Nine of the Coolest Hotels in New Orleans
From loft-style living in the Arts District to an offbeat modern motel beloved by the city’s creatives, these are the New Orleans hotels we’re checking into
22 September, 2022
- Words by
- Megan Bull and Lucy Kehoe
Make
Make
your stay in the Big Easy just that with our round-up of
the nine coolest hotels in
New Orleans. From a newly opened art crowd-drawing stay in the
city’s Garden District to a Tarantino-worthy 50s motel kitted out
with modern nostalgia, here’s where to check in when heading to
NOLA.
From the French Quarter to the Arts District: stay in New
Orleans’ best boutique hotels
hotel
Hotel Saint Vincent
Check in with the city’s art crowd at the 2021-opened Hotel
Saint Vincent, whose 75 disco-ready rooms nestle inside an
1800s-built, red-brick beauty in the Garden District. Don’t be
confused by the moody dark-grey walls – they act as a backdrop to
lipstick-red bathroom tiling, psychedelic-print pillowcases, life
jacket-orange striped pool loungers and bruised-plum velvet love
seats. Live events are a highlight here, so sip a pre-dinner
cocktail at the late-night, dimly lit Chapel Club, tuck into Gulf
flounder piccata at restaurant San Lorenzo, the hotel’s love song
to Italian coastal cuisine, then head onto the veranda to catch a
live jazz performance as the sun disappears.
hotel
The Columns
One for maximalists, this historic private mansion – one of the
few Italianate houses still standing in the city – has been
transformed by Jayson Seidman, the man behind The Drifter, another
top-notch NOLA stay. Across all 20 rooms, interiors offer an
interpretation of a Dolce & Gabbana spring show – picture
seductive rich red hues, elaborate clashing patterns, vintage
furnishings and enough metres of fringing to wrap up the Imperial
City itself.
hotel
Hotel Peter & Paul
A vintage lover’s dream, this restored church and schoolhouse is
brimming with artisanal furnishings and European antiques – it’s
seen a thing or two in its 150 years. Part French country chic,
part serene minimalism, the decor marries soft gingham sofas in
cerulean shades with dove-white walls and austere dark-wood hard
furnishings. Stop by The Elysian Bar for shareable bites and niche
wines, before retiring to the parlour for a nightcap.
hotel
The Chloe
Welcome to Southern hospitality, modernised. The 14 rooms at
this Uptown stay pair old-world glamour – four-poster beds and
vintage birdcages included – with contemporary touches, including
abstract paintings and editorial photography on the walls. Linger
on the porch for lazy afternoons, then head to the restaurant for
Southern classics, refreshed (try the shrimps and heirloom grits).
The pool bar serves a killer popcorn-infused mezcal and rum
cocktail.
hotel
Maison de la Luz
Giving off major Gatsby vibes, this converted city hall annexe
combines an easy elegance with art deco design. Found in downtown
New Orleans, Maison de la Luz is a magnet for A-listers, granting
guests priority access to some of the best cocktail bars and
seafood joints in town.
hotel
Henry Howard Hotel
Keep it low-key in the Lower Garden District. Signed, sealed and
delivered by famed Irish-American architect Henry Howard, this
aptly named hotel is a short walk from the Mardi Gras parade route.
Stroll past sprawling oak trees and grande dame mansions on your
way to the hustle and bustle of Magazine Street.
hotel
The Old No.77 Hotel & Chandlery
Based in NOLA’s vibrant Arts District, this brick-and-concrete
boutique channels warehouse chic with its loft-style rooms and
rotating art gallery. Serving up Caribbean-fusion cuisine, in-house
restaurant Compère Lapin is helmed by chef Nina Compton, whose menu
combines Gulf ingredients with French and Italian techniques.
hotel
Selina Catahoula
The Catahoula Hotel is living proof that less is more. Built in
1845, the Creole townhouse retains its retro character with
original windows, courtyard-facing balconies and exposed-brick
interiors. For libations, head to the hotel’s Pisco Bar and raise a
toast to Peruvian cocktail culture while tucking into Tawainese
comfort-food, or make your way up to the rooftop terrace.
hotel
The Drifter Hotel
Created for the contemporary traveller, this alternative space
is more than just a hotel – it’s a mood. Worthy of a Tarantino
flick, The Drifter is a forgotten 50s motel kitted out with modern
nostalgia and surrounded by Cuban food trucks. It’s a hub for local
creatives, so turn up for album-release parties and yoga round the
pool.
This article was updated 21 September, and contains
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