New Orleans romance not found in a carriage ride

On Valentine’s Day, I published an article that disagreed with the specific reasons why New Orleans was chosen as one of the best cities for dating by Yahoo Travel. And I was ostracized for it.

One romantic New Orleanian will take Frenchmen over Bourbon any day.

I was placed on a digital guillotine, where everyone seemed to be watching my every move and passing judgment on me.  And it was very flattering, I must say.  The attention, I mean, not the incorrect judgments.

While it was satisfying to even stir up emotion and engagement from my readers, my column was only meant to defend my city from the inevitable stereotyping, and in the end profess my love for every aspect of our beloved New Orleans.

Even after I asked New Orleans to be my Valentine, readers accused me of hating the city, of not being from New Orleans, and even assumed that I had been rejected on Valentine’s Day — all of which are hysterically incorrect, and completely off topic, commenters.

So, to all those readers, I would like to challenge you to go beyond Bourbon, Café du Monde, and Purple Drinks to the places that I think make New Orleans romantic.

The Green Goddess in the French Quarter is a tiny, yet intimate restaurant with refreshing cocktails and unique dishes.  Located on Exchange Place, the restaurant is nestled in an alley to give one the full experience combining intimacy and New Orleans history and soul.

Napoleon House captures the essence of New Orleans inside the 200-year-old building on Royal Street, with views of the busy French Quarter streets and a courtyard that offers a more romantic, quiet atmosphere.

Café Degas is a small café in Mid-City surrounded by the gorgeous, towering trees of Esplanade Avenue. The delicious French cuisine and wine combined with dim lighting and a tree-house feel makes for a dream world experience.

La Crepe Nanou is a cozy, dimly lit restaurant Uptown that offers delicious crepes and French fare.  With windows that angle at the ceiling and a dessert crepe that’s perfect for sharing, the Parisian-esque restaurant is one of the most romantic gems in New Orleans.

The Columns Hotel’s gallery is a perfect spot to sit back on a clear eveningand listen to the streetcar roll by, but the most romantic part of the hotel is the side patio. You can still hear the screeching tracks on the avenue, but the smaller tables and garden furniture are better for getting closer to your date.

Hotel Monteleone’s Carousel Bar has always been a favorite spot for pre-dinner drinks or a late-night drink after a classic, Southern wedding, but the newly remodeled bar is perfect for a romantic rendezvous. With its charm and revolving bar still intact, the bar is now more spaciou,s with large windows that overlook Royal, plenty of cozy couches, and nightly live music.

Bouligny Tavern is a small, Mad Men-esque tavern next to Lilette on Magazine Street that’s always spinning vinyl, has an array of specialty cocktails and delicious small plates (like the fried gnocchi that I am begging them to bring back), and a very cozy side patio that’s perfect whether it’s summer or winter (with the outdoor heaters and a boy to keep you warm, of course.)

St. Joe’s has the charm of a neighborhood bar without being too “divey,” with a long, dark narrow bar, and a hip back patio.  Besides the romantic yet laid-back atmosphere, it’s one of the few spots in town where you can get a mojito without the bartender hating you for placing that order.

Music venues are also a great date choice because they are romantic, fun, and offer a perfect excuse for you and your date to get close and dance.  A stroll down Frenchmen St. and a stop at any of the music clubs there, like Three Muses or d.b.a., never fails.

However, I like to think that some of the most romantic spots are the non-obvious ones – the ones that you walk through everyday, remind you of your childhood, and have the most distinct sounds and smells that give you that “I am so lucky to live in New Orleans” feeling. If you try going to those particular spots with someone whom you really care about, you will find that romance is easy to find in New Orleans.

So for me, it’s not a carriage ride or a fancy dinner that makes a great date. It’s a stroll through Audubon Zoo, crawfish at the Fly, sailing on Lake Ponchartrain, a walk down the Riverfront, or gazing at the skyline from any rooftop in New Orleans.

Now, that is romance. New Orleans style.

Crescent City (Mis)Connections is a dating blog that runs weekly at NolaVie. Its author is anonymous for romance reasons (she’d never get a date).