New Orleans: Soniat House (4 Star Hotel)

Address: 1133 chartres street , New orleans 70116, United states
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Lonely Planet review

The three townhouses that make up this hospitable hotel in the lower Quarter epitomize Creole elegance at its unassuming best. The place projects that elusive blend of warmth and creative style. It's run with congenial efficiency, with secret weapons like fresh biscuits in the morning to make guests feel right at home.

You enter via a cool loggia, which leads directly to a courtyard cooled by refreshing ferns, palmettos and a trickling fountain. Some rooms open up onto the courtyard, while winding stairways lead to elegant upstairs quarters. Rooms vary in size and decor, and some are a bit overstated (you can view photos on the website). Furnishings are antique, well chosen and not off-putting, and fabulous, museum-quality art covers the walls. Bathrooms are of a quality that never goes out of date, with well-lit marble counters softened over time. This is a genuinely romantic spot (children under 12 are not permitted to stay here), and the suites offer a chance for lovey-dovey couples to feel like they are living the high life in the Quarter.