Exploring the Enchanting Garden District of New Orleans

Located a short 20-minute streetcar ride from downtown, the New Orleans Garden District is a pleasant way to spend a quiet day in the city. The charming St. Charles Streetcar takes you from the hustle and bustle of downtown New Orleans to the majestic mansions and tree-lined streets of the Garden District. You can spend an entire afternoon touring the Garden District of New Orleans and we are going to share all the things to do.

A Tour of the New Orleans Garden District

The St. Charles streetcar dates back to 1835 and is the oldest still operating streetcar line in the world. It costs just $1.25 one way or you can buy a day pass for $3. (exact change required).

It’s also an affordable Uber ride from the French Quarter at about $8. (but it isn’t quite as endearing of a drive)

What is the Garden District?

The Garden District is where the wealthy elite of New Orleans live and where tourists come for a peaceful day of walking tours to explore the Lafayette Cemetery, celebrity mansions, and boutiques.

We met with our guide Sheila of Welcome New Orleans Tours at the lobby of The Rink to begin our day. The Rink was once a roller-skating arena, but today it houses a bookstore, some gift shops, and a coffee shop.

It’s a prime meeting point as it’s also kitty-corner to Lafayette Cemetery Number One where we started our afternoon tour. Before setting out, she told us a bit about the history of the area.

The History of the New Orleans Garden District

New Orleans wasn’t always a city. In fact, the French Quarter was the original city established in 1718.

It was laid out in a grid pattern in 1720 and land grants were awarded outside of the original city. Some people chose to grow indigo and/or sugar cane on their plantations, or rural land. A large part of the Garden District was home to the Livaudais Plantation, and the story of this plantation is interesting because its final owner was a woman.

In the 1800s some women in New Orleans owned their own land. It surprised us since back in those days, women didn’t have many rights, let alone be in charge of their own finances. However, things were different in NOLA.

Jacques Livaudais was the original owner of the plantation, but when he was too lazy to show up for his divorce proceedings, the courts transferred ownership to his wife Celeste Marigny.

When she decided to move back to France, she sold it to a group of businessmen who divided the plantation into blocks and sold off sections. By the mid-1800s it was already turning into the luxury district it is today.

Things to do in the Garden District New Orleans

1. Lafayette Cemetery Number One

Unlike the Saint Louis Cemetery Number One downtown, you do not need a guide to walk through Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District.

But it is much more interesting when you have a guide.

Dave and I toured the cemetery on our own last year and really didn’t find out too much about it. But with Sheila sharing stories, we came away with a much richer experience.

Highlights of the cemetery include the Vampire Lestat crypt that was used in the movie Interview with the Vampire. Sheila showed us the actual crypt and where they built the replica in the corner of the grounds to film the scene. I totally have to rewatch that movie.

This cemetery has several society tombs for members of organizations like the volunteer firemen, the German Presbyterian community, and the YMCA.

The most heartbreaking tomb was the Home For Destitute Orphan Boys, where when looking at the dates, we noticed several died at the same time due to the yellow fever outbreaks. Sheila said many children were left without parents during that time.

2. Anne Rice lived in the Garden District

Knowing that I was a huge Anne Rice fan, she also told us of the parade Anne Rice had in the Cemetery, where she staged her funeral in the 1990s to promote her novel Memnoch the Devil.

Oddly enough, even though we were touring a cemetery, it felt relaxing.

Birds chirped and people sauntered through the grounds looking at the elaborate tombs designed with angels, crosses, draped urns, and statues of children. It is quite beautiful. After an hour or so touring the cemetery, we moved on to exploring the mansions of the Garden District.

It is here that the celebrities and ultra-rich residents of New Orleans live. Mansions take up entire blocks hidden behind high shrubs and brick walls.

3. Mansions of the Garden District

We started by learning about the different designs of the area. Gothic Revival was a large influence in housing designs, but Roman and Greek styles are also major influences in this neighborhood.

Many of the houses feature similar cast-iron fences using the same designer stretching all the way down the block, crossing from one property to another.

4. Famous Residents of the Garden District

One of the most famous residents of the neighborhood is Sandra Bullock who lives part-time in New Orleans. Her house looked a little deserted, and I wonder how much time she actually spends in New Orleans these days. But Sheila noted that she used to be here quite often.

