Architect James Freret designed the house at 937 Esplanade Avenue in 1884 for the Lanaux family, and the building has spent the years since collecting stories.
Freret worked in Victorian Gothic, and the result reads as more vertical and more ornamented than the Creole townhouses a few blocks deeper into the Quarter. Large French windows open onto verandas that look down over the garden. Cathedral ceilings run through the upper floors. The original hardwood has been stained ebony, which sharpens the contrast against the antique furnishings and original artwork filling the rooms.
Ownership took a turn somewhere along the way. Sol Owens, a New Orleans club owner with a reputation, once held the building and used it to house the dancers from his conga line. That chapter tends to come up on tours and in the property’s own promotional material, which suggests the current owners have made peace with it.
The pool is the surprise. Set into the courtyard behind slate stone and heavy plantings, it counts among the largest swimming pools in the French Quarter area, with fountains running at both ends and chaise lounges arranged around the water. Anyone who has stayed in the Quarter knows how rare open outdoor space is at this density. Light jazz plays in the afternoon, and the greenery blocks enough sightline that the courtyard reads as private.
Fourteen suites fill the house. Bathrooms are finished in Italian Carrara marble with Waterworks fixtures, and some include a spa tub alongside the shower. The Donecio Suite draws honeymooners and has picked up more than one description as the most romantic room in the city. Rooms carry the modern equipment guests expect, including flat-screen televisions and wireless internet, without the decor turning contemporary.
Two things come included. A light continental breakfast runs in the morning, and a wine and cheese reception fills the parlor each evening. There is also a gym available around the clock, which is unusual for a property this size.
Location is the argument for staying here over something inside the Quarter proper. Esplanade Avenue is the dividing line, and Melrose sits on the Marigny side of it. Frenchmen Street and its music venues are a short walk in one direction. Royal Street, the French Market, and Café du Monde sit a few blocks the other way. The Lalaurie Mansion is about seven minutes on foot. The street itself stays quieter than anything on the other side of Bourbon, which matters at two in the morning.
Booking requires attention to the fine print. One listing shows a 50 percent deposit at reservation, a cancellation window running 30 to 60 days before arrival, and a policy against children. The property is smoke free. Policies at small hotels change without much notice, so confirm directly rather than trusting an aggregator.
The mansion also books weddings, which is worth knowing in both directions. The courtyard makes an obvious ceremony space, and a house with fourteen rooms can be taken over entirely by one party.
Call (504) 342-4446 or the toll-free line at (888) 304-5055, and ask for a room facing the courtyard.
