New Orleans

CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT 71
Le Pavillion Hotel Le Pavillion feels like elegant old New
Orleans in a way that so few places sadly now do. The lobby is stunning,
just what you want in a big, grand hotel, with giant columns
and chandeliers. The standard guest rooms are all rather pretty and
have similar furnishings, but they differ in size. Deluxe rooms have
ceiling fans, detailed ceiling painting, and black marble bathrooms.
“Bay Rooms” are standard with two double beds and bay windows.
Suites are actually hit-or-miss in terms of decor, with the nadir being
the mind-bogglingly ugly Art Deco Suite. Much better is the Plantation
Suite, decorated in—you guessed it—antiques including
pieces by Mallard, C. Lee, Mitchell Rammelsberg, Belter, Badouine,
and Marcotte. The Honeymoon Suite has “Napoleon’s” marble
bathtub and is a riot of fantasy hilarity. Late-night peanut-butterand-jelly
sandwiches, one of New Orleans’s sweetest traditions, are
offered in the lobby.
833 Poydras St., New Orleans, LA 70112. & 800/535-9095 or 504/581-3111. Fax
504/522-5543. www.lepavillon.com. 226 units. $149–$299 double; $199–$1,695
suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $28. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; heated
outdoor pool; fitness center and whirlpool spa; concierge; room service; babysitting;
laundry; dry cleaning; spa service. In room: A/C, TV, Wi-Fi, dataport, minibar, coffeemaker
on request, hair dryer, iron, robes, turndown, newspaper.
INEXPENSIVE
The Depot at Madame Julia’s Finds The Depot takes up part
of a whole complex of buildings dating from the 1800s and is an
alternative to more commercial hotels in the Central Business District.
Then again, it may be full of volunteer groups helping to
rebuild the city when you call. Low prices and a guesthouse environment
mean a number of good things, but it also means shared
bathrooms, rooms on the small and cozy side, and a location that,
although quiet on the weekends, can get noisy in the mornings as
the working neighborhood gets going. Still being gentrified, the
neighborhood is hit-or-miss, but more of the former than the latter
thanks to artsy Julia Street. A mere 7 blocks (safe in the daytime)
from the Quarter, it’s a quick walk or a short streetcar/bus ride. The
budget-conscious and those who prefer their hotels with personality
will consider this a find.
748 O’Keefe St., New Orleans, LA 70113. & 504/529-2952. Fax 504/529-1908. 25
units, all with shared bathrooms. $65–$85 double. Rates include continental breakfast.
Cash or personal checks only (if paid in advance). Off-street parking available.
In room: A/C, Wi-Fi.