The Pontchartrain Hotel
What We Love
- A revamped, historic luxury hotel in the elegant Garden District, with a rooftop bar
- Being right next to the St. Charles streetcar that inspired A Streetcar Named Desire – written here
- Sipping a whiskey at the bar where the New Orleans Saints football franchise was christened
- Staying where Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra and the Doors all stayed
What To Know
- The Hot Tin rooftop bar is the place to be for happy hour sundowners
- Located along the streetcar route, so it's very easy to get around
Amenities
- Free WiFi
- Gym
- Handicap Accessible
- Parking On Site
- Pet-friendly
- Restaurant
Overview
The Lowdown
Stay among the who’s who in the bayou at Pontchartrain Hotel. This property’s past visitors include Frank Sinatra, The Doors, Rita Hayworth, presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush and most notably, Tennessee Williams; The playwright famously lived here while writing A Streetcar Named Desire, which was inspired by the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line just outside. Though the hotel underwent a massive renovation, the history still shines through in the cuisine, the cocktails, and the painstaking attention to design details. Just beyond the front door is the historic Garden District, while the French Quarter is a streetcar ride away. But within the hotel’s doors, an eclectic mix of deep-south and European influences come together in the cozy rooms, featuring romantic palettes and Moroccan rugs and antiques, while the building’s history and local culinary culture receive a fitting tribute in Hot Tin Rooftop bar. There’s also Bayou Bar, where the New Orleans Saints football franchise was christened, plus a café formerly patronized by local judges and tycoons. Who said you even need to take the streetcar to experience the Big Easy’s best? Simply hop on the Pontchartrain train – it’s all right here.
In the Area
In the heart of the historic Garden District, this boutique hotel puts you amid scores of elegant Victorian homes and just a streetcar ride from the action. Shop on Magazine Street or relocate to the French Quarter to check out the iconic dining, live music and buzzing nightlife scene. And learn about the city’s famous history and culture at spots like Artillery Park, the Cabildo (The Louisiana State Museum), and the St. Louis Cathedral.
How to Get There
Reviews
We stumbled upon this hotel while planning a New Orleans vacation. We wanting something unique and we definitely found it with this place. It was impeccably decorated and quite quirky. It had everything you’d want: proximity to everything, great staff, amazing food options, great amenities, and comfortable rooms.
The hotel was right on a street car line and was well served by Uber/Lyft. The hotel is on St Charles which is gorgeous. It’s also a short walk to Magazine for some great restaurants, bars, and shopping. It’s a quick ride to the French Quarter.
Jerry and the other front desk staff were very accommodating - always happy to provide a recommendation or assist you. Even the wait/bar staff at the food at the hotel’s restaurants were stellar. Food and drinks? Fantastic! Also, the Hot Tin bar on the roof provided fantastic cocktails and great views.
The rooms were well-apportioned and plenty of creature comforts. We especially loved the Le Labo soaps/moisturizers.
With the hotel we had access to a gym down the road, which was infinitely better than the regular hotel “fitness center.”
Most importantly: the beds...very comfortable.
We had such a great time and cannot wait to come back soon.
We spent four nights in this lovely hotel. Our bedroom was large with a huge wet room (no bath just a walk in shower). There is a great rooftop bar with views over the city which is open until 2 am but no noise filtered down even though we were only two floors below. There is a nice coffee bar but we didn't eat in the restaurant though it looked good! The garden district is a bit quieter than other parts of town but it is easy to get everywhere you want to go from here.
A very nice change to stay close to the Garden District. A unique and historic hotel. Professional and friendly staff.
We enjoyed our visits to both bars. They were very popular on the local scene. The rooms were suite style with a separate living area. Very well decorated. The wall art throughout was also unique.