Hotel Mazarin

Hotel Mazarin is a boutique hotel at 730 Bienville Street on the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. The address places it between Bourbon Street and Royal Street, a few blocks from Canal Street, where the streetcar lines and the Mississippi riverfront connect to the rest of the city. Walking distances to Jackson Square, the French Market and many of the Quarter's best-known restaurants are short, and the Superdome area and the Central Business District are reachable on foot or by a brief ride. The hotel is a small property rather than a large convention-style building, with a courtyard at its center that gives guests a quiet outdoor area away from the street. The overall look is traditional New Orleans, with brick, ironwork and shuttered openings in keeping with the neighborhood. Guest rooms are offered as Queen, King and Suite types, and rates typically run from about US$130 to US$280 a night depending on the season, events and room choice. Amenities include the courtyard, a bar and a continental breakfast, which covers the basics of the morning meal without a full restaurant on site. For lunch and dinner, guests walk to nearby Creole, Cajun and seafood restaurants, po'boy shops and coffee houses within a few blocks, which many visitors consider part of the appeal of staying in the Quarter. Service is friendly and straightforward, aimed at leisure travelers, couples and small groups seeking a central, moderately priced base. Because Bienville Street is one block from the busiest Bourbon Street stretch, some evening noise is possible, and a courtyard-side room is the usual recommendation for lighter sleepers. The hotel is a practical choice for visitors who intend to spend most of the day out exploring music venues, museums, river cruises and tours and who value location and a cozy courtyard over extensive on-site facilities such as a spa or large pool. Its boutique scale also means a more personal check-in experience than at the larger riverfront and Canal Street hotels.