Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans
The Hotel Monteleone is a legendary New Orleans landmark that has been operated by five generations of the same family since it opened in 1886. Founded by Sicilian immigrant Antonio Monteleone, who started as a local cobbler, the hotel has grown from a humble 64-room building into a grand institution. It is one of the last remaining family-owned hotels in the United States and is celebrated for its stunning Beaux-Arts architecture.
The hotel is famously linked to literary history, having served as a muse for legendary authors like William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, and Truman Capote. In 1999, it was officially designated a National Literary Landmark. Guests can even stay in specialized “Literary Suites” named after some of these iconic writers who once walked its halls.
Perhaps its most famous feature is the Carousel Bar & Lounge, which debuted in 1949. It is the city’s only rotating bar, featuring 25 stools that slowly circle the bartender. The bar is a masterpiece of design, created to resemble a classic merry-go-round, complete with lights and a motor that keeps it turning at a steady pace.
Located right in the heart of the French Quarter on Royal Street, the hotel is perfectly positioned for exploring. You are just steps away from iconic sites like Jackson Square and the historic St. Louis Cathedral. Whether you are strolling through the antique shops of Royal Street or heading to nearby Bourbon Street for jazz, the Monteleone provides an unmatched, historic starting point for any New Orleans adventure.
Expert reviews
“Dating back to 1886, The Monteleone is a longtime favorite Quarter hotel, and with reason. This grand old hotel has the right mix of New Orleans grandeur, sophisticated style, and a good dose of fun, with great bar outlets, a rooftop pool, and live music.”
“There is almost nothing modest about the venerable Monteleone, family-owned since 1886. Not the ornate lobby, not the hallowed literary tradition (Faulkner, Hemingway, Capote, Tennessee Williams, and Eudora Welty slept, drank, and/or wrote here, among others), not the happy hour scene or stellar view at the rooftop pool.”
“Perhaps the city’s most venerable hotel, the Monteleone is also the Quarter’s largest. Not long after it was built, preservationists put a stop to building on this scale below Iberville St. Since its inception in 1866, the hotel has lodged literary luminaries including William Faulkner, Truman Capote and Rebecca Wells.”
What guests liked
- Central location
- Comfortable beds
- Friendly staff
- Bar
- Spa
- Restaurant
Location
Recent guest reviews
28 April 2026
Will be back
Excellent service, friendly staff
Beds were the best! So comfortable ! Location is perfect
24 April 2026
Excellent
It was great - convenient to walk - lively - beautiful room
24 April 2026
Very good
Location
Room was small but met our needs. Hotel is aged- obviously. Crammed with guests for a conference. Next time may opt for quieter, smaller.
23 April 2026
Very nice hotel. I would definitely stay here again.
Very central, very at market hotel clearly patronised by others with taste. All the stuff in all the jobs you could possibly want. Unusual, nice, bar that goes round and round. Yes, really.
Nothing much to say here
16 April 2026
Great short stay hotel.
Perfect location, lots of character, very friendly staff, very clean, rooftop pool a plus, Carousel bar a classic.
A bit pricey
11 April 2026
Lovely break away in New Orleans
Lovely pool
Too cold with the air conditioning
10 April 2026
Perfect
Excellent location. Attentive and knowledgeable staff. Beautiful decor
7 April 2026
Exceptional
Always a wonderful time
6 April 2026
Don’t hesitate —Book here!
Extremely comfortable beds, very clean, and a wonderful vibe. The location couldn’t be more convenient to everything in the Quarter. The absolute best part of our stay was the staff—especially Nolan, who took care of our bags and was incredibly delightful. I can’t wait to return and definitely recommend staying here!
Bathroom a bit small.
29 March 2026
Great location, nice rooms, pools yer convenient
Great rooms, pool is very convenient, decent gym w a vice view. Good location and onsite restaurant is very good
Housekeeping was a bit sloppy. First day they cleaned our room after we asked twice (once claiming we had the do not disturb outside which wasn’t true). Second day we were still in the room for turn down and said to come back in 30’ and pls also make up our daughters sofa bed. In the end they then just made up the bed and nothing else.
29 March 2026
Exceptional
An amazing property and location in the French Quarter.
27 March 2026
I loved the hotel, the location is perfect, it is a beautiful and peaceful place. Great bar and restaurant.
Great location close to all. Great hotel
None
21 March 2026
Great old hotel a block and a half away from Bourbon st.
Great old hotel in perfect location. Bathroom was small and dated and restaurant food was outstanding.
