Algiers, New Orleans: neighborhood guide

Algiers sits on the west bank of the Mississippi, directly across the river from the French Quarter and the Central Business District. It was settled in 1719 and annexed by New Orleans in 1870, which makes it one of the oldest parts of the city. A fire destroyed much of Algiers Point in 1895, and the Victorian houses and small commercial buildings that went up afterwards still define the district. Locals call themselves Algerines.

The part that matters to visitors is Algiers Point, a compact grid of streets a few blocks deep along the river. It feels more like a small Louisiana town than a city district: low houses with porches, corner bars, a handful of cafés, and almost no traffic. The rest of Algiers is much larger and mostly residential or suburban, with strip malls along General DeGaulle Drive. Unless you have a specific reason, plan your time around the Point.

The ferry crossing itself is the best free sight in the area. The ride takes about five minutes and gives you the skyline, the river traffic and the bridge from the water, which is a view you do not get from the Quarter.

Algiers Point works well for travellers who want a calm base with easy daytime access to the centre. Bed and breakfasts and small guesthouses here are usually cheaper than equivalent places in the Quarter, and you can walk to the ferry in minutes. If you are in New Orleans for architecture, reading on a porch and early dinners, it is a good fit.

It is a poor fit if your trip is built around bars and music until 2am. The ferry does not run all night, so a late night out means a taxi or rideshare back across the river, which adds cost and time. First-time visitors who want to step out of the door into the French Quarter should stay on the east bank and treat Algiers as a half-day trip.

Drivers have more freedom: the bridge puts you on the West Bank quickly, and parking near your accommodation is far easier than downtown. That said, you will still cross the river for most major sights.

Algiers Point has a small but solid cluster of places within walking distance of the ferry landing. Tout de Suite Cafe on Verret Street does coffee, pastries and panini in the mornings and early afternoon, and closes on Mondays. Corner bars in the Point are where the neighbourhood drinks; they are low-key rather than destination nightlife.

For the muffuletta, DiMartino's on General DeGaulle is a local name, with Cajun and Creole plates and burgers alongside the sandwich; it is a drive or a long walk from the Point, not a stroll from the ferry. Further out along General DeGaulle and MacArthur Boulevard you find the everyday restaurants that serve the wider Algiers population, including seafood places.

Expect prices below French Quarter levels. Tipping follows US norms: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants and a dollar or two per drink at the bar.

The ferry from the foot of Canal Street is the default way in and out. It takes pedestrians and bicycles, not cars, and the crossing is about five minutes. Boats leave the Canal Street side at :15 and :45 and the Algiers side on the hour and half hour, but schedules change and service does not run all night, so check the current timetable before you rely on a late boat.

By car, take I-10 to the US-90 Mississippi River Bridge, exit at General DeGaulle Drive (Louisiana 428) and follow signs for Algiers Point. Once you are in the Point, parking is straightforward and usually free. Distances inside Algiers are deceptive: the Point is small, but General DeGaulle and the shopping areas are a few miles away and not pleasant on foot.

Rideshare and taxis cross the river, and the bridge toll and distance make the fare higher than a trip within the east bank. If you are staying in the Point without a car, plan your evenings around the ferry timetable.