A trio of 1830s townhouses, Soniat House exudes an Old World elegance, from its wrought iron balconies to its white-jacketed porters. Rooms and suites have just the right amount of character so that they feel of an era without being precious or overly frilly. The hotel renovated all of its bathrooms and some guest rooms, and there are flat-screen televisions, Wi-Fi, and other modern conveniences—but the point here is really to take a step back, put your gadgets away, and enjoy the leafy courtyard. It’s the kind of place where you feel you ought to be wearing a frock and a fascinator (for ladies) or seersucker (for the gents), where time slows and an afternoon cocktail feels very appropriate. Luckily, there’s an honor bar on the first floor next to reception. Pour yourself a stiff drink and take it up to the veranda, where you might catch a ghost tour in progress or just take in the street scene.
Soniat House
Soniat House
Soniat House
Soniat House
Soniat House
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Tranquility in the French Quarter
If big box hotels and their generic fixtures aren’t for you, but you’re also averse to doilies, consider this 33-room hideaway on a quiet stretch of Chartres Street. Set in three restored 19th-century Creole townhouses, the hotel doesn’t have a restaurant, spa, or bar—but who cares when your bed is draped in Egyptian cotton and goose down, your room is furnished with period furnishings and luxe fabrics, and breakfast of café au lait and biscuits is delivered to your door every morning? And then there’s the concierge, who can set you up with anything else you might need.
Sweet Sleeps
When you’re on a romantic getaway à deux, where you spend the night is more important than when you’re traveling solo. Thankfully, New Orleans isn’t short on romantic rooms, whether you’re after a tranquil hideaway or all-out luxury. If you prefer the latter, book a room at the 33-room Soniat House, where you can laze in your French antique bed and have breakfast—of homemade biscuits, strawberry preserves, and café au lait—delivered on a silver tray. For five-star luxury, take your pick of the newly renovated Ritz-Carlton, the English-inspired Windsor Court, or the landmark Roosevelt.
Breakfast in Bed
Daily breakfast—of biscuits, strawberry preserves, fresh squeezed OJ, and cafe au lait–delivered to your room on a silver tray is, perhaps, my favorite of this tucked-away hotel’s myriad charms.
