Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1538963
C H R I S T I A N H O R A N / FO U R S E A S O N S ; PAU L B R O U S S A R D/ N E W O R L E A N S . C O M ; C O U R T E S Y O F T H E B R A N D S WHAT TO PACK CASUAL- ISH Pair an embellished shirt with jeans, grab a beignet, and stroll the Garden District in style. -- Check into the newish Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, housed within a modernist glass–clad tower along the Mississippi. Its 341 rooms are sprawling and serene, outfitted with shiplap walls, white oak furnishings, and plenty of Carrara marble. Art fans will want to make time for the site-specific contemporary works by local and international artists, including Dawn DeDeaux, George Dunbar, and Ralston Crawford. For a much-needed respite from the humidity, hit the property's mosaic-tiled rooftop pool, which offers sweeping views of the river. Or visit the spa for a customized Biologique Recherche facial, a cult favorite for promoting cell turnover and boosting skin vitality. Don't miss the gorgeous lobby-level Chandelier Bar (and its signature Chandelier martini, made with three types of gin) or brunch at Miss River. Browse the wide variety of food and artisan stalls in the five-block-long French Market. And of course, join the inevitable queue at the iconic Café du Monde to linger over a cup of chicory- laced coffee and scrumptious beignets. EVENING A taste of West Africa Tucked into a cozy cottage along posh Magazine Street, Dakar serves a nightly seven-course menu that marries rising star chef Serigne Mbaye's Senegalese heritage with Creole food traditions. Think cassava with herbs, onions, and mushrooms; Gulf shrimp with tangy tamarind; aromatic jollof made from Louisiana rice; and thiakry (a West African dessert made with millet) pie with chocolate sorbet. Wash it all down with the house libation, made with aged rum, lime, and orange bitters. It's no surprise the homey restaurant earned a James Beard award last year for its flavorful and seasonally driven dishes. And talk about community spirit: Dakar's ceramics—plates, bowls, and pitchers—were crafted by the husband and wife–owned pottery studio next door. Day MORNING History lesson If temps are pleasant, arrange a private architecture tour through Two Chicks Walking Tours and explore the leafy Garden District, where New Orleans' wealthy built grand Greek Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne–style mansions during the 1840s and onward. It's one of the city's most beautiful and storied areas, with ample cameos in films such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Interview with the Vampire, and 12 Years A Slave. Close by, the AFTERNOON Head out for a stroll Wander over to the nearby French Quarter. Dating back to 1718 and laid out in a tidy grid of squares, the historic neighborhood is lined with art galleries, boutiques, cafes, and bars galore. Admire the intricate wrought-iron balconies of Creole townhouses along cobblestoned Royal Street. Stop at triple-spired St. Louis Cathedral just beyond Jackson Square (a tribute to Andrew Jackson's defense of the city against the British during the War of 1812). The bar at Miss River at the Four Seasons Slow down to admire the Garden District's architecture. ERMANNO SCERVINO poplin shirt with lace bustier VERONICA BEARD Kasey wide-leg jeans SAINT LAURENT BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO Gym sneakers GOYARD Sac Belvédère MM ISABEL MARANT Nicky vest BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M ; B UYI N G I N D E X , PAG E 20 6