Houmas House Plantation & Gardens

Beautiful house and gardens. Delicious mint juleps. But I wish the tour had more history to it and that the house was not so restored. So much of the house now seems unoriginal (like the painting of a mural on the walls that wasn’t based on any mural in the original house, at least that’s what I remember) and not related to the historic times (e.g. There are vampire trinkets given from Anne Rice that are part of the tour and which our tour guide admitted had nothing to do with the house). There also was little mention of slavery, which although a sensitive topic, is the entire reason a plantation existed and flourished in the first place. So not recognizing this part of history felt wrong and like an elephant in the room.

Love coming here!!! I visit at least once or twice a month with a group of friends. We do sometimes get rowdy having so much fun here and the staff is just as fun. The turtle bar is a great place to relax after a long day. Food fantastic as expected. Service is on spot and everything here is in prestige condition. I’ve taken the tour several times and couldn’t have been more please. The gardens here are just amazing!!! The owner does live at Homas House and is very friendly. He can usually be found walking around with his dog. I really can’t say enough positive about this place. Even the hotel is 5 Star!

Café Burnside — Wow this place was amazing! The service was great and the food was delicious. Must try Chicken Anderson, best plate ever. Also the tour for the plantation was amazing. The history provided about the house and the plantation was great, very knowledgeable tour guide! Would def come back!

Great house, grounds, history, food, and accommodations. Always leave wanting to stay longer.

The Houmas House was beautiful!!! The garden were absolutely amazing and made the visit worth it before we even entered the house. I would go back just to see the gardens again! The inside was also beautiful! The only downfall, and why I can’t feel like I could give 5 stars, is that at the beginning of our tour a group was supposed to go with us but wanted to stay behind to get a drink at the bar. This put a cramp in the schedule and one of the other tour guides came up to our’s and tried to convince her to wait on them. She said she wasn’t going to make us wait since we were ready to go. I was appreciative about that but this put a damper in her mood. As she told us the story of the home she seemed perturbed. I wish she had been able to shake it off. Luckily as the tour went on she softened a bit and started getting more into the story. She also apologized sometimes when she would flub her words and said she had been giving tour since 8 am (we started our tour at 5pm) But! This didn’t take away from the tour too much and I would totally recommend this tour and would totally go back myself!

I’m so glad we chose to do this tour! The mansion and grounds are truly spectacular! Our guide took us from room to room and shared info on the history of the folks that lived there and the impressive expensive furniture and antiques. The gardens and grounds are lavish. Lots of great photo ops! Thank you for a rich educational experience. We chose not to eat there but we saw many people dining in the on site restaurants.

While the house and grounds were lovely, we regret visiting. Our tour guide took it upon herself to make multiple racist comments that were not part of the tour. I think that the guides should keep their personal opinions to themselves. I was bothered by her comments the rest of the day, while trying to get to sleep that night and the next day. She really had a negative impact on our vacation. There is a display on site that indicates that they work with the Whitney Plantation, which is a monument to slavery. I think that the management of these two plantations need to do a better job of educating the tour guides at Houmas House. We do highly recommend the Whitney Plantation for an educational tour from the slaves’ perspective.

Loved the tour of the plantation. The guides knew every detail of every last artifact in the home. The grounds were amazingly kept and definitely try the mint julep. The bar was my favorite part!

Excellent place to spend a bit of time relaxing and taking a tour. Our tour guide Elizabeth was outstanding. You could spend hours here and I decided to sit in the shade at one of the many tables and catch up on my work before heading back to the hotel. Highly recommend taking some time to enjoy the grounds before or after the tour. The grandiose oak trees over 500 years old frame the home perfectly, too bad the other trees were not preserved but the levy had to be built. You can get a glimpse of the historic picture with all of the trees in an old picture on the second floor. Packed with amazing artifacts of historical importance, the preservation of this plantation is a gift to our world. Thank you for the experience, would like to see more or have extended tour option available. Will definitely recommend and be back with family and friends!

This place has the «wow» factor.
Stunning estate, it reminds me of Hearst Castle as it is huge and glamorous both inside and out. From the moment you arrive and glimpse the huge live oaks with the Spanish moss and the luxurious gardens you know you’re somewhere special. This was the largest and richest plantation in Louisiana in it’s day and the opulence of the owner is evident. It’s many rooms and levels are packed with gorgeous and historical furniture and adornments it is actually quite an impressive museum. Highlights had to be the free-​standing wood staircase, the vampire-​killing kit, chair/​desk designed by Aaron Burr, table carved in the shape of a dragon fly, dolls crafted in France during the French Revolution and actually there was too much cool stuff to highlight just a few.
Our tour guide played the character, complete with 1800’s dress and was exceptional. We had lunch at the attached restaurant and the buffet was terrific. Well worth the (very scenic) drive through the Bayous.

