New Orleans has some great hotel options. The French Quarter is still a popular location to stay, but it tends to be very crowded and noisy with many tourists. On my last two trips, I found Marigny and the CBD/Warehouse Arts District as great alternatives. Marigny has some great restaurants and music venues while the CDB/Warehouse Arts District has many new restaurants and some great galleries and museums to explore.
Our top recommendations include:
CBD/Warehouse Arts District
Q & C Hotel: This stylish boutique hotel was formerly the historic Queen and Crescent Hotel that has been totally transformed with a hip, contemporary vibe. There is a lobby bar/restaurant known for its happy hour and the rooms are very comfortable and stylish. It is located downtown, between the French Quarter and the Warehouse Arts District. I liked my king room, the very helpful staff and the perfect location for exploring the city. 344 Camp St.
Located in the historic Banks Arcade, a landmark building from the 19th century, The St James Hotel is a small boutique hotel with an elegant West Indies decor. It has recently been renovated. It is located between the French Quarter and Warehouse Arts District. 330 Magazine St.
The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery: Opened in April, 2015 in an historic building that was a former coffee warehouse, this is a very creative 167 room boutique hotel that features art in the lobby gallery and the guest rooms by local artists. Popular is Tout La Coffee Shop in the lobby and Compere Lapin, a restaurant serving lunch and an early dinner created by Top Chef favorite Nina Compton. She received the 2018 James Beard Award for Best Chef South. Its bar gets rave reviews for its cocktails. 535 Tchoupitoulas.
Ace Hotel: The Ace officially opened in mid-March 2016 in an historic Art Deco building from 1928. It is located on the edge of the CBD in the Warehouse Arts District at 600 Carondelet. It is a great addition to the hotel scene in town. The hotel has a Southern-Italian restaurant called Josephine Estelle, a branch of Stumptown Coffee from Portland, Oregon, a music venue and craft cocktail bar in the lobby called 3 Keys, a rooftop cocktail lounge called Alto and an oyster bar and restaurant called Seaworthy. A wonderful boutique, Freda, from Marfa, TX has a location in the hotel as well.
Across the street, the Ace Hotel has opened the stylish Maison de la Luz, a private guest house with 67 different sized suites decorated in an updated Southern style. It looks amazing. 546 Carondelet St.
The stylish Aloft Hotel is also a good option at 225 Baronne St. It is a short walk to the French Quarter and to other great spots in the CBD/Warehouse District.
One of the newer properties is The Troubadour, a part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton. It is a stylish boutique hotel with 184 rooms, two blocks from the French Quarter. It has a French bistro and rooftop bar.
Also new is the Eliza Jane at 315 Magazine St. It is part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt and two blocks from the French Quarter. It has the Couvant restaurant, a traditional French brasserie, and The Press Room for cocktails and small plates in the lobby. I have already booked it for my next trip in May, 2020.
The French Quarter
Hotel le Marais, 717 Conti Street: It was recently renovated and just recommended by the New York Times. This is a small boutique hotel in the heart of the French Quarter with a very contemporary, sleek design. A nice change from the traditional architecture in the Quarter.
Hotel Mazarin, 730 Bienville Street: I have stayed there for years as the former St. Louis Hotel. It underwent an extensive renovation and is now the boutique Mazarin. The location in the French Quarter is perfect. It has 102 rooms and a wonderful courtyard. It is in the same group as the Hotel le Marais.
Soniat House, 1133 Chartres St.: This is a wonderful small boutique hotel in the Quarter.
The Audubon Cottages, at 509 Dauphine St., also get good reviews.
Marigny
Just east of the French Quarter is Faubourg Marigny with quiet residential streets and a thriving music club and restaurant strip along Frenchman Street. Two options here include:
La Maison Marigny, 1421 Bourbon: I really like La Maison Marigny B&B in the Faubourg Marigny area just outside the Quarter. It is quiet and charming. I highly recommend it. It is highly rated on Trip Advisor and by Travel + Leisure. I stayed in the Owner’s Suite on the first floor which was very large and comfortable. Currently they prefer renting out the entire house consisting of four bedrooms, but will rent out individual rooms within 30 days of arrival.
Elysian Fields Inn, 930 Elysian Fields Ave.: This is one of the top rated B&B’s in Town. My friends loved it and the location.
Also getting good reviews the Melrose Mansion with 21 guest rooms and suites at 937 Esplanade.
The Hotel Peter & Paul in Marigny looks wonderful as well. The hotel is located in a former historic church, rectory, school house and convent. It gets great reviews including the NY Times. The Elysian Bar was recently named a Semifinalist for the 2019 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant. It serves coffee, food and drinks. I am excited to try it on my next trip. 2317 Burgundy St.
The Garden District and Magazine Street
Recently getting good reviews is the Henry Howard Hotel. It is an 18 room luxury boutique hotel located in the Garden District in a mansion from 1867 at 2041 Prytania St. It is near the popular Magazine St. The rooms are beautifully designed. They also have The Parlor which features pastries and coffee in the morning and cocktails in the evening. I would love to stay there on a future trip!
The newly renovated Pontchartrain Hotel is an elegant, historic 14-story property with four restaurant and bar options, including a rooftop bar and lounge with great views of the city. 2031 St. Charles Ave.
I just read about the Terrell House Bed & Breakfast at 1441 Magazine Street. It looks like a wonderful spot that gets great reviews. The home was build in 1857 for a wealthy cotton broker from Natchez, Mississippi.