Old Metairie

The historic Old Metairie neighborhood is filled with vibrant parks and excellent schools, as well as magnificent homes and condos. It hasn’t always been so glamorous here, however. When European settlers began using Metairie Ridge, a natural levee that provided high ground for homes in the 1700s, the area was largely marsh all the way to Lake Pontchartrain. In fact, the neighborhood had less than 100 buildings at the turn of the 20th century. It was from the 1920s to the '50s that most development took place, and it was marketed as an exclusive residential area in the '50s and '60s. More accessible now, the community is a tight-knit one where neighbors still know each other and might just bring you a bowl of gumbo on a chilly day.

“I’ve lived in old Metairie most of my life, and it just feels like home. It’s a great community for getting to know people, and there’s a lot of walkability in the neighborhood. Actually, it’s very convenient to get anywhere in the city,” says Peggy Bruce, a Realtor with McCarthy Group Realtors. “There's a lot of development in the area that’s offering more retail and restaurant choices, too. The Old Metairie Civic Club puts on farmers markets once a month, and there’s a movie night for kids. It’s a great way for the community to come together.”

Living in Old Metairie, you’ll inevitably travel down Metairie Road. It’s the oldest road in the New Orleans area and boutiques and bistros line the thoroughfare. Surrounding those businesses are picturesque houses of varying sizes which may date back to the turn-of-the-20th century. The homes of Old Metairie range from small bungalows to wooden cottages to mid-century modern homes and large custom-built houses. They’re made of brick, wood, or a combination of the two. Many homes have a driveway, but street parking is always an option too. In addition to separate houses, Old Metairie also has attached townhomes, condominiums and small apartment buildings. Prices range from $165,000 for a one-bedroom and two-bath condo to $3.25 million for a newly constructed mansion with five bedrooms and seven baths.

Adjacent to the city of New Orleans, Old Metairie is in Jefferson Parish and offers easy accessibility to the city and the Northshore. A very walkable area, you can often leave your house and meet friends for dinner just steps from home. There are also plenty of green spaces to visit in the area. Playgrounds are popular here and can be found in the heart of the neighborhood as well as along its borders.

One of the most popular parks is Wally Pontiff Jr. Playground, which happens to be the oldest public playground in Jefferson Parish. The complex began construction in 1945 and was dedicated in 1952. It contains six baseball diamonds, two football fields, two tennis courts, a track and a gymnasium. There’s also a meeting center, picnic shelters, a bird sanctuary and, of course, playground equipment. In 2017, a dog park opened here on 25,000 square feet of underused ground. Dogs can play off-leash inside the fenced area where there are benches and water fountains for humans and canines.

Another aspect that draws people to Old Metairie is the wide variety of shopping and dining to be found here. One such store is Fleurty Girl. Created in 2009 by a single mother with just $2,000, the business has grown into one of New Orleans’ most popular shops. It sells everything from custom shirts to candles to specialty gifts. Another popular spot is Langensteins Grocery. Founded more than 100 years ago, this is the oldest family-owned grocery store in the region, and customers can’t get enough of the Louisiana delicacies on sale.

Should you find yourself hungry in Old Metairie, there are more than a few restaurants worth checking out. Rock n Sake is a sushi restaurant brought to Old Metairie in 2016, and it serves up some of the finest Japanese cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails in the area. If you’re in the mood for something sweeter, Shipley Do-nuts can quickly satisfy your craving. Making doughnuts the same way their founder did since 1936, the business serves breakfast favorites from its home on Metairie Road.

The oak-lined streets, stately homes and colorful crepe myrtle trees of Old Metairie welcome residents to a historic neighborhood steeped in Southern charm.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Andrew Williams

Video By

Luke Basinger