French Quarter Hotels: Where to Stay in New Orleans

Spring in New Orleans! St. Louis Cathedral with some lovely George Tabor azaleas in Jackson Square. Photograph, Ann Fisher.
Spring in New Orleans! St. Louis Cathedral with some lovely George Tabor azaleas in Jackson Square. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

New Orleans just passed its 300th birthday! Planning a trip and looking for the best places to stay in the French Quarter? Here are reviews of eight French Quarter hotels where I have stayed while visiting the Big Easy.

I grew up in NOLA, and I go back to visit fairly often. When I do, I typically stay in the French Quarter because I love being able to stroll this part of the city.

Where to Stay in New Orleans

Luxury French Quarter Hotels

The best hotels in the French Quarter all fall within the four star category. The only official five star hotel in New Orleans is the Windsor Court, which is in the Central Business District.

The Royal Sonesta New Orleans

This is one of my favorite hotels in the city, and easily the very best hotel ON Bourbon Street. It’s unique. While it is owned by the Sonesta hotel chain, it is anything but cookie-cutter standard because it was built in 1968 when the Sonesta brand was owned by the Sonnabend family.

The staff at the Royal Sonesta is one of the hotel’s great strengths. I really love the people here, and whenever I’m pricing hotels for a trip to NOLA, they are one of the reasons I keep going back to this property. Several servers at the Desire Oyster Bar have worked for the Sonesta for more than twenty years, and I hear great loyalty and pride in working for this hotel whenever I talk with the people who work here.

Courtyard of the Royal Sonesta Hotel, a luxury hotel in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Photograph, Ann Fisher.
The courtyard of the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

The Royal Sonesta’s location is another of its strengths, but also has the potential to be its greatest weakness. This is where you, the guest, need to think about what you want.

The location is perfect for folks wanting to be in the center of it all on Bourbon Street.

Downside: it’s — ON BOURBON STREET. See and understand: Bourbon Street is noisy!

When you stay at the Royal Sonesta, think about room choice. If you are in NOLA to party hard and want to watch the crowds on Bourbon, then you may want a balcony room on the street.

My preference: book a room on the inner courtyard instead.

Go out, get your New Orleans on, then retire to a quiet room. Otherwise, you may need earplugs if you’ve picked a room on the street.

The rooms at the Royal Sonesta have recently been renovated; they are of average size, comfortable, and well appointed. While room sizes are not listed on their website, something that aggravates me — I think all hotels should be required to disclose this, I have stayed here several times in the last few years and find the room sizes to be standard for an American hotel.

While Bourbon Street is loud, the lobby of the Royal Sonesta is a quiet refuge from the hubbub outside.

The hotel’s Desire Oyster Bar, Jazz Playhouse, PJ’s Coffee, and Le Booze Bar line Bourbon Street, acting as a buffer zone to the lobby itself. Additionally, a note for those guests wishing to avoid Bourbon Street, it’s possible to access the Desire Oyster Bar (where breakfast is served) through the hotel courtyard, and then there is a convenient side door onto Conti Street. It’s possible to stay at the Royal Sonesta and never set foot onto Bourbon at all.

The Sonesta’s Desire Oyster Bar has reliably good food. Fresh oysters, good gumbo and po’boys, great house salad: the New Orleans standards are done well. My group of friends also liked the fried alligator and the crab cakes. The only thing I’m not of fan of here is their pasta dishes.

Another thing to love about the Royal Sonesta? Live Jazz every single night of the week at their Jazz Playhouse!

One of the most troubling things to me about Bourbon Street right now is that there is very little live Jazz . . . plenty of rock and other kinds of music — but I can get that anywhere. When I visit New Orleans, it’s all about the Jazz for me, and I had a great time listening to Gerald French and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band (now in its 111 year!) when I was at the Sonesta last month. (For the Jazz lovers out there — you’ll find Jazz in many spots in New Orleans, but not much on Bourbon Street proper right now. Try Preservation Hall, Snug Harbor, and the Spotted Cat).

The Desire Oyster Bar at the Royal Sonesta - luxury hotel in the French Quarter of New Orleans
The Desire Oyster Bar at the Royal Sonesta. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

The Omni Royal Orleans

Lobby of the Royal Orleans, one of the luxury hotels in the French Quarter of New Orleans
Lobby of the Royal Orleans. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

The Royal Orleans has one of the best locations in the French Quarter, just two blocks from Jackson Square, and only one block from Bourbon Street. Since it’s on Royal Street, instead of Bourbon, street noise at night is much quieter than it is at the Royal Sonesta.

