New Orleans has always held a special place in my heart. My husband and I used to travel there for romantic weekends when we were dating. It's where we first drunkenly said, "I love you" to each other. It's where my husband proposed to me, and so, it seemed fitting that we should marry there - in the courtyard of one of New Orleans many charming hotels. And that occasion has given us the excuse to travel back to NoLa over the past many years and lift up a Hurricane toast on the patio of Pat O'Brien's to commemorate our good fortune to have found each other. This past April we celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary. My God, where has the time gone?! Of course, this milestone called for such a visit to our beloved city, but I wanted to do something different. Something out of the ordinary. For this trip, I wanted something sleek and sexy. So, I arranged for a stay at The Saint Hotel.
From the moment you walk beneath the classic pressed metal canopy fronting Canal Street, you enter a soaring lobby with 22-foot ceilings and free-standing reception desks accented in white faux patent leather croc. The Saint Hotel lobby boasts a mesmerizing ambiance that captures the sparkling charm and romance of New Orleans with floor-to-ceiling billowing white drapes, huge 6’x6’ gold bell-shaped chandeliers, romantic accent lighting, and comfortable oversized furniture which adds a touch of whimsy and welcomes guests to sit and socialize or enjoy the atmosphere. The Saint Hotel is located on the Canal Street streetcar line and a short walk from the French Quarter’s charming galleries, boutiques, antique shops, and music- filled nightclubs while also convenient to the Riverwalk, Saenger Theatre, Saks Fifth Avenue, the Aquarium of the Americas and Harrah's Casino. It is minutes from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the New Orleans Arena. After a $45 million dollar purchase and transformation, The Saint Hotel opened in January 2012. The 166-room, 5-suite, 8-story Saint Hotel includes 320 sq. ft. modern guest rooms; five luxury suites including two 1800 sq. ft. master suites; 1450 sq. ft. of meeting and special event space; Tempt, a modern Louisiana restaurant featuring traditional Louisiana cuisine infused with modern culinary style; and the Burgundy Bar offering hand-crafted cocktails (don’t miss the Seven Deadly Sins drinks), live jazz and weekly burlesque shows. Flip through the gallery above to see photos of this amazing property.
The Carousel Bar | Turkey & The Wolf | Pat O'Brien's
We always try to balance a trip to New Orleans with visits to our favorite haunts and time to check out new establishments. Here is a short list of some our current recommendations:
French Quarter Restaurants:
Acme Oyster Bar
Killer Po-Boys
Johnny's Po-Boys
Court of Two Sisters (brunch)
Brennan's (where Bananas Foster was created)
Outside the Quarter:
Turkey and The Wolf (get the Fried Baloney Sandwich)
Commander's Palace
Caven
Bars:
Pat O'Briens (best patio in the Quarter)
The Dungeon
Erin Rose
Carousel Bar at The Monteleone Hotel
Chart Room
Visit my Instagram Stories to see snippets from my New Orleans Highlights to get a better sense of these places.
This post was brought to you by the The Saint Hotel New Orleans. While I did receive compensation in the way of a complimentary stay and services for authoring this post; product selections, descriptions, and opinions are 100% my own. Interested in a sponsored post or product review? Contact me for rates and details.
