New Orleans remains one of my all-time favorite cities to visit in the U.S. NOLA also happens to be where my love affair with boutique hotels (and bread pudding!) took root. On my first visit for a business trip back in the early aughts, I spent five glorious nights as a guest of the W French Quarter. I fell head over heels for the hotel, the city, the food, the cemeteries, the people, the music—New Orleans got under my skin in the best of ways. And I’ve also gravitated towards boutique hotels ever since.
So, I’ve been delighted by the evolution of NOLA’s boutique hotel landscape in recent years. Design-minded hoteliers and creative entrepreneurs have created dreamy hideaways in historic buildings in compelling neighborhoods beyond the French Quarter. These five boutique hotels currently top my list of where to stay and play in NOLA:
Hotel St. Vincent
Pioneering boutique hotelier Liz Lambert, creator of Bunkhouse Hotels, and her talented Lambert Maguire hospitality team transformed a former orphanage (circa 1861) in the Lower Garden District into the sultry Hotel St. Vincent. The 75-room property’s design is soulful, feminine and lush with several inviting nooks, courtyards, porches and patios to settle in with a book, cocktail or work. The amenities include a vibey pool, Vietnamese-inspired Elizabeth Street Café, fine dining Italian at San Lorenzo, Paradise Lounge and guest-only Chapel Club, along with a small, well-curated boutique. I stayed in a double-bedded room on the upper fourth floor, where I particularly loved the inviting window seat perch and its cityscape views—and had nightly encounters with a ghost cat!
Hotel Peter & Paul
Hotel Peter & Paul is an equally inviting hideaway in the Marigny neighborhood, which places you steps away from Frenchman Street’s glorious live music scene as well as the cool restaurants and shops in the Bywater neighborhood. The historic hotel’s 71 rooms are spread out between the former convent, schoolhouse, rectory and church. I was traveling with a friend and stayed in a second story “Two of Queens” room in the schoolhouse, which was extra cozy on rainy days with its high ceilings, gingham green checked textiles and glorious large tiled shower. First time hotelier Nathalie Jordi partnered with ASH NYC to bring her ambitious vision for the hotel project to life after love brought her to NOLA. Her media background shines through in the thoughtful local guides they’ve create to help guests connect with authentic NOLA gems. And the fact that locals frequent their Elysian Bar for dinner and cocktails is a testament to the the hotel’s inviting hospitality and unique sense of place.
Maison de La Luz
Over in the Warehouse District, Maison de la Luz is another dreamy oasis of tranquility in NOLA created by the Atelier Ace group. There’s a great sense of grandeur and elegance here, between the old-school keys that you leave at the front desk when out and about and the whimsically decorated Breakfast Room and guest-only Living Room with honor-bar cocktail offerings and nightly wine and cheese hour. I stayed in a spacious King Room with high ceilings, a comfortable workspace and a luxurious marble-accented bathroom featuring a soaking tub and shower. A must when staying here is exclusive guest access to the neighboring speakeasy, Bar Marliou.
Ace Hotel NOLA
Just across the street from Maison de la Luz is its sister property, the buzzy Ace Hotel NOLA. I’ve stayed here a couple of times and highly recommend one of the light-filled Corner Studio Suites. The Ace is all about the public spaces, with excellent people watching in the lobby bar and Alto rooftop pool bar and a calendar of regular live music and DJs in Three Keys. Oyster lovers will enjoy the raw bar fare at Seaworthy while Josephine Estelle is great for all day eats.
The Chloe
Full disclosure, I did not stay at The Chloe, but I did spend a lovely afternoon enjoying their swimming pool and food and beverage service, and it’s absolutely a place I would stay on a future visit. This relatively new hotel in a 19th century Uptown mansion is quite intimate, with just 14 rooms. I love that they offer pool access to non-guests (21+) for just $25 by reservation. My friend and I soaked up the sun and savored a satisfying lunch and cocktails from the Pool Bar. The Chloe also offers a restaurant for lunch and dinner service and a cozy Lobby Bar for guests and non-guests alike.
