New Orleans

New Orleans feels unlike anywhere else in the United States. French and Spanish colonial architecture, Creole cottages, colourful shotgun houses and grand Garden District mansions line streets shaded by live oaks, while wrought-iron balconies and hidden courtyards give the French Quarter its unmistakable character. But the city is more than beautifully preserved history. Converted warehouses, Mid-Century motels and increasingly adventurous contemporary projects add new layers to neighbourhoods from the Warehouse District to Bywater, all within a city where music, art and eccentricity remain part of everyday life.

Food and drink are inseparable from New Orleans culture. Creole and Cajun traditions meet African, Caribbean, French and Spanish influences in dishes such as gumbo, jambalaya and étouffée, while oysters, Gulf seafood and po’boys make even casual eating memorable. Historic dining rooms and neighbourhood institutions coexist with ambitious younger chefs and wonderfully informal local spots. And then there are the bars: from grand hotel lounges and legendary cocktail institutions to tiny neighbourhood dives and live-music venues, drinking in New Orleans comes with its own rituals, history and soundtrack.

New Orleans’ most interesting hotels embrace the city’s theatrical personality. Victorian mansions, Creole townhouses, former warehouses and reinvented Mid-Century motels combine antiques, local art, bold colours and occasionally gloriously excessive interiors. At DNA Hotels, we curate the places where architecture, food, music and New Orleans’ irreverent spirit come together—hotels that understand this is not a city where good design needs to behave itself.