Hotel Le Marais

Hotel Le Marais is a small boutique hotel at 717 Conti Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, roughly one block from Bourbon Street and within a few minutes' walk of Royal Street's galleries and antique shops, Canal Street and its streetcars, and Jackson Square. The location puts guests close to the Quarter's nightlife and restaurants while Conti Street itself is relatively less crowded than Bourbon, which suits travelers who want to walk to everything but retreat somewhere calmer. The hotel is named with a French nod to the Quarter's colonial heritage and presents a compact, intimate property rather than a large resort. Rooms come in Queen, King and Suite configurations, with traditional New Orleans styling, and rates typically fall between about US$120 and US$260 a night depending on season and demand. The standout amenity is a courtyard with a swimming pool, a pleasant place to cool off after a day of walking in the heat and humidity of the Gulf South. A bar on the property serves drinks and light offerings, and free Wi-Fi is included for guests. Dining is not a major focus of the hotel itself, but the surrounding blocks hold many of the Quarter's most celebrated Creole and Cajun restaurants, oyster bars and bakeries, so guests rarely need to go far for a meal. Service is personable and informal, with a smaller team than a large hotel and a character closer to a guesthouse. It suits couples, solo travelers and friends on short city breaks, and it offers good value compared with the larger French Quarter properties because of its modest size. Visitors who prefer quiet should know that being a block from Bourbon Street means evening noise may reach some rooms, so requesting a courtyard side or higher room is worthwhile. The proximity to Canal Street also makes it easy to connect to the streetcar lines for trips to the Garden District or City Park.