Beautiful plantation-​era mansion not far from Baton Rouge. Lovingly restored. The tours are fascinating and well-​done. Absolute best way to spend a few hours on an afternoon in the vicinity of Baton Rouge.

This was our second trip to Houmas House. Our first was to have brunch with friends. It was raining that day so we did not get to see the garden’s. This time we went on a sunny yet cool day to walk around the gardens and try brunch again with SO’s daughter.
Both times we had brunch at Café Burnside. On the previous trip, we had the buffet. For $ 35 we expected more than we got. One soup, one salad, fried catfish, pasta, veal, one veggie, shrimp and grits, and bread pudding. The food was nothing special. Veal was chewy, bread pudding dry, pasta dry, soup too sweet, veggies over cooked. I didn’t enjoy anything enough to want to order it again. Add tax, tip and a bloody Mary and we topped $ 50 per person.
This time we decided to order from the brunch menu. I ordered the seafood crêpe, SO ordered the crawfish and brie omelette, and daughter ordered the pork chop. The food looked really good. The pork chop was huge. It was very well cooked and served with a side of potatoes. After trying the crêpe, I wished I had ordered the pork chop. The crêpe itself was good. Thin and slightly crisp. The fried crawfish on top were tastey as well. The filling was sub par. The shrimp were small and chewy. The crawfish tasted a bit fishy. The crab was no where to be found. The crawfish and brie omelette was worse. First the brie was noticeably absent. We found one small piece in the center. Second, the crawfish filling was watery. For $ 20 plus each, we expected to like more than one of three entrees. We will not be coming back to have the brunch again.
Alter brunch, we walked the garden a bit. The place is huge and the gardens and buildings are very well kept. There are many restored buildings, but only a few had plaques telling about the history. Maybe they do that so you pay extra for a narrated tour. It was still a nice walk, and we used wikipedia during our walk to tell us about the history. The Japanese garden was unexpected, but beautiful.
There is an artist in residence, Art Noir Studios, near the back of the plantation grounds. Nice display of Louisiana themed art as well as some more eclectic pieces.
We discovered that there are two other restaurants on site and a bar. Both restaurants have good reviews. I work near the plantation, and go back to try the bar and scope out the other two eateries.

I love this plantation. I might be a little biased since this is where I got married. Everything about it is just lovely. The gardens are spectacular. The house is pretty and the tour guides do a great job giving you background on everything you might want to know. The food is outstanding. A+++

Why have I not visited this before now!!! I came this last weekend with my parents, my brother, his wife, my two sisters and my youngest nephew, and let me tell you, this was well worth the visit. Even though it was a bit of a walk to the house, and my mother has issues walking, we all made it. (Please note that once inside the house, there is an elevator to be able to get handicapped persons to the second floor and back down, you just have to get to the house.)
This is the stuff that dreams are made of. The grounds are very well maintained. There is a bar in what used to be the house for the male children once they hit puberty and is beautiful. The mint julep was poured with a heavy hand and was quite delicious. I wish I could remember the bartenders name, but he was very funny and provided humor while making the drinks for all of us in our party (except the 13 year old nephew).
The tour guide for the house was dressed in period garb for the time period in which the house was built. She added a great amount of humor, even though they were busy and one of the tour guides did not show up for his shift. She gave a history lesson on the items in the house, and was very informative.
I would love to come back on my own, or with future visitors and be able to fully explore more of the grounds. It was just not possible with a handicapped person. I will also point others to this plantation for future visits and explorations. It is well worth the trip! And of course to have a meal here, as the setting is just wonderful.
****sigh**** I am so glad to have future happy dreams about this place.

Having grown up in the deep south, surrounded by the beautiful plantations of Louisiana, I have visited many, many of them over the years. I grew up next door to many in the Felicianas (which I would highly recommend) but I also love to go down the river road driving south towards New Orleans and visit some along the plantation country drive. It’s a gorgeous drive & many of the plantations that are open for visitors/​overnight stays, restaurants are worth the trip if you are interested in getting a taste of which it was like back in the 1800’s. Houmas House is a particularly beautiful location. My son, Garrett, and I have toured the grounds & home several times over the years, we well as enjoyed lovely meals at the restaurant.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit with my 73 year old mother & my 2 sisters. I am a supporter of LPB and bought tickets to the Downton Abbey Tea, which was being held at Houmas House. Alastair Bruce was the guest speaker. He’s the historical advisor to this wonderful show. Anyway… every single person, from the ladies at the registration table, to the young men driving the golf carts, to the hooped skirted staff members at Houmas House were EXTREMELY lovely, friendly! They went out of their way to make sure my mother had a ride on a golf cart to & from the gift shop area and the pavilion. I LOVE Unilocal & Trip Advisor. but I hate that someone can post a rant like they did on this site. The entrance to Houmas House is VERY WELL marked… NO questions AT ALL about where it is located. I wasn’t there & I am in NO WAY related or associated with Houmas House, but please don’t let that discourage you from visiting. You WILL NOT regret it! The house tour is worth EVERY CENT!
Visited December 2015

