This singularly handsome property comprises three meticulously restored town houses built in the 1830s. Polished hardwood floors, Oriental rugs, and American and European antiques are complemented by contemporary artwork. Amenities include Annick Goutal toiletries, goose-down pillows, and Egyptian cotton sheets. Some rooms and suites have hot tubs. Exotic plants fill two secluded courtyards, where afternoon cocktails and an unforgettable breakfast ($12.50 extra) of homemade biscuits and strawberry jam, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and café au lait can be enjoyed, weather permitting. An on-site antiques shop carries exquisite European furnishings. Many regular New Orleans visitors consider this the city's finest hotel.
Reviewed by seriously from Manhattan on 2/17/09
Pros:
-beautiful courtyard
-melt-in-your-mouth biscuits
-great location on a quiet street, but still central
-authentic overall feel
-half the staff was lovely
Cons:
-very poorly lit common spaces
-completely out of date decor (at least #18 is, but I'm going to guess there are some nice rooms because we read several good reviews on the hotel before booking)
-dirty carpet (would recommend slippers to bare feet)
-some saccrine-coated rude front desk staff
MAJOR CON:
-COCKROACH in our room and it was huge...when we let the front know (as nicely as possible because we actually felt bad complaining and chancing hurt feelings and embarrassment) they had a deal-with-it attitude, never once used the word "sorry" and didn't agree to a room change until we were checking out (about ten min after finding the disgusting bug...how long it took us to trow our stuff together and bolt out the door). We would have left regardless, but even one, "I'm really sorry about that." would have helped elevate our parting impressions.
If you don't mind bugs or already have them in your home, this last con might not matter to you...it certainly mattered to us though.
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