After our amazing engagement photoshoot on Wednesday and our cake tasting and food tasting on Thursday, the next item to check off the wedding to-do list was to find a location for the welcome party that we are planning to host for all of our guests the night before our wedding. Being an expert on all things New Orleans, our amazing friend, Jess, prior to our arrival, sent us a list of possible locations that we narrowed down to tour while we were in town.
Built in around 1858 and furnished with antiques relevant to that time period, the Benachi House contains five parlors, a dining room, and kitchen. The beautiful gardens outside of the house are some of the largest in New Orleans and would be a great location for a welcome party. The house retains many of its original details and has an extremely interesting history. It is located half way between the French Quarter and City Park.
The Degas House is obviously named after the French Impressionist Master, Edgar Degas, who resided in the house from 1872-1873 and created some of his famous paintings in this location. The Degas House is not only a beautiful venue with both outside and indoor spaces, but also serves as a bed and breakfast. We really enjoyed talking to the owner and the other employees during our tour as we sipped on champagne.
A good friend of mine had her rehearsal dinner at Antonie's that my parents still talk about, so I knew we had to check out this gem. Established in 1840 and located in the French Quarter, it is the oldest family-run restaurant known for its amazing French-Creole cuisine. It's the birthplace of several famous dishes, including the oysters Rockefeller (my favorite).
The Beauregard-Keys House is a National Historic Landmark built in 1826 and restored by the famous author, Frances Parkinson Keyes, in 1948. Mrs. Keyes wrote 30 novels while living in the house. The design of the house incorporates American and Creole details. The house has served as a museum since the 1970s, as well as a venue for all types of events. My favorite part was the garden area -- it was breathtaking. Your favorite part may be the ghost stories.
The Napoleon House is another National Historic Landmark in the French Quarter built in 1794, rumored to be the intended residence for the infamous French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. The building was also Nicholas Girod's house (the mayor of New Orleans). Back in the day, the building served as a local grocery store, but since 1914, it operates as a restaurant. The Napoleon House is known for its traditional Creole dishes and the bar is known for serving the "Pimm's Cup" cocktail.
Overlooking Jackson Square, the balcony views from Tableau are some of the best. In fact, it was voted as the Number 1 Best Balcony for Dining and Drinking. The three-story townhouse restaurant, upon opening, was selected by the Times-Picayune (the New Orleans newspaper) as “one of the Best New Restaurants in New Orleans.”
Muriel's opened in 2001 after a restoration of the building dating back to the 1800s. On the other side of Jackson Square, the balcony here is spectacular. Another place with ghosts, this old-world Creole restaurant is known for casual fine dining, with each room having its own unique vibe.
This French Quarter building is a museum showcasing a collection of things like physician bags, surgical tools, jars, and even has voodoo potions (remember the famous "Love Potion No. 9?"). A very unique venue that is not only educational, but also has a beautiful courtyard to enjoy on a nice day.
Not only does this café have a romantic courtyard to enjoy your food and/or drinks, the inside is just as unique. Located in the French Quarter and founded in 2005, Café Amelie is named for Amelie Miltonberger, the mother of Princess Alice, the first American Princess of Monaco. We luckily had an opportunity to brunch here and it was absolutely fantastic.
What did we choose? Stay tuned...