What a wonderful walk through history and culture. The grounds of the plantation are perfectly manicured. The owner is often seen in grounds walking his dog. Our docent was extremely knowledgable of Louisiana history and she even spoke French. The restaurant is also wonderful. Conveniently located in Darrow the drive is only about 15 minutes South. Amazing scenery and perfect for a romantic date…

During a recent visit to LA, we were encouraged by some locals to visit this plantation for the house and gardens, and we were not disappointed. The house was so pretty, and nice presented — and the gardens are beautiful, the oaks are over 300 years old — sad they had to lose some with the building of the levees. Learning more about the history of the house is so interesting.
A late lunch in the café was really nice, complete with a lizard visit on the window (outside, don’t freak, it wasn’t in our food). It was a really nice and serene visit to the area.

Houmas House was the only plantation we toured on the old river road, so I can’t compare it to the others. But anyplace that almost makes me cry when I see it deserves 5 stars.
I had to have been a southerner in another life. I melt at the sight of Spanish moss swaying from the branches of the massive live oaks, and mockingbird song makes me smile quicker than anything. Houmas House is everything you ever imagined a southern plantation to be.
The landscaping is beyond imagination, and gardeners were busy all over keeping it perfect. The house has been beautifully restored, and the story behind it is fascinating. I think it’s fabulous that someone bought it, restored it faithfully, lives there, and allows the public to tour his home. Our tour guide, Susan, is the perfect feisty Southern lady. She’s been there for 6 years, and is very knowledgeable and engaging. After the tour, you can wander the grounds and, depending on the time of day, eat at one of three restaurants on the grounds (we didn’t).
Houmas House is about half an hour farther from New Orleans than the other plantations on the river road, but it was well worth the extra drive. Don’t miss it!

Nous avons visité cette ancienne maison de maître.
belle visite
beau jardin
Bien sur rien n’est traduit en Francais.
nous n’avons pas testé le restaurant.

A vacation was long over due and my family thought New Orleans, LA would be an awesome trip, and it was! =D
Around August 2012, we were close to the end of our Louisiana trip, but wanted leave with a calming note by visiting a plantation. Before I jump into the review, i have to say that NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) is such a beautiful place, that I would definitely come back for round two, three, or ten (possibly Mardi Gras)! While in NOLA we watched the Saints play; visited some of the famous Po’ Boy Sandwich restaurants; enjoyed some decadent bread pudding and turtle soup at Commander’s palace (
); binged on their famous beignets at Café Du Monde (
); had a bunch of hurricane drinks and other cocktails at Pat O’Briens (
); and finally, some late hour Popeyes chicken. The Popeyes chicken in NOLA is much spicier, crisper, and tastier than the ones in Sacramento. Personally, the people you meet here are just so genuinely nice that you fall victim to their southern hospitality.
We were currently staying near the French Quarter and the estimated drive to the plantation would take 1.5hrs since it was in Batton Rouge. However, we had to make one more stop and try Willie Mae’s famous fried chicken (
) but it was already boarded and closed, WHY!!!
Hurricane Isaac (2012)
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After getting lost a couple times with an empty stomach (just had chips and snacks on the road), we finally made it to the plantation, and i have to say this place is magnificent. I’ve never been to a plantation before, but Houmas House is straight out of a movie set. As we started the tour, our tour guide was dressed in timeless Victorian dress and the way she spoke and walked was like walking back in time. Her ability to soft talk, give extensive details on the plantation, joke, and charm her way through 60 minutes made the whole plantation trip worth while. It was truly an awesome tour and i would definitely recommend this to anyone vacationing in NOLA or whoever wants to go on a plantation tour.
To recap:
Payment – Credit/​Cash
Tour duration– 1-​hour
Parking– a lot (get it? HAHA. ha…)
Great for Groups– YES!
Worth your time? Most definitely yes!
Other Facts:
— Great for weddings
— I believe they offer lunch from 11am-​2pm
— Films and TV shows were filmed at this Plantation (Other films shot in part at The Houmas include Mandingo (1975), Fletch Lives (1988), and Love, Wedding, Marriage (2011). Television films and series include Moon of the Wolf (1972), A Woman Called Moses (1976), Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus (1978), All My Children (1981), A Taste of Louisiana with Chef John Folse and Company (one episode, 1990), Snow Wonder (2006), K-​Ville (2007), Top Chef (one episode, 2009), Revenge of the Bridesmaids (2010), and Wheel of Fortune (one episode, 2011).[7][8] Commercials have been shot at the plantation for Budweiser, Virginia Slims, Best Buy, Hibernia National Bank, and the Louisiana Office of Tourism. — wikipedia) \
— History:
Oh, you must be wondering, were we able to fly back before Hurricane Issac making landfall??? Well, the pictures speak for itself =D…
PS: Thanks FEMA for helping us out and transferring us to a better hotel. I miss you NOLA…
NOTE: Remember, Isaac happened right after this tour and management didn’t care boarding or closing down. Good job management and shame on Willie Mae, it was only a category one!!! (kidding) Seriously, i heard some awful stories about Katrina in T.V. and in person. When I heard Issac is now a cat1-​hurricane and flights were canceled, my heart dropped… If i was given the chance to visit NOLA with my family or friends, without question, i would in a heart beat (except the hurricane part).

