
New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the U.S., hot and heady with history, jazz, and its location on the mighty Mississippi. And it’s the jazz and heat, both of which hang in the air and rise off the streets, which our Hotel Gurus cite as reasons you must have a balcony room when staying in New Orleans. What could be better than sitting out on your balcony, mint julep in hand, listening to the jazz clubs warm up for the night, and feeling the warm breeze — possibly scented with Creole seasoning… Our picks for New Orleans Hotels with a balcony include five star hotels, historic, converted mansions, chic, family-sized apartments, cool properties atop jazz and many more.
For New Orleans

- The Hotel Maison de Ville is a small, historic hotel, converted from a mansion that Tennessee Williams once called home. There are eight rooms and suites, all wth private balconies or terraces, antiques and beautiful bathrooms. There’s a central courtyard for resting post-explorations —because everything is within walking distance of here.
For Historic New Orleans

- The Park View Historic Hotel is an elegant, Victorian mansion close to Audobon Park and the river, now carefully converted into a 22 room hotel. The decor is authentically period, but with modern plumbing! and you’re off-centre, in a tranquil part of town. If you’re in New Orleans to visit memorials of its heyday, then this mansion, with its pretty porch, plantation beds, stained glass windows and chandeliers, is an excellent pick.
For Classic New Orleans

- The Royal Frenchmen Hotel & Bar is a carefully restored 19th century Creole mansion, atop an award-winning bar on Frenchmen Street — which is world famous for its jazz. There are just 16 rooms and suites, all of them light and airy, with huge sash windows, antique-style furnishings, and an impressive art collection belonging to the hotel’s owner.
For Romance

- The 30 rooms and suites of the Soniat House hotel are arranged in graceful, historic townhouses, just across the road from each other in a pretty French Quarter spot. The layout has a Spanish flavour, with rooms arranged around cool, green, central courtyards complete with tinkling fountains. Inside the rooms are large and airy, with antiques and pale drapes. Facilities are limited to a sitting room with an honesty bar, and a small office for reception. They serve breakfast in the courtyard or in your room. But you’re a short stroll from a huge range of cafe, bars and restaurants, as well as many of this town’s highlights.
- The Royal Sonesta New Orleans is one of the largest of our New Orleans recommendations, with 483 rooms and suites, plus its own jazz club, one of the city’s best oyster bars and an impressive fine dining restaurant. The decor has a contemporary Art Deco feel, with a preference for square edges and patterns, and the best rooms have French doors as well as balconies. Some overlook the pool courtyard and some the street.
In the Lower Garden District

- Terrell House is an Italianate stucco mansion in the Lower Garden District. This is another southern charmer, packed with antiques and objets d’art, the best of which are in the communal rooms: the parlour, den, covered porch and courtyard with fountains. Not all of the 14 rooms and suites are in the main house, though these are the most romantic, the Creole House, which has the other suites, is a great choice for families. Book one of the main house suites for a private balcony.
For Families

- Rathbone Mansions comprises two antebellum pre-Civil War mansions, now converted into an elegant, 26 room guesthouse, complete with a shared garden with a pool. The accommodation includes rooms, suites and apartments, all with decor that blends historic New Orleans with the contemporary city. They all have wooden floors, large shuttered windows and wrought iron balconies. There’s no restaurant, but they serve a Continental breakfast in the lobby, and some of the suites and apartments have kitchens.
- The St Charles Coach House is a contemporary, boutique-feeling hotel with 44 generously proportioned rooms and suites. The off-centre location — it’s about 20 minutes walk through pretty streets — offers peace and affordability, which is great for families, and they do have some well designed family suites. There's also a library, a laundry and a restaurant.
For an Apartment

- The Sonder Gravier Place is also a collection of one and two bedroom apartments, this time loft-style, and in the CBD. The decor is just as desirable featuring a nice collection of mid century furniture, accented with exposed brick and wood floors from the building they’re housed in. Comfortable and stylish, this is an easy choice if you’re planing a longer stay or need plenty of space.
For Fun!

- The Barnett Hotel is a hip, grown up hotel in the trendy Warehouse District, close to the river. This is a big place, with 234 rooms and suites — the best come with their own guitar — plus a music venue, rooftop pool and a superb restaurant and bar. You’re surrounded by great nightlife. For private outside space you'll need to book a suite.
- In a central, French Quarter spot, the Hotel Le Marais is a chic, contemporary hotel with 66 rooms and suites. The hotel’s traditional exterior is livened up inside, with a neutral palate popping with bold purples and reds, a lively gym and a cocktail bar. There’s no restaurant, which keeps the room rate very reasonable, but there are lots of restaurants, bars and cafes within moments of the hotel. All premium rooms come with a balcony.
- W New Orleans is a contemporary hotel in the French Quarter, between Jackson Square and Riverwalk. There are 98 luxuriously spacious rooms and suites (most in the upper categories come with private balcony), a pool, a library, and a fine dining restaurant. Easy for nightlife, and exploration, and well stocked on mod. cons., which isn’t always the case in some of the more historic hotels.
For great value

- Bienville House’s name suggests its French Quarter location, and the atmosphere and decor are certainly designed to remind guests of an old French manor house, but this is actually a mid-sized hotel, with 83 rooms and suites, a well regarded restaurant and a charming courtyard. Not all rooms have balconies, but they’re delicate, wrought iron, a naturally opulent pairing to the chandeliers, four-poster beds and traditional fabrics. This is a great location for exploring the city, and there are lots of places to eat, drink and be merry within a leisurely amble.
- The Balcony Guest House is a small, boutique-style guesthouse just ten minutes walk from Washington Square, and close to the Mississippi River. The decor is fun and eclectic, and each of the five different rooms have access to a huge wrap-around balcony, so there’s lots of space for watching the world of New Orleans go by.
For a B&B

- Maison Perrier is an award-winning B&B in the Garden District, converted from an elegant 19th century house. The decor carefully preserves the old, but adds life with new colours and prints. In addition to the nine rooms, there’s a shared front parlour and covered porch, play a courtyard garden and a cosy den.
- The Green House Inn is a relaxed, ten room B&B on colourful Magazine Street. The house is green painted clapboard, in a traditional style, but the interior decor is more muted, with simple rooms, and elegant shared spaces, which include a kitchen, dining room, library and large porch. There’s also a pool and hot tub in the garden.
Still not sure?