Uptown Neighborhood History
The Uptown New Orleans Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, defines Uptown broadly: from the Mississippi River to South Claiborne and from Jackson Avenue to Broadway. Using this broad definition, Uptown would thus encompass several other historic neighborhoods, such as the Garden District and the Irish Channel. Another, more restrained delineation of Uptown’s boundaries is offered by the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center, which defines the neighborhood as bounded by Napoleon Avenue, Magazine Street, Jefferson Avenue and LaSalle Street.
Starting with the Uptown neighborhoods closest to the Faubourg Ste. Marie, which was New Orleans’ first suburb and is now known as the Central Business District, Uptown was developed following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, when prosperous Anglo immigrants sought to move out of the city center, thus creating a market for what were then plantation lands adjacent to the Mississippi River. As these lands were sold off and subdivided, separate upriver communities were formed that were subsequently annexed by the City. The first of these communities was the City of Lafayette, which was incorporated in 1833 and included the land that would later become known as the Garden District.
The City of New Orleans annexed Lafayette in 1853, and in 1870 the City annexed Jefferson City, which encompassed several communities further upriver, including Delachaise and Bouligny. Uptown developed rapidly as streetcar lines were installed, which enabled residents to commute to their businesses downtown.
Uptown Amenities
Whatever its boundaries, Uptown offers a diverse historic housing stock, numerous schools, two excellent universities – Loyola and Tulane – two world-famous commercial/residential thoroughfares – Magazine Street and St. Charles Avenue – both of which are brimming with elegant shops and all manner of restaurants and bars, and world-class green space in the form of Audubon Park. Also, one should note the recent revitalization of Freret Street, which is now lined with popular music venues and cutting edge restaurants and bars.
Uptown Restaurants
Clancy’s – a classic neighborhood restaurant, Clancy’s has been serving expertly prepared Creole cuisine since 1983.
Lilette – opened by young, rising-star chef John Harris in 2000, Lillette quickly gained notice for its elegant dining room and refined French and Italian-inspired bistro fare. As the years have rolled by, Lilette has become an Uptown mainstay, while Harris continues to gain recognition for his culinary efforts.
Patois – a relative newcomer to the Uptown dining scene, Patois opened in 2007. Since then, Chef Aaron Burgau has garnered widespread acclaim for his French-influenced cuisine with a local accent.
Boucherie – Chef Nathanial Zimet’s Boucherie was born of a BBQ obsession stoked in his native North Carolina and a post-Katrina food truck experiment in New Orleans. His food truck was such a hit that Boucherie, where the focus is on cured meats and locally sourced ingredients, soon followed.
Gautreau’s – Patrick Singely, Gautreau’s proprietor, has a reputation for spotting nascent culinary talent and developing it. In fact, Food & Wine magazine has named three of Gautreau’s chefs “America’s Top Best New Chefs,” an honor granted to only one other restaurant in twenty years. Be sure to make a reservation and witness Uptown dining at its best.
St James Cheese Co. – St. James opened on Prytania Street after Hurricane Katrina and quickly made itself indispensable to cheese lovers. With an exhaustive selection of the world’s best cheeses, excellent sandwich offerings, and a solid beer and wine by the glass selection, St. James is actually more than a cheese shop: it’s a gem of Uptown casual dining.
Company Burger – If you’re a burger connoisseur, then you’ll want to check out Company Burger, part of the recent revitalization of Freret Street and a major draw for the carnivorous.
Uptown Bars and Music Venues
Bouligny Tavern – Located next door to its proprietor’s original restaurant Lillette, Bouligny Tavern is uptown’s wine bar par excellence, not to mention a major draw for Chef Harris’ small plates, and also a paragon of historic renovation and interior decoration.
Kingpin – considered by many to be the perfect neighborhood bar, Kingpin offers shuffleboard, craft beers, knowledgeable bartenders, and, right outside its doors, a curb next to which the city’s best food truck frequently park.
Monkey Hill – located on Magazine Street near Audubon Park, Monkey Hill offers an extensive cocktail list and bartenders who know how to make them.
Delachaise – like Bouligny Tavern, Delachaise offers small plates, an excellent wine and beer selection and an inviting, sophisticated atmosphere. What it also provides is an excellent view of St. Charles Avenue and the passing streetcar.
Oak Wine Bar – Located on an increasingly revitalized Oak St., the Oak Wine Bar offers an excellent by the glass and cocktail list, live music and delicious small plates from Chef Aaron Burgau of Patois.
St. Joe’s – situated snugly on Magazine St. across from Whole Foods, St. Joe’s is a welcoming neighborhood spot to enjoy a well prepared cocktail.
Tipitina’s – Legendary doesn’t do justice as a descriptor for Tipitina’s, which is named after a Professor Longhair song and was in fact founded as a place for him to play in the late ’70s. Since then, Tips has hosted innumerable greats and has served as a home base of sorts for such local legends as The Neville Brothers, The Radiators, and Galactic.
Le Bon Temps Rouler – an uptown institution, Le Bon Temps offers a classic New Orleans bar in the front and a tight, shoulder to shoulder local music hall in the back. Catch The Soul Rebels here on a Thursday night for a taste of the best of New Orleans’ diverse music and cultural scene.
Maple Leaf – Just as Tipitina’s served as home base for Professor Longhair, The Leaf was the go to performing space for New Orleans’ other keyboard genius, James Booker, in the 1970s. And the club is still going strong today, particularly on Tuesday nights, when it hosts the Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band.
Uptown Shopping
Mignon Faget – New Orleans’ premier jewelry designer.
Billy Reid – Mr. Ried hails from Florence, Alabama, but he’s well respected in the more urbane environs of New Orleans, not to mention New York and Paris, for the men’s and women’s clothing line he founded in 2004.
Scriptura – Your Uptown source for all things paper and pen, when elegance counts.
Octavia Books – In the top ranks of local book shops, Octavia offers a wide selection of literary fiction and history, as well as books of all stripes by local authors.
Whole Foods
Martin’s Wine Cellar – Recently reopened on Baronne St., Martin’s offers an impressive selection of domestic and imported wines, cheeses, liquors, and an excellent deli.
Rouses Grocery Store – The local’s favorite, Rouses is your source for the best of Louisiana’s bounty.
Uptown Places of Worship
Carrolton United Methodist Church
Central St. Matthew United Church of Christ
Covenant Presbyterian
St. Andrews Episcopal Church
Blessed Trinity Parish
Ebenezer Baptist Church
Holy Name of Jesus Church
St. Rita Church
Touro Synagogue
Temple Sinai Reform Congregation
Uptown Schools
Isidore Newman School
De La Salle High School
Academy of the Sacred Heart
Samuel J. Green Charter School
Sophie B. Wright Institute of Academic Excellence
Uptown Banks
Iberia Bank
Chase Bank
Home Bank
Hibernia Bank
Capital One Bank
Hancock Whitney Bank
Uptown Dry Cleaners
Model Cleaners
Liberto Cleaners
Marion’s Cleaners
Spruce Cleaners
X-Ray Cleaners
Additional Uptown Amenities
Audubon Park
Audubon Zoo
The Fly
Prytania Theatre
Crescent City Farmer’s Market
1-Click Uptown Real Estate Searches
Uptown Market Stats