Where To Eat, Sleep, And Play In New Orleans

As March Madness heats up New Orleans this weekend, here's the rundown on what's hot in the Big Easy.

SLEEP: 

If you're looking for a bit of luxury and tradition in the French Quarter, Soniat House is your place. In the Central Business District, the International House offers classic New Orleans sophistication and Loft 523 is its modern day counterpart, with plenty of open space and minimalist décor. For a funky, bohemian experience, the Royal Street Inn, located in the Faubourg Marigny district, is a fun place to live out your inner wild child. 

EAT:

Get your morning started at Merchant, the go-to coffee spot in the Central Business District. Grab lunch at Cochon Butcher, an offshoot of the popular Cochon restaurant, and sample contemporary Southern cooking at its finest at Maurepas Foods (don't skip the cocktails) or Boucherie, which also

Patois; the vibe is cool and the food is modern, inventive American with a touch of French. Raw, baked, grilled or fried, Acme Oyster House is an old school favorite that continues to please with its classic Louisiana favorites. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/frank3.0)

PLAY:

For a city that has a museum devoted to the American Cocktail, it doesn't come as a surprise that Esquire magazine named Arnaud's French 75 one of the best bars in the country. A visit isn't complete without live music. Go to the Spotted Cat for jazz and blues, the Maple Leaf Bar for brass or Mimi's in the Marigny, where you can fill up on delicious tapas and then dance the night away.