Inspiration Hotels Best Boutique New Orleans Hotels Hotel St. Pierre is our top hotel pick in New Orleans By Amber Nolan Amber Nolan Amber is a restless travel writer with more than 10 years of experience. She covers travel products for TripSavvy. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 01/29/23 Fact checked by Matthew Klammer Fact checked by Matthew Klammer Saginaw Valley State University Central Michigan University As a fact-checker for The Balance and Investopedia Matthew Klammer has spent years providing couples with a reliable source of important financial information. Now working for TripSavvy, Matthew works to ensure vacationers have a source of information they can trust when they need it most. TripSavvy's fact-checking Share Pin Email Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. You could choose one of its big, impressive hotels, but staying in a boutique hotel in New Orleans is a totally different experience. A smaller property lets you really soak in the atmosphere of the city, with all of its sights and sounds, from the ground up. Here are the best small boutique hotels in New Orleans. Best Boutique New Orleans Hotels of 2023 Best Overall: Hotel St. Pierre Best Budget: Melrose Mansion Best for Families: Dauphine Orleans Hotel Best Splurge: Audobon Cottage Best for Adults: Hotel Le Marais Best Pet-Friendly: Bienville House Best Luxury for Less: The Troubadour Hotel New Orleans Best History: Hotel Villa Convento Best Boutique New Orleans Hotels View All Best Boutique New Orleans Hotels Our Top Picks Hotel St. Pierre Melrose Mansion Dauphine Orleans Hotel Audobon Cottage Hotel Le Marais Bienville House The Troubadour Hotel New Orleans Hotel Villa Convento See More (5) Final Verdict Compare Hotels Methodology Best Overall : Hotel St. Pierre 911 Burgundy St Rates: $$ Resort Fee: Yes See Rates Why We Chose It Being one of the oldest buildings in New Orleans, it has two pools, varied courtyard spaces, and lots of history. Pros Two pools Historic architecture Courtyards and balconies Cons Some rooms are small No dining on site The buildings comprising the Hotel St. Pierre date back to the 1600s, and the collection of several French Colonial cottages is a truly unique space connected by courtyards. Some rooms have original brick fireplaces, and some have balconies overlooking Burgundy Street. Two pools will let kids cool off while the adults sit and relax in the shade, taking in the southern charm. Every afternoon, the Hotel St. Pierre offers cookies in the lobby, where there’s also a Sweet Shop. Notable Amenities Sweet shopTwo poolsBalocony Best Budget : Melrose Mansion 937 Esplanade Ave Rates: $ Resort Fee: No See Rates Why We Chose It This historic property only has 14 guest rooms and is a top-rated hotel in New Orleans. Pros Swimming pool 24-hour fitness center Free breakfast & happy hour Cons Limited on-site parking Accommodations spread across several buildings Reviews mention maintenance issues On the edge of the French Quarter, Melrose Mansion is a modern update to a 200-year-old building, which blends luxury amenities with old New Orleans charm. There are only 14 rooms on the property, some of which are suites with jacuzzi tubs or rain showers and balconies. Guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast, which can be delivered to rooms instead of going to the dining room. Every afternoon, there’s a complimentary wine and cheese happy hour. Notable Amenities PoolFree breakfast24-hour fitness center Best for Families : Dauphine Orleans Hotel 415 Dauphine St Rates: $ Resort Fee: No See Rates Why We Chose It Bathrobes in the hotel rooms and a courtyard saltwater pool are luxury touches in an affordable property. Pros Saltwater pool Courtyard between historic buildings Walkable in the French Quarter Cons Hotel can be busy Reviews mention outdated rooms Reviews mention older plumbing The Dauphine Orleans has been the hotel we know since 1969, but the collection of buildings that make up the Dauphine dates back to the early 1800s. Part of it, May Baily’s, was once a house of ill repute but is now a restaurant. A saltwater pool in the courtyard is a quiet respite from the bustling French Quarter—Bourbon Street is just a few blocks away. Guests are greeted with a welcome drink when they check in. Notable Amenities Saltwater poolCourtyardSerene atmosphere Best Splurge : Audobon Cottage 509 Dauphine St Rates: $$ Resort Fee: No See Rates Why We Chose It This collection of cottages offers private, luxury stays. Pros One- and two-bedroom cottages Courtyard pool Semi-private courtyards Cons Strict limit on how many people can stay in cottages Not all cottages have bathtubs Some cottages reportedly haunted Once the home of John James Audubon, Audubon Cottages is now a unique boutique property in the French Quarter. There are only seven guest accommodations, some of which are one-bedroom and two-bedroom cottages, all with private or semi-private courtyards. All cottages have bathrobes for guests and refrigerators equipped with ice makers. The property has what they believe to be the oldest pool in the city. Notable