Where to Stay in the French Quarter

The stretch of Bourbon Street between Canal Street and St. Ann Street is the loudest block in New Orleans. Hotels like the Royal Sonesta at 300 Bourbon and the Bourbon Orleans at 717 Orleans Street put you steps from open-bar balconies and live music that runs until 3am on weekdays. Galatoire's, the old-line Creole institution at 209 Bourbon, is your Friday lunch option. Pat O'Brien's on St. Peter Street is four minutes on foot. Preservation Hall at 726 St. Peter Street books nightly shows. Bring earplugs. Courtyard-facing rooms at any hotel here cut the street noise by two-thirds.

Best for

First-timersbar crawlersand anyone who wants to be in the middle of the action

Walk times

Preservation Hall 4 min
Jackson Square 8 min
Canal Street streetcar 5 min

Skip if: You are a light sleeper, traveling with young children, or want an authentic local experience away from the tourist strip

Local tip: Request a courtyard-facing room at booking. Every hotel on this block has interior rooms that cut street noise significantly.

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$224per night

Royal Street

Galleries, antiques, and serious food one block from the chaos

Luxury $180-$340/night

Royal Street runs parallel to Bourbon, one block toward the river, and feels like a calmer city. Between St. Peter and Dumaine Streets, M.S. Rau Antiques at 630 Royal and Rodrigue Studio at 721 Royal anchor the gallery strip. The Soniat House at 1133 Royal Street is a restored Creole townhouse with intimate rooms and no lobby bar. Street musicians set up at Royal and St. Philip most afternoons. Noise drops sharply after midnight. Bayona at 430 Dauphine Street, one block over, serves some of the best food in New Orleans. Book the table at the same time as the room.

Best for

Couplesart loversand travelers who want walkable dining without the noise

Walk times

Cafe Du Monde 10 min
Preservation Hall 6 min
Bourbon Street 2 min

Skip if: You are on a tight budget or need to park a car near the hotel

Local tip: The Royal Street block between St. Peter and Toulouse closes to car traffic on Sunday mornings. Walk it before 10am when the city is quiet and the antique shops are just opening.

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$202per night

Lower French Quarter (Esplanade End)

Residential, affordable, and three minutes from the best jazz in the city

Mid-range $120-$250/night

From Ursulines Avenue down to Esplanade Avenue, the French Quarter turns residential. Chartres Street here has double-gallery Creole townhouses and private courtyards that do not appear in most guidebooks. The neighborhood pace is slower, with fewer souvenir shops and more corner stores. Frenchmen Street is three minutes on foot from the Esplanade end. Snug Harbor at 626 Frenchmen and the Spotted Cat Music Club at 623 Frenchmen book serious jazz nightly without a cover charge. Hotel prices here run 20 to 30 percent below the Bourbon Street corridor. It is the quietest part of the Quarter by a wide margin.

Best for

Jazz fansbudget travelersand anyone who wants a real neighborhood feel rather than a tourist zone

Walk times

Frenchmen Street jazz clubs 3 min
Jackson Square 12 min
Bourbon Street 10 min

Skip if: You want to be steps from Bourbon Street nightlife or need a central base for multiple day trips

Local tip: Frenchmen Street is where New Orleans locals go for live music. Walk over on any night instead of paying a cover on Bourbon Street.

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$134per night

Decatur Street and the French Market

Jackson Square views, river access, and beignets open 24 hours downstairs

Luxury $220-$420/night

Decatur Street runs along the Mississippi from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue and anchors the French Quarter's daytime life. Jackson Square sits at the center, with St. Louis Cathedral on the north side and portrait artists lining the iron fence. Cafe Du Monde at 800 Decatur Street is open 24 hours and serves beignets and chicory coffee. The French Market stretches from Ursulines to Barracks Street. Hotels on St. Louis Street one block north, like the Omni Royal Orleans at 621 St. Louis, give you Jackson Square views without direct river noise. The Mississippi riverbank is 200 feet from the square.

Best for

History loversfamiliesphotographersand travelers who prioritize daytime sightseeing over nightlife

Walk times

Cafe Du Monde 2 min
Bourbon Street 7 min
St. Charles streetcar 12 min

Skip if: You plan to be out past midnight in the Quarter and want a short walk back

Local tip: Go to Cafe Du Monde at 7am before the cruise ship crowds arrive. The beignets are the same, the line is zero, and the river view is worth the early alarm.

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$246per night