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Sunday Sundays in New Orleans means Sunday jazz brunch. Commander's Palace, located in the Garden district, offers the best Sunday Jazz Brunch in town. Unlike the others that offer a buffet style menu, Commander's serves up a three-course menu (cooked to order) with a backdrop of live jazz. Brunch here is usually taken in three courses (with a five-course version available upon request). The brunch begins with soup; the restaurants signature turtle soup is always a good choice. It is later followed with an entree, which offers over ten different variations on poached eggs. Last, it's time for desert and everyone should try the restaurant signature soufflé at least once. All of this while being serenaded by jazz band that actually come up to your sit. At $29 per person, it's not cheap but for what you get, it is definitely a bargain. Available on Saturdays and Sundays, you have another reason to look forward to weekends. Commander's Palace, 1403 Washington Ave., (504) 899-6660, www.commanderspalace.com After brunch, why not explore Garden district which was built in the 1800s. Commander's Palace offers a printed self-guided tour guide for its guest interested in exploring the Garden district. The grand homes in this district feature an unusual mixture of Spanish, French, English and Greek revival architectural styles. Populated by the first Americans to settle in New Orleans, they built their own community after initially being shunned by the Creoles. In addition to lavish homes, the Americans also established their own church, a grand hotel, a theatre, a cemetery and even a railroad. As you tour this fabulous area, you'll see a variety of architectural styles such as mansard roofs, Ionic and Doric columns, cast-iron grillwork, etched-glass doors and so much more. To get to the Garden district from any of the hotels listed below, simply take the St. Charles Avenue streetcar (which is the world's oldest continuously operating streetcar line). Lodging Lodging choices are plentiful in New Orleans, but there are three hotels that standout. Only a few blocks from the French Quarter, the elegant Hotel Monaco located in the CBD, formerly a Masonic Temple, pleases its guest with its trendy, funky and exotic decor. Once you arrive to the hotel, you are promptly greeted and directed to its impressive lobby/lounge area. Its lounge is cozy and furnished with exotic mask, sculptures, Zebra stripped ottomans and more, no detail is overlooked. It's the area where the hotel serves its guest complimentary Starbucks coffee in the morning and complimentary wine reception in the evening. Check-in is seamless and its fabulous guestroom, complete with soft netting draping every bed, faux fur black throw, mountains of pillows, down comforter, CD players and Aveda toiletries, feels like home away from home. Unlike most hotels in the area, the hotel Monaco is also pet friendly. It offers an extensive pet menu, maps to dog friendly parks, a dog walk by a member of management and so much more. Guest wishing for the prefect companion can request for his or her own complimentary goldfish when making a reservation or upon check-in. Adjacent to the hotel is Susan Spicer's newest restaurant, Cobalt. This restaurant serves continental American cuisine in a trendy and hip atmosphere. Although a new property, Hotel Monaco's outstanding amenities and service is helping to raise the bar of excellence in New Orleans. Hotel Monaco, 333 St. Charles Ave., (866) 685-8359, www.monaco-neworleans.com For those seeking romance, Soniat House single handedly defines the word. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, this beautifully restored 1830's building sits just a touch away from the action. Like many French Quarter buildings, this property faces inward, with the center of living being the courtyard which houses a garden. Although every room in this property has high ceilings, European antiques, oriental rugs over polished hardwood floors, Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries, hot tubs (in most rooms) and much more, each room is decorated differently. Mornings at Soniat House couldn't come soon enough. The hotel serves up breakfast complete with homemade biscuits in a beautiful basket, freshly squeezed orange juice and coffee in a stainless steel ---------. It's recommended that you allow 20 minutes for breakfast since the biscuits are cooked upon order. Once prepared, the breakfast is promptly delivered either to your room or courtyard. For antique lovers, the hotel has an on-site antique shop that carries some of the finest antiques in New Orleans. With 35 outstanding guestrooms and suites, great location, and excellent service, the Soniat House is one of the finest places to stay in New Orleans. Soniat House, 1133 Chartres St., (800) 544-8808, www.soniathouse.com If
you are interested in staying in a beautiful large hotel in a great location with
great service, then look no further than the Wyndham hotel. With a fantastic view
of the Mississippi River from its lobby and some guestrooms, comfortable and spacious
guestrooms and friendly service, this hotel pleases any traveler. Its location
is excellent especially for shoppers and business travelers. It is located right
above the Canal Street Shops in the CBD, a block from Riverwalk (which offers
more shopping, dining and entertainment), across the street from Harrah's casino
and within walking distance to the French Quarter. And with over 400 guestrooms
and numerous meeting rooms, they are well equipped to handle any major convention
or conference. The service here is very good, attentive and quick. Its restaurant,
River 127', offers spectacular view of the Mississippi River and French Quarter.
It also serves up some of New Orleans best gumbo and banana fosters (an amazing
wonderful desert). Located on the 11th floor of the Wyndham Hotel at Canal Place,
it seats up to 120 people. The Riverbend Grill also located on the 11th floor
of the hotel, is a local favorite for Sunday Jazz Brunch. Wyndham New Orleans
at Canal Place, 100 Rue Iberville, (504) 566-7006, www.wyndham.com
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