For literary lovers, a stay at The Celestine is a dream come true. Located in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the 10-room property was once home to Tennessee Williams, and said to be the location where he penned A Streetcar Named Desire. His parlor has since been converted into the check-in desk-slash-coffee bar-slash—place to enjoy a glass of wine. In fact, it’s still a parlor in its own right with retro rattan furnishings and a place for guests to gather and pay homage to the Pulitzer Prize winner who once created his works of genius in the same space. Adjacent is a charming courtyard with the original fountain, where Williams loved to work as well. And since it’s New Orleans, just-because bubbles are popped there every Saturday, under the leafy trees, complimentary to guests.
LeBlanc + Smith, the hospitality portfolio for The Celestine strikes design gold in New Orleans, and didn’t fall short here. Hotelier Robért LeBlanc (a 2024 James Beard nominee, Outstanding Restaurateur) and the team behind the award-winning Garden District hotel, The Chloe debuts The Celestine as their first downtown property in New Orleans. In fact, guests can utilize the amenities at their uptown hotel, including the fabulous pool. But there’s something about the petite charm of The Celestine that makes you feel as if you never want to leave. The firm tapped into renowned designer Sara Ruffin Costello to help bring to life the historic property, which is updated with Spanish, French, and Afro-Caribbean influences married with a chic 1950s flare.
Each of the 10 rooms is outfitted with antique furnishings and luxe high-end linens. Sweet touches are placed everywhere throughout the space, from the thoughtfully curated mini bar to the bedside madeleines and tarot cards; the latter are meant to be good for one cocktail at the on-site bar, Peychauds. Fun fact: Antoine Amedee Peychaud, the creator of New Orleans’ iconic Peychaud’s Bitters was another famous former tenant. The Celestine has lovely suites, but I recommend booking room 10, which overlooks the bubbling fountain and is the only room with a bathtub.
I’d also encourage guests to embrace the location. The property is a half-block from the boisterous Bourbon Street, so street noise is to be expected. But instead of drowning it out, I pretended that I owned my very own pied a terre in the French Quarter, eschewed the provided ear plugs, and let the adjacent Court of Two Sisters jazz band wash over me as their tunes floated into that pretty canopy of trees.
Top Takeaways
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Address: 727 Toulouse Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
Rating: Four-Star
The vibe: A French Quarter property miming your historic pied a terre.
Food + Drink: There is no traditional on-site restaurant, though food (like the house-made pimento cheese, chicken liver pate, or a burger) from the same-owned, The Will & The Way can be delivered to rooms or the outdoor courtyard. Peychaud’s, located on the lower level, serves a sensational Sazerac. The entire cocktail list has been crafted by Neal Bodenheimer and the CureCo team.
Our favorite part of the hotel: The breezy and stylish robes and the on-site bar, Peychauds.
Amenities: Bar; Room service; Wifi; Saturday Champagne Toast; all amenities at The Chloe—the sister hotel—including their lovely swimming pool.
What’s nearby? There is plenty to do and see in the French Quarter, from dining to music (book a seat at Preservation Hall), to strolling Royal Street for antiques.
Any personal neighborhood recs? A few favorites include Sylvain, Porter Lyons, M.S. Rau, and Faulkner House Books.
Rooms: 10 guest rooms
Pricing: Rates start at $250/night.
Closest Airport: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
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