French Quarter Real Estate
Although many hotels, restaurants, and other businesses cater to tourists here, this mixed-use neighborhood is also home to thousands of residents.
The French Quarter is a top destination for travelers from around the globe, who come to see lush courtyards, Creole townhouses, crumbling facades, and wrought-iron wraparound balconies. Influences from the French and Spanish periods of governance and the city’s many immigrants abound.
It’s easy to find entertainment in the Quarter. The always-on, pulsating party vibe flourishes in the neon bustle of Bourbon Street, the 24/7 bars and restaurants, and the live music in Jackson Square and on street corners.
To preserve the history of this neighborhood, the city strictly regulates development and improvement. The most recent addition to its streetcar network, the Rampart/St. Claude Line — a revival of a line that had lain dormant since the 1940s — joined the Riverfront and Canal lines in 2016.
Where Is the French Quarter?
As defined by the French Quarter Management District, the boundaries of the French Quarter are:
North: Esplanade Avenue
East: The Mississippi River
West: North Rampart Street
South: Canal Street
The area stretches for seven to nine blocks between North Rampart and the river and 13 blocks between Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue, adding up to 78 square blocks.
Homes for Sale in French Quarter, New Orleans
Why Buy a Home in the French Quarter?
There is plenty to love about the French Quarter, starting with the fact that it’s been around for more than 300 years, making it one of the most interesting places in the country. Of course, its many hotels, restaurants, tour companies, and souvenir shops cater specifically to tourists. But it is also a mixed-use neighborhood that thousands of residents call home; the Lower Quarter, between Jackson Square and Esplanade Avenue, is largely residential.
The French Quarter is the most walkable neighborhood in New Orleans and a biker’s paradise. Most essentials are conveniently located, and buses, streetcars, and pedicabs make everything even more accessible.
Every street in the Quarter has something to offer: top restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs, boutique shopping, indoor and outdoor entertainment, live music, high-end bars, art markets, craft cocktails. From the 200-year-old bars to brass bands in Jackson Square to the always available beignets, the French Quarter caters to every taste.
Stunning architecture is the dominant feature of the neighborhood. The French Quarter retains many more of the buildings erected during the period of Spanish governance (1762-1802) than it does of the original French buildings, which were largely wiped out by the great fires of 1788 and 1794. A few notable French colonial landmarks still remain, though. An example is the Old Ursuline Convent, completed in 1752. And you’ll find a touch of French nobility in street names like Bourbon and Burgundy.
The high ground gives this neighborhood an advantage over many others in New Orleans. Because the French Quarter is above sea level, it wasn’t flooded by Hurricane Katrina. Plus, for better protection from storms, the power lines are underground.
French
Quarter
Attractions
With such a high concentration of landmarks, entertainment venues, restaurants, pedestrian malls, and other factors that contribute to the neighborhood’s character, it’s hard to pinpoint favorites. From the neon hustle of Bourbon Street to the tranquil elegance of Dauphine, and from the old-school neighborhood dives to the fine-dining experiences, the Quarter has charm, soul, and surprises — and it’s always open for business. Explore some of our highlights below.
Soak up Jackson Square, the heart of the French Quarter. Shop Pontalba Row, listen to a brass band playing near St. Louis Cathedral, see the death mask of Napoleon at the Cabildo, peruse the Mardi Gras exhibit at the Presbytère, get a tarot reading, browse the street art.
Enjoy a jazzy brunch. Two venerable institutions, Arnaud’s, established in 1918, and Antoine’s, established in 1840, serve Creole dishes to the sounds of live Dixieland jazz.
Get a muffaletta to go at Central Grocery & Deli on Decatur and relax by the river in 16-acre Woldenberg Riverfront Park, site of many festivals. Watch all kinds of boats go by, including the steamboat Natchez.
Drink at one of the oldest bars in America. Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar occupies a crumbling Creole cottage on the corner of Bourbon and St. Philip streets. Built in the 1720s, and it reputedly used by the infamous brothers Jean and Pierre Lafitte as a base for their privateering. The bar’s signature drink is a frozen daiquiri concoction. Established in 1807, the Old Absinthe House, also on Bourbon Street, counts Oscar Wilde and Franklin Roosevelt among its patrons.
Feast on fried chicken or jambalaya at Coop’s Place, a popular no-frills bar and restaurant on Decatur Street.
History of the French Quarter
Also known as the Vieux Carré (“old square”), the French Quarter was the original settlement founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste de Bienville, the beginning of New Orleans. Jackson Square was the main city square and a military parade ground. The first settlers were the French, the Spanish, and the Creoles. The great fires of 1788 and 1794 destroyed most of the old French colonial architecture, in due course replaced by edifices in Spanish colonial style.
In the early 20th century, Italians, Germans, and Irish immigrated to the Quarter. After the city shut down the red light district of Storyville, many businesses there drifted to the French Quarter as the old Creole families moved to Uptown and other areas. In the 1920s, bohemians seeking allure and cheaper rents started moving in. In 1965, the Vieux Carré Historic District was established to safeguard the historic character of the area. In 1984, the World’s Fair helped turn the French Quarter into a popular tourist destination and usher in a spate of development, including condos and high-rise hotels. Rising rents and property values drove many long-term residents away to neighborhoods like Treme, the Marigny, and Lakeview.
