Lakeview and Lakeshore, New Orleans: neighborhood guide

Lakeview and Lakeshore sit in the northern part of New Orleans, between City Park and the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Most of the housing here went up after World War II, which makes it newer and lower-rise than the riverfront neighborhoods. It is mostly residential: single-family houses, quiet side streets, and a commercial strip along Harrison Avenue.

The name misleads. Lakeview itself is inland, on the far side of City Park from Mid-City, and you cannot see the lake from most of it. The water comes into view at West End and along Lakeshore Park, where a seawall and a chain of green spaces run along the shore. The lake is wide and shallow, roughly 64 km east to west and 40 km north to south, and the far shore sits below the horizon, so it reads like an inland sea.

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 hit this area hard: levee failures left parts of it under more than 3 m of standing water for weeks. Recovery has been long and uneven. Some blocks are fully repaired and occupied, others still show gutted houses, vacant lots and streets warped by flood water. Driving the side streets is still a way to see the scale of what happened, and some pavement remains rough, so take it slowly.

For a first trip to New Orleans, no. The things most visitors come for — the French Quarter, live music, the streetcar lines, walkable bars and restaurants — are 8–10 km south, and this side of town has no equivalent. Transit is thin and slow, taxis cannot be hailed on the street, and evenings out usually mean driving or calling a ride both ways.

For a return visit, a longer stay or a family trip with a car, it can work well. You get space, quiet nights, easy parking and quick access to the lakefront parks. Harrison Avenue has a real restaurant strip, and Mid-City, City Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art are a short drive away. If your plan is a relaxed base with day trips into the city rather than a car-free sightseeing week, this is a reasonable choice.

The area is not generally subject to the high crime rates found in some other parts of the city, but normal caution applies, especially after dark on quiet residential blocks.

Harrison Avenue is the eating and drinking spine, with the densest cluster on the stretch between City Park and Canal Boulevard and more places scattered west. Expect neighborhood restaurants rather than destination dining: seafood, po-boys, pizza, casual cafes and a few bars. West End, at the end of West End Boulevard, is the lakefront spot for seafood with a marina view; the old cluster of seafood houses and bars around it was destroyed by Katrina and the rebuilt area was finished by late 2019.

Because this is a residential district, hours can be limited and some kitchens close early or on odd days. Check before you drive over, and book ahead for weekend dinner. For a wider choice, Mid-City and Carrollton are a short drive away.

A car is the practical answer. I-10 and I-610 plus US-90 are the fastest routes in and out, and Robert E. Lee, St Bernard and Elysian Fields move reasonably well across the lakeside part of the city. Parking is generally easy, which is not true closer to the center.

By transit, take the Canal Streetcar to its Cemeteries terminus, then bus 45 or 60 along Canal Boulevard toward the lake, both stopping at the Harrison Avenue commercial area. At Robert E. Lee, 45 continues west toward West End Harbor and 60 goes east to the University of New Orleans campuses. It works, but expect it to take a while.

Taxis cannot be flagged down here; call or use an app. Rideshare coverage is normal for the city, though waits can be longer late at night. If you are staying car-free, base yourself closer to the center and visit this area as a half-day trip instead.

Lakeshore Park is the main draw: a long chain of green spaces along the seawall, good for walking, cycling and picnics in fair weather. Swimming from the New Orleans shore has been off since the 1960s because of pollution; cleanup campaigns improved water quality greatly by 2000, but check current advisories before getting in.

West End is a park and marina at the end of West End Boulevard, with the seawall marked in large letters. The approach is slightly awkward if you do not know it: take West End Boulevard almost to the end, and when the seawall appears, turn left rather than continuing straight.

Old Spanish Fort is the remnant of a colonial fortification across Bayou St John and Robert E. Lee Boulevard from the Hellenic Cultural Center. Little survives beyond some walls and brick foundations, so it is a quick look for fortification fans rather than a destination on its own. City Park, with its sculpture garden and the New Orleans Museum of Art, is just south and pairs well with a Lakeview day.