The Best Hotels in New Orleans

Neighborhood: Central Business District; acehotel.com

What’s inside: A lively lobby that acts as part music venue and part cocktail lounge; an outpost of Stumptown Coffee Roasters; a rooftop pool and bar serving adult slushies; lush, sophisticated osteria Josephine-Estelle; and intimate oyster bar Seaworthy.

What’s nearby: City-pride shop Defend New Orleans; The Paramount building that houses buzzy bakery Willa Jean among other restaurants; boutique Hattie Sparks; the recently restored Civic Theater for concerts.

Neighborhood: Lower Garden District; thepontchartrainhotel.com

What’s inside: Vintage interiors mixed with modern touches (like La Labo toiletries); the reopened Caribbean Room for fine dining and that oft-Instagrammed wall of paintings featuring NOLA native and rapper Lil Wayne; penthouse bar Tin Roof with the best view of the city.

What’s nearby: A streetcar stop for a rolling view of the mansions that line St. Charles Avenue; Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, home to Cafe Reconcile and the Southern Food and Beverage Museum; the one and only Commander’s Palace; Lafayette Cemetery; and dive bar Verret’s Lounge.

 

Neighborhood: Lower Garden District; henryhowardhotel.com

What’s inside: A historic double-gallery mansion with 18 bright, polished rooms with carefully curated fixtures; original elements like exposed brick fireplaces; a cozy courtyard; and an elegant lobby inside the house’s former parlor.

What’s nearby: Surrey’s for fresh seasonal juice and the best brunch; coffee shop High Volt; beloved Vietnamese spot Lilly’s Cafe; unconventional donuts at District; runaway hit Turkey and the Wolf for sandwiches and a dream-haunting lamb roti; boutique Grandmother’s Buttons; and po’boys at Parasol’s.

Neighborhood: Central Business District; old77hotel.com

What’s inside: A refined industrial vibe in the lobby made for meetings and working away from the office; restaurant Compère Lapin; high ceilinged rooms that reveal the building’s original details; and a counter for quick breakfast items like avocado toast and pastries.

What’s nearby: Revelator Coffee for iced coffee on steamy days; al-fresco cheese plates at St. James Cheese Company; the city’s best seafood at Donald Link’s Pêche; Emeril’s; and for those feeling lucky, Harrah’s Casino.

Neighborhood: The French Quarter; hotelmonteleone.com

What’s inside: The famous Carousel Bar, an actual spinning 25-seat bar frequented in the past by William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, and Ernest Hemingway, making it one of three hotels that have been designated literary landmarks; old-fashioned, attentive service; a rooftop pool with a panoramic view of the city.

What’s nearby: The city’s best antique shopping down Royal Street; brunch at Brennan’s; Preservation Hall for traditional jazz played by the masters; Pimm’s Cups and muffalettas at the historic Napoleon House; dinner in the hauntingly beautiful courtyard of Sylvain; mandatory beignets at Cafe Du Monde; sunglasses shopping at Krewe du Optic; cocktail destination Cane and Table; unorthodox sandwiches at Killer Poboys in the back room of Erin Rose; and the newly installed Rampart Streetcar line.

Neighborhood: Central Business District; catahoulahotel.com

What’s inside: Mid-century-inspired seating in the lobby; Piscobar for contemporary cocktails plus another rooftop bar overlooking a checkerboard-tiled courtyard; sparse but striking rooms with spa-like showers; floor to ceiling windows; and a mélange of tropical plants at every turn.

What’s nearby: The Mercedes-Benz Superdome; oyster happy hour at Chef John Besh’s Lüke and his fine dining stalwart August; Vietnamese dishes at Pho Tau Bay; one of the country’s oldest restaurants, Antoine’s; the Saenger Theater; Chef Michael Gulotta’s Maypop; and cocktail hideaway Cellar Door.

Neighborhood: Mid City; thedrifterhotel.com

What’s inside: A restored motor court motel with Instagram-inspired interiors; retro lounge chairs and umbrellas around the pool; an outdoor walk-up bar with fruit-driven drinks; and rooms featuring Casper foam mattresses and Aesop toiletries.

What’s nearby: Bayou Beer Garden for crawfish boils and day drinks; legendary po’ boys at Parkway Bakery and Tavern; Morning Call for beignets and the New Orleans Museum of Art all within City Park, a magical, verdant 1,300 acre park; The New Orleans Fairgrounds for Jazz Fest happenings in March and April; Willie Mae’s Scotch House for some of the South’s best fried chicken; Dooky Chase’s Restaurant; and Italian gelato at Angelo Brocato’s.

Neighborhood: Touro; thecolumns.com

What’s inside: The legendary front porch facing St. Charles Avenue where brunch is an hours-long affair; the historic house’s original mahogany staircase that leads to a stained glass skylight; 20 rooms with furniture and fixtures echoing the 19th and early 20th century time period; and live music in the lounge downstairs.

What’s nearby: Old-school oyster bar Pascal’s Manale; Upperline for the city’s best creole classics in a former house that doubles as an art museum; James Beard Award-winning Israeli cuisine and stunning desserts at Shaya; the original sno-ball at Hansen’s Sno Bliz; shopping along Magazine Street; the seafood tower and whole gulf fish at Cavan, a former historic mansion; and just a bit further, acclaimed cocktails in the courtyard of Cure.

Neighborhood: Lower Garden District; thequisby.com

What’s inside: A stylish, upgraded hostel with affordable rooms designed for groups of friends or girlfriends on a getaway, especially for those who don’t plan on spending a lot of time in them; private en suite bathrooms; a convivial lobby and cocktail bar offering passionfruit Hurricanes; and a mini library.

What’s nearby: One the country’s best folk art collections at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art; The World War II Museum; thought-provoking exhibits at the Contemporary Arts Center; Chef Donald Link’s award-winning Herbsaint and his meat lover’s paradise Cochon Butcher; Howlin’ Wolf for live music; French Truck Coffee; and luxe bourbon lounge Barrel Proof.

Neighborhood: Bywater; maisonmacarty.com

What’s inside: Six spacious rooms in a former Victorian home dating back to the 1860s; unfussy, understated fixtures that don’t scream bed and breakfast; an oasis-like pool with a walk-up bar; private balconies; and pet-friendly policies.

What’s nearby: Piety Street lined by favorites Pizza Delicious, Piety Street Market with a flea market and sno-balls, and Euclid Records; delightful dive Markey’s; walking trails at Crescent Park; build your own cheese boards, wine, and live music in the courtyard of Bacchanal Fine Wine and Spirits; BBQ at the Joint; Music Box Village; and hidden coffee shop gem Solo Espresso.