Top things to do near The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans
The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans (921 Canal St) sits on the edge of the French Quarter and is a convenient base for Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, the Saenger Theatre and Canal Place. Top nearby activities include walking the French Quarter, catching live jazz in Davenport Lounge, visiting major museums like the National WWII Museum, taking a swamp or plantation day trip, and using the hotel's spa and dining venues.
In this guide
Walk the French Quarter and Canal Street
The hotel is on Canal Street, the dividing line between the Central Business District and the French Quarter, putting Bourbon Street about one block away and many historic sites within easy walking distance.
Stroll to landmarks such as Jackson Square, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, and Café du Monde for beignets; the hotel lists these attractions among its nearby sites.
- Bourbon Street — about a block from the hotel
- Jackson Square — within walking distance
- St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 — roughly a 5–10 minute walk
- Café du Monde — about 0.8 miles from the hotel
| Attraction | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bourbon Street | Approximately one block from the hotel |
| Jackson Square | Historic square and nearby street performers |
| Café du Monde | Famous beignets; roughly 0.8 miles away |
Live jazz and cocktails at Davenport Lounge
Davenport Lounge is the hotel's third-floor jazz lounge offering refined cocktails, afternoon tea on weekends, and scheduled live jazz led by trumpeter Jeremy Davenport and his ensemble on select evenings.
The lounge accepts walk-ins for general seating; reservations are required for the Afternoon Tea service.
- Live jazz: Wed–Thu 5:30–9:30 PM; Fri–Sat 8:00 PM–12:00 AM (per hotel listings)
- Davenport Lounge hours: 11:00 AM–11:00 PM (Mon–Thu, Sun) and 11:00 AM–12:00 AM (Fri–Sat)
- Afternoon Tea: Saturday & Sunday, reservation required
| Offering | Typical times |
|---|---|
| Live jazz | Evenings (Wed–Sat schedules listed by the hotel) |
| Afternoon Tea | Saturday & Sunday (reservations required) |
| Cocktails & lounge service | Daily during lounge hours |
Dine at M bistro and the Spa Café
M bistro is the hotel's flagship restaurant on the third-floor lobby level, serving Contemporary American and Creole-Cajun-Southern dishes with a farm-to-table focus. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and runs a weekend breakfast buffet on Saturdays and Sundays.
For lighter fare before or after spa treatments, the Spa Café operates daily with a more casual menu; both outlets follow the hotel's Smart Casual/Casual dress guidance as listed.
- M bistro hours (structured listing): 7:00 AM–2:00 PM and 5:30 PM–10:00 PM
- Weekend breakfast buffet at M bistro: Saturdays and Sundays 7:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Spa Café hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM daily
| Venue | Typical hours |
|---|---|
| M bistro | 7:00 AM–2:00 PM; 5:30 PM–10:00 PM |
| Spa Café | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM |
Visit top museums and cultural sites
Several major museums and attractions are easy to reach from the hotel. The National WWII Museum and Mardi Gras World are listed among the hotel's suggested nearby sites; the New Orleans Jazz Museum is also accessible from downtown.
If you want to explore beyond the city core, concierge services at the hotel can arrange swamp and airboat tours (Barataria Basin/Jean Lafitte area) and organized day trips to plantations such as Oak Alley or Whitney.
- National WWII Museum — listed among nearby attractions
- Mardi Gras World — hotel-listed attraction
- New Orleans Jazz Museum — within a few miles of downtown
- Swamp or airboat tours — roughly 15–30 minutes' drive from downtown; ask concierge for arrangements
| Experience | Distance/Notes |
|---|---|
| National WWII Museum | Listed as nearby by the hotel |
| Mardi Gras World | Working float warehouse; listed by the hotel |
| Swamp/airboat tours | Depart 15–30 minutes' drive from downtown |
Relax at The Ritz-Carlton Spa and fitness facilities
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, New Orleans is a large facility (25,000 sq ft) with 20 treatment rooms, signature treatments such as the Voodoo Ritual, saunas, a cold plunge, a relaxation lounge and an on-site café and boutique.
The hotel also provides a fitness center with a weight room, cardio room, a resistance pool and hot tub area, plus a mirrored studio with Peloton bikes. Spa and fitness hours are listed daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; in-room spa treatments are available with advance notice.
- Spa hours: open daily 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Spa features: 20 treatment rooms, saunas, cold plunge, relaxation lounge
- Fitness: cardio and weight rooms, resistance pool/hot tub, mirrored studio with Peloton bikes
| Facility | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Ritz-Carlton Spa | 25,000 sq ft, 20 treatment rooms, signature Voodoo Ritual |
| Fitness Center | Resistance pool, hot tub area, Peloton studio |
| Pool | Heated indoor pool; wheelchair-accessible; hours 9:00 AM–5:00 PM |
Shopping, riverfront and day-trip options
Upscale shopping at The Shops at Canal Place and riverfront walks are quick to reach from Canal Street; Caesars New Orleans Casino is also within walking distance for gaming and dining options.
For longer day trips, the Garden District is roughly a 10-minute drive, and beaches or barrier islands such as Bay St. Louis and Grand Isle take about an hour to several hours by car. The concierge can help with transportation and recommended itineraries.
- The Shops at Canal Place — under 0.6 miles
- Caesars New Orleans Casino — about a 13-minute walk
- Garden District — roughly a 10-minute drive
- Beaches (Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, Grand Isle) — 1 hour to several hours by car
| Destination | Approximate travel |
|---|---|
| The Shops at Canal Place | Less than 0.6 miles |
| Caesars New Orleans Casino | About a 13-minute walk |
| Garden District | About a 10-minute drive |
Practical tips from the hotel
Check-in at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans begins at 4:00 PM and check-out is 12:00 PM. The property is family-friendly and welcomes guests of all ages, though some fitness/spa/pool areas have age restrictions as noted by the hotel.
The hotel offers on-site valet parking (fees and vehicle restrictions apply) and does not provide a hotel shuttle to the airport; limousine livery transfers can be arranged by reservation.
- Check-in: 4:00 PM; Check-out: 12:00 PM
- Minimum age to check in without an adult: 21
- Valet parking available (fees apply; height and vehicle-type restrictions)
- No hotel airport shuttle; limousine livery service available by reservation
| Service | Notes |
|---|---|
| Parking | On-site valet with fees and vehicle restrictions |
| Airport transfers | Hotel does not provide shuttle; livery service available by reservation |
| Wi‑Fi | Complimentary in public areas; in-room access may be complimentary for Bonvoy members |
