A perfectly pleasant French Quarter hotel
A short two-block stroll from Bourbon Street sits Maison Dupuy, a hidden gem for travelers to New Orleans. We like to think of it as a charming, refined oasis in a city known for lusty bawdiness. Close enough to join the party but far enough removed to ensure a good night’s sleep.
The hotel sits quietly behind a row of beautifully restored 19th-century townhouses. Beyond the rather pedestrian frontage, you’ll find one of the loveliest courtyards in the city, framed by cozy, wrought-iron balconies and accented with a spectacular fountain.
Sleep
We recommend a suite overlooking the courtyard, with a balcony, natch. On the weekends, you’ll be serenaded with live jazz and, if you’re lucky, a wedding. During our stay, the courtyard twinkled with hundreds of lights in the trees, music lofting upward, transforming our balcony into an intimate lover’s hideaway.
The rooms at Maison Dupuy are larger than average in the French Quarter and well-appointed with all the amenities you’ve come to expect at a luxury hotel. The pillow-top mattress was a joy to sink into after long days touring the city.
Eat
Bistreaux, Maison Dupuy’s onsite restaurant, reminds us of the 80’s sitcom, Cheers, only brighter and with better food. The ambiance here is casual and comfortable and folks who sit by the bar are chatty, happy to share their finds with those around them. We began our days with a hearty breakfast and stopped in later in the afternoon to enjoy the happy hour cocktail – it’s different every day. During the day, you’ll find comfort foods with a spicy Cajun twist. The dinner menu is upscale flavor without the upscale cost. My advice? Order a variety of small and tasting plates for the table and share.
Play
When you need time away from the craziness of Bourbon Street, grab a cocktail at Bistreaux and plant yourself on a lounger by the pool – you’ll find it in that luscious courtyard we love so much. The courtyard is fully enclosed and graced with late afternoon sun – perfect for poolside cocktail-sipping.
When you’re ready to see the city, remember the city’s motto, laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll). You’re within walking distance to the French Quarter – but also fairly close to Rampart Street so be mindful of your surroundings, especially late at night. While drinking an adult beverage and cruising Bourbon Street is the norm, we were advised to finish our drinks before the walk back to our hotel.
During our visit, we made an afternoon excursion to the Ritz Carlton Spa (Maison Dupuy doesn’t have a spa onsite). Like most of New Orleans, the spa is a splendor to behold and easy to lose track of time in once you’ve passed through its doors. A spa treatment gives you full access to the sauna, steam room and pool for the day – so bring your swimsuit and prepare to linger. You can also purchase a day pass without a spa treatment if simple detoxing is what you seek.
My partner and I opted for the couple’s massage with a deep scalp massage added to our treatment. We hung out together in the soaking pool before and after our treatment, the smell of magnolias wafting through the air. Bliss.
For something fun outside the French Quarter, we popped over to International House Loa Bar and enjoyed early evening drinks before dinner. The bar is a swath of deep, rich velvets theatrically lit with opulent chandeliers and a full wall of windows covered with bottles in every size, shape and color imaginable. The cocktails match the setting, full of drama. To avoid picking wrong, we asked the bartender to surprise us. What he delivered was a series of serious cocktails made from unusual spirits, fresh and handmade juice blends and syrups decorated with local delights. My advice, go ahead and lose control. You won’t be the first.
You can find International House on Twitter and Facebook and read reviews on TripAdvisor.
Need more to do while in Nawlins? Feel free to see what else GoGirlfriend loves to do when we’re in town:
If your travel curiosity's peaked, visit the Maison Dupuy website or TripAdvisor to read other reviews and book directly with Booking.com. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter. If you go, tell them GoGirlfriend sent you!
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