Sun sparkles off rain-slicked flagstones; the earthy scents
of fresh-brewed coffee and simmering gumbos infuse the air
and inflame your senses; the notes spiraling from a street
performer's saxophone speak to you like never before - you're
in the French Quarter, and you're in love.
Love
is not to be taken lightly in the Vieux Carre; it is to
be celebrated with a sensuous passion. Creoles learned the
language of amour from their French ancestors; today you'll
hear it whispered in lush, hidden courtyards and during
moonlight carriage rides - if you're prepared to listen.
To
begin your love affair with romance, you must first find
suitably captivating accommodations. The Hotel Maison de
Ville (http://www.maisondeville.com) at 727 Toulouse Street
abounds in exquisite indulgences, including a lush tropical
patio area, four-poster beds, and seven cottages with private
courtyards. The Rue
Dumaine Guesthouse at 517 Rue Dumaine offers rooms and
suites with Jacuzzis, a tropical courtyard, and balconies
with scenic views of the French Quarter and the Mississippi
River.
Other
tranquil retreats long on luxury and pampering, where you
can enjoy champagne in a candlelit courtyard after a day
of languor and love, include the Maison Dupuy Hotel and
the St Louis Hotel. The Maison
Dupuy Hotel at 1001 Rue Toulouse is just two blocks
from Bourbon Street and features a lush, private courtyard
with spacious patio and full-size swimming pool. The St
Louis Hotel located at 730 Rue Bienville is one block
from Bourbon Street, and along with the Maison Dupuy Hotel,
features one of the city's most beautiful courtyards. The
Saint Louis Hotel was voted one of the top hotels in the
nation by Conde Nast Magazine.
You'll
need to eat to keep up your strength, so book a table à
deux at Bella
Luna Restaurant the consensus destination for romantic
dining in the Quarter. The cuisine has drawn mixed reviews,
but you and your love should be thoroughly enchanted by
the understated décor, elegant service, abundance of privacy,
and dramatic views of the magical Mississippi.
Afterward,
consider a moonlit horse-drawn carriage ride. Head to Jackson
Square to locate a driver; choose someone friendly who takes
good care of his or her carriage and mule. If you are long
on love but short on funds, you can take the Canal Street
Ferry across the Mississippi to Algiers, gratis, for a spectacular
view of the French Quarter riverfront and the spires of
St. Louis Cathedral at night. Don't bother disembarking
in Algiers after dark- it's more interesting, and a lot
safer, during the day.
For
breakfast, you can pretend to be young Creoles in love at
the authentic, delicious, and ridiculously reasonable French
bakery, La Marquise Patisserie de Roi at 625 Chartres Street
(or its sister location, Croissant d'Or, at 615 Ursulines),
or you can strut your stuff during a delicious Jazz Brunch
in the Quarter's most romantic, flower-bedecked courtyard
at The Court of Two Sisters (http://www.courtoftwosisters.com),
613 Royal Street. Touristy yes, but The Court of Two Sisters
is consistently ranked one of New Orleans' most unforgettable
dining experiences and should not be missed.
Many
visitors proclaim that The French Quarter personifies romance
- it can incite ardor from the most genteel affection or
overwhelm indifference with a sultry tropical passion, but
it is rarely chaste and never uninspiring. For that reason,
many lovers choose to simply float about the Quarter, following
their hearts and souls from one escapade to the next.
If
your imagination needs assistance, however, let us offer
a handful of amorous enticements to help you pay homage
to the goddess of Love. Request a custom-blended scent for
yourself or your love at the 150-year-old Bourbon
French Parfums, or tantalize your senses with one of
the many evocative house blends. Commission a pastel portrait
of the two of you from one of the talented artists in Jackson
Square or along Pirate's Alley.
If
you're feeling adventurous, appeal to one of the practitioners
at the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum (http://www.voodoomuseum.com)
at 724 Dumaine Street to prepare a love potion or gris-gris
bag filled with magical herbs to fan the flames of passion,
or visit one of the many shops on Bourbon Street that sell
adult novelties and "naughty" fantasy items that would make
your Mama blush for days.
New
Orleans is a feast for the senses; it's fun for one, but
even better shared by two, especially two in love. Indulge
to your hearts' delight! If you and your love share a particular
passion, such as food or music, then check out one of our
other itineraries for even more great ideas!
