DURING A RECENT visit to Baton Rouge, a post-holiday calm had settled over the city, with building anticipation for the start of the festive Mardi Gras season. Quieter than its lively sister city to the south, Baton Rouge still carries a relaxed laissez le bon temps rouler energy.
In Mid City, Red Stick Social recently opened in a beautifully restored, historic setting. Housed in the reimagined 100-plus-year-old Electric Depot, the venue offers 10 state-of-the-art Brunswick bowling lanes, a live music stage and a menu of locally inspired small plates and cocktails. Guests can choose to dine inside, unwind in the pet-friendly beer garden or take in views from the rooftop patio. Red Stick Social serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night fare, making it a versatile addition to the neighborhood.
Adjacent to downtown and overlooking the Mississippi River, The Water Campus is moving forward with more than $50 million invested in its first phase. Designed as a hub for collaborative research into coastal restoration and sustainability, the campus aims to deepen understanding of the complex relationship between water, land and communities. With convenient access to the riverfront walking, running and biking path, The Water Campus will feature public spaces and host events and concerts, welcoming residents and visitors to enjoy the riverfront setting.
Last year the Baton Rouge Marriott Hotel completed more than $25 million in renovations across its 21 stories. Updates include expanded and refreshed guestrooms and bathrooms, a redesigned lobby and a renovated 6,500-square-foot ballroom. The hotel now offers about 20,000 square feet of meeting space. Onsite dining includes Stinky’s Fish Camp, which showcases South Louisiana flavors with dishes like crispy catfish meunière, Lafayette-style gumbo, crawfish pie and signature fish tacos.
Downtown also added the Courtyard Baton Rouge Downtown last fall, built on the site of the city’s first downtown hotel, the Hotel Istrouma. The Watermark Hotel, an Art Deco–inspired Autograph Collection boutique property that once housed the Louisiana Trust & Savings Bank, pays tribute to the building’s history as the city’s first skyscraper while offering luxury accommodations.
These developments and renovations are part of a broader renaissance reshaping Baton Rouge.
Red Stick Social bowling alley © QUINN MILLER
“Baton Rouge has gone through a renaissance throughout the entire city, but more specifically the downtown and Mid City areas,” said Paul Arrigo, president and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge. “More and more Baton Rouge residents are moving downtown and choosing to live at the epicenter of the 24-hour city that is emerging.”
Arrigo points out that downtown now features restored historic buildings transformed into hotels, restaurants and bars that serve as attractions themselves, such as The Watermark. The city offers abundant green spaces for both locals and visitors, and North Boulevard Town Square hosts a variety of festivals and community events throughout the year.
Mid City, he adds, has seen a resurgence, with Government Street developing into a destination corridor that invites walking and exploration in a manner similar to streets in cities like Austin, Texas. New restaurants, bars and larger-scale projects such as Red Stick Social contribute to Mid City’s vibrancy. The neighborhood’s eclectic character is drawing more residents, mirroring the trend of people moving downtown.
When asked what he recommends to family and friends visiting Baton Rouge, Arrigo said, “Try all of the food you can! We have nothing short of great restaurants and a variety of food that will satisfy anyone’s craving.”
On that note, consider starting the day at Batch 13 Biscuits and Bowls for hearty breakfast dishes, including grits that many locals praise. For a casual pick-me-up, French Truck Coffee’s pimento toast is a popular choice alongside its other offerings. In Mid City, Rocca Pizzeria serves wood-fired pies with inventive toppings, such as cauliflower, spinach, pomegranate, capers, pumpkin seeds and fontina cheese—an example of the city’s creative culinary scene.
SCENIC DRIVE
For an easy scenic excursion, take a half-hour drive northeast from downtown along the Louisiana Great River Road Byway, which spans 700 miles along the Mississippi River. Visit St. Francisville and New Roads, two towns that straddle the river and are known for their well-preserved historic architecture. Creole cottages, Victorian mansions, moss-draped oak trees and blooming gardens create a picturesque backdrop for exploring galleries, historic sites and charming local shops.