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Before you decide where to stay in New Orleans, put some thought into what you want to do during your visit. Are you interested in history and architecture? Do you want to be where the party is? Are you in town primarily to eat—and to eat well? Do antebellum mansions pique your interest? Do you need to be close to the business district and convention center? New Orleans is a fairly compact town, but if you stay Uptown, you'll need to travel a bit to reach the Quarter. Although most hotels favored by visitors are in the French Quarter, Central Business District (CBD), or Warehouse District, there are also great options farther afield.
The French Quarter is a destination unto itself. With fascinating architecture, vibrant nightlife, chic shopping, and incredible restaurants, you could spend several days without leaving its confines.
Hotels in the CBD, many of them chains, cater to business travelers as well as tourists; most are larger than those in the French Quarter, and have more amenities. Many of the Warehouse District's hotels actually occupy facilities once used to store cotton or other goods. In most cases, thoughtful renovations have kept the original purpose as a design motif, making for an interesting architectural style.
Just across Esplanade Avenue on the north and east of the Quarter is the Faubourg Marigny. Originally a Creole plantation and one of the first "suburbs" of New Orleans, it remains a residential area today, with a bustling nightlife and restaurant scene centered along Frenchmen Street.
To the west, upriver of the city's center, the Garden District and Uptown neighborhoods offer streets lined by the spreading boughs of live oaks, excellent stores, interesting architecture, and more outstanding dining and music venues. You'll find several newer, boutique hotels in the Garden District around St. Charles Avenue.
This charming boutique hotel is a refreshing escape from a run-of-the-mill chain stay. Modern amenities and eclectic style abound, with tasty cocktails served in the black-and-white tiled bar, inner courtyard, and rooftop.
Sheraton Club rooms come with many special amenities, but even the regular guest rooms here are spacious and well appointed, with contemporary touches and lots of extras. Aimed to please corporate groups and conventions, expect top-quality service and a superfast elevator system. In the lobby, a fountain sets a tropical tone, and the Starbucks is a popular meeting spot. A nice balance of Creole- and Cajun-style dishes is served in the airy second-floor Roux Bistro. One of the great downtown eateries, the Palace Café, is right across Canal Street.
This midsize hotel has a funky, boutique vibe, an on-site restaurant, and a great rooftop bar with frequent DJ entertainment. Spacious rooms have small living areas with curated art, coffee-table books, and local specialties in the minibar. Bright, modern bathrooms come with Jonathan Adler beauty products.
This hip, colorful hotel with eye-popping design has stylish and thoughtfully outfitted rooms, friendly and welcoming service, and a diverse and non-stop entertainment program featuring DJs, burlesque, and an assortment of live music. There is a serene rooftop bar and pool for lounging
The perks here include one of the best locations in the Quarter, balconies that overlook either the courtyard or Chartres Street, and the staff's "whatever, whenever" policy: 24-hour concierges will find those barbecue ribs you're craving at 3 am, arrange a deep-tissue massage, or even track down a last-minute gown for a Mardi Gras ball. The rooms were fully renovated in 2024---some of them have plantation shutters, and two of the four carriage-house suites share a cheery sundeck. Posh amenities include Bliss bath products in all rooms. On weekends, Creole-Cajun restaurant 3rd Block Depot hosts a "Legs and Eggs" Burlesque Brunch with local legend Bella Blue.
Views from this large convention hotel are enviable: two-story arched lobby windows overlook the French Quarter, and guest rooms tower over the great bend in the Mississippi River. Starting at the 11th floor of the Canal Place shopping mall, this Westin boasts a lobby filled with European antiques and a grand piano, all set against a rose Carrara-marble background, while the airy rooms are comfortably business-standard in look and feel.
Directly across from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, the Hilton is a good choice for travelers flying in late or departing early in the morning. The upscale decor coordinates muted pastel colors with the soft-pink Caribbean-style exterior. The handwoven area rugs are from England. Check out the 21-station fitness center and oversize outdoor hot tub.
