beautifully landscaped zoo a must.

Stop 2: Tulane and Loyola Universities (6363-6823 St. Charles Ave.)

You’ll spot the campuses of Tulane and Loyola universities right across Audubon Park. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places, Tulane University’s campus occupies more than 110 acres and extends north to S. Claiborne Avenue through Freret and Willow streets. From the Italian Renaissance to Mid-Century Modern, the campus boasts many styles and is known for its large live oak trees.

Loyola’s sprawling main campus also faces St. Charles Avenue and Audubon Park. Marquette Hall is the oldest campus building and is the iconic image of the university you’ll probably recognize the most. Both campuses deserve a walkthrough thanks to their architectural significance and well-landscaped grounds.

Stop 3: Newcomb Art Museum (6823 St. Charles Ave.)

This museum sits on Tulane University’s campus, and it is free and open to the public. Past and present exhibitions have focused on works by contemporary abstractionists and contributions by women artists in the multi-disciplinary fields spanning art and design. Be sure you have a map handy, and check hours before you go.

Stop 4: The Camellia Grill (626 Carrollton Ave.)

By this time, you’ve probably worked up an appetite. Head further Uptown, to the Riverbend area, and hop off at the Camellia Grill, a classic diner where white-jacketed staff members serve up delicacies ranging from grilled pecan pie to cheeseburgers and cherry-chocolate slushies. There may be a line of Tulane students, tourists, and locals waiting for a seat, but it’s well worth the delay. Get in line and find out why Camellia Grill has been an institution since 1946.

Stop 5: Ogden Museum of Southern Art (925 Camp St.)

To get to the Ogden, also get off at Harmony Circle. You’ll find this museum a block away on Camp Street, which runs parallel to St. Charles Avenue. The Ogden puts a spotlight on the visual arts and culture of the American South, holding some of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Southern art in the U.S. The museum was founded in 1999 with donations of more than 600 works from New Orleans businessman Roger H. Ogden’s private collection and has grown since to include more than 4,000 works.

Stop 6: Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) (900 Camp St.)

The CAC is a must-stop and a Warehouse District staple, with an impressive roster of events ranging from world-class visual arts exhibitions to performing arts shows. There’s always something cooking up at this vibrant cultural hub: art camps, workshops, avant-garde music shows, and much more. The building, a historic 1905 warehouse located between Andrew Higgins Drive and St. Joseph Street one block from Lee Circle, is a sight to behold. Inside, it’s a 30,000-square-foot dazzling maze of sunlit open spaces, site-specific art installations, theaters, studios, and an atrium.

If you happen to be here in August, the CAC hosts a massive and popular White Linen Night on the month’s first Saturday. The first Saturday in October is reserved for another important art happening, Art for Art’ Sake. The CAC’s party calendar is full year-round, however, with the venue hosting everything from world-renowned jazz musicians to burlesque to beloved Louisiana acts like Lost Bayou Ramblers.

Stop 7: Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar (4338 St. Charles Ave.)

You can’t miss the imposing building on the corner of St. Charles and Napoleon Avenues, so hop right off for some seafood-centric Creole fare with some of the best views of St. Charles Avenue in the city (and some prime parade-watching spots if you’re here during Mardi Gras). The decor has a lot going for itself too: gigantic windows, a 32-foot zinc bar imported from France, vintage wood floors and beadboard ceilings salvaged from the New Orleans’ long-gone landmarks, antique French dining chairs, oversize wall mirrors, and porch and patio seating.

The menu is Louisiana classics, from po-boys to whatever fresh catch is swimming in the Gulf. Take advantage of the popular happy hour and a full-service oyster bar: deals on raw oysters, washed down with Superior’s signature frozen pomegranate mojito.

Stop 8: The Avenue Pub (1732 St Charles Ave.)

This iconic Lower Garden District pub boasts fireplaces, tin ceilings, a balcony overlooking St. Charles Avenue, a pool table, and sidewalk and patio seating. Under new ownership since 2022, the pub churns out quality grub and features a ton of craft beer.

Stop 9: Herbsaint (701 St. Charles Ave.)

James Beard Award winner Chef Donald Link’s wildly popular restaurant predates Katrina and remains the flagship of the Link Restaurant Group (which runs several businesses including Peche, Cochon, and La Boulangerie). Herbsaint has been and continues to be on many “Best Restaurants” lists for reasons that will become clear as soon as you dig into its crispy goat, or shrimp and fish ceviche — or anything. The menu is best described as French-Southern, with some Italian influences (evident in the presence of housemade gnocchi and spaghetti), with a spotlight on local, seasonal produce and sustainably sourced seafood and meats.

Herbsaint offers a great view of St. Charles Avenue and outdoor seating. Ask the knowledgeable staff for pairing recommendations from the restaurant’s eclectic wine list.

Stop 10: Desi Vega’s Steakhouse (628 St. Charles Ave.)

Desi Vega’s Steakhouse is an elegant, high-ceilinged space with street views and lots of room. It’s located inside the Lafayette Hotel, a French Regency-style 1916 landmark overlooking Lafayette Square. The menu is classic ribeye and filet mignon, seafood, and sides, but with local touches like Andouille and crawfish mac ‘n’ cheese named after Freddie McAfee, a former New Orleans Saints player. Two full bars flank the staircase at Desi Vega, with a daily happy hour.

Spot 11: Gallier Hall (545 St. Charles Ave.)

This historic Greek Revival building overlooks the charming Lafayette Square in New Orleans’ Central Business District (CBD) and has a colorful past. Built in 1845–53, it used to house the City Hall, hosted many events during the Reconstruction and Huey Long eras, and is still in use today. Such important New Orleans figures as Jefferson Davis, General Beauregard, and, most recently, the local R&B legend Ernie K-Doe lay in state in Gallier Hall. It also remains a focal point of the Uptown Mardi Gras parades.

The building is considered to be one of the finest works of architect James Gallier, standing three stories tall and featuring Tuckahoe marble and two rows of fluted Ionic columns. Inside, Gallier Hall is a treasure trove of grand ballrooms full of paintings, antique frames and mirrors, clocks, Steinway pianos, and dozens of chandeliers. A large-scale renovation has been completed in March 2018 as part of the city’s tricentennial celebration, refurbishing the period details and installing a state-of-the-art A/V system.

Stop 12: Luke (333 St. Charles Ave.)

Luke joins an impressive roster of CBD’s notable restaurants with its prime location and brasserie vibe. Executive Chef Erick Loos helms the kitchen, and his French/German menu has a Creole flavor and highlights fresh, seasonal ingredients that come from the Gulf and local farms in dishes like stuffed Gulf oysters, Creole seafood, and sausage gumbo. The elegant dining space contains a raw bar, and you can get raw oysters for a bargain during Luke’s happy hour. Other highlights are Luke’s massive burger and its famous French 75 as well as other bartender-created specialty cocktails.

Well, there you have it. From there, you can walk or take the streetcar down to Canal Street to kick off a night in the French Quarter, or ride back Uptown and call it a night. Either way, you’ll have gotten in a full day of sightseeing, eating, and drinking.