Balcony of the Royal Orleans Hotel luxury hotel in the French Quarter of New Orleans
Balcony of my room at the Royal Orleans overlooking St. Louis Street and Royal Street. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

The current hotel first opened its doors in 1960. It was built on the site of the old St. Louis Exchange Hotel (ca. 1838, then rebuilt after a fire in 1841), the grandest hotel in New Orleans in its heyday. Read the full history of the hotel here.

Room in the Royal Orleans, a luxury hotel in the French Quarter of New Orleans
Room in the Royal Orleans. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

When I stayed at the Royal Orleans, I was impressed with the level of service and training with all of their staff.

The hotel is also home to The Rib Room, a Zagat award winning restaurant, and a great favorite of New Orleanians for special occasion dining. I also love that the Royal Orleans is directly across the street from one of my favorite bars anywhere in the world: The Napoleon House.

What’s the downside at the Royal Orleans? Really small rooms.

  • I would avoid the standard rooms (called Petite rooms and Courtyard Queen Rooms on the Royal Orleans website — at 172 sq. feet).
  • Traveling alone, I would stay in a Deluxe room (listed as 215 sq. ft. on Expedia, but 250 sq. feet on the Royal Orleans site. You might want to call to verify size.).
  • I have stayed in a Premiere Room with a balcony, and even that isn’t very  big (258 sq. feet), but it was fine for just me, and I loved the balcony.

Room Size: You should always know what size room you are booking. For the spatially impaired — a comparison sometimes helps. Staterooms on many cruise ships typically range from 160-185 square feet.

I really liked the Royal Orleans, and I would stay here again, depending of the size of room available.

The Monteleone Hotel, a luxury hotel in the French Quarter of New Orleans
The Monteleone Hotel. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

The Monteleone

She is one of the great ladies of the age of grand hotels.

Sicilian Antonio Monteleone immigrated to the United States in 1880, and after working in New Orleans, he bought a hotel in the Vieux Carré (as the French Quarter was then known) in 1886 on the corner of Royal and Iberville. Originally called the Commercial Hotel, Monteleone continued to enlarge his property as surrounding sites became available. When it grew by an additional 300 rooms in 1908, the family changed the hotel’s name to The Monteleone.

The lobby of the Monteleone Hotel, a luxury hotel in the French Quarter of New Orleans
The lobby of the Monteleone Hotel. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

You can’t get any more New Orleans than the Monteleone.

Strengths: The Monteleone is an historic hotel with a wonderful location on Royal Street. You’re in the center of all things French Quarter, in a much quieter spot than if you choose to stay on Bourbon Street.

The original design of the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone.
The original design of the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone.

In 1949, The Monteleone opened their signature Carousel Bar. William Faulkner, Truman Capote, Ernest Hemingway, Louis Prima, Liberace — just a few of the notable people to enjoy a cocktail at this famous revolving bar.

It looks a bit different, arguably better actually, following a re-design in 1992.

I photographed the bar just after breakfast one morning before they’d opened for the day. It’s not easy to get a seat here! Fortunately, the bar area is large and there are plenty of cocktail tables, as well as a second bar in the same space because they have that so much traffic. It’s not easy being famous 🙂 . Tip: if you really want to sit AT the Carousel Bar, have an early cocktail when they open at 11:00 in the morning . . . (Visit the Monteleone Carousel Bar page for more information and the entertainment schedule)

The Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone, a luxury hotel in the French Quarter of New Orleans
The Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone. Photograph, Ann Fisher.
Breakfast at Hotel Monteleone Criollo restaurant Eggs Tchoupitoulas.
Eggs Tchoupitoulas: Basted eggs, fried green tomatoes and boudin blanc sausage. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

I enjoyed breakfast at the Criollo restaurant, particularly the Eggs Tchoupitoulas with fried green tomatoes and a really great boudin. The service was friendly but a bit uneven over the two mornings I ate here.

Downside: Many of the rooms at the Monteleone are really, really small. This is a reality of hotels of its period — the rooms simply weren’t big.

I stayed in one of their traditional doubles in October 2017, which was uncomfortably small for two people.

My pet peeve: the Monteleone DOESN’T LIST THE ROOM SIZE on its website or on Expedia. Without that information, guests don’t understand how much space they are buying. When a hotel’s rooms are average based on current hotel room size in the United States, then perhaps it’s not a big deal. When they aren’t — I see not listing the size as deceptive, especially when coupled with wide-angle photographs.

The room was so small . . .

How small was it?

The room was SO small, there was really only space for one luggage rack. The maid couldn’t make my bed with the second luggage rack set up because there was no way to get around it to the other side of the bed.

