napoleon house

we are back in san francisco after a long and lovely week in new orleans. i have many photos i am still sifting through, so i will continue to post about our trip for the next week or so...


one of my new favorite spots is napoleon house in the quarter on chartres. the building dates back to 1797 and during his tenure as mayor from 1812-15, nicholas girod hoped that it would be napoleon's refuge following his exile. i've heard the tower in the above photo was supposed to serve as a lookout point once napoleon arrived. he died before he could bask in any southern hospitality.


the walls look like they haven't been wiped down in two hundred years. i love it!


while most guidebooks direct you to central grocery for a muffuletta, i think napoleon house does just as well. you could order a whole, half, or quarter sandwich, the ladder of which is the perfect serving size. i tried their red beans and rice, which were okay.

i can't stop by napoleon house without partaking in one of their two special cocktails, the pimm's cup. refreshing and light, it comes in a tall frosted glass with a cucumber garnish. the other popular beverage they hustle is the sazerac, a mixture of whiskey, bitters, and absinthe or pernod.


sit inside or out on the patio near their lush fountain. either spot, you'll be within earshot of beethoven, puccini or whatever. want another slice of napoleon house? visit their website-- it has music!!