A recommended day trip from The Royal Sonesta New Orleans
A convenient day trip from The Royal Sonesta New Orleans is a French Quarter walking-and-streetcar loop: start with coffee at PJ's Coffee Café, walk to Jackson Square and the French Market, then take the St. Charles Avenue streetcar to the Garden District or Audubon sites. Finish back at the hotel for dinner at Desire Oyster Bar or live music at The Jazz Playhouse.
In this guide
- Start with coffee and a short Bourbon Street stroll
- Morning: Jackson Square and the French Market
- Lunch options: Desire Oyster Bar or Restaurant R'evolution
- Afternoon: Take the St. Charles streetcar to the Garden District or Audubon sites
- Optional afternoon: swamp tour or WWII Museum
- Evening: Live jazz and the hotel poolside return
- Tips while you’re out
Start with coffee and a short Bourbon Street stroll
Begin on-site at PJ's Coffee Café for espresso, a pastry, or a quick bite; the café lists morning hours starting around 6:30–6:00 a.m. depending on the hotel page. Walking out the front door puts you directly on Bourbon Street, so you can soak up the French Quarter atmosphere right away.
This is an easy way to orient yourself before heading toward the riverfront and the square.
- PJ's Coffee Café — on-site, open early for grab-and-go
- Walk Bourbon Street to get a feel for the neighborhood before sightseeing
- Bring sunscreen and comfortable shoes for cobblestones and sidewalks
| From The Royal Sonesta New Orleans | Typical walk time |
|---|---|
| Jackson Square / St. Louis Cathedral | About 7–10 minutes |
| French Market | About 8–12 minutes |
| Canal Street | About 5 minutes |
Morning: Jackson Square and the French Market
Walk up to Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral for a classic French Quarter visit; the hotel notes those sites are within roughly a 7–10 minute walk. The adjacent French Market is an open-air market area with food stalls and local vendors.
Stroll the riverfront and the park area to people-watch, then head into the French Market if you want local snacks or small crafts.
- Jackson Square / St. Louis Cathedral — roughly 0.3–0.4 mile from the hotel
- French Market — about 0.4–0.6 mile from the hotel
- Preservation Hall and Musical Legends Park are within a short walk as well
| Attraction | Notes |
|---|---|
| Jackson Square | Classic city square and cathedral; short walk from the hotel |
| French Market | Open-air market with food stalls and small vendors |
| Musical Legends Park | A short walk from Bourbon Street; near the hotel |
Lunch options: Desire Oyster Bar or Restaurant R'evolution
Stay on-site for lunch at Desire Oyster Bar on Bourbon Street if you want a casual seafood or Creole meal; the hotel lists Desire Oyster Bar serving breakfast through dinner daily. For a more formal dinner later in the day, Restaurant R'evolution serves Cajun and Creole fine dining with dinner hours nightly.
Reservations are recommended for Restaurant R'evolution; Desire Oyster Bar accepts walk-in traffic and suits a quicker, casual stop on Bourbon Street.
- Desire Oyster Bar — casual, breakfast–dinner; street-side Bourbon Street seating available
- Restaurant R'evolution — dinner nightly; reservations recommended (phone listed on hotel site)
- If you need a quick snack, PJ's Coffee Café offers pastries and light fare
| Venue | Typical hours (hotel listings) |
|---|---|
| Desire Oyster Bar | 7:00 AM–10:00 PM (Fri–Sat to 11:00 PM) |
| Restaurant R'evolution (dinner) | 5:00 PM–9:00 PM Sun–Thu; 5:00 PM–10:00 PM Fri–Sat |
Afternoon: Take the St. Charles streetcar to the Garden District or Audubon sites
Catch the historic St. Charles Avenue streetcar to reach the Garden District and Uptown neighborhoods. The hotel notes the St. Charles streetcar connects downtown to the Garden District and Uptown; the line is a National Historic Landmark.
Streetcars are a low-cost, scenic way to travel; fares and passes are available through RTA (the hotel mentions the streetcar line as a convenient connection). A one-way fare is inexpensive, and a day pass (Jazzy Pass) provides unlimited rides for about the price indicated by local transit resources.
- Streetcar connects French Quarter to Garden District and Uptown
- Consider a Jazzy Pass for unlimited rides during the day
- Audubon Park and the Audubon Zoo are reachable by streetcar and worth a multi-hour visit
| Route | Why go |
|---|---|
| St. Charles Avenue streetcar | Scenic ride to Garden District, historic homes, Audubon attractions |
| Return via streetcar | Easy way back to the French Quarter and the hotel |
Optional afternoon: swamp tour or WWII Museum
If you prefer an outside-the-city excursion, many swamp and bayou boat tours run roughly 1.5–2 hours on the water and offer French Quarter hotel pickup; the hotel notes swamp tours to the Barataria Preserve area are commonly available with about a 25–30 minute drive from the city.
Alternatively, the National WWII Museum is within walking distance (roughly a 20-minute walk) and is a common half-day option when staying downtown.
- Swamp/bayou tours — typically 1.5–2 hours on the water; many operators offer hotel pickup
- Barataria Preserve swamp trips are about a 25–30 minute drive from New Orleans
- National WWII Museum — roughly a 20-minute walk from the hotel
| Excursion | Typical time away from hotel |
|---|---|
| Swamp/bayou tour (with pickup) | Half day including transfer; boat portion ~1.5–2 hours |
| National WWII Museum | Plan for 2–4 hours for a focused visit |
| Garden District walking tour | 1–3 hours depending on stops |
Evening: Live jazz and the hotel poolside return
Return to The Royal Sonesta New Orleans for evening options: The Jazz Playhouse (lobby level) features live jazz performances and craft cocktails; the hotel notes it is open to the public with set hours and admission/ticketing for some shows. The Jazz Playhouse requires guests to be 21 or older for admission to shows.
If you'd rather relax, the hotel’s heated outdoor courtyard pool is open daily year-round (weather permitting) and offers a seasonal poolside bar. Pool access is complimentary for hotel guests.
- The Jazz Playhouse — live jazz; check showtimes and ticketing
- Oasis Pool and Oasis Pool Bar — heated courtyard pool, open daily year-round (weather permitting)
- Pool access is complimentary for hotel guests; no lifeguard on duty (children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult)
| Evening option | Hotel notes |
|---|---|
| The Jazz Playhouse | Live music; admission may require a ticket and 21+ for entry |
| Pool & Oasis Pool Bar | Heated courtyard pool open daily year-round; bar hours vary seasonally |
Tips while you’re out
Keep a copy of the hotel address handy (300 Bourbon St) for tour pickups and rideshares. The hotel’s concierge can help arrange tours, tickets, and transportation.
Carry water, comfortable footwear, and a light rain layer in season. If you plan to return to the hotel after a long day, note that standard check-in is 4:00 PM and check-out is 11:00 AM, and the hotel requires a photo ID and credit card at check-in.
- Hotel phone (BookResorts agents, 24/7): +1 (888) 605-1350
- If using your room as a base, consider one of the hotel's balcony rooms (Room, Furnished Balcony (Bourbon Balcony), Room, Furnished Balcony (Interior), Room, Furnished Balcony (Side Street Balcony)) for a Bourbon Street view
- Bring a city map or use the concierge for streetcar stops and walk times
| Hotel service | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Concierge | Can book tours, recommend routes, and arrange pickups |
| Valet parking | Available 24-hour (garage beneath hotel); height restrictions apply |
| Destination Fee | Includes a welcome amenity, Wi‑Fi, and a daily food-and-beverage credit |