If I’d been here for a longer stay, I would have unpacked — but for two nights at the beginning of a road trip, I didn’t want to unload the suitcase. And frankly, at the price we were paying, I shouldn’t have to do this to be able to move around the room.

Two women in this postage stamp? It wasn’t good.

While I don’t travel with a measuring tape, I’d say room sizes are similar to those at the Royal Orleans. Had I known this, I would never have booked the room for two people.

Hotel Review Monteleone in the French Quarter of New Orleans -- tiny bathroom
Note the shower curtain touching the lavatory — so it has to be pushed back around the sink to draw it closed. Very tight space between the toilet and the bathroom door. This is the smallest bathroom I’ve ever seen in a four star hotel. Photograph, Ann Fisher

My thoughts: the traditional rooms with one king bed would be adequate for one person. I’ll never book a traditional double for two people again. And oh, dear lord — don’t even THINK about staying in one of these traditional rooms if you are traveling with children! Much too small to retain your sanity!

If there are two of you, and you want to stay at the Monteleone, book one of the preferred rooms (instead of a traditional room). Take a good look at room pictures before booking; since room sizes aren’t listed, it’s the only way to gauge what you’re getting. I somehow only have a picture of the bathroom of our traditional room — which is tee-ninecy, but you can view good comparison photographs of several of their rooms on Oyster.com here.

Would I stay here again? Yes, depending on room size available AND cost, relative to the other hotel options for a trip.

A drink at the Carousel Bar . . . a must-do in New Orleans. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

The Westin

This hotel has quiet, large rooms, quite literally “above it all.”

View of the Mississippi from the Westin Hotel, a luxury hotel in the French Quarter of New Orleans
View of the bend of the great Mississippi river at the French Quarter. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

Biggest strengths: the VIEW and large, comfortable rooms (my deluxe King room with a view was 450 square feet). I absolutely love the views of the Mississippi here, particularly from the side of the hotel that faces the French Quarter. This hotel is one of my favorites when I’m in the mood for a little peace. Since I often stop in New Orleans on road trips, there are times when being above it all suits me perfectly.

Downsides: While the Westin is lovely and understated, in many ways, it is a standard chain hotel. Understated can easily become impersonal. The hotel sits on the edge of the French Quarter in the Canal Place shopping center, which means you’ll walk three blocks to get to Royal Street, and four blocks to Bourbon — this could be a good thing to burn a few additional calories 🙂  — or a bad thing if you are mobility impaired.

Bedroom in the Westin, a luxury hotel in the French Quarter of New Orleans
Bedroom in the Westin Hotel. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

Other downside? While they have a good breakfast in River 127, a restaurant with the great views overlooking the Mississippi, it’s only open for breakfast and lunch. You’ll be eating in the Green Bar or ordering room service if you choose not to go out for supper. You’ll find information on dining at the Westin Canal Place here.

Lobby of the Westin, a luxury hotel in the French Quarter, with floor to ceiling windows looking out onto the Mississippi River
Lobby of the Westin with floor to ceiling windows looking out onto the Mississippi River. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

Other Hotels

Other hotels in the same tier where I have stayed over the last few years: the New Orleans Marriott and Ritz-Carlton. This Marriott is on Canal Street, on the edge of the Quarter: it was good hotel with comfortable rooms, and while it’s a standard Marriott without much personality, I would stay here again.

Ritz-Carlton New Orleans, a luxury hotel in the French Quarter
Ritz-Carlton on Canal Street in New Orleans in what was originally the Maison Blanche building.

Did I really just say the Ritz-Carlton was on the same level as the Marriott and the Westin?

Yes, I did.

The Ritz-Carlton should be a five star hotel, but in my estimation, this Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans is NOT, and other reviews of this property show agreement on this opinion. As I stated above, the only five star hotel in New Orleans is the Windsor Court, which is not in the French Quarter.

When I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton 2014, I found the rooms to be fine: well-appointed, and large (deluxe rooms are 350 sq. feet), and I liked the location, which is on Canal street on the edge of the Quarter.

But here’s the thing: While I thought the hotel was very nice, it was along no lines was anything extraordinary. I have stayed in other Ritz-Carlton properties that truly are — but this particular hotel was no nicer than the Marriott, the Westin, or the Royal Sonesta, and they charge considerably more ($516 for their entry-level room).

The only thing I could see that I got for the up-charge? The Ritz-Carlton name. I wouldn’t stay here again.