Review is for food and for the grounds.
This was honestly one of the best meals we had in Louisiana! I definitely wasn’t expecting that. We came in kind of late for lunch (around 1:30 PM) and went straight to Café Burnside before it closed. It was set in one of the gardens and it was a pretty venue, although the table setup was very casual. Despite coming in so late, the server was very quick.
Turkey & Brie — this was mine, and the fig jam really lends it a pleasant hit of flavor. All the ingredients were stellar and tasted like much more expensive meal. Sweet potato fries were a perfect finishing touch.
Seafood Pasta — this was my mother’s that I had many, many tastes of. Rich and creamy, with more shrimp than crawfish but still very hearty.
Crab Cake Salad — the crab cakes were pretty generous and rested on the mango purée, with the salad on the side. The crab cakes actually tasted like it was made with chunks of crab but the mango was a little less flavorful than I would have thought.
Crown Jewel Hamburger — this I actually didn’t taste, but my brother said that it was a really good burger.
The grounds of Houmas House were really spectacular. Since we had come from Oak Alley, we didn’t do the house tour again but the gardens were beautiful and we took plenty of pictures. Between lunch and the gardens, we took about two and a half hours. If you don’t do the tour, I would recommend sitting in on the 15 minute video in the gift shop for a quick overview of the property.

Un endroit magique pour son parc plein de charme
scarlett est au coin de chaque bosquet

Ein gute halbe Stunde Fahrzeit von New Orleans liegt das historische Houmas House. Für $ 20 Eintritt bekommt man Einblick in eines der schönsten Plantation-​Häuser von Louisiana direkt am Mississipi gelegen. (Siehe Foto unten) Im Preis inklusive ist eine ca. 45 minütige Führung, die man auf keinen Fall verpassen sollte, denn ohne Führung kommt man nicht in das Haus. Ansonsten kann man sich frei im weitläufigen Gelände der ehemaligen Plantation bewegen. Die Ursprünge der Anlage gehen zurück in das Jahr 1770, als der Bau dieses Gebäudes begann. Es ist eines der ältestens und beeindruckendsten Plantation-​Gebäude des amerikanischen Südens. Das heute zu besichtigende Gebäude wurde 1820 errichtet von Wade Hampton, der damals größte Zuckerproduzent und Sklavenhalten in Louisiana. In der zweiten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts war die Plantation das größte Anbaugebiet für Zuckerrohr in den USA mit über 300.000 acres Anbaufläche. Heute ist das Hauptgebäude wie die Gartenanlage ein Besichtigungszentrum. Im Garten stehen noch dutzende, riesige bis zu 300 Jahre alte Eichen. Das Gebäude und die einzelnen Räume sind bestückt mit den Gegenständen und Einrichtungen der Vergangenheit. Die diversen Besitzer haben eine Vielzahl an Kostbarkeiten aus der ganzen Welt zusammen getragen. Im Rahmen der Führungen (Start alle halbe Stunde) gibt es dazu erschöpfende Erläuterungen und Anekdoten, die die Geschichte lebendig werden lassen. Die Guides tragen historische Kostüme. In Houmas House wurde der Film Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte mit Bette Davis gedreht. Im Kassenbereich wie üblich ein Shop mit Souvenirs und bei unserem Besuch im November überfrachtet mit grell-​bunten Weihnachtsartikeln. Schrecklich schön! Fazit: Ein Besuch von New Orleans ohne Ausflug zu Houmas House ist wie eine Reise nach Kairo, ohne die Pyramiden gesehen zu haben. Na ja! Fünf Sterne für diesen besonderen Platz.