Restaurant seating was difficult and inefficient. They were turning away people for breakfast when the place was less than half full
19 March 2026
Great times, staff great
Everything
16 March 2026
It was a great stay with excellent service from all the hotel staff.
Very clean and luxurious.
No complaints.
13 March 2026
We were visiting for my sisters 60th birthday and wouldn't have stayed anywhere else!
The Hotel was located in the French Quarters and convenient to everything we wanted to see. Our room was exceptional. Newly remodeled and very luxurious. The staff went above and beyond to assist in any way they could.
Did not have any bad experiences with the hotel or staff
13 March 2026
Great location near Bourbon street
Trayvontin was very friendly and offered great recommendations for food and activities.
We were never able to find a seat at the bar We tried different days and different hours and it was just impossible. There are other bars we went to, it just would have been nice to have a drink at the hotel we were staying at.
10 March 2026
Great Classic NOLA Hotel Experience
Beautiful and historic hotel in a great location in the French Quarter, but also close to the CBD. Friendly and helpful staff with a nice restaurant and bar on the main floor. Rooms are large (we had a one bedroom suite in the original tower). Would highly recommend for a classic NOLA hotel experience.
Pretty minor, but our room was starting to look a little drab and dated with some worn furniture. Probably could use a refresh in that part of the hotel.
9 March 2026
Fun times in New Orleans!
Excellent hotel with very helpful staff. Excellent bar and restaurant on site, and great location in the French Quarter.
8 March 2026
Had wonderful stay, and gracious service. Will stay again.
FABULOUS LOCATION, EXCELLENT SERVICE AND FOOD
6 March 2026
Exceptional
Great location - one block from Bourbon street and close proximity to great dining.
None
25 February 2026
Great hotel to be in the thick of things! We loved it.
Location, history, pool and very friendly staff.
Food was high end, which is lovely but would have liked just a fruit, cereal or toast option for breakfast.
25 February 2026
Excellent
Great location very helpful great Hotel
Nothing
14 January 2026
NOLA Hospitality Magnifique
The staff in all contacts where amazing! I was able to check in an hour earlier; made an RSVP at the restaurant and the hotel checked in on me to make sure I was comfortable. From the door men to the front desk and especially the stellar housekeeping team...I had a fantastic stay.
Everything was amazing. I had no complaints.
10 January 2026
A great choice.
Location. Location. Location. Very well run, hospitable staff. Great lobby area. Buzzing hotel.
Very noisy air conditioning fan. Luckily didn't need it on but would have been impossible to sleep in room.
6 January 2026
I’d recommend to friends traveling to the French Quarter!
Comfortable room. Most comfortable bed and linens, perfect size duvet! Loved the obvious hot water on demand. Instant hot water , no waiting forever in an old hotel for water to arrive hot from wherever.
Can’t think of a thing.
6 January 2026
We will return!
Location, ambiance, atmosphere, heated roof top pool
Heat the pool higher in cooler weather
30 December 2025
Amazing!
Nothing
29 December 2025
Exceptional
Anita, the concierge is amazing and very helpful.
29 December 2025
Loved it & will return!
I liked how all the staff was so polished in their interaction with you.
28 December 2025
Service that turned a challenge into a wonderful stay, thanks to Sakty
We recently stayed at Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. Although our stay started with a small issue, it quickly turned into an excellent experience thanks to exceptional service. We originally booked a two double-bed room in the older, non-renovated tower. The room had a noticeable odor, likely related to the age of the building, which made it difficult for us to rest comfortably. We spoke with the front desk, where Sakty assisted us with great professionalism and kindness. He immediately understood the situation and, without any additional charge, upgraded us to a fully renovated room in the new tower — a spacious, modern king suite that was clean, comfortable, and beautifully updated. This experience truly showed Hotel Monteleone’s commitment to hospitality and guest satisfaction. Being a historic hotel, minor issues can happen, but the way they are handled makes all the difference. Thanks to Sakti’s care and responsiveness, our stay became memorable for all the right reasons. We would gladly return and highly recommend this hotel.
The initial room had a noticeable odor, likely due to the age of the building.
23 December 2025
Hands down best location gorgeous hotel classy upscale and festive
Gorgeous decor and the staff from the doorman to reception were super welcoming there is no other hotel we would stay at but Monteleone. The environment was super festive and everything was classy, exceeded our expectations. Rooms were beautiful even the most basic was a great choice. The value for the room rate was absolutely worth it because it was theee hotel to stay at. It’s a beautiful gorgeous hotel from the outside and in, the carousel bar and the large lounging area where the jazz band plays is top class, hands down what a great hotel and location!