John Goodman also has a house here, and Sheila mentioned that it is actually his primary residence. He’s home often and his family lives here as well!

The Manning family resides in the Garden District. Famous NFL footballers Peyton and Eli Manning grew up in a mansion here. Their dad Archie played for the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1982. We hear that this family home is still their family home. If you are lucky, you might spot them walking the streets.

I was saddened to learn that Anne Rice moved away after the death of her husband. Her son relocated to California, and Anne moved to be closer to him. However, we did get to check out her mansion where she wrote The Witching Hour.

Sheila pointed out her wrought iron fence with rosebuds but mentioned that Rice fans often see skulls. Upon closer inspection, I can see why they thought that; those rose buds certainly do resemble skulls.

When Nicolas Cage was having better days, he too owned a mansion in the Garden District.

It seems that he flaunted his wealth everywhere in New Orleans, buying a giant eyesore of a tomb in Saint Louis Cemetery Number One downtown and owning the LaLaurie Mansion from American Horror Story: Coven for a brief time. Therefore, it seems only natural that he had a house in the most exclusive area of the city.

Although he lost his fortune and had to sell his mansion, he still owns his tomb. He may not live here anymore, but he may spend eternity in New Orleans. I wonder if he buried his treasure in there for a rainy day?

5. Movies Filmed in New Orleans Garden District

The Garden District makes for the perfect movie setting. It feels as if time has stood still.

We also saw a few houses that were used as movie sets. It’s easy to imagine any number of these mansions doubling for plantation houses, quiet turn-of-the-20th-century neighborhoods, or country estates. It felt as though we were walking through our own movie set with each corner we took.

Benjamin Button

Benjamin Button is a lovely fantasy movie starring Brad Pitt. The main house scenes were filmed in the Garden District, and The Benjamin Button House was located on a corner of one of the streets.

We can only imagine the excitement that must have surrounded the area during the time when Pitt was at the top of his game.

Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained was also filmed in the Garden District. Sheila told us that the streets were all covered in dirt and grass to make it look as if it was a plantation house in the 1800s.

In person, the house didn’t resemble a substantial plantation at all, but movie magic transformed this downtown property into Leonardo Dicaprio’s house of horrors.

Our Garden District tour of New Orleans was informative and offered beautiful scenes and interesting insight into the history and culture of New Orleans.

If we were to walk around on our own, we would have missed many of the little nuances of the area. There are several self-guided walks that people can do on their own, but we find our favorite aspect of visiting a new city is to meet locals and see the sights from their perspective. Sheila provided us with plenty of insight into what makes the Garden District special.

8. Where to Eat in the Garden District

Commander’s Palace

If you end up spending the entire afternoon in the Garden District, a good place for dinner is Commander’s Palace. Commanders Palace is probably the most famous restaurant in the city and has been in operation since 1880.

It’s an upscale fine dining restaurant that is quite spacious. As we were escorted to our table, we followed the hostess upstairs and through different rooms before settling in a lovely garden room.

It’s advisable to dress sharply for a night out at Commanders Palace, so be prepared if you are touring the Garden District and decide to stay for dinner.

Although it’s not a strict formal dress code, no shorts are allowed, and most guests tend to wear dresses and suit jackets.

Casamento’s

After our time in the Garden District, we made a detour to Magazine Street for lunch at Casamento’s. Magazine Street is a great street for shopping, people watching, and relaxing in a café.

Casamento’s is one of its more popular eateries, serving raw and chargrilled oysters. It’s only open for a few hours each day, and the lines are often out the door.

We managed to grab a seat before the rush and enjoyed a couple of orders of delicious oysters.

This place offers a much less formal setting than Commander’s Palace with a Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives sort of vibe. It’s fast, it’s small, and it’s filled with character. The toilets are located through the kitchen, and they only accept cash. It truly is one of the most authentic New Orleans dining experiences you can have.

And there you have it. Our guide to the Garden District. There are many more mansions to see and places to eat, but this guide will get you started exploring the Garden District.

When you visit New Orleans, make sure to venture beyond the French Quarter and take some time to see the sights.

While many people dream of participating in Mardi Gras, there is so much more to the city than just a party. The history, culture, food, and music will keep you entertained for days.

Our trip to New Orleans was in partnership with The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau; visit their website to learn more and plan a trip to New Orleans. As always, all opinions and recommendations are our own.