8 Best Hotels in New Orleans, Louisiana

Located just four blocks from the French Quarter, this elegant luxury hotel has plenty of upscale amenities—think plush carpeting, marble vanities, and well-appointed dressing areas set in spacious guest rooms. But it's not just the rooms that make a stay here such a treat. The Grill Room's dishes are renowned, and Le Salon serves a decadent afternoon tea. The Polo Club Lounge has one of the best martini menus to be found anywhere, as well as a selection of imaginative appetizers and live jazz music. The heated outdoor pool, full-service spa, and glass-enclosed gym make it difficult to leave such a refined cocoon. When you do opt to explore, the hotel is within easy walking distance of the riverfront and fabulous shopping options.

A former office complex from the 1890s offers rooms with exposed-brick walls and basic furnishings just a block from the French Quarter. Nothing here is terribly luxurious, but friendly service and the no-two-rooms-alike surroundings are a welcome break from the chain-hotel circuit.

A wraparound balcony overlooking St. Charles Avenue, a stunning six-story atrium, and some nods to period charm distinguish this family-friendly CBD hotel from other options in the neighborhood. The Café serves breakfast and a limited dinner menu. The hotel is within walking distance of many good restaurants and other attractions, including the kid-friendly Aquarium of the Americas and Insectarium, the French Quarter, the World War II Museum, and Caesars Casino.

Many of the open, airy rooms offer views of the French Quarter, Canal Street, and the Mississippi River. Amenities include an outdoor pool, fitness center, and free Wi-Fi.

If your primary destination is the convention center (three blocks away) or the restaurants, galleries, and museums in the Warehouse District, these suites with bedrooms and separate parlors are a great choice. Most units have balconies, along with several phones and two 40-inch flat-screen televisions. Cocktails and light snacks are served at the evening reception. Several award-winning restaurants are located within walking distance.

Unique in its position as a hotel owned and operated by a museum (in partnership with Hilton), the Higgins is both an extension of the WWII Museum and a convenient, modern stay full of Art Deco touches and museum-quality photographs and art. Overall, there’s a 1940s theme that’s focused on the war, but with more positive tones than you might find at the museum across the street. Take Rosie’s On The Roof, for example: named after Rosie the Riveter, the gorgeous rooftop bar and terrace serving small bites and classic cocktails is an homage to the working women of America’s WWII homefront.

The superb river and city views are hard to beat, and the guest rooms come with all the modern amenities, in close proximity to shops and the casino. Dining options include a branch of Drago's, serving up some of the best oysters in town. When you're ready to work off all that great New Orleans food, the 90,000-square-foot Health Club by Hilton includes fitness classes, cardio equipment, and indoor racquetball, squash, tennis, and basketball courts.

This centrally located 41-story skyscraper boasts fabulous views of the Quarter, downtown, and the Mississippi River. It's an easy walk from the Shops at Canal Place mall, the Riverwalk outlet mall, and the Convention Center. Rooms are comfortable, and service is friendly (if uneven), though the hotel lacks a sense of place. It's consistently busy with convention visitors, and the crowds in the lobby sometimes rival those on Bourbon Street.