Where to Stay in New Orleans

Three Star Hotels in New Orleans

Sometimes, you may hit New Orleans during a high traffic period, and the luxury hotel prices are through the roof. Here are French Quarter hotels I’ve stayed in that I would classify as mid-tier (three star), two of which might be good alternatives:

  • Chateau LeMoyne Holiday Inn
    • This is the only interesting Holiday Inn property I’ve ever encountered anywhere. It really is a historic boutique hotel, despite the Holiday Inn brand name it carries. The Chateau LeMoyne has a lovely courtyard, the rooms have been updated recently, and it has a perfect location on Dauphine Street, one block off of Bourbon — which means it’s quiet.
    • Service is average — nothing extraordinary, but not bad either. This is a really great mid-tier hotel.
    • Valet parking service is quick here, since the cars are parked in a lot directly across the street.
    • It really does an excellent job of making guests feel like they are IN NEW ORLEANS, as opposed to chain-motel-anywhere, and I will absolutely stay here again.
  • The Grenoble House
    • Locally owned hotel with great suites. If you are traveling with a group, the Grenoble house could be perfect for you. I stayed here in December 2016 on a mom-daughter group vacation. We were in two different suites, both with two bedrooms, kitchens, and full living rooms. The suites are comfortable and really perfect for larger families or friend groups gathering in the Big Easy.
    • Note: Children under 12 years old are NOT allowed.
    • The Grenoble House is right next door to the Chateau LeMoyne — and just like its neighbor, it’s quiet and well-located. Valet parking here takes more time, since they store the cars around the corner and down the block.
    • Another note: there are a lot of stairs here, and I’m not sure whether the Grenoble House has accessible rooms for people with disabilities.
  • The Prince Conti
    • Let’s say this . . . The Prince Conti is a small, reasonably priced hotel in a good location. The service is acceptable, if not extraordinary.
    • When my daughter and I started to plan another trip to NOLA, she said — “Mom, just not the Prince Conti, okay?” Why? The halls are somewhat narrow and the walls are thin, and the one time we stayed there, we woke to the sounds of some poor man vomiting his guts out around 5:00 am. Repeatedly. I finally went out in the hall to see where it was coming from — a room across the hall and a door down. We finally started laughing about in when around 9:00 am he was at it yet again, and we still laugh about it when we talk trips we’ve taken together. But stay at the Prince Conti another time? Yeah. Probably not.

Room Price is Dependent on your Flexibility

While not a news flash, it’s important to know that hotel prices in New Orleans fluctuate radically. Yes, it happens everywhere, but NOLA is such a tourist and convention destination that price swings are dramatic.

When New Orleans is packed for a big convention, you’ll spend $299 – $399 for an entry level room at the top tier of the French Quarter hotels, while rooms in the mid-level tier go for $230 – $275 or so. If there is a special event, like the Super Bowl, Mardi Gras, or Jazz Fest, the prices will spike higher.

It definitely pays to be flexible and check out several sets of dates when you are planning a trip to New Orleans. The city is a huge weekend getaway destination, and a stay on Sunday – Wednesday will often cost half of what it will on Thursday-Friday through Sunday.

If you try a less busy date, and choose weekdays rather than the weekend, you’ll spend  $100 less per night than the range listed above — often even less than that — for the same rooms.

When I visit the Crescent City at less expensive periods, I stay at top tier hotels. If I’m there at a high traffic point, I’ll typically book into a mid-tier hotel instead.

Another major expense to consider: Parking. When I fly in, I use cabs and Uber to get around the city. Unless you are planning to drive a significant amount, by the time you add your rental car cost to the cost of parking, it doesn’t make much sense to have a car. Skip the car, and upgrade your room — or have another world class meal while you’re in one of the food capitals of the world.

Map with Hotel Locations

St. Louis Cathedral New Orleans at twilight. Photograph, Ann Fisher.
St. Louis Cathedral at twilight. Photograph, Ann Fisher.

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Ann Fisher

Writer, traveler, and cancer fighter. Get out there and live life!

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3 thoughts on “French Quarter Hotels: Where to Stay in New Orleans

  1. mycountryepoque March 9, 2018 at 11:52 pm

    Great information, seems to me New Orleans is a venue to die for. I would keep it in mind. I have traveled USA a bit, but never reach for New Orleans, but I can realise this one day! Thank you Ann for the wonderful details, it was well written.

    Reply
    1. Ann March 10, 2018 at 8:35 am

      New Orleans is one of my favorite cities! When you plan your trip — don’t go during the hot, steamy, sticky months (June through September). October through April are my favorite months, when the weather is cooler.

      Reply
      1. mycountryepoque March 10, 2018 at 11:03 am

        Hello Ann. thank you so much for your sweet response. I am glad to learn of the best season to travel to New Orleans, I will note that in my travel list next to New Orleans. I hope your weekend is great.

        Reply

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