The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carre or the ‘Quarter’ to locals, sits on a crescent in the Mississippi River and is one of the oldest residential communities in the United States. It’s also the perfect area to stay during a visit to the Big Easy. Filled with interesting and vibrant neighborhoods, the Quarter is New Orleans’ cultural hub, offering travelers who prefer a more personal, intimate place to stay the unique opportunity to explore the city’s historical and cultural character without having to set foot outside its premises.
Located in the heart of the French Quarter, Hotel Mazarin is a luxury boutique hotel that features 102 modern, spacious rooms and a lush, arched courtyard decorated by European-style fountains. This hotel (which sits less than a block away from the restaurants and nightlife of Bourbon Street and only three blocks from Jackson Square) has competitive rates and its location is convenient for those looking to discover the Quarter’s main attractions on foot. In addition to enjoying wireless internet access, free local calls and artesian bottled water, this boutique hotel also offers the only wine bar onsite and includes great amenities such as valet parking and complimentary continental breakfast.
Located on the border of the French Quarter and the Central Business District, the Saint Hotel, Autograph Collection is a premier boutique hotel on Canal Street. Inside its eight-story luxury complex, the hotel features 166 stylish guest rooms, a delicious onsite restaurant, a fitness center and the famous Burgundy Bar, where live entertainment and vivacious happy hours fill the scene almost every night. All rooms include free Wi-Fi and free wired internet, plus heavily stacked mini bars, flat-screen TVs and iPod docks.
Audubon Cottages is a historic collection of one- and two-bedroom suites located in the French Quarter. Featuring a beautiful Tuscan-style courtyard and a heated saltwater pool, this boutique inn is only a 10-minute walk away from the Historic New Orleans Collection and Jackson Square, as well as the New Orleans Jazz Park and the French Market. While property features include a shared saltwater pool (said to be the oldest pool in New Orleans), a lush garden, self-parking and a business center, guests can enjoy different room amenities inside one of their seven fully furnished rooms. This accommodation could be the perfect choice for anyone who is looking to experience all the benefits of the French Quarter from a secluded boutique hotel.
The Bienville House is located in the French Quarter, arguably New Orleans’ most infamous and sought-after district. This location within this quarter is surrounded by some of the best restaurants, bars and shops in New Orleans. Being a boutique hotel, each room is decorated with a specific and unique theme. Bienville House is an ideal resting spot for a busy, sightseeing vacation.
Le Richelieu Hotel’s constant redecoration means that it is reliably up to aesthetic and modern standards. The hotel relies on luxurious decoration, oil paintings, Persian rugs and antique furniture to embody the luxury and glamour associated with New Orleans’ historical cosmopolitan appeal. It is entrenched in the city’s narrative, as the location has played a part in the October Rebellion of the 18th century and was the home of The Beatles’ Paul McCartney for several months during his stay in New Orleans. Living up to its reputation for luxury, the hotel boasts a café for guests, a gorgeous lobby and a saltwater swimming pool.
One of the oldest buildings in the French Quarter, the Hotel Maison de Ville is an intimate hideaway full of history located near all of downtown’s attractions. Refurbished in 2012, the luxury space features atmospheric rooms in a main building and cottages, as well as an idyllic tropical courtyard – the perfect tranquil escape from the busy French Quarter. Each of the property’s rooms has its own unique character, some paying homage to famous guests of the past like Tennessee Williams. Protected from the noise of nearby Bourbon Street, Hotel Maison de Ville is a New Orleans gem, complete with creaky wooden floors and period decor, perfect for a romantic getaway (rather than family vacation).
The Cornstalk Hotel boasts a distinguished, quiet, Victorian charm, featuring extravagant period decor from stained glass to antique furnishings, all situated on the ever-refined Royal Street. This central location removes guests from the noise of Bourbon and offers a more traditional New Orleans visit. Featuring bright, fully furnished rooms with additional fireplaces and chandeliers, the hotel itself acts as a time machine into the Old South. Well-suited to the more traditional traveler, looking to spend some quality and classy time in the city, the Cornstalk is enjoyed best by waking up for coffee on the communal balcony before heading out to embrace the Quarter.
