“Oh wow, look at the ironwork on that mansion!” I exclaimed to my friend as we drove down Magazine Street. “That’s actually your hotel,” she replied with a grin as she turned into the driveway. It was an apt introduction to Hotel Saint Vincent, which does feel like you’re staying in someone’s (lavish, impeccably designed) home as opposed to any sort of commercial property.
The main building is an elegant, three-story brick edifice, festooned on the first and second floors with trademark, curlicue ironwork that you’ll spy on many of New Orleans’ famed mansions. But the interiors are far from traditional: Lobby bar Paradise Lounge feels almost tropical with its canary-yellow velvet bar stools and wicker lampshades, while my suite’s bathroom boasted fire engine-red brick tile and psychedelic marbled wallpaper.
And while the hotel’s location in the Lower Garden District means there is plenty of food and shopping just down the block, it’s also understandable if you find it too difficult to tear yourself away from the property. After all, you can start your mornings with truly superlative sourdough pancakes at the on-site restaurant San Lorenzo, grab a steaming bowl of pho at Elizabeth St. Cafe for lunch, and end your night with an Italian Margarita at the guests-only lounge Chapel Club without ever stepping foot off hotel grounds.
Room-wise, there’s a configuration for every type of traveler. Solo guests will love the Sister Studio (although even that has a king bed), while those looking to spread out a bit more should opt for the Veranda Suite, which boasts a dressing room and a private veranda overlooking the hotel’s plant-filled courtyard and outdoor pool.
Top Takeaways:
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Address: 1507 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
Rating: Four-star
The Vibe: Like staying at your eccentric, artist aunt’s gut-renovated mansion.
Food + Drink: San Lorenzo, the all-day restaurant serving coastal Italian food; Paradise Lounge, the hotel’s cheery lobby bar; Elizabeth St. Cafe for French-Vietnamese food and baked goods; Pool Bar for summery cocktails; and the sultry Chapel Club, the guest-only bar and lounge.
Our Favorite Part of the Hotel: The gargantuan, cherry-red bathroom, complete with coordinating marbled wallpaper.
Amenities: Heated pool, on-site fashion and lifestyle boutique ByGeorge.
What’s Nearby?: The Lower Garden District is notable for its 19th-century architecture, particularly the Greek Revival and Italianate mansions. Magazine Street is also loaded with some of the city’s best vintage stores, clothing boutiques, and coffee shops.
Any Personal Neighborhood Recs?: GRIS-GRIS for elevated Southern cuisine like Shrimp and Grits or Chicken and Dumplings, or grab a seat at Coquette’s bar for seafood bites like Crabmeat Maison and Smoked Gulf Fish Dip.
Rooms: 75
Pricing: From $289 a night
Nearest Airport: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, a 20-minute drive
