Rathbone Mansions
Historic New Orleans Hotel, Steps From the French Quarter
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Insiders Guide of things to do, eats and drinks in New Orleans

Rathbone Mansions Insiders Guide

With its unique, vibrant history, award winning chefs, craft cocktail bars, and party atmosphere, there's no wonder NOLA is consistently ranked one of the best cities to visit. We've got you covered with insiders' tips on the best places to visit, eat and drink during your stay. Click through our blog for suggestions, current events and truly experience New Orleans like a local.

New Orleans has a unique, vibrant history, award winning chefs, craft cocktails galore, and a low-key, Southern fun atmosphere. There's no wonder NOLA is consistently ranked one of the best US cities to visit.  We've got you covered with tips on locals' favorite spots to check out during your stay. Scroll through our blog for suggestions, current events and truly experience New Orleans like a local.

 

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Mardi Gras For All: Travel Highlights for New Orleans Carnival Season ‘23

 

Lately, have you found yourself craving a lot of purple, gold, and green?

 Cutting into a cake and sad you didn’t find anything inside your slice?

Neck feeling plain and empty, almost as if you’re missing an accessory?

Honey, you’re in Mardi Gras Withdrawal! Don’t worry, Rathbone Mansions can fix that-we have all the highlights for Festival February 2023. Plan for a few hours or a few days, there will be a Mardi Gras event to attend. Bring your carnival energy to NOLA, and recharge at our hotel-just a bead’s throw away from it all!

Photo: Coffee Science @coffeesciencenola

Cake for breakfast, why not? A King Cake is an essential Mardi Gras tradition, and a sweet treat to share or keep all to yourself. Keep an eye out for the baby inside, for the lucky one who finds it will be granted the task of bringing a King Cake to next year’s festivities. We recommend checking out Coffee Science for a pre order, they have a delicious variety of filling for their king cakes. Just a few streets from Rathbone Mansions is Rouses market, and they will also supply King Cake, ready to buy and eat right there in the French Quarter.

Photo: Brandi Bowles @allinthenola

Get a historical taste of Mardi Gras by visiting some of our favorite places for the entire family. Head on down to Mardi Gras World-they have daily tours and love to take on family and friend groups. Enjoy learning Mardi Gras history among costumes and floats from carnival’s past. If you’d like to stick closer to the French Quarter, visit MG Museum of Costumes & Culture. They offer a show during festival season, and are jam packed with costume ideas for your parade look. And while the moving floats are fantastic, don’t miss out on great house floats! Popular streets will be Magazine, St Charles, and Prytania in the Garden District. Wonder along the beautifully decorated house floats before heading back to your room here at Rathbone Mansions to get ready for the main event…

The main event being a Mardi Gras Parade of course! There is a parade for everyone and anyone, and too many to visit in just one go. The little ones will definitely enjoy Krewe of Barkus on Feb 12th, all pooches and kitties dressed up for the season, and smack in the middle of French Quarter. Always looking to support local, not far from Rathbone Mansions will be the ‘tit Rex Parade Feb 5th, featuring a smaller Krewe with big a heart and big displays. Strong enough for an all-day party? Get a chair and snacks ready Feb 11th, with Legion of Mars starting early at 11am and going down the St. Charles Streetcar route, with 5 crews following behind into the night. If you’re looking to follow a parade into an even more fun night, over in Mid City will start Krewe of Endymion Feb 18th. This parade will lead into one of the most popular Mardi Gras Balls: The Endymion Extravaganza at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

But don’t spend all your energy before Monday and Tuesday, better known as Lundi and Mardi Gras! You’ll have so many options, you might have to clone yourself to see them all! Celebrate with music, food, and culture at the Lundi Gras Festival in Woldenberg Park. Get your Greek on with Krewe of Proteus and Krewe of Orpheus, both parades on Feb 20th over the St. Charles Streetcar line. Get your rest Monday night here at Rathbone Mansions (maybe in our Mardi Gras Suite?), and start Fat Tuesday bright and early at 8am for Krewe of Zulu. Starting in Central City and snaking its way down and around to Treme, Zulu is followed by Krewe of Elks Orleans, Rex, and Crescent City along the famous street car line. And after the last throw is threw, the city will not stop-with bands, beads, and Bourbon street going hard all night!

Whether you’re a first-timer or seasoned, Mardi Gras 2023 in New Orleans will be a decadent celebration. Come cure your festival withdrawal with a room reservation remedy at Rathbone Mansions!

 
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