TRAVEL FACTS

GETTING THERE United Airlines has brand-new daily flights from Sydney to New Orleans via Houston. united.com

WHEN TO GO The best time to visit is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is at its mildest. WHERE TO STAY

• Ace Hotel is an über-hip hotel with a rooftop pool and bar plus live music venue in the Warehouse District. acehotel.com/neworleans

• Soniat House is a delightful boutique hotel in a quieter part of the French Quarter. soniathouse.com

WHERE TO EAT You can eat your weight in jambalaya and gumbo, beignets and étouffée, but don’t stop there: the list of extraordinary restaurants offering a wide array of cuisines just keeps on growing. Here are some of the best:

• Commander’s Palace: With its wide array of food and wine awards, this lollipop-striped institution in the Garden District is the guardian of Haute Creole cuisine. commanderspalace.com

• Toups Meatery: This rustic space complete with patio in Mid-City offers a menu of Cajun dishes plus cocktail pitchers. Its charcuterie selection will make your soul sing as it clogs your arteries. toupsmeatery.com

• Dante’s Kitchen: Located near Tulane University, this cosy cottage serves up a seasonal menu of modern Louisiana fare such as Louisiana blue crab cakes and a superb chicken-under-a-brick. danteskitchen.com

• Mopho: Offers innovative, reasonably priced Vietnamese fare with a New Orleans twist. mophonola.com

• HerbSaint: This Charles Avenue icon works with local farmers and fishermen to serve up contemporary, seasonal French-Southern cuisine with elements of rustic Italian cooking. herbsaint.com

FESTIVALS

• French Quarter Festival: 12-15 April, fqfi.org •

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival: 27 April-6 May, nojazzfest.com

• Satchmo Summerfest: 3-5 August, fqfi.org/satchmo • Crescent City Blues & Barbecue Festival: 12-14 October, jazzandheritage.org/blues-fest

• Voodoo Music + Arts Experience: 26-28 October, voodoofestival.com FURTHER INFORMATION

• neworleans.com