The Omni Royal Orleans is the French Quarter's grand hotel in the classic sense: a white, balconied landmark at the corner of Royal and St. Louis streets, in the very middle of the Quarter's most elegant blocks. Its history runs deep. The original property on this site opened in 1843 as the St. Louis Hotel, one of the most celebrated hotels in antebellum America, famous for its rotunda, its ballrooms and its role in the commercial life of the city. That legacy is honored in the present building, which recalls its predecessor's architecture and is a member of Historic Hotels of America. Inside, the marble lobby, crystal chandeliers and gracious public rooms set a formal, polished tone, and the service follows suit. The Rib Room, the hotel's long-running restaurant, is a New Orleans institution for prime rib and power lunches, with tall windows over Royal Street. Many rooms have balconies over the street, and the rooftop is a highlight: a pool and observation deck with sweeping views over the French Quarter's roofs, St. Louis Cathedral's spires and the river, a magical place at sunset. Location is the trump card. You are a block from the Historic New Orleans Collection, two from Jackson Square, steps from Royal Street's antique galleries and Preservation Hall, and just far enough from Bourbon Street. The hotel has been recognized for its romance and its appearances in film and television. Fit: first-timers who want the center of everything, couples (it has been named among the top historic hotels for a romantic proposal), and travelers who prefer a classic full-service hotel to a boutique inn.
The history worth knowing: the St. Louis Hotel was among the great hotels of nineteenth-century America and a center of the city's social and business life, including, grimly, the trading of enslaved people in its rotunda, a history that is part of the site's legacy. The old hotel was damaged by hurricanes, declined and was eventually demolished in the early twentieth century; the present hotel was built later on the same corner, evoking its predecessor's grandeur. Today the property holds Four Diamond status and has been a member of Historic Hotels of America since 2010.
Room craft: balcony rooms over Royal or St. Louis Street are the classic choice for French Quarter atmosphere; request a higher floor for a little more quiet. Interior rooms are calmer. Make time for the rooftop pool and observation deck, especially at sunset, and book the Rib Room for at least one meal. During Carnival, Royal Street remains lively but avoids the parades, while the hotel's central location makes it easy to walk to the Canal Street and Uptown parade routes.
Practicals: 621 St. Louis Street, at Royal Street, in the heart of the French Quarter. Valet parking is available at Quarter rates; you will not need a car. Rates fluctuate with festivals and conventions, with good value in summer. The hotel suits travelers who want a full-service experience: concierge, room service, a fitness room, a pool and a signature restaurant. Fit: first-timers, couples and anyone who wants the Quarter's grand-hotel tradition at its most central address. Because it sits on the most walkable corner in the Quarter, a stay here lets you structure the day in loops: a morning at Jackson Square and the cathedral, an afternoon break at the rooftop pool, an early dinner at the Rib Room, and a night of jazz a few blocks away on St. Peter Street, all without needing a cab.
Why stay here
- ✓Rooftop pool and observation deck
- ✓The Rib Room restaurant
- ✓Balcony rooms over Royal Street
- ✓Marble lobby and chandeliers
- ✓Historic Hotels of America member
- ✓Fitness room
- ✓Concierge and room service
- ✓Two blocks to Jackson Square
Good questions
What is the history of the Royal Orleans site?+
The original property on this corner opened in 1843 as the St. Louis Hotel, one of the most famous hotels of nineteenth-century America. The present hotel recalls its architecture and is a Historic Hotels of America member.
Does the hotel have a pool?+
Yes. The rooftop pool and observation deck offer views over the French Quarter's rooftops, the cathedral spires and the river, and they are especially beautiful at sunset.
Is the location good for a first visit?+
It is ideal. You are on Royal Street, a block from the Historic New Orleans Collection, two from Jackson Square and close to Preservation Hall, with Bourbon Street just far enough away.
