Location. The Loft 523 hotel is located in New Orleans, La. The hotel is less than three blocks from Bourbon Street and the French Quarter. Café Du Monde and Jackson Square are one-half mile away. Hotel Features. Formerly a dry-goods warehouse, the smoke-free Loft 523 hotel mingles its vintage appearance with modern furnishings. Cast-iron columns support the lobby, and 20th-century tin tiles line the elevators. Cream and mocha décor highlight low-profile furnishings set against the natural stone and wood floors. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available.

Guestrooms. All 18 loft-inspired guestrooms feature hand-hammered copper doors that open to reveal 12-foot ceilings. Floor-to-ceiling windows bathe each room in natural light. Rooms include artwork and music by local artists, and fresh Louisiana wildflowers. Matte-finished, metal platform beds are swathed in triple-sheeted Frette linens. Turndown service is performed each evening. Limestone bathrooms offer glass-framed showers with teak benches and dual showerheads. Select bathrooms feature Agape "Spoon" soaking tubs. Aveda toiletries are available in all rooms.

Expert Tip. The Loft 523's bar seating is arranged using low-profile sofas and floor pillows. Find the bar's hidden grotto room behind an old fire door, a nod to New Orleans' historical infatuation with secret doorways.

Room Types:

Deluxe room with king bed:   One king bed. High-speed Internet access. Turndown service. Double-height windows overlooking street.

Driving Directions: From Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport: Approximate distance to the hotel is 15 miles.