A Great Boutique Hotel
The Inn on St. Peter is hidden gem in the French Quarter that feels like stepping back in time, with modern perks and real soul.
Most stories about New Orleans start with “So, I’m at this bar…”, only my story is about the Inn on St. Peter and how it transported me back in time, evoking an era in New Orleans that was bustling with horse carriages and Creole royalty. I loved every minute of it.
This hotel is not like any other I had been at in the Crescent City. It boasts historic charm – with the hotel structure dating back to the 1700s – and its vibrancy and character made me feel connected to the rich culture of the city itself. It looked exactly how you would expect an inn from that time to look, but had all the modern luxuries we want today. I was looking for a hotel that was budget-friendly, had a prime location to Bourbon Street with loads of ambiance, and here’s how Inn on St. Peter checked every box.
A Little Background About My Trip
This trip to “The Big Easy” is something I’d been looking forward to all year. I come to New Orleans every November for a “Friendsgiving” celebration NOLA-style. This tradition started over 10 years ago and it’s given me a very solid feel for New Orleans and its hospitality, which is welcoming and filled with Old World charm.
There are a lot of commercial hotels in the area that try to shoehorn “classic charm” into their decor, but they fall flat. Fleur-de-lis signage alone cannot create that authentic Creole vibe I’m looking for. Over the years, I’ve stayed at hotels in both in the French Quarter and the Garden District, but none had that historic city charm, and for this visit, I was specifically looking for a boutique hotel in the Quarter that has Bourbon-style and character. I landed at the Inn on St. Peter.
The Inn Is Immersed In The Magic of The Crescent City
Let’s jump right into the ambiance of this boutique hotel. When I think of New Orleans architecture, I think of grand brick buildings with elaborate wrought-iron balconies, tall doors for windows, and courtyards flowering with jasmine and ivy around quaint bistro tables. The Inn on St. Peter was just that. In fact, that’s exactly how I described the hotel to my friends when they asked me how I was liking my stay. The Inn has that quintessential Crescent City charm I was craving and I was overjoyed at this gem I had found.
Upon arrival, I was greeted in the lobby for a quick check-in. The process was easy and took about 5 minutes. The concierge was very friendly and offered me free water during my stay (a big perk for me) and I was happy to have this unexpected water service. I grabbed three bottles of water and headed to my room.
Walking through the gorgeous Creole-style courtyard to my room, I could see the French and Spanish influence at every turn. I headed up one flight to my room at the corner. It was a balcony room on the second level with two giant glass doors at the main door to my room (hello, gorgeous). I was pleasantly surprised at the location of the room. There was a bistro table right across from my room entrance and I found it to be a great place to unwind at the end of the day with a glass of wine.
The Room Was Cozy and Charming
Walking into the room from my personal balcony entrance, I was delighted at the coziness of the space. I opted for the Full-Size Room, as it was just me, and it was the perfect size for a single. The bed was comfortable, the linens were clean and plush, and I was stocked with plenty of towels and toiletries.
Two things I do want to note: there’s no fridge in this room (not a dealbreaker for me at the time, but as a diabetic on GLP1, this would have been an issue for me now, just saying). Also, the area got hit with a freak cold spell that dipped into the 30s at night (not the norm for New Orleans) and I couldn’t figure out how to get the heat pumping. All was good though, as there were plenty of blankets. If you want to splurge, go for the King Suite – it comes with a living room couch, refrigerator, and kitchen table – and plenty of room to spread out with your King Cake and Hurricane.
I stayed here solo, just a hop, skip, and a jump away from my friends who stayed over at the Wyndham on Royal, and honestly, I loved seeing their eyes light up with amazement when I showed them my accommodations. I was glad I didn’t settle for a big chain hotel, it really added to my trip.
Located In The Thick of The French Quarter
In my many visits to “The Big Easy,” I’ve always chosen hotels based on their proximity to the French Quarter because, let’s face it, that’s where I’ll be spending most of the time. For all its charm (and there’s a lot), what I loved most about the Inn on St. Peter is its location.
St. Peter cuts through Royal and Bourbon Streets (4-7 minute walks from the hotel), which makes it an easy spot to quickly drop off shopping bags and freshen up before heading to the bars. As for the sites, it’s a straight walk from the Inn to the Cathedral and Jackson Square, where you can shop and grab food. And the Inn is so close to some of the best restaurants in the area – special shoutout to my favorite brunch spot, The Court Of Two Sisters, and Lafitte’s Blacksmith bar for the best hurricanes in NOLA (sorry, not sorry, Pat O’Brians).
And as a jazz enthusiast, my walk to Frenchmen Street for a drink and show was a 18-minute walk from the hotel. This is the closest I’ve ever been to Frenchmen during any of my stays, so that was a big sell for me as well. The hotel is in a prime spot for experiencing all the Crescent City has to offer without the cab fare.
Stayed At The Inn for 3 Nights – It Cost Me Under $300
My budget (as always) was tight. I had to make every penny count. During my hotel search, I came across a special promotion the Inn on St. Peter was running – stay two weeknights, get the third for free. It meant that I could afford something in the thick of the action that wouldn’t cut into my food and exploring expenses. Not going to lie, that price point was definitely alluring (one I ultimately couldn’t pass up), and I booked right away. It ended up costing me just $275 for a three-night stay – that is half what my friends spent on their commercial hotel room. And I didn’t need Marie Laveau to conjure up rates from the 1700s; the Inn on St. Peter gave me a great price and greeted me with a smile.
Pro tip: I’d recommend calling and booking through the hotel directly instead of online, you’ll get a better rate. Also, ask about any running promotions they have at the time of your booking – that’s how I found out about the free night. Also, when you visit NOLA matters as far as pricing. The beginning of November seems to be a sweet spot for beating the higher hotel rates and crowds.
I’m Already Planning My Next Stay
Every visit to “The Big Easy” is filled with adventure and discovery, and this time I discovered timeless charm and history at the Inn on St. Peter. When choosing my hotel for my New Orleans trip, I was looking for three things: Cost, location, and ambiance – and the Inn fit the bill to perfection. It is now in my regular hotel rotation when I visit NOLA and I can’t wait to go back.