Audubon Cottages

Audubon Cottages is a small, secluded lodging at 509 Dauphine Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, set behind a gate a few blocks from Bourbon Street and within walking distance of Jackson Square, Royal Street and the Canal Street streetcar. The property is a collection of private cottages arranged around a garden and swimming pool, an unusual format in the dense Quarter, where most lodging is in multi-story townhouses or large hotels. The name recalls the naturalist and painter John James Audubon, who spent time in New Orleans in the early nineteenth century. The cottages are in the luxury category, with rates generally between about US$220 and US$500 per night, and the accommodation is organized as Cottages and Suites rather than standard hotel rooms. The pool and courtyard are the main amenities, and a continental breakfast is part of the stay. Because the property is small, the atmosphere is private and quiet, and the cottage format gives more separation from neighbors than a corridor hotel. It is a sister property to the Dauphine Orleans Hotel nearby, which shares the same ownership tradition and can supply additional services. For dinner, guests have a wide choice of restaurants within a short walk, ranging from casual po'boy counters to white-tablecloth Creole dining rooms on Royal, Chartres and Bienville Streets. The service style is personal and discreet, with staff able to arrange tours, dinner reservations and transportation. The cottages suit couples, honeymooners and small groups who value privacy and a garden setting over on-site restaurants, spas or large public spaces. Visitors who prefer a full-service hotel with extensive dining and fitness facilities may find the compact offering limiting, but those who enjoy a residential, village-like feel in the French Quarter will find it fits well. Visitors should also expect hot, humid summers, when the pool and shaded garden are especially welcome.