Description: In a city of grande dames, there are few that have held their age as well as the Hotel Monteleone. For more than 120 years, this enchanting New Orleans hotel has been ruling the French Quarter, providing first class service to all who enter its doors. In a city known for its historical charm and grace, the Hotel Monteleone is equal to the city’s reputation.
Hotel’s History
The Hotel Monteleone began with shoemaker Antonio Monteleone (visitors today can see the old shoemaker’s shop across the street and down on the corner, which is recognizable by its coat of arms in mosaic in the entry). Monteleone first purchased the 60-room Continental Hotel in 1886, expanded that hotel with adjacent buildings, and added to the overall structure to create today’s building, which stands 16 stories.
The hotel’s history also includes an illustrious list of previous guests, including Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, writers William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams, and former Governor Long. The hotel has also been the setting for some 20 or more movies and television shows. Hotel Monteleone even has its own historian, with plenty of stories to tell.
Accommodations
Rooms are usually a comfortable size, with all the amenities one would expect of a fine hotel, including luxurious marble bathrooms. There is WiFi and a business center, a fitness center and full spa, along with a heated rooftop pool. When booking rooms, however, visitors need to remember that this is an older hotel, and not all rooms are created equal (in size or view), so if there are special requests, they should be expressed at the time of reservation-making.
Located on the Rue Royale, the Hotel Monteleone is in a prime location for visitors to explore the city. With the French Quarter just outside its doors, there are plenty of activities near by. Even children can be easily entertained, with the Audubon’s Insectarium and Aquarium of the Americas within easy walking distance.
Not only are children welcome at the hotel, but so is the family dog. The hotel provides checked-in pooches with a toy, bag of treats, feeding supplies (bowls and mat), and best of all, a listing of pet-friendly locations in the city.
Dining
Like most luxury hotels, Hotel Monteleone has good dining options, including its Hunt Room Grill, Le Café Coffee Shop, and its not-to-be-missed Carousel Bar and Lounge. Yes, its seats do function like one would expect from the name "carousel." However, with the French Quarter and its famed restaurants so close at hand, it’s unlikely that visitors will want to dine in-house. It’s still nice to know the option is there.
Perhaps the best quality one can find at the Hotel Monteleone is quiet and relaxation. Unlike so many New Orleans hotels, where late night parties can seem to extend back to hotel rooms, rooms here are blissfully quiet. Combined with its accommodating staff, the Hotel Monteleone makes the perfect home-away-from-home when travelers decide to visit the Big Easy.
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