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Looking for the best hotel in the New Orleans French Quarter? With a seriously fantastic location, the historic, boutique Dauphine Orleans Hotel could be the one.
I stayed here for two nights during my trip to New Orleans in December and loved it. Our room was huge and I loved the cosy bar downstairs. But the best part was our fab balcony overlooking Dauphine Street. This would be a great place to stay for Mardi Gras! My stay was complimentary, but the following Dauphine Orleans hotel review is totally honest. And I’d happily recommend it.
Location: Calm in the heart of the busy French Quarter
The French Quarter is the place to be in New Orleans. This is where many of the bars and music gigs are, and where you’ll find some of the major tourist attractions and loads of the most fun things to do in New Orleans.
Crazy Bourbon Street is the hub, and if you want to experience New Orleans’ famous party scene you want to be within walking distance of Bourbon Street.
The Dauphine Orleans Hotel is one block over on Dauphine Street – a pretty street that’s the best of both worlds. Within stumbling distance of the bars, but separate from the parties and quiet at night. Definitely one of the best places to stay in the French Quarter.
Character: New Orleans vibes in a historic hotel
With 111 guest rooms, the Dauphine Orleans Hotel is a boutique hotel that feels nice and intimate without being too small. It’s made up of several buildings, and some date back to the 19th century. There’s a lot of history here, and you can’t have history in New Orleans without having a good ghost story! In the early nineteenth century the Dauphine’s bar, May Baily’s Place, was one of the more popular red-light-district bordellos, and sightings of well dressed “ladies of the night” are apparently not uncommon in the hotel.
Despite secretly wishing for a spooky encounter , my visit was ghost-free. But the historic vibes at the Dauphine certainly added to its charm. The hotel was iconically New Orleans, with tasteful vintage decor and plenty of southern hospitality.
Rooms: Surprisingly spacious
The hotel is divided into three main buildings, and the rooms in each one have their own charms. In the two more historic buildings – Carriage House and Hermann House – you’ll find large guest rooms surrounding private courtyards. Rooms in the 19th-century Hermann House feature exposed brick walls which is a nice touch.#
I stayed in a premium room in the Main House – which was impressively spacious given the hotel’s city centre location. Despite the historic setting, the rooms don’t feel at all old. Everything’s been decked out in clean, calming cream shades and the beds are super comfortable. The highlight was the large balcony overlooking Dauphine street. With incredible city views it was the perfect place to sit with a coffee and a beignet in the morning!
READ MORE: Best places to eat in New Orleans
Facilities: Convenience and comfort
Parking can be a bit of a problem in the French Quarter, so it’s great news that the Dauphine New Orleans has it’s own carpark with convenient valet parking.
There’s a lovely private courtyard area at the heart of the hotel, with a small pool which I didn’t use on my December visit. I can see it being the perfect place to cool off after a busy day sightseeing in the heat of summer though! When I stayed, the attractive-looking May Baily’s Place bar was closed for renovation, but it’s an elegant-looking bar and full of New Orleans history. Instead, a mini version had been set up in the Patio Room If the cosy, candlelit environment and fab drinks list in that temporary bar are anything to go by I’d say May Baily’s Place is a great little nightlife spot on Dauphine Street.
Details
Dauphine Orleans Hotel
415 Dauphine St,
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: +1 504-586-1800
Email: [email protected]
