St. James Hotel New Orleans Downtown (French Quarter Area) Blog

‘Tis the season for Christmas lights all aglow, singing carols, and if you’re lucky, catching a glimpse of Mr. Christmas himself, Santa Claus.

Whether you’re a Big Easy local or planning to visit NOLA for a much-needed getaway, something is spellbinding about this unique city!

If you choose to get together with family and friends this holiday season, ensure you follow these helpful tips to do so as safely as possible.

Whether it’s a starter of oyster soup, a side of jambalaya, or a hearty helping of our featured New Orleans favorite, étouffée, you’re sure to have more than enough to eat when you celebrate Thanksgiving NOLA style.

If you’re a die-hard Saints fan, then you’re likely struggling with the fact that you don’t get to watch your beloved football team from their home in the dome. 

You don’t have to be a native New Orleanian to be a fan of the Black and Gold! The New Orleans Saints are one of the country’s most-watched NFL teams and have even been dubbed “America’s Team.”

One of the great features you can enjoy when you stay in the Big Easy is the convenient access to the authentic New Orleans Streetcar. Besides being a go-to form of public transportation for locals, the streetcars are also a tourist destination all their own. Here’s a closer look at everything you need to know about NOLA’s iconic mode of transportation.

The Big Easy is full of tales of the supernatural, mysterious, and downright puzzling. When you take a stroll through the French Quarter, pop into a neighborhood restaurant, or even browse through one of the many local shops, you’ll likely find yourself exploring a haunted place (whether you realize it or not). This darker side of the city is part of what gives NOLA such a rich and colorful story and enticing charm.

Sometimes, you don’t have to go very far to have an amazing vacation.

New Orleans is no stranger to restless souls and ghostly residents; the city possesses a haunted history rich with intrigue, mystery, and even fun.

New Orleans is touted as one of the most haunted cities in the United States, and for good reason. The Big Easy is full of stories about restless spirits, ghostly pirates, vampires, and a legendary voodoo queen, and you don’t need to wait for Halloween to try and catch a glimpse of these famous spirited residents. 

It doesn’t have to be Halloween to enjoy a spooky tale or two when you’re in New Orleans. The city is full of history of the haunted kind, from restless souls to ghostly pirates to a Voodoo Queen, and everything in between. In fact, New Orleans is believed to be one of the most haunted cities in the United States. 

New Orleans might be known for its fun atmosphere, vibrant nightlife, and Creole culture, but there are also plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors!

The pandemic may have shut down the bars, but it definitely didn’t squash NOLA’s love affair with beer. Whether you’re a tourist or a local, you can still enjoy some of the most fantastic beers from several of the city’s top breweries.

If you're planning to get married, there's no place as romantic, charming, and unique as New Orleans. Although there are currently many restrictions because of the pandemic on things like open bars, crowd size, and social distancing, many people are still deciding to press on and tie the knot. Yet, just because your wedding needs to be a little more intimate, doesn't mean it can't make an impression.

The St. James Hotel makes it possible to have a memorable and romantic New Orleans wedding, even when the crowds have to stay small.

A closer look at COOLinary participants: GW Fins, Tommy’s Cuisine, Haiku Sushi and Bar, and Atchafalaya Restaurant

COVID-19 has changed how we do things in New Orleans, but it definitely hasn’t changed the fact that the Big Easy has some of the most incredible cuisine on the planet. For years, NOLA has been indulging in a fabulous culinary tradition to support local restaurants during the slow summer months, known as COOLinary.

If you’re planning to make a visit to New Orleans, then you’re in for a real treat. There is no other city that is quite as unique and vibrant as the Big Easy; from the people to the architecture and the vast array of eclectic entertainment options that you’ll discover at every turn. Another element of NOLA that possesses its own special charm is the language. New Orleans natives and self-made locals speak a whole different vocabulary that can make you feel like it’s a foreign language.

There’s no place that can match the magic and romance of New Orleans, but if you’re traveling to the Big Easy during the summer, it can get hot and steamy (which isn’t always a good thing)! Lucky for you, NOLA is packed with possibilities for all sorts of fun, including many attractions that keep you nice and cool while you explore.

Thinking about getting married in the Big Easy? Let the St. James Hotel add an extra touch of romance and elegance to your special day. 

When you stay at the St. James Hotel on Magazine Street, you don’t have to go very far to create many memorable moments.

When you live in a city as amazing, unique, and charming as New Orleans, you really don’t have to go farther than your own backyard to experience a fabulous vacation. If you’re not ready to travel, then play tourist in your own city and treat yourself to an unforgettable staycation at the historic St. James Hotel. 

Sometimes, you don’t have to go very far to have an amazing vacation

Stretching an astounding six miles long as it winds through the city, Magazine Street is a destination unto itself. You can easily spend a day (or days) traversing this amazing thoroughfare and still barely make a dent in seeing everything it has to offer. Luckily, we’ve put together a comprehensive Magazine Street itinerary as a handy guide to some of the street’s best bars, boutiques, restaurants, art galleries and more, so you can spend less time looking up places to visit and more time enjoying the endlessly fun Magazine Street!

Gumbo is consumed year-round in Louisiana, but it really hits the spot when the temperatures are a little cooler. Made of a mix of protein, whether from the sea or land, a thick roux, and the “holy trinity” of all Louisiana cuisine – celery, bell pepper and onion – many compare gumbo’s mix of ingredients to the complexity of the south.