Faubourg Marigny in New Orleans

Faubourg Marigny, often referred to as The Marigny for short, is an official historic district of New Orleans. The triangular neighbourhood lies east of the French Quarter, with St. Claude Avenue to its north, the Mississippi River to its south, and Esplanade Avenue to its west. During the 19^th century, it was the old Third Municipality of New Orleans.

Today, Faubourg Marigny has an eclectic cultural scene. A 3-block section of the neighbourhood is dedicated to live music, so it’s often packed in the evenings. Aside from bars, clubs, and concert halls, you’ll often see buskers along the streets – make sure to leave a generous tip for your favourite performers.

Faubourg Marigny in New Orleans - one of the highlights of 10 Most Popular Neighbourhoods in New Orleans (Read all about New Orleans here)

photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans (CC BY 2.0) modified

What are the highlights of Faubourg Marigny?

The Marigny has a relatively local vibe, even though it’s quite close to the famous French Quarter. You can catch a wide range of performances at Frenchmen Street, which runs from Esplanade Avenue towards St. Claude Avenue. Notable live music venues include The Maison, Three Muses, Blue Nile, and Apple Barrel.

Marigny Opera House hosts classical music, opera, and theatre in a former Catholic parish church. This non-profit performing art centre is home to the Marigny Opera Ballet, so you can expect quality performances by New Orleans’ resident contemporary ballet company.

A stroll along the streets of Faubourg Marigny often leads to views of historic houses and cottages built in Creole, late Georgian, and Greek Revival styles. There are also plenty of restaurants serving innovative Creole cuisine – standouts include Marigny Brasserie, Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, and Adolfo's.

photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans (CC BY-SA 2.5) modified

Washington Square Park is a 2.54-acre recreational space in Faubourg Marigny. Locals often come here to enjoy some much-needed respite from the busy Frenchmen Street. Within the park are wooden benches under the shade of historic oak trees, as well as special events and concerts throughout the year.

Stop by the New Orleans Jazz Museum to get a feel of the city’s jazz roots before catching a show in Marigny. Aside from hosting 5 rotating exhibits about the history and culture of jazz in Louisiana, the building offers listening stations, musical instruments, and a recording studio.

Just opposite the museum is the historic LaLaurie Mansion. While it’s a beautiful example of early 19th-century architecture, many paranormal enthusiasts recognise it as one of the most haunted buildings in the US. You can learn about its grisly history (and sadistic owner, Marie Delphine Macarty) by joining a ghost tour of the building.

photo by DNMaurer (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified

Good to know about Faubourg Marigny

Located along the Mississippi River, Faubourg Marigny is less than a mile northeast of the French Quarter. You can easily get there on foot or use a ridesharing app.

The New Orleans Streetcar lines have stops along Frenchmen Street in Marigny. If you’re travelling on the Riverfront Line (46)(47), disembark at the French Market Station and walk for around 6 minutes up north to reach the street.

Penny Wong | Compulsive Traveller

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