The beds are the only thing I would suggest to either turn the mattresses around or get new mattresses, or maybe they were just too soft for me
23 December 2025
Lovely location!
Location was great. Room was very quiet
Room was outdated
22 December 2025
My stay was comfortable, welcoming, and exceeded my expectations.
I had a wonderful stay at this hotel and was impressed from the moment I arrived. The staff were welcoming, professional, and attentive, making the entire experience seamless and comfortable. The room was clean, well-appointed, and provided a relaxing environment after a long day. I would gladly recommend this hotel and look forward to staying here again in the future. The Christmas decorations and live music created an exceptional festive atmosphere throughout the property. The carousel bar was truly unbelievable and added a unique, memorable highlight to the entire experience.
There was nothing I disliked about my stay. Everything met or exceeded my expectations throughout the visit. The staff, accommodations, and overall atmosphere were consistently positive. I would not hesitate to stay here again.
4 December 2025
We had a great stay infact we stayed a extra night staff we great the bar was amazing
Everything
29 November 2025
It was a great experience and would probably stay again.
Location it was near everyone
It was expensive
23 November 2025
Amazing and beautiful hotel in a great location in the heart of the French Quarter
The history and location
The WiFi is a little patchy
20 November 2025
Southern Charm at its finest
We loved staying at this hotel. The location was perfect for us, close to Bourbon street but not too close. The restaurant and bar were lively and fun. Great music in house and the Carousel bar is a must to visit. Royal street is lined with Antique stores and art galleries and interesting gift stores making it a fun street to peruse before you hit the lively vibe of Bourbon street with its streets full of musicians day and night. You can also take a short walk to the Riverwalk outlets and the Mississippi River The hotel itself has such a charm about it with its history and decor that takes you back in time. The best part is the marvellous staff.
There was nothing not to like.
17 November 2025
Excellent hotel with incredible staff.
Location and quality
Nothing
11 November 2025
Fantastic time!
I recommend this place from the bottom of my heart!
I didn’t know how to park my car, actually still don’t know
10 November 2025
We will continue to stay at Hotel Monteleon time and time again.
We absolutely love the style and history of hotel Monteleone. It’s the perfect place to stay when visiting New Orleans. We love the beautiful rooftop pool, the fitness center with a view and the carousel bar! Our room has always been so clean and the beds are so comfortable.
Leaving lol
9 November 2025
Very good
The location was great. Staff were very nice.
Some of the areas were not available due to private party’s. As a guest in the hotel I could not use the pool or bar areas at certain times.
9 November 2025
My friend and I loved the grand, old feel of the hotel and the professional staff.
Loved being in the French Quarter.
Small bathroom.
9 November 2025
Very good
Room was clean and adequate. Staff were exceptional including concierge services, doormen & check-in personnel. Everyone was helpful and outgoing. Problems were addressed in a quick and decisive manner.
Exterior noise infiltration
2 November 2025
For a special occasion you can’t beat this amazing hotel
Great location, iconic venue, wonderful staff.
Quite expensive
1 November 2025
would stay here again
Great location, best housekeeping, spacious suite.
Light switches too techy. Couldn't get a seat at the Carousel Bar!!
30 October 2025
Exceptional
Quality hotel Excellent facilities location and super friendly staff
28 October 2025
Exceptional
Great location, friendly staff and great atmosphere
22 October 2025
Very good
All
Outside
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Pet bowls
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - Business centre
- - Fax/photocopying
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Tour desk
- - Luggage storage
- - ATM/cash machine on site
- - Concierge service
Activities
- - Fitness centre
- - Spa and wellness centre (additional charge)
- - Massage (additional charge)
- - Evening entertainment
- - Beauty services
- - Facial treatments
- - Waxing services
- - Manicure
- - Pedicure
- - Body treatments
- - Spa facilities
- - Fitness
- - Yoga classes
- - Live music/performance
Cleaning services
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping
Outdoors
- - Outdoor pool
- - Outdoor pool (all year)
Parking
- - Parking garage
Pool and wellness
- - Heated pool
- - Swimming pool
- - Swimming pool
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key card access
- - Smoke alarms
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
- - Access to health care professionals
- - Face masks for guests available

More photos

29 April 2026
A perfect place to stay and enjoy the vibrant city of New Orleans.