I'm looking for a romantic "25th anniversary" bed-and-breakfast or small hotel in NO for March. Can anyone advise about The McKendrick-Breaux House, Grand Victorian B&B, Melrose Mansion, Lafayette Hotel, LaMothe House, or House on Bayou Road? Hope to find a quiet place. Thanks. Reply or write to Dave at "[email protected]."

The Soniat House is consistently rated among the top small hotels in the country. It's located at the quiet end of the French Quarter in a former governor's residence. Fountain courtyard, fresh biscuits delivered to your room in the mornings...fits all your specs.

It appears that most of the B&Bs that you list are not centrally located. I agree with the above post that the Soniat is very highly rated. I would also try the Andrew Jackson, the Ursiline Guest House, the Richeloux, Maison de Ville, and the Cornstalk. All of the above are in the Quarter and near many attractions and excellent restaurants.

Definitely the Soniat House -- the epitome of romance in the Quarter. Ask for a suite in the wing across the street.

Try www.historiclodging.com. These folks represent 30 or so B&Bs in New Orleans and help match the people to the individual properties. I'd think you want to stay in the French Quarter area if at all possible...the other parts of the city are fine but not terribly exciting!

Up up & away!

Do NOT stay at the Cornstalk. I don't care what the guidebooks say, it is positively the worst hotel I have ever stayed in. The antique beds were so short that my husband (6 ft.) had to sleep with his feet between the footboard slates - fun when you try to roll over in the night. The place was so noisy with tourists ringing the front door buzzer all night long that we never got a decent night's sleep. And the bath facilities are positively primative. Unfortunately, a convention made it impossible to move (believe me, I tried) so we were stuck there for a week. The memory still haunts me.
I've also stayed at the Lafayette. It is a nice hotel, although housekeeping was seriously lacking when we were there last winter. I also felt they had a hefty problem with room security. The old fashioned keys are turned in at the front desk whenever you go out and we were always able to retrieve our room key without so much as giving our name. We just pointed to the key, hanging on a hook with the room numbers visable, and it was handed right over. This bothered me enough to mention it to the hotel manager. The hotel is also rather out of the way. Although on the Charles Street streetcar line, the cars are usually full of tourists and come round very infrequently. I usually ended up walking all the way back to the hotel rather than wait and be passed up by a full streetcar.
I've heard wonderful reports from friends about the Maison de Ville. Haven't stayed there personally but intend to this winter. Maybe someone here can comment.

I've heard great things on message boards about the Sonait House but after looking at the web site, I'm positive it would not be a good choice for my husband and me. Victorian isn't our cup of tea. I heard from someone who lives in New Orleans that House on Bayou Road is in an absolutely horrible location, though the place itself has gotten rave reviews from critics.

House on Bayou Road is very lovely from everything I've heard. It is not near the French Quarter (or much else) so you'll need a cab or car to get anywhere. I suggest staying nearer to the Quarter, which is the place most tourists want to visit in N.O. anyway!

I may have missed a synapse in one of the posts above but Soniat House is in no way Victorian -- it is, rather, classically New Orleans creole French with tropical gardens.

Tastes, of course, differ but I find it close to impossible to imagine Soniat House doesn't come close to romantic perfection. I wouldn't consider staying elsewhere in New Orleans, a city in which I lived for five years and which I visit often.

Web site here: http://www.soniathouse.com/