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There are plenty of hotels in New Orleans where you can get a comfortable room and a convenient place to sleep. Le Pavillon Hotel New Orleans is something different. Walk through its doors and you’re stepping into a grand old New Orleans hotel filled with chandeliers, marble, gilded details, antiques and stories that go back more than a century. It’s the kind of place where the building itself becomes part of your New Orleans experience.
Le Pavillon Hotel New Orleans: Old-World Glamour in the Heart of Downtown
Le Pavillon Hotel New Orleans opened in 1907 as the New Hotel Denechaud, a French Renaissance-style hotel that featured New Orleans’ first hydraulic elevator. Over the years it became the Hotel DeSoto before taking the name Le Pavillon in 1970. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 and joined Historic Hotels of America three years later.
The history isn’t just something you’ll find on a plaque in the lobby. The hotel is packed with unusual pieces, including Napoleon Bonaparte’s Carrera marble bathtub, antique furnishings and European artwork. The property underwent a $19 million renovation that was completed in 2024, refreshing the guest rooms and public spaces while keeping much of that old-world character intact.
Right Where Downtown Meets the French Quarter
Le Pavillon sits at 833 Poydras Street in the Central Business District, putting you between several of the city’s most popular areas. The French Quarter is within walking distance, as are the Caesars Superdome, the Warehouse District and the National WWII Museum.
That location makes Le Pavillon a particularly good choice if you want to experience more than just Bourbon Street. You can spend part of the day exploring the French Quarter, head toward the museums and restaurants of the Warehouse District, catch a Saints game or concert, and still have a relatively easy walk back to the hotel.
The Rooms Feel Like New Orleans
The guest rooms have been updated, but Le Pavillon hasn’t tried to turn them into anonymous modern hotel rooms. The design continues the property’s more theatrical personality while adding contemporary comforts. Rooms include plush bedding, marble bathrooms, luxury bath products, refrigerators, safes and complimentary Wi-Fi.
If you appreciate hotels with a sense of place, that’s an important distinction. Le Pavillon doesn’t look like it could be dropped into any city in America. It feels distinctly New Orleans.
A Few Traditions You Won’t Find Everywhere
One of the hotel’s most charming traditions is also one of its simplest. Since 1988, Le Pavillon has served complimentary peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with milk or hot chocolate every night. It’s a quirky little tradition that has survived through generations of guests, and it’s exactly the sort of unexpected touch that makes a historic hotel memorable.
For drinks, Bar 1803 brings a little Prohibition-era atmosphere to the lobby, with red velvet, cocktails and a menu of bar bites. The name refers to the year Napoleon signed the Louisiana Purchase. Breakfast is served at Bijoux, where Louisiana flavors and Southern touches are worked into the morning menu.
What You Should Know Before Booking
Le Pavillon isn’t a resort hotel, and that’s worth knowing before you book. There is no swimming pool, although the hotel does have a complimentary 24-hour fitness center.
What you’re paying for here is the atmosphere, history, location and character. If a rooftop pool or expansive resort grounds are high on your list, another New Orleans hotel may suit you better. But if you’d rather stay somewhere with a story—and preferably a chandelier or two—Le Pavillon makes a strong case for itself.
Bottom Line: Le Pavillon Hotel New Orleans is one of those NOLA hotels where the building is part of the attraction. Its historic architecture, unusual collection of antiques and artwork, central location and quirky traditions give it a personality that newer luxury hotels simply can’t manufacture. It’s a particularly good choice for travelers who want their accommodations to feel like part of the city rather than just a place to leave their suitcase. If old New Orleans charm appeals to you, Le Pavillon is definitely worth putting on your list.
