Entering the Soniat House is like entering a period of old New Orleans glory.
The check in desk is quaint and the room is furnished with beautiful antiques. The sitting room to the left is cozy and inviting. There are luxuriously upholstered seats and an honesty bar so you can fix yourself the perfect before or after dinner cocktail.
The steps up to the suite are narrow but not as narrow as the original lop-sided balcony that leads to the front door of the room. These aspects of the hotel are endearing and I feel as if I’m really experiencing the true New Orleans.
The room itself is huge. We were upgraded to a junior suite in the building across Chartres Street. That building, as beautiful as the first, has its own fountain and courtyard. Walking into the room, there was a sense of comfort as well as luxury. The bathroom was spacious and luxuriously appointed with antique fixtures. Our fancy four-post bed was as comfortable as it was beautiful.
We took a lovely stroll through the French Quarter and had dinner at The Pelican Club. On our way back, we wandered through Jackson Square and had an absinthe served the traditional way. We were delighted to arrive back at our hotel to a courtyard lined by the soft twinkling of tea lights.
Breakfast was served on white linen in the main courtyard. We felt as if we were locals enjoying late coffee and biscuits and reading the Times Picayune on a lazy morning.
Overall, the experience was one that cannot be duplicated anywhere in the world. Trade in your fancy lobby, crowded front desk and mirrored elevators for a fountain, French doors, and gas lamps. The charm and authenticity of this quaint little hotel combined with the unbeatable location in this old New Orleans neighborhood make Soniat House perfect for a weekend getaway.