PHOTO: shutterstock

Fodor's Expert Review Claiborne Mansion

Name: Claiborne Mansion
Address: 2111 Dauphine St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70116, USA
Telephone: 504-301–1027
Price range: $

2111 Dauphine St., New Orleans, Louisiana 70116, USA See on Map

Cameron Todd

At an elegant Greek Revival mansion in the heart of the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood. Guests enjoy airy private suites, a saltwater pool and original brick patio, and a shared kitchen outfitted in modern appliances.

YOU SHOULD KNOW This unique property comes with more personality than your basic hotel: The owner, Cleo, is known to be quite a character, prone to interjecting her opinions and entertaining guests with lengthy stories.

room

Rooms here maintain their original 1850s romance with understated, tasteful decor, canopy beds and soaring 14 foot ceilings. Second floor suites have balconies looking over Dauphine Street and Washington Park. The hotel offers one set of 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom suites that can be combined for a group or family stay.

bathroom

Each suite connects to a spacious marble bathroom.

lobby

Shared spaces at this home include the large courtyard and patio, modern kitchen, with private sitting rooms off of some suites.

pool

The large (40 foot) saltwater pool is enclosed in a spacious brick courtyard, surrounded by gardens and citrus trees.

YOU SHOULD KNOW The courtyard is quite a peaceful oasis, but it might bother some guests that the gardens and grounds here are often shared with stray cats.

dining

Cleo offers fruit, granola and yogurt in the kitchen in the mornings, and is known for sitting with guests and entertaining with her own stories.

drinking

The serene courtyard and fully equipped kitchen (with a large fridge) are the perfect recipe for making your own cocktail hour here.

LOCATION

Getting Around

The Marigny is fun to travel on foot, with easy walks to the Bywater in one direction and French Quarter in the other. The new St. Claude Streetcar line connects you to the lines on Canal Street, which can bring you to most other neighborhoods in town. Always take basic precautions when walking around New Orleans at night.

Restaurants

After a night out on Frenchmen Street, recover with brunch at Horn's (2-minute walk), or local favorite Cake Cafe (8-minute walk), where the line on Sunday mornings is often down the block. At Adolfo's (3-minute walk) above The Spotted Cat Music Club, you can indulge in seafood and meat dishes, smothered in your pick of delicious (but equally garlic-loaded) classic Creole sauces.

Bars

You'll spend most nights out on Frenchmen Street, a 3-minute walk from this location, and three block radius of music clubs, bars, and colorful crowds. Catch a lively show at Cafe Negril, The Spotted Cat Music Club, or 30/90, and book a table at Three Muses or Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro when you're ready to slow down with a nice cocktail.

WHY WE LIKE IT

The mansion is impeccably maintained, at rates you would be paying for a chain hotel with much less character. We love this section of town, where walking the lively streets of music and colorful architecture is as fun as checking out some of the small, well-loved bistros, bars, and art galleries.