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The Columns Hotel New Orleans is not just an ordinary hotel. Built in 1883 as a private residence, this beautiful Greek Revival house has been part of the New Orleans landscape for well over a century. During World War I it was converted into a boarding house, and in 1953 it became a hotel under the ownership of Richard O. Baumbach.
Listed on the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places, The Columns has been part of New Orleans long enough that it has become a landmark in its own right. Located on St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District, the hotel sits beneath those huge oak and magnolia trees that make this part of the city so beautiful. And, of course, the streetcar rolls right past the front porch.
A Garden District Classic
The architecture is a big part of the experience. This is an old New Orleans house, not a modern hotel that has been decorated to look historic. The tall columns, balconies, porches and detailed woodwork give the place a character you simply can’t manufacture.
The property has also been carefully restored and updated over the years. New spaces, including a garden, rooftop sundeck and cocktail bar, have been added while preserving the spirit of the original building. The result is a hotel that manages to feel historic without feeling stuck in the past.
The Columns is also a popular place for private gatherings, weddings and other events. The combination of the old architecture and the gardens gives people plenty of options for an intimate celebration or a larger gathering.
The Columns Bar
Then there is The Columns Bar, which may be the best-known part of the property. For generations it has been a favorite meeting place for New Orleanians and visitors alike.
The bar has been expanded, giving it more room while retaining the intimate character that people love. The original mahogany details have been restored, and the cocktail program has been given new life by a talented team of bartenders.
And here’s something I particularly like: you don’t have to sit inside the bar to enjoy your drink. You can take it into the garden, onto the second-floor porch or into other public areas of the property.
Wherever you go in The Columns, your drink can follow—and that’s a really good thing.
The rooms at The Columns Hotel New Orleans continue that same old New Orleans feeling. You’re surrounded by the architecture and details of the historic house, but you still have the comforts you’d expect from a modern hotel. It is a relatively small property, which gives it a much more personal feeling than the large hotels downtown.
The location also puts you in a wonderful part of the city. The Garden District is one of the best neighborhoods in New Orleans for simply walking around and looking at the houses, gardens and historic architecture. Magazine Street is nearby, with its restaurants, bars, coffee shops and locally owned stores. You can spend a morning exploring the neighborhood, grab lunch on Magazine Street and then come back to The Columns for a drink or some quiet time.
That combination of history, character and location is what makes The Columns different. It feels less like you’re checking into a hotel and more like you’re becoming a temporary resident of one of New Orleans’ most interesting neighborhoods.
The Columns and Movie History
The Columns also has a place in New Orleans movie history. French director Louis Malle filmed his 1978 movie Pretty Baby here, starring Brooke Shields in her first film role. The production refurbished the property for the shoot, bringing new attention to the historic building.
Since then the hotel has become one of the more popular uptown places to meet friends and family and and excellent get-away place for visitors right there on St. Charles Ave. In fact, sitting on the porch and watching the streetcars go by you feel as if you are some European town relaxing and enjoying the view as a streetcar moseys by.
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