Amenities BathrobesPool Best for Adults : Hotel Le Marais 717 Conti St Rates: $$ Resort Fee: No See Rates Why We Chose It This top-rated hotel is located on Bourbon Street but is a sophisticated oasis. Pros Bar and lounge on-site Top-rated hotel Bathrobes in-room Cons No food on premises Some rooms with limited views Reviews mention small rooms This chic, modern hotel provides accommodations with upscale amenities like upgraded toiletries and bathrobes in the rooms. Some rooms have wrought-iron balconies overlooking the French Quarter, but that view comes with an upgraded room fee. The hotel has a fitness center and an outdoor pool, and a bar and lounge on-site. Notable Amenities Fitness centerOutdoor poolBathrobes in rooms Best Pet-Friendly : Bienville House 320 Decatur St Rates: $ Resort Fee: No See Rates Why We Chose It This pet-friendly hotel was renovated in 2018 and gives pets a welcome gift. Pros Heated saltwater pool Close to a park for walking pets Restaurant on-site Cons Reviews mention hidden fees Reviews mention hot rooms Pets are treated like guests at Bienville House, a historic hotel in the French Quarter. On check-in, pets receive welcome amenities, and the hotel is close to a park ideal for walking dogs. The pet fee is $100 plus $25 per night. In the hotel’s courtyard is a heated saltwater pool, and there is an acclaimed restaurant, Latitude 29, on the premises. Notable Amenities Heated poolRestaurant on-site Best Luxury for Less : The Troubadour Hotel New Orleans 1111 Gravier St Rates: $$ Resort Fee: No See Rates Why We Chose It The design-forward retro vibes of this chic hotel give a luxury feeling at lower rates. Pros Retro decor and artwork Lobby restaurant Cons No pool No ice machines Reviews mention thin walls This hotel is in the Central Business District, next to the French Quarter and the Theatre District, so it’s slightly removed from the places you’ll want to walk to and explore in New Orleans. Still, The Troubadour offers a totally unique experience. This retro-inspired hotel has unique decor and architecture—there’s a huge guitar fretboard installed in the wall by the front desk—and the artwork and furniture inside the rooms elevate this experience. The Troubadour also has a rooftop restaurant, lobby restaurant, and regularly hosts musical acts. Notable Amenities Rooftop and lobby restaurantsFitness center Best History : Hotel Villa Convento 616 Ursulines Ave Rates: $ Resort Fee: No See Rates Why We Chose It This memorable hotel has a special place in New Orleans lore. Pros Free parking Balcony rooms Two-bedroom lofts Cons Parking is off-site No food avalible on premises Limited front-desk hours The Hotel Villa Convento is an 1830s Creole townhouse in the French Quarter, but it has an even more special distinction: It’s believed to be the famous House of the Rising Sun from the song of the same name by The Animals. Jimmy Buffett also once lived there and made a documentary about his days at the rooming house. Accommodations range from small “budget rooms” to larger two-story loft rooms with two bedrooms and balcony rooms where you can sit outside and take in a quiet but truly iconic part of the French Quarter. Notable Amenities Loft roomsBalconies overlooking the French Quarter Final Verdict New Orleans is one of America’s most iconic cities, with a charm, a history, and a culture all its own. To truly experience all that Crescent City has to offer, you’d do well to choose a hotel that also has some of the city’s historic character rather than a cookie-cutter chain. Because of its truly unique architecture, the Hotel St. Pierre is a standout. Spread across 12 small buildings on one block, but linked with courtyards that have swimming pools, this hotel is in the heart of the action but provides its own serene oasis for periods of rest and relaxation in between your explorations. Plus, it has its own fascinating history. Ask the staff when you check in about some of the haunted legends at the hotel—you won’t be disappointed. Compare the Best Boutique Hotels New Orleans Property Rates Resort Fee No. of Rooms Free Wi-Fi Hotel St. Pierre Best Overall $$ No 79 Yes Melrose Mansion Best Budget $ No 14 Yes Dauphine Orleans Best for Families $ No 111 Yes Audubon Cottages Best Splurge $$ No 7 Yes Hotel le Marais Best for Adults $$ No 66 Yes Bienville House Best Pet-Friendly $ No 80 Yes The Troubadour Hotel New Orleans Best Luxury for Less $$ No 184 Yes Hotel Villa Convento Best History $ No 25 Yes How We Chose These Hotels We evaluated many highly rated hotels in New Orleans before settling on the best for the chosen categories. We considered such elements as proximity to downtown and ease of access to attractions, and the status of current and planned renovations to the properties. We also look at the property’s dining options, resort fees, and what kinds of experiences (on-site activities, etc.) are included. In determining this list, we evaluated numerous customer reviews and considered whether the property has collected any accolades in recent years. GregJK / Getty Images Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies