You’ve seen the photos. Those iconic wrought-iron balconies overlooking the intersection of Bourbon and Orleans streets, usually packed with people clutching plastic cups while a brass band blares somewhere in the distance. That’s the Bourbon Orleans Hotel. It is, quite literally, the epicenter of the French Quarter. But honestly? Most people who snap a selfie in front of the facade have absolutely no clue what’s actually happening behind those grand yellow walls.
It’s old. Like, 1817 old.
If you’re looking for a sterile, cookie-cutter Hilton experience where every room smells like industrial lavender and the carpet is a neutral beige, you’re in the wrong place. The Bourbon Orleans is moody. It’s slightly creaky. It’s a place where the history is so thick you can almost taste it in the humidity.
What’s the Deal with the Ghosts?
Let’s just get this out of the way because it’s usually the first thing people ask when they book a room here. Is it actually haunted? Well, if you talk to the staff—many of whom have worked there for decades—they’ll give you a look that says you have no idea.
The building hasn’t always been a hotel. That’s the key. Back in the early 1800s, it started as the Théâtre d’Orléans. It was the hottest ticket in town until it burned down. Then it became the Orleans Ballroom. This is where the infamous "Quadroon Balls" supposedly took place, though modern historians like those at the The Historic New Orleans Collection have spent years debating the exact nature and frequency of these events. It’s a complicated, often painful part of the city’s racial history that doesn't always fit into a neat "ghost story" narrative.
Eventually, the Sisters of the Holy Family—an order of African American nuns founded by Henriette Delille—turned the site into a convent and orphanage. They stayed for 80 years.
So, when people talk about seeing a "ghostly girl" rolling a ball down the hallway on the sixth floor, or a lonely dancer in the ballroom, they’re tapping into layers of history that span nearly two centuries. Most professional ghost tours in New Orleans make a mandatory stop right outside the front doors. If you’re staying in room 644, well... good luck. That’s reportedly where a particularly active spirit likes to hang out. Whether you believe in that stuff or not, there is an undeniable vibe to the place at 3:00 AM.
Living the Balcony Life
There is a very specific hierarchy of rooms at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel.
If you get a "Petite Interior" room, you’re basically sleeping in a very fancy closet with no window. It’s quiet, sure. But you didn't come to New Orleans to stare at a drywall. You want the balcony. The Bourbon Street Balcony Suites are the crown jewels, but they come with a warning: it is loud. Not "I can hear the TV in the next room" loud. I mean "there is a drunken bachelorette party screaming 'Lizzo' three feet from my pillow" loud.
The hotel actually provides earplugs. They aren't being cute; you’ll need them.
🔗 Read more: In What Direction Does the Nile Flow: Why This Simple Question Still Trips Us Up
But there is something magical about waking up, opening those French doors, and watching the street sweepers wash away the sins of the previous night while the humid morning air hits your face. You see the city wake up. You see the shopkeepers opening their doors and the smell of chicory coffee drifting over from nearby cafes.
The Roux on Orleans and the "Hidden" Bar
Most tourists sprint toward Pat O'Brien's or Tropical Isle the second they drop their bags. They’re missing out. Bourbon O Bar, located right off the lobby, is legitimately one of the best spots in the Quarter to get a real Sazerac. They don't use a premix. They don't give you a neon green drink in a plastic grenade. They do it the old-school way—chilled glass, Herbsaint rinse, Peychaud’s bitters, and a lemon peel expressed over the top.
And the jazz.
They usually have live music that isn't the watered-down "tourist jazz" you find in the middle of the block. It’s local. It’s gritty. It’s exactly what you want when you’re three drinks deep and realizing you forgot to eat dinner.
Speaking of dinner, the onsite restaurant, Roux on Orleans, is surprisingly solid. In a city where you can get a world-class meal on every corner, hotel restaurants often get ignored. Don't ignore the gumbo here. It’s a dark roux—the kind that takes an hour of constant stirring to get right without burning. It has that deep, smoky flavor that defines Creole cooking.
✨ Don't miss: Weather North Carolina December: What Most People Get Wrong
The Logistics: What They Don't Tell You on the Website
Parking is a nightmare. Do not bring a car to the French Quarter. Just don't. The hotel offers valet, but it’s expensive, and the streets are so narrow that watching the valet drivers maneuver SUVs into tight spots is basically a high-stakes sport. Take a Lyft from MSY (Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport) and save yourself the heart attack.
The pool is an "oasis" in the loosest sense of the word. It’s a small, heated courtyard pool. It’s beautiful, surrounded by greenery and brickwork, but it’s not a Vegas-style party pool. It’s a "I just walked ten miles in 90-degree heat and I need to submerge my body in water before I perish" pool.
- Pro Tip: If you want a quiet night, ask for a room facing the interior courtyard. You lose the view of the street, but you gain the ability to sleep through the night without hearing a trombone at 2:00 AM.
- The Ballroom: If it’s open and there isn't a wedding happening, peek into the Orleans Ballroom. The chandeliers are massive. The floor is original. You can feel the weight of every gala, every prayer, and every secret kept in that room over the last 200 years.
Is It Worth the Price?
New Orleans has plenty of modern hotels. You could stay at the Four Seasons by the river and have every luxury imaginable. But the Bourbon Orleans Hotel isn't about luxury in the modern sense. It’s about texture. It’s about the fact that your room might have been part of a theater where French opera was performed before the Civil War.
It’s about the location. You are steps away from St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square. You’re a two-minute walk from Faulkner House Books and the best muffulettas in the world at Central Grocery (when they’re open).
Basically, if you want to feel like you’re in New Orleans—not just visiting it—this is the spot. Just don't be surprised if the shadows in the corner of your room seem a little more solid than they should be.
✨ Don't miss: City Names United States: What Most People Get Wrong
How to Do the Bourbon Orleans Right
- Book the Balcony: If your budget allows, the Bourbon Street or Orleans Street balcony suites are non-negotiable for the full experience.
- Talk to the Concierge: These folks know the Quarter. They can tell you which "voodoo shops" are just selling plastic trinkets and which ones have actual local history.
- Check the Event Calendar: This hotel is a massive wedding hub. If you’re staying on a Saturday in October, expect the lobby to be a sea of tuxedos and white dresses.
- Embrace the Weird: New Orleans is a city built on a swamp. Things are damp. Things are old. The Bourbon Orleans reflects that. If a light flickers or a door creaks, just tell yourself it's a "local resident" and go back to your Sazerac.
Actionable Next Steps:
Before booking, check the "Special Offers" page on the official hotel website rather than relying on third-party booking engines; they often bundle in breakfast at Roux on Orleans or "Ghostly Guest" packages that include tour tickets. If you are sensitive to noise, call the front desk 48 hours before arrival to specifically request a courtyard-facing room on a higher floor to minimize the Bourbon Street bass lines. Finally, download a local walking tour app—many start their "Haunted History" narrations right at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann, making the hotel lobby your perfect home base for a DIY tour.